Recordings That You Are Considering

[Brian]

[Renfield]

You probably remember M's praise - and you also probably remember his taste generally agrees with mine, in this sort of repertory.

That having been said, I really do think it's a good set. It's not the sort of 'good' that calls attention to itself, it won't make you slit your wrists in ecstasy - but you'd be hard-pressed to find as well-crafted modern-instrument, big band performances of all those symphonies elsewhere*.


*Except perhaps by Szell, though I don't think he's done the full 28-41 span. Ditto for Klemperer, who I am also not counting because his Mozart, brilliant as it might be (IMO), is too idiomatic for me to predict whether you'll like it.

[Papy Oli]

The Michael Endres box is superb. Magnificent performances, and fine recordings. Endres has a open detailed sound and a warm timbre. He digs deep, and knows his way in Schubert. For the price this is a no brainer.

Thank you Harry 

[Lethevich]

How on earth did I miss this on its release?



The Decca boxes in four volumes are a surprisingly close-matching rival to this set, and also boast Britten conducting most of the works, but they cost a lot more, so...

[Lilas Pastia]

You probably remember M's praise - and you also probably remember his taste generally agrees with mine, in this sort of repertory.

That having been said, I really do think it's a good set. It's not the sort of 'good' that calls attention to itself, it won't make you slit your wrists in ecstasy - but you'd be hard-pressed to find as well-crafted modern-instrument, big band performances of all those symphonies elsewhere*.


*Except perhaps by Szell, though I don't think he's done the full 28-41 span. Ditto for Klemperer, who I am also not counting because his Mozart, brilliant as it might be (IMO), is too idiomatic for me to predict whether you'll like it.

Ren, you might want to check your choice of words here...

Papy, heed Harry's advice: Endres' Schubert is as good as it gets.

My own next purchase: Bruckner's 8th under Nézet-Séguin (out this month). Surprisingly for someone so young, NZ favours very expansive tempi in his Bruckner readings. But the acoustics he's recording into are perfect for that kind of approach.

[Brian]

[SonicMan46]

Brian - I have nearly all of these works on individual discs collected over many years - the only set that overlaps are the Piano Quintets, which I own performed by the Quintetto di Roma on Claves (same performers so licensed by Brilliant) - these recordingss are just superb (and I likely spent the price that was half the total box under consideration!); can't see how you could wrong w/ this purchase, which has been recommended by others already - if purchased, lookin' forward to your comments - 

[Lethevich]

Brian - I have nearly all of these works on individual discs collected over many years - the only set that overlaps are the Piano Quintets, which I own performed by the Quintetto di Roma on Claves (same performers so licensed by Brilliant) - these recordingss are just superb (and I likely spent the price that was half the total box under consideration!); can't see how you could wrong w/ this purchase, which has been recommended by others already - if purchased, lookin' forward to your comments -  

I was happy with this box as well, but I have not heard alternate performances for most of the pieces.

[Dana]

As a longtime lieder fan I've been ogling this one:



Some 21 discs.

Ooooooo... $86 used is a STEEP to pay though...

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I've never been too keen on these recordings. Nothing wrong with the playing of course but this is very big Mozart. Not that there's anything wrong with very big Mozart but I prefer the musical line to be less listless than here with greater flexibility.

On the plus side it's a nicely recorded set, capturing the Dresden State in all its glory. But still aways from my favorite.

[Renfield]

Ren, you might want to check your choice of words here...

If you mean that second phrase, yes, its syntax verges on the arcane! But it's actually correct, if you unravel it - and since I was anyway name-checking M forever, I figured the rambling style was an appropriate, if unintentional, touch.


Our resident Divertimentian, incidentally, is quite right about the lack of flexibility. It's a more architectural sort of Mozart, hence my bringing Szell and Klemperer up (the former of whom is, however, much more muscular in this repertory, and the latter more cerebral).

[Brian]

I was happy with this box as well, but I have not heard alternate performances for most of the pieces.

I just heard the First Piano Quintet today (Fine Arts, Cristina Ortiz, Naxos) and it was so ravising that I decided all of Faure's chamber music was necessary.  

[Dancing Divertimentian]

- and since I was anyway name-checking M forever, I figured the rambling style was an appropriate, if unintentional, touch.

Our resident Divertimentian, incidentally, is quite right about the lack of flexibility. It's a more architectural sort of Mozart, hence my bringing Szell and Klemperer up...

'Architectural' is an apt description. Quite granitic and looming.

I've always wished I could go wild over these recordings, coming back to the one disc I have left (syms 39 and 41) time and again. I seem to come away more in awe of the superb playing than anything however, which is no bad thing in and of itself. Stir in a bit of pliability and I think I'd be in Mozart heaven, here.

[Papy Oli]

Papy, heed Harry's advice: Endres' Schubert is as good as it gets.

c'est noté, André 

[Lilas Pastia]

c'est noté, André 

De rien mon ami! 

Ren, sorry to be so anal  . I was referring to the third sentence: you meant 'idiosyncratic', not 'idiomatic', right? Otherwise it just doesn't make sense  .

[The new erato]

Ooooooo... $86 used is a STEEP to pay though...

For at time this was available in the UK at 30£, bought mine at that price a couple of years ago.

[Renfield]

Ren, sorry to be so anal  . I was referring to the third sentence: you meant 'idiosyncratic', not 'idiomatic', right? Otherwise it just doesn't make sense  .

No apology necessary!

I did mean idiomatic, in the sense of its being consistent with a particular style, which (in this case) isn't necessarily either the dominant style, or even a style commonly accepted as valid. 'Idiosyncratic' would have invested my statement with an inappropriately negative semantic hue.

'Architectural' is an apt description. Quite granitic and looming.

I've always wished I could go wild over these recordings, coming back to the one disc I have left (syms 39 and 41) time and again. I seem to come away more in awe of the superb playing than anything however [..]

Which is, of course, fair enough! As I hinted above, it isn't my favourite big-band Mozart either: that's between Szell and Klemp.

[Lilas Pastia]

I get it...

Klemperer's Mozart is the object of intense admiration by many. But there's no denying he has a sometimes peculiar view of how his music ought to go. I thought that's what you were referiing to.

[Maciek]

I might be getting one of these as a present for someone. Anyone heard any of them? (Currently leaning toward the Martinu.)


Handel: Coronation Anthems Nos. 1-4, Excerpts from Messiah, Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (from Solomon), Organ Concerto No. 4 in F major, HWV292, Op. 4 No. 4. The Sixteen, Harry Christophers. Coro: COR16066


Schumann: Melancholie Op. 74 No. 6 (Francisco Saa de Miranda / Emanuel Geibel), Liederkreis, Op. 39, 5 Lieder, Op. 40, Sechs Gedichte aus dem Liederbuch eines Malers, Op. 36, Gesänge des Harfners aus, Op. 98a, Tief im Herzen trag' ich Pein, Op. 138 ,No. 2, Der Einsiedler, Op. 83 No. 3, Christian Gerhaher (baritone) & Gerold Huber (piano). RCA: 88697168172


Martinu - Music from the opera Juliette. Magdalena Kožená (Juliette), Steve Davislim (Michel), Frédéric Goncalves, Michéle Lagrange & Nicolas Testé, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras. Supraphon: SU39942


Schumann - Dichterliebe & other Heine settings. Gerald Finley (baritone) & Julius Drake (piano). Hyperion: CDA67676


Bach, J S: Arias, Recitatives and Choruses from St Matthew Passion. Elly Ameling (Soprano) / Janet Baker (Contralto) / Neil Jenkins (Tenor) / John Barrow (Bass). Wandsworth School Boys’ Choir, London Bach Society, Steinitz Bach Players, Paul Steinitz. Recorded 1972. BBC Legends: BBCL41682


Charles, W: Green Eyed Dragon, Ives, C:Memories. Mussorgsky: Songs and Dances of Death, Rautavaara: Shall I compare thee, Rorem: War Scenes, Tchaikovsky: Don Juan's Serenade, Op. 38 No. 1, It happened in the early Spring Op. 38 No. 2, At the ball, Does the day reign?, Op. 47 No 6, The mild stars shone for us, Only one who knows longing, As over burning Embers, Gerald Finley (bass-baritone) & Julius Drake (piano). Wigmore Hall Live: WHLIVE0025

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I might be getting one of these as a present for someone. Anyone heard any of them? (Currently leaning toward the Martinu.)


Martinu - Music from the opera Juliette. Magdalena Kožená (Juliette), Steve Davislim (Michel), Frédéric Goncalves, Michéle Lagrange & Nicolas Testé, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras. Supraphon: SU39942

Maciek,

I'm unable to offer comments about the others on your list but the Martinu should be great. No, I haven't actually heard this exact recording but I do own the entire opera on another Supraphon release and the work is without doubt one of the crown jewels in Martinu's output (which means it deserves a spot atop the short list of 20th century greats).

Mackerras I assume has done great things here judging from his work in the Janacek I have (mostly opera). He seems to have a pretty good line into the Czech idiom.

So if it were my money I would have zero misgivings about spending it on this one.