Recordings That You Are Considering

[Mirror Image]

Anyone have thoughts on the performances on this set?

It's excellent! Sinopoli truly had a flair for the Second Viennese School. If you can get it cheaply, I say go for it. You won't be disappointed. One of the most frightening performances of Berg's Three Pieces for Orchestra I've heard yet.

[staxomega]

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

It's excellent! Sinopoli truly had a flair for the Second Viennese School. If you can get it cheaply, I say go for it. You won't be disappointed. One of the most frightening performances of Berg's Three Pieces for Orchestra I've heard yet.

Thank you guys, ordered! That is the push I needed, I was interested in hearing all the Schoenberg pieces Andrea Lucchesini recorded.

[Mandryka]

Ah yes, they have found the right tempo.

Errrrr . . . just found CD 2 tucked away in there

[T. D.]

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]

Thanks. There's also this French EMI box, which has considerable overlap but a bit more piano (incl. concerti) and less chamber music.


I've had good experiences with discount French EMI boxes, so will likely go for one of the two.

[Ratliff]

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]

Rather than scrounging for those old boxes, I'd recommend just springing for the Warner (EMI) Poulenc edition, which is the bundling together of the blue box you've suggested and three others. (That 's how I have it.) It is a great bargain and it has hardly a bad recording (a big exception being a very poor recording of the two-piano concerto with the ham-handed composer playing one of the pianos, in dreadful audio). Maybe it is padded with some stuff that you don't think you need, but who knows what you will like. You might be surprised.

One thing I would suggest people consider is the Hickox/City of London Sinfonietta recordings of the concerti, featuring Pommier, Quefelec, Maggie Cole, etc. They really sparkle. They were released by Virgin and may be hard to track down, but worth it, in my opinion.

[Jo498]

The larger box was recommended before but T.D. said he preferred smaller servings, so that's why I mentioned the older smaller boxes.

[vers la flamme]

I just remembered this Schubert box set that I considered getting a few months ago:

[asin]B0000037AW[/asin]

Does anyone have this? It's dirt cheap, and I've heard good things about it elsewhere.

[T. D.]

Rather than scrounging for those old boxes, I'd recommend just springing for the Warner (EMI) Poulenc edition, which is the bundling together of the blue box you've suggested and three others. (That 's how I have it.) It is a great bargain and it has hardly a bad recording (a big exception being a very poor recording of the two-piano concerto with the ham-handed composer playing one of the pianos, in dreadful audio). Maybe it is padded with some stuff that you don't think you need, but who knows what you will like. You might be surprised.

One thing I would suggest people consider is the Hickox/City of London Sinfonietta recordings of the concerti, featuring Pommier, Quefelec, Maggie Cole, etc. They really sparkle. They were released by Virgin and may be hard to track down, but worth it, in my opinion.

After all the gyrations, I found a Used/VG Oeuvres Complete big box at a low price and ordered it. Even if some of the discs of songs only get played once (songs are currently an infinitesimal fraction of my collection), I won't begrudge the expenditure.

[Mirror Image]

After all the gyrations, I found a Used/VG Oeuvres Complete big box at a low price and ordered it. Even if some of the discs of songs only get played once (songs are currently an infinitesimal fraction of my collection), I won't begrudge the expenditure.

So you wised up and got the big box, eh? About time someone listened to me! Anyway, hope you enjoy that set as much as I have. Poulenc is so damn good.

[Mandryka]

[T. D.]

I'm considering both that one and Chen's Stockhausen/Beethoven.
Very much enjoy her Schoenberg (Hat Art) and Boulez/Barraque (Telos) recordings, but most of that music is serial. Not sure how she does with tonal material  . I haven't heard any of her Bach.

[San Antone]

I'm considering both that one and Chen's Stockhausen/Beethoven.
Very much enjoy her Schoenberg (Hat Art) and Boulez/Barraque (Telos) recordings, but most of that music is serial. Not sure how she does with tonal material  I haven't heard any of her Bach.

I think she is one of the most interesting pianists recording today.

[JBS]

On sale this weekend at Arkivmusic for (slightly) below the Amazon price. I would get it almost solely for the Bartok recordings.
[asin]B07Z761RMM[/asin]

ETA
Possible alternates
[asin]B00008X5AY[/asin]
[asin]B003Y3MYWW[/asin]

[T. D.]

...
[asin]B003Y3MYWW[/asin]

This one is outstanding!

[vers la flamme]

I just remembered this Schubert box set that I considered getting a few months ago:

[asin]B0000037AW[/asin]

Does anyone have this? It's dirt cheap, and I've heard good things about it elsewhere.

Well, I ordered it. 12 CDs for $8? What the hell. I like what I heard of Roy Goodman conducting the symphonies, and I really like what I heard of Deyanova's playing (I heard the first movement of her D894 – holy hell!). As for the Lieder performances included, I am less impressed, but they may make for good comic relief if nothing else.

Anyway, I'll write back with thoughts once I receive the box.

[André]

You won't go wrong considering the price you paid. I had that box, bought it about 20 years ago. I didn't like the acoustics for the symphonies (a small band recorded in an aeroplane hangar), but they are performed with verve and spirit. The sonatas are quite good, although memories of them are dim. I do remember the lieder cycles though. Impressive in a way, faulty for sure (Gherman has a cavernous bass, unevenly emitted) but very much 'in your face' verbally - certainly a valid stance, at least as an alternative to more sophisticated interpretations. The chamber music is efficiently performed but for my taste lack viennese warmth. This is money well spent, especially if you don't have that music in your collection.

[vers la flamme]

You won't go wrong considering the price you paid. I had that box, bought it about 20 years ago. I didn't like the acoustics for the symphonies (a small band recorded in an aeroplane hangar), but they are performed with verve and spirit. The sonatas are quite good, although memories of them are dim. I do remember the lieder cycles though. Impressive in a way, faulty for sure (Gherman has a cavernous bass, unevenly emitted) but very much 'in your face' verbally - certainly a valid stance, at least as an alternative to more sophisticated interpretations. The chamber music is efficiently performed but for my taste lack viennese warmth. This is money well spent, especially if you don't have that music in your collection.

I do have most of the music already, but I had been looking for a period instruments symphony cycle, and a recording of D894, plus there are a few string quartets I don't already have in my library. I'm glad I ordered it and will be looking forward to spending time with the music.

It seems Gehrman's performance is extremely divisive. Some reviews call him a favorite, others say he is the worst to ever sing these Lieder. In any case I will be listening to both song cycles at least once.

[Mandryka]

I'm considering both that one and Chen's Stockhausen/Beethoven.
Very much enjoy her Schoenberg (Hat Art) and Boulez/Barraque (Telos) recordings, but most of that music is serial. Not sure how she does with tonal material  . I haven't heard any of her Bach.

I found it on Spotify, so I can't really say much about the recording because the sound is so poor. I may buy it.

The combination of those sonatas, all pretty familiar ones, and Music of Changes, is really quite inspired - they break up the Cage well and seem to fit with the restless nature of the music. But I guess to appreciate that,  you have to listen to the whole CD from start to end like a concert, which I haven't done.  The main question is whether she can make Music of Changes interesting. I've only really listened to III and IV.  She takes them pretty slowly. As I said, I'm handicapped  by the Spotify sound, but prima facie she plays them with more lightness and less brutality than Tudor, less beauty than John Kubera. 

[amw]

I do have most of the music already, but I had been looking for a period instruments symphony cycle, and a recording of D894, plus there are a few string quartets I don't already have in my library. I'm glad I ordered it and will be looking forward to spending time with the music.

It seems Gehrman's performance is extremely divisive. Some reviews call him a favorite, others say he is the worst to ever sing these Lieder. In any case I will be listening to both song cycles at least once.

Deyanova's D894 is the slowest on record (beating out the second-place contender, Sviatoslav Richter, by almost 10 minutes) and in not great sound, therefore hard to recommend. I can't say I like the sonata well enough to have alternate recommendations though. (Between Grigory Sokolov, Arcadi Volodos, David Fray, Janina Fialkowska, Herbert Schuch, Radu Lupu, etc, there is an above-average number of great pianists who have recorded it, even compared to other Schubert sonatas.)

[SonicMan46]

Brahms - Piano Quartets on period instruments - currently own the two modern instrument performances (below, top) - listening now - both are excellent w/ great reviews (Domus older from the 80s & Hamelin a newer recording); but I always like to have a PI recording if the era is appropriate - there does not seem to be much available; however, I did find this 2-CD set on Amazon by the Primrose Piano Quartet for $25 (Presto - MP3 DL, $10 - FLAC (CD-quality), $12).

The Primrose recording has a fascinating story (more HERE) w/ the use of 3 different historic 19th century pianos - the reviews have been mixed (see attachment) and the last image below from BBC Magazine.  SO, has anyone heard these Primrose recordings, OR are there other PI performances of these works that I cannot locate at the moment?  Comments appreciated, as usual - Dave

P.S. Just checked and these are available on Spotify - will give them a listen shortly.