Recordings That You Are Considering

[Mirror Image]

Bruckner 7th might be my favorite (only 5 truly rivals), I own more copies of that than any other, and I find Herreweghe's to be brilliant, Solti and Chailly have long been my tops but Herreweghe get many listens.

So we now have one vote for the Herreweghe 7th and one vote against it. I'm so confused. I want my mommy!

[DavidRoss]

It's almost impossible for me to listen to an opera without taking a break of some kind and the same goes for a film. I have never listened to an opera without a break. I'm sad to report that I do not have a superhuman attention span. I suppose this is why I like music that is rhythmically charged in some way, but I also love picking apart Impressionistic works because of their harmonic language. Getting back on topic, at least with a Blu-ray, I don't have to worry about not missing anything because I can simply pause it and take a break. You can take a break at a concert, sure, but the show goes on with or without you and you may miss something crucial.

Opera performances have intermissions--like most symphony concerts I've attended.

[Mirror Image]

Opera performances have intermissions--like most symphony concerts I've attended.

Yes, but the human body doesn't know when those intermissions are nor does it particularly care.

[jlaurson]

I'm considering the Philippe Herreweghe's Bruckner symphony recordings:

Herreweghe B7: Yes. http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2004/11/dip-your-ears-no-17.html

Herreweghe B4: Hmm, yessish... http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2006/05/dip-your-ears-no-60.html

Herreweghe B5: Never quite jazzed my bell.

Not recordings but blurays I'm considering at the moment:

Lady Macbeth

Makrop.

(also: Nelsons DSCH & Boulez S'burg)

Makrop., yes! http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2011/09/notes-from-2011-salzburg-festival-17.html

Lady Macbeth: phenomenal music and great production.

[Mirror Image]

Herreweghe B7: Yes. http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2004/11/dip-your-ears-no-17.html

Herreweghe B4: Hmm, yessish... http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2006/05/dip-your-ears-no-60.html

Herreweghe B5: Never quite jazzed my bell.

Makrop., yes! http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2011/09/notes-from-2011-salzburg-festival-17.html

Lady Macbeth: phenomenal music and great production.

Excellent, Jens! Thanks for your feedback about the Herreweghe recordings and the Blu-ray opera performances. The Janacek and Shostakovich are next on my purchase list for sure.

[Sammy]

Yes, but the human body doesn't know when those intermissions are nor does it particularly care.

Give me a break.  We're not little kids; we can hold off until intermission.  If you can't, you need immediate medical attention.  I'm 65 and have had prostate cancer; yet, I can go a whole opera without getting out of my seat (as long as I use the facilities prior to the opera).  You're 30 years old and already ruled by some little urges?

[Mirror Image]

Give me a break.  We're not little kids; we can hold off until intermission.  If you can't, you need immediate medical attention.  I'm 65 and have had prostate cancer; yet, I can go a whole opera without getting out of my seat (as long as I use the facilities prior to the opera).  You're 30 years old and already ruled by some little urges?

I was just making a point.

[Sammy]

I was just making a point.

Right, that the human body doesn't pay attention to intermissions, but you do have some control over your body (at least I hope you do).

[Mirror Image]

Right, that the human body doesn't pay attention to intermissions, but you do have some control over your body (at least I hope you do).

[kishnevi]

I'm considering the Philippe Herreweghe's Bruckner symphony recordings:







I wished Herreweghe would record the 6th. That would be right up his alley I think.

I think Herreweghe's Bruckner is worth hearing (and so is his Mahler, especially Knaben Wunderhorn), but as you can see, lots of other people differ.  This is one of those case where you might want to listen to the lengthiest available samples to decide for yourself before you buy. 

As for taking a break during operas,  I'm in your camp.  And it's not my body--it's my attention span.  My brain doesn't take well to concentrated listening for two hours or three at a  time.  I've also got the same problem with motion pictures (one reason I don't watch many).

[Mirror Image]

I think Herreweghe's Bruckner is worth hearing (and so is his Mahler, especially Knaben Wunderhorn), but as you can see, lots of other people differ.  This is one of those case where you might want to listen to the lengthiest available samples to decide for yourself before you buy. 

As for taking a break during operas,  I'm in your camp.  And it's not my body--it's my attention span.  My brain doesn't take well to concentrated listening for two hours or three at a time.  I've also got the same problem with motion pictures (one reason I don't watch many).

Thanks, Jeffrey. I'll check out some samples. I just don't want to buy these right off the bat right now because I've had my eyes on some other things now. I also have a horrible attention span or at least when it comes to listening to something that's over an hour or so long. I had ADD as a kid and I still have some of that left over I'm afraid. I get bored too easily.

[CriticalI]

I think Herreweghe's Bruckner is worth hearing (and so is his Mahler, especially Knaben Wunderhorn)

I have that, and it's good! I especially like Sarah Connolly's singing. But the sound is a bit problematic, lacking the lower-middle body I like, and with a churchy reverb.

Last night I listened to some of Mozart's piano sonatas (Pommier, Virgin box), with which I'm not very familiar. I'd like to explore these further, preferably in interpretations with a bit more depth of drama. (And of course I also need the Fantasies, Rondos, and four hand music.) Would the Barenboim set be a solid choice?

[Mirror Image]

Does Herreweghe even record with Harmonia Mundi anymore? Anyone know?

[DavidW]

Does Herreweghe even record with Harmonia Mundi anymore? Anyone know?

I believe so.  I have some recent Bach cantatas from him.  I think that he still records under the HM label when performing with Chapelle Royale, but otherwise records on the Phi label.  Well excepting his Beethoven cycle which was on Pentatone.

This won't stop you but I think that Herreweghe's strength is for the baroque, not late romantic.

[Mirror Image]

I believe so.  I have some recent Bach cantatas from him.  I think that he still records under the HM label when performing with Chapelle Royale, but otherwise records on the Phi label.  Well excepting his Beethoven cycle which was on Pentatone.

This won't stop you but I think that Herreweghe's strength is for the baroque, not late romantic.

Yeah, I've seen him on Pentatone as I've got a Stravinsky recording of his from this label. A very good recording.

I've heard samples of his Berlioz, Faure, Brahms, and Mendelssohn on HM and was enchanted with what I heard and I snapped them up immediately. I have been wanting to hear Berlioz on period instruments for quite some time and it will be nice to have the others as well just to, if anything, offer a different perspective of the music we all know and love. You can never have too many interpretations. Of course, this is the CDCDCD side of me talking and not the voice of reason.

[CriticalI]

Last night I listened to some of Mozart's piano sonatas (Pommier, Virgin box), with which I'm not very familiar. I'd like to explore these further, preferably in interpretations with a bit more depth of drama. (And of course I also need the Fantasies, Rondos, and four hand music.) Would the Barenboim set be a solid choice?

I've listened to a number of samples on Amazon of K309, because I want to hear what pianists make of the "minor" sonatas. Most did not impress me (De Larrocha was very characterful in the first mvt but then flopped in the andante; there were no Barenboim samples), but I was really intrigued by Gould, who I have previously avoided due to my aversion to mass hype. Such shame that the sound isn't better, but at least it's cheap! His recently reissued set is now at the top of my wishlist

[mc ukrneal]

It's seems Chandos are on to their third disc of pure Fasch! Anyone heard any of these? Did you like it? Or perhaps these aren't the ones to get?

This was lost, so bumping it in case someone is familiar with the music....

[The new erato]

This was lost, so bumping it in case someone is familiar with the music....

I'm sorry, I have no idea. What I do know, however, is that this is mindblowingly superb:

[SonicMan46]

This was lost, so bumping it in case someone is familiar with the music....Re: Fasch

Hi Neal - I went on a 'small' buying binge of Fasch's music last year and earlier this year - now have the 8 discs shown below; all just excellent IMO - the two on the Accent label may be my favorites @ the moment but have not listen to these recently!  Dave

 
 
 
 

[North Star]

Moravec's Chopin Nocturnes - a bargain at only 1234.55 € 
http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B0085U0GYW/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_10?ie=UTF8&smid=A1AT7YVPFBWXBL