Recordings That You Are Considering

[JBS]

Good idea re DVD!  I remember years ago going to a production in which Juan Diego Florez leapt on top of a piano (from a standstill). 

PD

I have the DVD with Joyce DiDonato in a wheelchair: he's also the tenor in that one
(That's the production in which she broke a bone in an on-stage accident.)
https://joycedidonato.com/press/il-barbiere-di-siviglia-the-royal-opera-house/

[vers la flamme]

I'm quite sure I don't need this, but it can be had for under ten dollars right now, and I'm tempted. Thoughts? This cycle was rather unpopular on another forum I used to frequent.

[JBS]

I'm quite sure I don't need this, but it can be had for under ten dollars right now, and I'm tempted. Thoughts? This cycle was rather unpopular on another forum I used to frequent.

I think it's a very good 20th century style (ie preHIP "big band") cycle; I put it at the level of Bohm and Karajan's 1970s cycle (that's the one I like best out of Herbie's various sets), meaning at or close to the top in quality. (Not saying LB's interpretations are the same as theirs, just saying the quality level is just as good.)

[betterthanfine]

I'm quite sure I don't need this, but it can be had for under ten dollars right now, and I'm tempted. Thoughts? This cycle was rather unpopular on another forum I used to frequent.

I haven't listened to it in a while, but like JBS says, it's definitely big band Beethoven. Broad tempi and very muscular. I like it, but I have to be in the mood for it. At ten bucks, I'd say go for it!

[Spotted Horses]

I'm quite sure I don't need this, but it can be had for under ten dollars right now, and I'm tempted. Thoughts? This cycle was rather unpopular on another forum I used to frequent.

It was a series of videos on public television here in the U.S. when it came out and was accompanied by little talks by Bernstein, which I found interesting. The performances themselves strike me as not very interesting.

After Bernstein's Columbia/New York Philharmonic era ended he had a low profile until he reemerged as a DG recording artist. Some stuff was extremely eccentric/self-indulgent like the Sibelius 2, Tchaikovsky 6, some of the Mahler. Among the standard repertoire, I found the Schumann to be brilliant, the Brahms to be unbelievable bad, and the Beethoven and Mozart to be okay but surprisingly ordinary. For $10 you might want to decide for yourself.

[Anooj]

Does anyone have an opinion on this set?

[JBS]

Does anyone have an opinion on this set?

If the music interests you, and a protoHIP approach is acceptable, yes. I have both this and the companion Bach set: I prefer the Bach set purely because not all the music in the French set is stuff I'm keen on.

[Anooj]

If the music interests you, and a protoHIP approach is acceptable, yes. I have both this and the companion Bach set: I prefer the Bach set purely because not all the music in the French set is stuff I'm keen on.

In regards to this set, are we talking about old-fashioned "big band" type of non-HIP with large orchestras (which I dislike), or something where modern instruments and non-HIP playing style are combined with period-accurate ensemble sizes (which I'm fine with, even if HIP is generally preferable)? I'm supposing your comment about "protoHIP" refers to something closer to the latter?

[Jo498]

I'm quite sure I don't need this, but it can be had for under ten dollars right now, and I'm tempted. Thoughts? This cycle was rather unpopular on another forum I used to frequent.

I'd get it. There are many people who really love it; I have most of it piecemeal (except for 2+5) and while it's a bit of a mixed bag, some of it, like 3 and 6 are very good. It's more mainstream and more "philharmonic" (i.e. some indulging in the Vienna sound) than the fairly coarse NYC recordings. But it's no way as slow as the Brahms or as excentric as some of his other 1980s recording. (It's also a bit earlier, mostly taken from concerts in the late 1970s)

[JBS]

In regards to this set, are we talking about old-fashioned "big band" type of non-HIP with large orchestras (which I dislike), or something where modern instruments and non-HIP playing style are combined with period-accurate ensemble sizes (which I'm fine with, even if HIP is generally preferable)? I'm supposing your comment about "protoHIP" refers to something closer to the latter?

Transitional might be a better word for it: small ensemble, modern instruments: the later recordings might be called 1st generation HIP, and some period instruments are used

[Florestan]

(Cross post from the Mendelssohn thread)

Anyone familiar with these performances? The box looks very tempting to me.

[Mandryka]

https://www.dmp-records.nl/product/bach-complete-organ-works-9-die-kunst-der-fuge-pieter-van-dijk/

I've got CU3, Leipzig chorales and orgelbuchlein from the series, I think very fine performances. All at Alkmaar - reminiscences of Walcha stereo and the comment he made which so inspired me - that he wanted to present the music as "still, calm and concentrated", like Gregorian chant  (not that he succeeded in that!)

[prémont]

https://www.dmp-records.nl/product/bach-complete-organ-works-9-die-kunst-der-fuge-pieter-van-dijk/

I've got CU3, Leipzig chorales and orgelbuchlein from the series, I think very fine performances. All at Alkmaar - reminiscences of Walcha stereo and the comment he made which so inspired me - that he wanted to present the music as "still, calm and concentrated", like Gregorian chant  (not that he successes in that!)

Does the label use paying via paypal? Because if one has to transfer the payment via one's own net-bank I give up beforehand.

[Mandryka]

Does the label use paying via paypal?

Yes the do!

[vers la flamme]

Thoughts on this?

Edit: vs this?

[VonStupp]

Thoughts on this?

Edit: vs this?

Personally, I didn't enjoy Jarvi's Josephslegende much; a surprise as I enjoy his earlier Strauss recordings. Sinopoli for me.
VS

[vers la flamme]

Thanks for your perspective.

Also considering getting recordings of these operas of Schubert and Schumann: Fierrabras and Genoveva, respectively. Any thoughts on them? From what I am told, the libretti of these works are absolutely atrocious. As someone who does not really care about operatic plots, that doesn't really concern me, and I'm curious to hear these huge works of unknown music from two of my favorite composers.

[Mandryka]

Ingelse has recorded CU3 and I think it's interesting. This AoF appears to be on YouTube in fact so I can have a listen later.  I don't know the organ at all. The CU3 is at the St. Jan Church Gouda, which is clearly a different proposition!

(Listening to CU 3 as I'm typing this and it is rather impressive! Strong, noble, focussed, intense, composed.)

[prémont]

Thanks @Mandryka, noted. 
Edit: CÜ III just purchased.

[Mandryka]

Does the label use paying via paypal? Because if one has to transfer the payment via one's own net-bank I give up beforehand.

It arrived very quickly and sounds quite original actually - on the basis of just a handful of the more complex fugues towards the end. Booklet has an amusing paragraph about Walcha and how the church and organ has changed. He also makes a good point about using pedal. Buy it.