Recordings That You Are Considering

[Brian]

I did not buy that Fauré box, staxomega - Mirror Image did I think - but I own 5-6 other boxes in that exact same reissue series and they all have 8-12 page booklets which list the full contents and include a short essay about the composer in English and French. They're not super detailed booklets, but they definitely exist.

[Mirror Image]

My record store has this Faure box but it has no booklet, does anyone that has this know if it came with one? Thanks.

I did not buy that Fauré box, staxomega - Mirror Image did I think - but I own 5-6 other boxes in that exact same reissue series and they all have 8-12 page booklets which list the full contents and include a short essay about the composer in English and French. They're not super detailed booklets, but they definitely exist.

Brian is correct. I do own this set and, yes, it does come with a booklet, but the booklet isn't super informative and there are no translations of the sung texts, which is a pretty standard practice in these types of reissues. If you're a stickler about having everything that originally comes with a box set, then I would say pass on it, but if it doesn't bother you and the store has a great deal on it, then go for it. I will say all of these performances in this set have been superseded by others in my collection, but if you don't own much of Fauré's music, then it would be a great way to get most of his masterpieces all in one go.

[André]

Anyone familiar with this recording ? How are the interpretation/sound ?

[staxomega]

Brian is correct. I do own this set and, yes, it does come with a booklet, but the booklet isn't super informative and there are no translations of the sung texts, which is a pretty standard practice in these types of reissues. If you're a stickler about having everything that originally comes with a box set, then I would say pass on it, but if it doesn't bother you and the store has a great deal on it, then go for it. I will say all of these performances in this set have been superseded by others in my collection, but if you don't own much of Fauré's music, then it would be a great way to get most of his masterpieces all in one go.

I did not buy that Fauré box, staxomega - Mirror Image did I think - but I own 5-6 other boxes in that exact same reissue series and they all have 8-12 page booklets which list the full contents and include a short essay about the composer in English and French. They're not super detailed booklets, but they definitely exist.

Thank you very much Brian and Mirror Image, I don't own any Erato boxes so I didn't know if this was just a really budget release. It's not that much cheaper from Amazon and I'd prefer to have things complete.

I think my Faure collection is alright, but I don't have much of what is in that Erato box. If you have suggestions I am all ears!

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Thank you very much Brian and Mirror Image, I don't own any Erato boxes so I didn't know if this was just a really budget release. It's not that much cheaper from Amazon and I'd prefer to have things complete.

I think my Faure collection is alright, but I don't have much of what is in that Erato box. If you have suggestions I am all ears!

The essence of Faure is the solo piano music and the chamber music. I think that collection is quite good. For the solo piano music a good alternatives is Kathryn Stott's set on Hyperion (very fine sound and very felicitous performances). For the chamber music I like the recordings of the piano quartets and quintets by Pascal Roge and the Ysaye Quartet.

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Domus has also made highly regarded recordings for Hyperion. For the sonatas I think the recordings in that box are very good. For the violin Sonatas I also like Ososowic on Hyperion and for the Cello Sonatas I like Bruns (playing a period cello) on Opus 131 (maybe a hard to find release).

If I were to listen to Faure orchestral music I would probably reach for Ansermet or Jean-Paul Tortelier, but the Plasson recordings in that box are probably ok.

[staxomega]

The essence of Faure is the solo piano music and the chamber music. I think that collection is quite good. For the solo piano music a good alternatives is Kathryn Stott's set on Hyperion (very fine sound and very felicitous performances). For the chamber music I like the recordings of the piano quartets and quintets by Pascal Roge and the Ysaye Quartet.

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Domus has also made highly regarded recordings for Hyperion. For the sonatas I think the recordings in that box are very good. For the violin Sonatas I also like Ososowic on Hyperion and for the Cello Sonatas I like Bruns (playing a period cello) on Opus 131 (maybe a hard to find release).

If I were to listen to Faure orchestral music I would probably reach for Ansermet or Jean-Paul Tortelier, but the Plasson recordings in that box are probably ok.

Thanks for these suggestions, I have Kathryn Stott's set and other favorite performances for the violin sonatas and cello sonatas (Maurice Gendron). I will seek out that Pascal Roge release.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Thanks for these suggestions, I have Kathryn Stott's set and other favorite performances for the violin sonatas and cello sonatas (Maurice Gendron). I will seek out that Pascal Roge release.

I'm curious what those other favorites are. Grendon only did the second cello sonata, that I know of (and I've only seen it in pricey box sets). What are your favorite violin sonatas?

[vandermolen]

Anyone familiar with this recording ? How are the interpretation/sound ?

It's very highly rated Andre but not one of my favourites. Most people seem very impressed by it. I'm not a huge fan of Colin Davis, although there is an excellent RCA CD featuring Sibelius tone poems which I like very much. I'm sure that you wouldn't be disappointed with the Walton CD but, of more recent versions, I prefer the versions by Charles Mackerras and Bryden Thomson and recent versions by Martyn Brabbins and Edward Gardner. I'm also not so keen on the famous Previn recording and prefer the versions by Sargent, Harty and Boult - so my selections are a bit idiosyncratic.'.

[André]

Thanks, Jeffrey !

[staxomega]

I'm curious what those other favorites are. Grendon only did the second cello sonata, that I know of (and I've only seen it in pricey box sets). What are your favorite violin sonatas?

Gendron only recorded the second. A live recording from Germany in the 50s and a Decca studio recording (with Jean Francaix), both fine performances, I listen to the latter for better sound. For the violin sonatas Arthur Grumiaux's are the ones I keep coming back to.

Edit: on Gendron you're right the studio recording on Decca might only be on the L'art de Maurice Gendron box, I might have got lucky buying this from one of the European Amazon sites when someone alerted about its release on another forum.

[Jo498]

There is Tortelier/Hubeau on Erato, dirt cheap in warner apex and other reissue series for the cello sonatas.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Gendron only recorded the second. A live recording from Germany in the 50s and a Decca studio recording (with Jean Francaix), both fine performances, I listen to the latter for better sound. For the violin sonatas Arthur Grumiaux's are the ones I keep coming back to.

Edit: on Gendron you're right the studio recording on Decca might only be on the L'art de Maurice Gendron box, I might have got lucky buying this from one of the European Amazon sites when someone alerted about its release on another forum.

By some coincidence I was listening to Grumiaux in the Bach violin concerti last night. Just magnificent. Such a beautiful yet authoritative tone. I listened to his Fauré not long ago and it didn't grab me, perhaps because I was just familiarizing myself with the music itself and it took time to sink in. I've been planning to revisit.

I'm experiencing close to grief at that Fauré/Gendron not being available. The Debussy sonata from the same pairing is utterly magnificent. Australian eloquence released the Debussy, maybe they'll get to the Fauré eventually.

[Mandryka]

[aukhawk]

Gendron only recorded the second. A live recording from Germany in the 50s and a Decca studio recording (with Jean Francaix), both fine performances, I listen to the latter for better sound. For the violin sonatas Arthur Grumiaux's are the ones I keep coming back to.
Edit: on Gendron you're right the studio recording on Decca might only be on the L'art de Maurice Gendron box, I might have got lucky buying this from one of the European Amazon sites when someone alerted about its release on another forum.

Point of order: Gendron recorded exclusively for Philips, not Decca.

[Que]

Considering that one as well... 

Anything Van Asperen does these days deserves serious consideration IMO. Like Leonhardt, he is a late bloomer!

Q

[SurprisedByBeauty]

It's very highly rated Andre but not one of my favourites. Most people seem very impressed by it. I'm not a huge fan of Colin Davis, although there is an excellent RCA CD featuring Sibelius tone poems which I like very much. I'm sure that you wouldn't be disappointed with the Walton CD but, of more recent versions, I prefer the versions by Charles Mackerras and Bryden Thomson and recent versions by Martyn Brabbins and Edward Gardner. I'm also not so keen on the famous Previn recording and prefer the versions by Sargent, Harty and Boult - so my selections are a bit idiosyncratic.'.

I remember when that came out, with lots of hype. Unusually much, even for the LSO Live releases which all tended to be hyped at the time. And I remember just as distinctly being rather underwhelmed by it. (On the other hand, I suppose I DO rather like the Previn (LSO/RCA). And Horenstein, but that's very possibly because it was my first exposure, thanks to the cut-out bin at Tower. Total outside choice, but I do rather like Ashkenazy in this, too. But there are also a lot of recordings I don't know.

[Brian]

Any Mandelring Quartet Mendelssohn fans? The box set is $21 at Presto but I don't know how their mellow style translates to a composer I like best when he's played with vigor (a la the Eschers).

By the way, speaking of things I prefer with lots of fire, Previn LSO RCA is my favorite Walton 1.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Any Mandelring Quartet Mendelssohn fans? The box set is $21 at Presto but I don't know how their mellow style translates to a composer I like best when he's played with vigor (a la the Eschers).

By the way, speaking of things I prefer with lots of fire, Previn LSO RCA is my favorite Walton 1.

Hmm... I'm not sure it's for you, based on what you say. But now I'm interested. It's one of the few Mandelring sets I don't have. And although I do like a certain kind of tenacity in my Mendelssohn, I think the pushed vigor of the Eschers is decidedly over the top and comes back empty in places where a different approach would result in a considerable yield. Btw. Do you have the Talich Mendelssohn?

[amw]

I have it, but haven't listened in a long time. I'm not sure I would describe their style as "mellow" in these particular recordings but it probably depends on your frame of reference—they're probably most similar to the Pacifica Quartet, of sets I've heard.

[staxomega]

By some coincidence I was listening to Grumiaux in the Bach violin concerti last night. Just magnificent. Such a beautiful yet authoritative tone. I listened to his Fauré not long ago and it didn't grab me, perhaps because I was just familiarizing myself with the music itself and it took time to sink in. I've been planning to revisit.

I'm experiencing close to grief at that Fauré/Gendron not being available. The Debussy sonata from the same pairing is utterly magnificent. Australian eloquence released the Debussy, maybe they'll get to the Fauré eventually.

The box is available from Amazon France for 60 Euro plus shipping (they'll subtract VAT if you're outside the EU), I checked my emails and this is a bit less than what I paid.

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