Recordings That You Are Considering

[Sadko]

But that Amazon page says "Number of Discs: 1."

Don't know about this one, but the number given on Amazon is often wrong, a set often is listed as "1 disk".

[mc ukrneal]

Don't know about this one, but the number given on Amazon is often wrong, a set often is listed as "1 disk".

Yes. Looks like they got it wrong - http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product//SB4K87744.htm

[North Star]

But that Amazon page says "Number of Discs: 1."

That is a not uncommon error on Amazon. Crossley would have to be very fleet-fingered to play the complete piano music in 80 minutes 

[Todd]

A lot more that $.30 cheaper.  An Amazon seller has it "new" for $14.27.

That's comparing the new box's pre-release price.  I'm betting various Amazon sellers will have a much lower price.  I'll be surprised if it doesn't go for $10-14, maybe even less.  The Kubelik Great Symphonies set from the same series has two sellers at around $10 for seven discs.  I can wait a week or so to find out.

[madaboutmahler]

Looking for a new recording of both the Beethoven and Britten violin concertos, so this recording seems rather ideal... is it?

[asin]B002GJ3MRQ[/asin]

[kishnevi]

Looking for a new recording of both the Beethoven and Britten violin concertos, so this recording seems rather ideal... is it?

[asin]B002GJ3MRQ[/asin]

Modified yes, as to the Britten.
Modified because this was is (at the moment) my only recording of the Britten, but it certainly impressed me.  But because it's my only recording, I can't really say how to divide up the credit between Britten and Jansen.  (When the new recording from Hyperion lands, I might be able to give a more definite answer.)

The Beethoven is a nice entry into a field where alternatives are far from scarce.

[marvinbrown]

  What is it with me and Scandinavian composers?? My last purchase was the complete set of Langgaard symphonies and recently I discovered a new composer, ALLAN PETTERSSON!


  I spent the last 2 nights listening to Pettersson's 6th and 7th symphonies on youtube and have been hypnotized by the unrelenting darkness, the agony and pain of it all.  The brief tenderness that emerges  three quarters of the way through the 6th was a welcome gift after close to 40 minutes of torturous music!............... and I thought it couldn't get any worst than Richard Strauss' Elektra!!

  I was planning on buying my first set of Haydn string quartets but now I desperately need a complete set of Pettersson's symphonies. Haydn will just have to wait.

  There is only one complete set on the market and it's not cheap (the best I found it for was £70):

  [asin]B000L42J7C[/asin]

  So is it worth it or do I just stick to youtube??

  marvin
 

[jlaurson]

  What is it with me and Scandinavian composers?? My last purchase was the complete set of Langgaard symphonies and recently I discovered a new composer, ALLAN PETTERSSON!


  I spent the last 2 nights listening to Pettersson's 6th and 7th symphonies on youtube and have been hypnotized by the unrelenting darkness, the agony and pain of it all.  The brief tenderness that emerges  three quarters of the way through the 6th was a welcome gift after close to 40 minutes of torturous music!............... and I thought it couldn't get any worst than Richard Strauss' Elektra!!

  I was planning on buying my first set of Haydn string quartets but now I desperately need a complete set of Pettersson's symphonies. Haydn will just have to wait.

...is it worth it or do I just stick to youtube??

  marvin

I have a colleague* who insists that "if you say 'Sibelius', you have to say 'Petterson'".
I don't quite agree; that's like saying "if you say 'Shostakovich', you have to say 'Tubin'"... but the point is and remains valid that the difference in perception between the two composer pairs should be much smaller if the merits of the music were the sole concern. In short: I can't recommend any composer over Haydn, simply because Haydn is, just after Bach, the sine-qua-non of music... but if you're in for a romantic Scandinavian composer, by all means: go ahead! It's terrific music and a very rewarding musical journey.

[* Could also be because the colleague is German and Sibelius has a post-WWII tradition of being underrated in Germany, thanks (but no thanks) to the narrow ideologue Adorno.]

[Lethevich]

There is a chance you might dislike the rest - many who enjoy 6-8 feel that way (they are less melodic). I would suggest checking bits of these two out, if you enjoy them I wholeheartedly recommend the set - it's excellent, and diverse in impulse if not mood.

http://www.youtube.com/v/t7rphzFKJCY http://www.youtube.com/v/aWAF9KG-L_s

[Sergeant Rock]

The price has dropped at JPC: €50 (or 41 pounds). Whether you actually need all his symphonies is another question. Some will tell you to buy 6, 7 and 8 and forget the rest. Others (me, Lethe) love some of the later symphonies too. I particularly like 10, 11 and 16 (a saxophone concerto in all but name).

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

. . . and recently I discovered a new composer, ALLAN PETTERSSON!

No hope for you, then, Marvin!  Some composers are best left undiscovered . . . .

; )

[Karl Henning]

I have a colleague* who insists that "if you say 'Sibelius', you have to say 'Petterson'".

Well, I do call that not merely eccentric, but unbalanced.

[not edward]

Modified yes, as to the Britten.
Modified because this was is (at the moment) my only recording of the Britten, but it certainly impressed me.  But because it's my only recording, I can't really say how to divide up the credit between Britten and Jansen.  (When the new recording from Hyperion lands, I might be able to give a more definite answer.)

I've not heard the Hyperion recording of the Britten (that's with Anthony Marwood, right?) but I don't think Jansen can match the classic Lubotsky/Britten recording--Lubotsky's big sound suits the solo part down to the ground, and I felt Jansen over-Romanticizes the finale, which I find more effective in a reading that eschews short-term drama in favour of emphasising the development and disintegration of the music.

[marvinbrown]

The price has dropped at JPC: €50 (or 41 pounds). Whether you actually need all his symphonies is another question. Some will tell you to buy 6, 7 and 8 and forget the rest. Others (me, Lethe) love some of the later symphonies too. I particularly like 10, 11 and 16 (a saxophone concerto in all but name).

Sarge

  Sarge  thanks for the heads up!!  I appreciate that!

  marvin

[marvinbrown]

There is a chance you might dislike the rest - many who enjoy 6-8 feel that way (they are less melodic). I would suggest checking bits of these two out, if you enjoy them I wholeheartedly recommend the set - it's excellent, and diverse in impulse if not mood.

http://www.youtube.com/v/t7rphzFKJCY http://www.youtube.com/v/aWAF9KG-L_s

  Lethe  This music suites me fine. I have always had a "dark" side that needs nurturing! 

  marvin

[Lethevich]

  Lethe  This music suites me fine. I have always had a "dark" side that needs nurturing! 

You won't regret it - the performances are all of a high level, and even in the ones that people have other preferences for, I find this is an aesthetic choice as much as an objective one (for example, the wiry, stark quality of the CPO 7th I find as compelling as the popular, somewhat Romantic Segerstam recording). I would love to hear your impressions on each piece one once you get around to them.

[madaboutmahler]

Modified yes, as to the Britten.
Modified because this was is (at the moment) my only recording of the Britten, but it certainly impressed me.  But because it's my only recording, I can't really say how to divide up the credit between Britten and Jansen.  (When the new recording from Hyperion lands, I might be able to give a more definite answer.)

The Beethoven is a nice entry into a field where alternatives are far from scarce.

I've not heard the Hyperion recording of the Britten (that's with Anthony Marwood, right?) but I don't think Jansen can match the classic Lubotsky/Britten recording--Lubotsky's big sound suits the solo part down to the ground, and I felt Jansen over-Romanticizes the finale, which I find more effective in a reading that eschews short-term drama in favour of emphasising the development and disintegration of the music.

Thanks for the feedback Jeffrey and Edward. 
Edward, The Lubotsky is the recording of the concerto I have in my collection so far. It certainly is excellent. Would this make a good second recording though? The Hyperion disc that you mention as well, Jeffrey, also looks very tempting. Although, I do want a new recording of the Beethoven as well. Maybe I'll try and get both in the future.... so much to buy!

[Mirror Image]

Thanks for the feedback Jeffrey and Edward. 
Edward, The Lubotsky is the recording of the concerto I have in my collection so far. It certainly is excellent. Would this make a good second recording though? The Hyperion disc that you mention as well, Jeffrey, also looks very tempting. Although, I do want a new recording of the Beethoven as well. Maybe I'll try and get both in the future.... so much to buy!

Daniel, I just don't understand why you don't buy the Britten Conducts Britten Decca box set? The box with all the orchestral works. It's got everything you need right in there.

[madaboutmahler]

Daniel, I just don't understand why you don't buy the Britten Conducts Britten Decca box set? The box with all the orchestral works. It's got everything you need right in there.

Maybe I will in the future. I already own some of these recordings and they are excellent. There is just so much to buy!

[Mirror Image]

I'm considering more and more Shostakovich! I can't get enough! I will be considering another string quartet cycle, some chamber works recordings, and more orchestral music.