Recordings That You Are Considering

[rubio]

Buy it. Some of the finest mazurkas around, and before sidoze comes around ranting about fake reverb I don't really find it that obtrusive, and you can hear one mazurka and judge for youself, here:
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,4659.msg179511.html#msg179511

If the major part of the set is on that great level I will not hesitate .

[Bulldog]

And anyone heard this set by Maryla Jonas?

I have this disc but only remember her peformance of Schumann's Kinderzenen.  I can only give it a marginal recommendation - a little too quick and much too forceful (this isn't Kreisleriana).

[Drasko]

Is anyone familiar with Hugo Reyne Lully series on Accord, 10 volumes so far.

[Brian]

Has Naxos done a Bax symphonies box? Will we have to wait for the centennial of his death or something?

[Renfield]

Has Naxos done a Bax symphonies box? Will we have to wait for the centennial of his death or something?

I think Handley already covered that niche quite well, for Chandos - our resident Baxians might confirm or correct this.

[jwinter]

Beethoven / Blomstedt / Dresden.

The Blomstedt is a very nice set, a safe bet particularly at super-bargain price.  If you're looking for a set with the Staatskappele Dresden, you might consider Colin Davis as well -- personally I give it a slight edge over Blomstedt, and the sound is better as well. 

[Lethevich]

Has Naxos done a Bax symphonies box? Will we have to wait for the centennial of his death or something?

As Renfield says, the Handley cycle is slightly better than the very good Naxos cycle, and Naxos boxes aren't any better value than many other labels. The Chandos will almost certainly have better notes, and also comes with a bonus interview disc with more details about the works...

[karlhenning]

As Renfield says, the Handley cycle is slightly better than the very good Naxos cycle, and Naxos boxes aren't any better value than many other labels. The Chandos will almost certainly have better notes, and also comes with a bonus interview disc with more details about the works...

Aye, Naxos have priced themselves into a different mode of comparison.

[ezodisy]

I have this disc but only remember her peformance of Schumann's Kinderzenen. 

The Schumann isn't anything special but those are some of the best chopin mazurkas ever

[Harry]

I think Handley already covered that niche quite well, for Chandos - our resident Baxians might confirm or correct this.

Yes Handley's recording is by far better as the Naxos release. Its not bad, but the Chandos production is on a unreachable level.

[Wanderer]

Any thoughts on Le Sage's Schumann on Alpha? There are five volumes already with a sixth (containing the Kreisleriana) on the way. The project aspires to record all of Schumann's piano and chamber music in time for the composer's 2010 anniversary (bicentenary).

[SonicMan46]

Over the weekend, I went through the new Jan-Feb '09 issue of Fanfare - picked out a 'handful' (not as many as usual) of CDs that received great reviews & peaked my interest - half of these composers I do not know, but the 'chamber works' would certainly be a delight for me; and, our own member Scott M. gave several a 5* rating on Amazon (as noted below); any comments would be greatly appreciated - thanks. 

Berens, Hermann - String Trios w/ Trio ZilliacusPerssonRaitinen on Intim Records.

Genzmer, Harald - Concertos Flute, Klavier, & Viola on Thorofon.

Goldmark, Karl - Piano Quintets w/ Oliver Triendl on CPO (Scott Morrison great review)

Kirchner, Leon - String Quartets w/ Orion SQ on Albany Records

Reinecke, Carl - Wind Octet & Sextet on Naxos (Scott Morrison great review)

Shostakovich, D. - Cello Concertos w/ Daniel Müller-Schott on Orfeo

[Lilas Pastia]

I've ordered the Bruckner 5th under Bongartz (Berlin classics) and the Kempe MPO set of Brahms 1-4 and bruckner 4-5. Some members have posted recently about them and I wasn't even aware of their existence. In the case of the Kempe Bruckners they are available paired together at an outrageous price on Scribendum. For half the price I get all the Brahms symphonies from one of the most respected and cultured conductors of his era.

Bongartz is a recent discovery for me. I have his stunning Bruckner and Mahler 6ths. He is  a most interesting conductor and I look forward to hear his take on the 5th.

[rubio]

Bongartz is a recent discovery for me. I have his stunning Bruckner and Mahler 6ths. He is  a most interesting conductor and I look forward to hear his take on the 5th.

Bongartz' Bruckner 6 is my favourite recording of that symphony. It all makes perfect sense with Bongartz behind the baton, and the drive/excitement/rhythmical precision of the performance suits this work which I've had some problems with. I have not heard Keilberth yet, though.

Is his Mahler 6 on the same exalted level? How's the performance? Some of the same characteristicas like the Bruckner?

Where did you find that Bongartz' Bruckner 5?? I have never heard of it.

[jwinter]

I am also curious, more about the sound on these Icon boxes. Has anyone bought one? 

Sorry I missed this.  I have the Solomon box on order -- I don't have any previous issues to compare, but I'll give them a spin when they arrive and let you know my impressions...

[George]

Sorry I missed this.  I have the Solomon box on order -- I don't have any previous issues to compare, but I'll give them a spin when they arrive and let you know my impressions...

Thanks J!

I trust you are well? 

[Lilas Pastia]

Bongartz' Bruckner 6 is my favourite recording of that symphony. It all makes perfect sense with Bongartz behind the baton, and the drive/excitement/rhythmical precision of the performance suits this work which I've had some problems with. I have not heard Keilberth yet, though.

Is his Mahler 6 on the same exalted level? How's the performance? Some of the same characteristicas like the Bruckner?

Where did you find that Bongartz' Bruckner 5?? I have never heard of it.

My mistake, I meant Rögner and not Bongartz, I keep mixing the two conductors. They both record on Berlin Classics and conduct East German orchestras (B with the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, R in with the Berlin Radio O.). So, I do have the Bongartz 6 and Mahler 6 (the latter on weitblick). The Bongartz Bruckner 6th is one of my top three recordings of the piece (Keilberth BPO and Leitner Stuttgart being the others), and his Mahler 6th is a smashing interpretation played to the hilt by a very muscular, galvanized orchestra. Those leipzigers don't pussyfoot around, they go for the jugular (something I've also noticed of their Leipzig Radio brethren: mean brass and intimidating strings). The Rögner 5th I've ordered will join his 4th, 6th and 7th on my shelves. All are excellent interpretations, with a particularly fine, propulsive and no-nonsense 'Romantic'.

Sorry to have misled you. Checking Berky's site reveals the 6th is the only extant Bongartz recording of a Bruckner symphony - a pity.

[jwinter]

Thanks J!

I trust you are well? 

Yep, doing fine, just a bit overwhelmed (in a good way) with the raising of 2 small munchkins, so my classical listening and online time isn't what it used to be.  I also reached a point where my shelf space and my Visa card agreed that it was time to cut back on CD purchases for a while, so I've been focusing on enjoying and re-evaluating what I've already got -- hence fewer posts here, since this place is like crack

To illustrate this point , and so as to prevent this post from being totally off topic, I recently enjoyed a disc from a new (to me) pianist, Bruno Gelber.  I picked up his Beethoven Emperor PC/Pathetique/Appassionata disc on the cheap, and liked it enough to order his (also bargain priced) Brahms PCs 1 & 2 (they're coming on the same order as the Solomon).  Anyone else familiar with this pianist, or have any essential recommendations?

[Drasko]

To illustrate this point , and so as to prevent this post from being totally off topic, I recently enjoyed a disc from a new (to me) pianist, Bruno Gelber.  I picked up his Beethoven Emperor PC/Pathetique/Appassionata disc on the cheap, and liked it enough to order his (also bargain priced) Brahms PCs 1 & 2 (they're coming on the same order as the Solomon).  Anyone else familiar with this pianist, or have any essential recommendations?

Most of Gelber's recordings are either out of print or available only from Japan (like almost complete Beethoven sonatas cycle and excellent Brahms 3rd Sonata on Japanese Denon).

Best intro would be Les Rarissimes de Bruno Leonardo Gelber on French EMI, which is out of print or possibly available from some french retailers. Fortunately all contents of that double disc are available from Manuel's:
Beethoven Pastorale, Les Adieux, op.27/1,
Schumann Carnaval and Symphonic Etudes.
Schubert Wanderer, Chopin 3rd Sonata and that Liszt piece
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,42.msg190278.html#msg190278
rest is from elsewhere, you can find there some videos as well

[jwinter]

Thanks bro!