Recordings That You Are Considering

[Mandryka]

Anyway Schubert-Liszt recommendations welcome.

Simone Pedrone

[Mirror Image]

Why do you consider Stott dreadful?

Given that hardly anyone else does.

Yeah, I don't really understand that criticism nor do I care to. Stott made me appreciate Fauré's music more than I did before and for this I'm grateful. If all I had was Collard, I never would've come around to Fauré.

[Madiel]

Well, I do care to understand it. Which is why I asked.

Doesn't mean I'm going to agree with it.

[Ratliff]

I found my Faure/Collard sets (it was issued as two 2CD sets when I got it) and listened to a few favorite pieces, Barcarolle No 4 and 5. Now I really don't get this "I hated Faure when I listened to one and loved Faure when I listened to the other" narrative presented by multiple individuals. They are both beautifully done. The EMI sound is not as dry as I seemed to remember, but comparing to Stott, there is more clarity, the arpeggios more distinct, less of a cloud of harmony compared with Stott. I can't say which I prefer. I noticed every seems to say the first Faure they listened to make them hate Faure and the second one made them love Faure. Maybe it takes time to absorb Faure? I'm not willing to give up either one.

[Madiel]

Ah well. I started with Stott and never left. More proof that I'm weird.

I'm not sure whether that was my first Faure or whether it was Domus in the Piano Quintets, which I fell madly in love with.

[Ratliff]

I seem to recall the solo piano music taking some time to sink in, although the piano quartets and quintets made an immediate impression.

[Jo498]

Anyway Schubert-Liszt recommendations welcome.

Bolet on Decca, Berman on Discover or Ermitage (those are both live, I believe, but the sound is decent)

[vers la flamme]

Any opinions on these two Prokofiev symphonies sets?

Seiji Ozawa/Berlin Philharmonic on DG

Neeme Järvi/Royal Scottish National Orchestra on Chandos

Both sound great from what I can tell. Roughly the same price range.

[Ratliff]

Any opinions on these two Prokofiev symphonies sets?

Seiji Ozawa/Berlin Philharmonic on DG

Neeme Järvi/Royal Scottish National Orchestra on Chandos

Both sound great from what I can tell. Roughly the same price range.

I hate them both.

Kitajenko/Capriccio is my favorite set.

[j winter]

Any opinions on these two Prokofiev symphonies sets?

Seiji Ozawa/Berlin Philharmonic on DG

Neeme Järvi/Royal Scottish National Orchestra on Chandos

Both sound great from what I can tell. Roughly the same price range.

I've never heard Jarvi.  For the record I have sets from Ozawa, Gergiev, and Kuchar on Naxos, and am well satisfied -- if I had to pick one I'd probably choose Ozawa, but I like aspects of all three.

[T. D.]

Poulenc's Oeuvres Complete box has been discussed recently. I'm mostly interested in the piano music, have seen the Eric Le Sage box at a low price, on the fence at present.

[Mirror Image]

Poulenc's Oeuvres Complete box has been discussed recently. I'm mostly interested in the piano music, have seen the Eric Le Sage box at a low price, on the fence at present.

That's a decent set, but Le Sage doesn't quite match Tacchino in the solo piano works. I would seriously consider that Complete set on Erato, especially since it can be bought rather cheaply. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's not going to be in-print much longer.

[Brian]

Agree on the complete Erato big box. The solo piano music is not his best genre, nothing like the piano chamber music. I think there's another Poulenc piano option at budget price on Sony in that same series of boxes.

[Mirror Image]

Agree on the complete Erato big box. The solo piano music is not his best genre, nothing like the piano chamber music. I think there's another Poulenc piano option at budget price on Sony in that same series of boxes.

I actually like Poulenc's solo piano music more now than I did before thanks to Tacchino. The other budget Sony box is with Paul Crossley who is not a pianist I'm fond of, especially in French music.

[T. D.]

Thanks, I think you're objectively correct about the Erato Oeuvres Complete box.
But I'm generally cautious about mega-boxes, fearing that I might wind up listening only to a few discs. In this case, apart from the religious material, esp. Dialogues des Carmélites, I have limited interest in the vocal music, so (roughly) discs 13-20 (out of 20) are question marks. Otherwise the box would be a no-brainer.

[Brian]

I actually like Poulenc's solo piano music more now than I did before thanks to Tacchino. The other budget Sony box is with Paul Crossley who is not a pianist I'm fond of, especially in French music.

Thanks for this.

TD - in that case the Le Sage box probably suits you well since it fills a gap in your collection and also has the concertos and chamber works, which are really really good and worth collecting in multiple versions.

Some solo works do appear on a couple interesting mixed recitals by pianists with big box sets worth having - Rubinstein and Previn. But that's not a good way to collect Poulenc.

[Jo498]

There is an older 5 disc piano+chamber Poulenc box EAN 724356683129. This is very good and findable used for decent prices; mostly French recordings from the 1960s and 70s. I am not an expert on this music but I got this some time ago in favor of Le Sage. For chamber music there is also the Naxos with Tharaud and others that has the advantage of being separate discs, so one can pick favorites.

[asin]B0000241QZ[/asin]

[Mandryka]

Yes & I think it's very good.

Ah yes, they have found the right tempo.

Basically I'm starting to see that anything with Mark Knoop's name on it is essential to hear. 

[staxomega]

Anyone have thoughts on the performances on this set?

[mc ukrneal]

Anyone have thoughts on the performances on this set?

Outstanding. If the music is of interest, I think this is an easy recommendation.