Recordings That You Are Considering

[Coopmv]

That is because you are a man of high taste, Stuart.

Bill,  Thanks for the compliment.  My goal has always been to put together a comprehensive classical music collection spanning the Renaissance and through the early 20th century.  There are many historically significant recordings that have to belong to this collection and many of them are indeed monaural.  But unlike the Mr. 78 at the SH forum, I have gone the CD route.  Here is another mono set that I have come to enjoy very much and became part of my collection over a year ago ...

[kishnevi]

Some of my best performances are in mono.  Do not, I repeat, do not, let this detract you.  I do believe that in many cases it is nice to have a stereo set to compliment the historical set, but great performances are just that.

I've got more than a few mono recordings--but I do find that it makes a difference in my enjoyment, especially in orchestral and vocal music.  In this case I'm just wondering if these particular recordings actually qualify as 'great performances'

[Coopmv]

I've got more than a few mono recordings--but I do find that it makes a difference in my enjoyment, especially in orchestral and vocal music.  In this case I'm just wondering if these particular recordings actually qualify as 'great performances'

Historical performances did not necessarily have to be great performances in terms of sound quality.  A great (live) performance could indeed have mediocre recorded sound but we were not there to witness the actual SQ.  We can only listen to the captured history, i.e. recorded sound.  There is indeed room for historical recordings in my classical music collection ...

[Marc]

I do not mind about female beauty in music at all.

But I watched the telly this afternoon and I immediately thought about this topic again.

It will be interesting to follow the career of another young Dutch female violinst: Simone Lamsma. She's a skinny, pale, pockmarked blonde, apparently born in Nose City, with no model looks at all, but according to f.i. conductor/violinist Jaap van Zweden she's by far the best violinist of her generation, even in international context. Well, those are just his words of course, and I'm definitely no violin 'connaisseur', but I saw a documentary about her this afternoon and I think she's really good (for what that's worth). Very impressive technique and a beautiful tone in the soft passages, too. In the documentary she played Bach, Ysaÿe and Shostakovich with astounding ease and warmth.
But will the labels and the audiences prefer her to babe-looking ladies like Jansen, Hahn, Fischer, Benedetti, Mutter et al? So far, she's only made a few recordings for Naxos, AFAIK. Without any glamour photographs or booklets. Mainly music .... will it be sufficient to build an impressive career in these days?
Just wondering.

True, but she isn't unattractive either:
[....]


So she's a competition winner. I attend our local Chopin Society recitals. They take place in a private home and feature mostly young pianists who have won or come in second or third place in various competitions. Interesting thing: in ten years I've seen maybe twenty pianists and not one--not one! male or female, was unattractive. Some think the record companies only want to promote attractive artists for commercial reasons--but it seems to run deeper than that when you consider that beauty might affect judging too. I think we're witnessing something that's just human: when given a choice, most of us prefer to watch something beautiful.

Apologies for bringing this slightly off-topic subject up again. I'll try to make it a bit on-topic then.

Yesterday evening I both saw and heard Simone Lamsma, playing with a string section of the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra. She joined in after the intermission to play Vivaldi's Le quattro stagioni and that was great fun to watch .... and to listen, too.

Simone Lamsma gave an encore, by playing the Sarabande of Bach's second Partita for solo violin .... and this was the true highlight of the evening, IMO.

(Yes, wet eyes again. . Sorry, Harry. )

I raced home on my city bike and listened to the same piece, played by Janine Jansen on disc .... and to me, Simone Lamsma wins by quite a convincing margin. More expression, more variety, more gutz to make a heartfelt reading out of it. All this making Jansen's interpretation only decent and neat. Of course, Lamsma had the advantage of playing in front of an audience, but still .....

A pity that 'her' label Naxos already's got these solo violin works in their catalogue (Lucy van Dael & Ilya Kaler), otherwise Lamsma's Bach would be a record worth considering.

[Brian]

A pity that 'her' label Naxos already's got these solo violin works in their catalogue (Lucy van Dael & Ilya Kaler), otherwise Lamsma's Bach would be a record worth considering.

Naxos is very reluctant to let new artists touch the core repertoire, which in a way is good - otherwise they would risk becoming a new EMI or Decca - but also leaves me yearning to hear, for instance, Bella Hristova in the Mendelssohn concerto.

And speaking of Bella Hristova...

[SonicMan46]

This afternoon I was listening to the 6-CD box of Concerto Koln on Teldec - one disc included some Symphonies by Leopold Kozeluch (1747-1818) - these are the only works that I own of this composer and was amazed at 'how much' be had written - even left a post in Gurn's 'classical corner thread' summarizing his output!

So, I'd like to acquire some more of his recordings but few reviews are available - so, I've placed 3 CDs below, one on CPO and 2 on Orfeo (not cheap) of works that I'd likely enjoy - love Trio 1790 & Klocker's CC - thus, I'd appreciated any comments on these offerings, the composer's quality, and any other thoughts - thanks all! 

   

[SonicMan46]

OK - no one has responded to my previous post at the moment! 

So, guess that I'll leave another consideration - Beethoven SQs, Complete w/ the Alexander SQ - this new (and 2nd recording) of this group has received some outstanding reviews (see Fanfare attachment) - this 9-CD is now on Amazon Marketplace for $56 - has anyone heard these recordings?  If so, opinions please!   

[mc ukrneal]

This afternoon I was listening to the 6-CD box of Concerto Koln on Teldec - one disc included some Symphonies by Leopold Kozeluch (1747-1818) - these are the only works that I own of this composer and was amazed at 'how much' be had written - even left a post in Gurn's 'classical corner thread' summarizing his output!

So, I'd like to acquire some more of his recordings but few reviews are available - so, I've placed 3 CDs below, one on CPO and 2 on Orfeo (not cheap) of works that I'd likely enjoy - love Trio 1790 & Klocker's CC - thus, I'd appreciated any comments on these offerings, the composer's quality, and any other thoughts - thanks all! 

   

There is another disc of Kozeluch symphonies in the Contemporaries of Mozart series on Chandos. No idea if there is overlap with what you have, but the disc is very good and receives regular listens by me (always the best sign - how much it gets listened to).

[SonicMan46]

There is another disc of Kozeluch symphonies in the Contemporaries of Mozart series on Chandos. No idea if there is overlap with what you have, but the disc is very good and receives regular listens by me (always the best sign - how much it gets listened to).

Assume that you're referring to the Bamert - I've already looked at that recording and may be at least one duplicated work (the Postolka numbering is not duplicated?); plus, the timing is only 56 minutes - could have easily added another work - finally the Concerto Koln performances are hard to beat!  So, earlier decided not to pursuit the Bamert set, although I have many discs already by this group - thanks for the input - 

[DavidRoss]

OK - no one has responded to my previous post at the moment! 

So, guess that I'll leave another consideration - Beethoven SQs, Complete w/ the Alexander SQ - this new (and 2nd recording) of this group has received some outstanding reviews (see Fanfare attachment) - this 9-CD is now on Amazon Marketplace for $56 - has anyone heard these recordings?  If so, opinions please!   

I've not heard the recordings, but did hear them perform the complete cycle live in Berkeley and Davis during 2007 and 2008.  I think they're wonderful--warm, thoughtful, and soulful. 

[SonicMan46]

I've not heard the recordings, but did hear them perform the complete cycle live in Berkeley and Davis during 2007 and 2008.  I think they're wonderful--warm, thoughtful, and soulful.

David - first, that has to have been a glorious experience!  Second, your opinion certainly confirms what has been written about these performances - the reviews have just been superlative - so may pursuit the purchase!  Dave 

[Gurn Blanston]

OK - no one has responded to my previous post at the moment! 

So, guess that I'll leave another consideration - Beethoven SQs, Complete w/ the Alexander SQ - this new (and 2nd recording) of this group has received some outstanding reviews (see Fanfare attachment) - this 9-CD is now on Amazon Marketplace for $56 - has anyone heard these recordings?  If so, opinions please!   

Geez, Dave, you're on a tear these days. I can't keep up with you! However, I'm ahead of you here. This is the same set that was included in that super 60 disk box by Sony that we all jumped on a couple of years ago. This one:



Looking at it now on Amazon, I see I bought it 8/28/2007, and paid $27 with free S & H. Well, it has gone up a bit since then...    

Anyway, the point being that the string quartet disks in this box were very nice indeed. Nothing revelatory perhaps, but how many revelations are there in life? They are very solidly played, nice tempi, good intonation, very good recorded sound, "you could dance to them, Dick, I'll give them an 88..."  

I got Kozeluch too, just not the disks you have. I would dearly love that Trio 1790 disk. I have an excellent fortepiano sonatas disk by Christine Faron on Berlin Classics, and some clarinet concerti and at least one sinfonia concertante. But I'll have to round up that info, haven't had time to do it yet. In any case, I think you'll like his non-symphonic works too; I do.



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Now playing:
Chamber Orchestra of Lausanne / Dorati  Norman / Donath / Ahnsjö / Lövaas - Hob 28 08 Opera "La Vera Costanza" pt 29 - Act 2 - Gia La Morte In Mante Nero

[DavidRoss]

This is the same set that was included in that super 60 disk box by Sony that we all jumped on a couple of years ago. This one:

Looking at it now on Amazon, I see I bought it 8/28/2007, and paid $27 with free S & H. Well, it has gone up a bit since then...  

Not the same, Gurn.  Perhaps the box you bought has the earlier ASQ cycle done in the '90s for Arte Nova...?  The one Dave's asking about is new, released just last year.

I just checked their website--didn't find the recording date, but did find some streaming MP3 sample movements from their recordings, here: http://www.asq4.com/audio.htm#

[SonicMan46]

Not the same, Gurn.  Perhaps the box you bought has the earlier ASQ cycle done in the '90s for Arte Nova...?  The one Dave's asking about is new, released just last year.

I just checked their website--didn't find the recording date, but did find some streaming MP3 sample movements from their recordings, here: http://www.asq4.com/audio.htm#

Gurn - have to agree w/ David - this recording is the second one done by the ASQ on a different label and the one that received superlative reviews; you likely have their earlier recording (which has been reviewed to be inferior) - this new recording seems to be quite special (I attached a Fanfare review that might be of interest)!

So, bottom line is that you need to think about an additional LvB SQ purchase? -     Dave 

P.S. - my son gave me an Amazon Gift Certificate - so have put in my order for this 9-CD set!

[jlaurson]

you likely have their earlier recording (which has been reviewed to be inferior) - this new recording seems to be quite special (I attached a Fanfare review that might be of interest)!

That review is part of an interview, a so called feature-review. Without going into greater detail: NEVER trust those (blindly).

[SonicMan46]

That review is part of an interview, a so called feature-review. Without going into greater detail: NEVER trust those (blindly).

Well, Jens, I'm not so sure - Jerry Dubins was quite emphatic in recommending these recordings - and the review came at the end of the 'feature article' (which I did not attach).   

[Brian]

Dave, if I may put in a good word for the Endellion set - it contains everything Beethoven ever wrote for string quartet, from the original version of Op 18 No 1 to the fugue he jotted down as a souvenir for a visitor in the late 1820s. Unfortunately the Endellion are my introduction to Beethoven's quartets, so I've never heard any other versions and can't do any comparing, but they sure do sound good so far. 

[DavidRoss]

Gurn--this recording is the second one done by the ASQ on a different label and the one that received superlative reviews; you likely have their earlier recording (which has been reviewed to be inferior)

Note that the earlier Arte Nova recordings from the mid-90s may be inferior to the new release on Foghorn, but the earlier performances are still quite good.  Don't take my word for it--after all, I'm prejudiced in favor of the local guys--but you might consider what Scott Morrison has to say: http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000GETWHM/pageturners0c

Jens's stablemate, Charles Downey, offered a mini-review of the new ASQ set here: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2010/04/alexander-quartets-beethoven-cycle.html

And musicweb's Michael Cookson's "Recording of the Month" review of the new set is here: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2009/Oct09/Beethoven_Alexander_CD2005.htm

[jlaurson]

Well, Jens, I'm not so sure - Jerry Dubins was quite emphatic in recommending these recordings - and the review came at the end of the 'feature article' (which I did not attach).   

It all don't matter. Feature reviews are not to be trusted on principle. (Economic and psychological.) UNLESS the review was by someone else, in which case the psychological reasons for not trusting them don't quite apply.

I'm not saying the review is wrong or that the recording ain't good. Just that these types of reviews should not be trusted, per se.

[jlaurson]

Jens's stablemate, Charles Downey, offered a mini-review of the new ASQ set here: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2010/04/alexander-quartets-beethoven-cycle.html

Well, if the stable mate liketh, then I should hear it, too. Let's see if they'll send a copy over. Though I can't agree with his conclusion that "$71.99 by Amazon for nine discs" is a bargain. Well, in a way I agree: it's a very good price in absolute terms. And nothing is too expensive when the quality is accordingly.

But of available complete sets, that makes it the second third {somewhere in the top 6} most expensive on Amazon, after the Gewandhaus String Quartet set. (Which I should finally get around to listening. Argh...) And the stupendous Végh Quartet is available for just a smidgen more.

Wait, now Amazon has lowered the price to $65.-, which means that the Bartók Quartet, the tremendously awesome Prazak Quartet (SACD!), the Orford Quartet, and the Beethoven Quartet all slip in line before it. Well, maybe it is a bargain, after all. :-)