Recordings That You Are Considering

[JBS]

I'm considering this LSO box



But maybe I should get the Decca Colin Davis Berlioz box instead? With older recordings? Hurwitz suggests that this new LSO Fantastique is awful and badly recorded but that everything else, especially choral/opera, is super good. I have plenty of Fantastique.

I have two recordings from that series. The  Damnation of Faust bored me. The Benvenuto Cellini was good, but it's my only recording of that opera, so I can't really compare it to anything.
Plus isn't there more in the Decca box?

[Brian]

I have two recordings from that series. The  Damnation of Faust bored me.

Assuming you mean the recording in particular vs Faust in general? Need to check the Decca version to see what is different in the contents.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

I'm considering this LSO box



But maybe I should get the Decca Colin Davis Berlioz box instead? With older recordings? Hurwitz suggests that this new LSO Fantastique is awful and badly recorded but that everything else, especially choral/opera, is super good. I have plenty of Fantastique.

So what's in it? All of CD's LSO Berlioz, presumably? Benvenuto C., L.Troyens, SyFa, B&B, H-in-I, Christ, R&J, GMdM, and LdF.

That'd be the old LSO box plus Benvenuto & L'enfance du Christ?

The Grand Messe des morts is a real dud. I remember Harold not being all that well received and not convincing me, but that's a long time ago. But the rest had most people raving (although there were always dissenting voices, too, who thought that Davis was getting a free ride, criticism-wise, in his old days in London). I tend to agree with the above opinion that the differences are, for a compendium, not significant enough to have you necessarily choose one over the other. It's more a matter of completeness and price. I think the Philips recordings are not available (except used - either the complete box or divided in Operas, Orchestral Music, and Sacred Music, Symphonic Dramas, Orchestral Songs) and there is no omnibus re-issue that contains all his Berlioz for Philips, either. The Philips collection would, however, be more complete... running to 24 CDs, which can't just be broad spacing of works.

(Here's a overview of the different recordings of Les Troyens out there: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenslaurson/2018/01/20/classical-cd-of-the-month-les-troyens-from-strasbourg-with-joyce-didonato/#6d1ca3397533)

[Irons]

Any thoughts on the Maxwell Davies "Naxos Quartets"? I am an admirer of the Maggini Quartet but not at all familiar with Max's music. Worth going for the box set or not?

[André]

I'm quite content with the one disc of them quartets I have (no 1and 2). They are quite large-scale works. I might indulge in another one some time but I doubt I'll feel the box is a necessity.

[Judith]

Ordered

Martinu

Complete Symphonies
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Jarvi

A composer not familiar with but seen him mentioned a lot on Twitter so curious🎼🎼

[Brian]

Ordered

Martinu

Complete Symphonies
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Jarvi

A composer not familiar with but seen him mentioned a lot on Twitter so curious🎼🎼

I think you'll love the sunny optimism of No. 2 and the heroic search of No. 4 immediately, then come to love the others soon enough!

[Irons]

I'm quite content with the one disc of them quartets I have (no 1and 2). They are quite large-scale works. I might indulge in another one some time but I doubt I'll feel the box is a necessity.

Thanks. Think I will give it a miss for the time being.

[Mandryka]

[Mr. Minnow]

I'm interested in opinions on this:



Some of the samples I found sound a bit "hooty" in places, in other parts not so much:

https://www.allmusic.com/album/lumen-chant-gr%C3%A9gorien-monodies-et-polyphonies-m%C3%A9di%C3%A9vales-mw0001947823

[Todd]

[Mandryka]

[Todd]

I'm thinking I need a new set of the Mystery Sonatas. 

[Mr. Minnow]

[king ubu]

I'm thinking I need a new set of the Mystery Sonatas.

It's quite subdued and quite "even", for lack of better words ... beautiful for sure, but to me, not as grabbing as other recordings (Schmitt, Pierlot, Sepec, Malgoire) - which may be a good reason to get it in addition 

[André]

I stumbled upon this while checking new releases at JPC





Music by Steiner, Dessau, Kilar, Frankel. Vandermolen for one should be interested ! 

[Mandryka]

I'm interested in opinions on this:



Some of the samples I found sound a bit "hooty" in places, in other parts not so much:

https://www.allmusic.com/album/lumen-chant-gr%C3%A9gorien-monodies-et-polyphonies-m%C3%A9di%C3%A9vales-mw0001947823

I like it. Contrasting voices, expressive singing, relaxing, the ambience of the recording location, St Pierre d'Exideuil, captured. But you know, you can hear the whole thing for yourself on youtube here

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFcJ3knpQ7pOJUSL7k3A3UA

One of the voices seems very disctinctive, with a breathy quality which I find not uninteresting.

[Mandryka]

I think anything by Sermisy is an essential purchase! I mean there isn't a whole lot and he was a good composer.

[Mandryka]

It's quite subdued and quite "even"

this makes it sound tempting, shame it's quite expensive.

[Mr. Minnow]

I like it. Contrasting voices, expressive singing, relaxing, the ambience of the recording location, St Pierre d'Exideuil, captured. But you know, you can hear the whole thing for yourself on youtube here

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFcJ3knpQ7pOJUSL7k3A3UA

One of the voices seems very disctinctive, with a breathy quality which I find not uninteresting.

Thanks for the link. I'd already decided to take a chance when the price went down to just over £6, but having listened on youtube it sounds quite good. The voice which sounded a bit "hooty" on the samples I'd heard doesn't seem to dominate, which is a relief.

I think anything by Sermisy is an essential purchase! I mean there isn't a whole lot and he was a good composer.

I've ordered it from Amazon France along with the new Sollazzo Ensemble CD. Total cost about £16 each. A bit pricey, but not too bad given that the Sermisy CD doesn't seem to be available from any UK retailer and Amazon UK want over £24 for Sollazzo's disc.

It's a fair while ago that I got this but from what I recall, it's worth getting at a decent price. It's not as if there's a vast array of CDs to choose from in this music anyway!

Again, I got this ages ago but I have most of Stimmwerck's CDs and I've yet to hear one I didn't like. They released this on the same label: