Recordings That You Are Considering

[Mirror Image]

The Kitaenko/Krainev Prokofiev Piano Concertos are among my favorites; perhaps THE favorites.

+1 My favorite performances of Prokofiev's PCs.

[Que]

Seems this one flew under my radar as well!

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Q

[Octave]

How could I have missed this one

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Any comments are welcome!

Q

Sorry not to have much intelligent to say about this, but I really, really liked it.  Another album I enjoyed so much, I sanctioned it to the shelf to "keep it fresh" for a future listen.  For those in N. America, you might still be able to get a cheap deal on it via BRO (US$6 for a 3cd).  I'd like to know more about Garrido's other productions.

[mc ukrneal]

Jens and Sarge, thank you both very much for all that help.  Those recommendations are greatly appreciated, Jens, and now I determined to hear that Tal/Groethuysen GOLDBERGs arrangement, especially as a recent convert to Reger.

I loved that Goldberg disc. Fun stuff....

[Coopmv]

As I'm a huge fan of Gustav Holst:

[asin]B007QEHQY6[/asin]

Well, this set is beyond my consideration since I have had it for months but still have not had the chance to unwrap the set, let alone listening to the first CD ...

[Octave]

If ya'll will bear with me---I am in the "home stretch" of rabid expenditure---I have a handful of other inquiries; preferred alternatives are, of course, always welcome.  There are a few "impulse buys" listed here, and I am always a little iffy paying for things I have not even heard anything about...

Sorry in advance about all the blah-blah.

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1. ENGLISH CHURCH MUSIC (Harmonia Mundi, 3cd) [Byrd/Humfrey/Gibbons, w/familiar names: Chanticleer, McGegan, Bill Ives, Fretwork]

2. Max Reger: CELLO SONATAS [w/ and w/o cello] (Hyperion, 2cd) - Alban Gerhard & Markus Becker

3. Medtner: PIANO CONCERTO #1 + PIANO QUINTET (Hyperion) - Dmitri Alexeev + New Budapest 4tt
I actually know no Medtner at all, recommendations are appreciated; though I also need to research the forum.  I was impressed with Alexeev's Rachmaninov PRELUDES, but I also don't know those pieces well at all.

4. Does anyone know if the Membran edition of Gunther Ramin's Bach Motets is inferior to the (OOP) Archiv/Originals edition?  The info I have for the Membran/Red issue is "St. Thomas Choir, Leipzig, rec. 1951-55", and afaik that's the famous recording that was once in the Archiv/Originals series.  (That Originals version is still available "new" as an ArkivCD CDR edition.)  I have other recordings of the motets, most recently S. Kuijken's first [?], on Accent; but I am interested in Ramin's "old school" recording, unless it should be skipped.

5. Weber: PIANO CONCERTOS 1 & 2 (Hyperion) - w/Demidenko
I know almost nothing by Weber as well; mainly just Kleiber's famous Freischütz.  I heard some pretty great Chopin once from Demidenko, but I'm embarrassed to say I cannot remember which pieces.  Ballades?  Octave, you dilettante!

6. Christopher Simpson: THE MONTHES & 12 FANTASIAS [Virgin, 2cd] - Sonnerie & Monica Huggett; coupled with their Vivaldi SEASONS and Violin Concerti Op. 8.5/6/10/11
I am not chomping at the bit for another SEASON, though I do like Vivaldi plenty; Huggett has been great in everything I've heard from her.  I have also been looking at an alternative Simpson on Alpha.

7. Orpheus Chamber Orchestra's Handel orchestral music, Fireworks/Water/Conc.Gross.Op6 (DG, 3cd) - I'm sure this is good, but I am not sure I need it before Pinnock, Savall, or some others.  I see opinions tend to be a bit split on it, in spite of its overt energy and precision.  Modern instruments, iirc.

8. Szymon Goldberg's collected Philips recordings [Retrospective {=Brilliant Classics?}, 6cd] - My attention was drawn to this by an Amazon review by Jeffrey Lipscomb (whose reviews there I miss terribly), who said of the included BRANDENBURGs: "This is my favorite set of all - the desert island version."  (Incidentally, Lipscomb no longer feels this way; but I am still interested in Goldberg, who I've never heard.  It looks like Music & Arts have also issued a couple box sets of still-older recordings by SG.  Goldberg seems to have lived a remarkable life, making me want to learn about that, too.)

9. Glinka GRAND SEXTET + R-K QUINTET IN Bb (Hyperion/Helios) [Capricorn]
I know no Glinka at all, and also no R-K chamber music.  This is a random interest, because I like the idea of a sextet that is "grand", and I remembering being hypnotized by drifting snippets of Glinka in A. Sokurov's film RUSSIAN ARK.  Not much to go on...

10. Bach/De Visee: THEORBO SUITES (Virgin, 2cd) - played by Pascal Monteilhet.  The Bach is transcriptions from some cello suites, by Monteilhet.  (I am suspicious of these kinds of things, but I know that's silly.  The question, of course, is if PM's transcriptions are interesting and work well with the theorbo.  Someone recently praised a disc of Visee/theorbo, but I cannot find that post now.

11. Jussi Björling: COMPLETE RCA COLLECTION (Sony, 14cd) - I only know some of his work elsewhere, most recently (and maybe oldest?) that EMI ICON collections of bleeding chunks.  I love his voice, but I still thought I would check on the quality of this material and (later) singing.

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12. Glenn Gould: RENAISSANCE AND BAROQUE MUSIC (Sony, 2cd, 2012)
Actually, I am mainly curious why the Sweelinck seems to be missing?  I see it mentioned on the front cover (via Amazon) but not the back cover.  Was it really excised from this reissue?

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13. Kirsten Flagstad: THE VOICE OF A CENTURY (Membran, 10cd)
Curious about the relative sound quality and how good the performances are; not sure about overlap between this edition and transfers/programs from more consistent/reputable labels (Testament, etc).  Was floored by some performances I have heard with Furtwangler (cf. Music & Arts excerpted GOTTERDAMMERUNG/WALKUERE at Covent Garden 1937), so I wanted to learn more.

14. Liszt: CHRISTUS - Rilling or Conlon?

15. William Schuman: SYMPHONIES ETC (Naxos, 5cd) [Schwartz/Seattle]
Only know some orchestral piece from a chance vinyl spin many years ago...arco basses like pulsing electrical hum.  The impression stayed with me.  Somehow the guy seems like he has a way with miasma and gathering stormclouds, etc.  That is interesting to me.

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16. Emma Kirkby: SINGS HANDEL, ARNE, HAYDN, MOZART (Decca, 2cd) [w/Hogwood]
I tend to shy away from bleeding chunk hits compilations, but I am coming to enjoy recital discs very much; for example that 4cd of Handel arias written for GFH's favorite Italian singers (HM), with Lorrain Hunt Lieberson and others, or another Handel recital by Sandrine Piau with a triflin' title, BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH.  I wondered if this Kirkby collection were designed as recital or ripped still-breathing from full recordings of these pieces' origins.  I would rather invest in the full picture, unless this comp is ideal.  I have also heard grand things about Kirkby's GFH Italian Cantatas disc reissued by Eloquence.

17. Richard Strauss by Barbara Hendricks (EMI, 2cd) - w/Sawallisch

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18. Concerto Köln (Teldec, 6cd) - some Locatelli plus an equal dose of a bunch of composers I've never heard: Kozeluch, Vanhal, Dall'Abaco, Cannabich, Eberl.
Zoomable back cover with contents at the ASIN linked above.

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19. Fritz Wunderlich: THE ART OF... (DG, 7cd)
Speaking of bleeding chunks.  I did some math, and even subtracting the items I own or intend to own (the WEIHNACHTSORATORIUM w/Richter, his DICHTERLIEBE-plus, various stuff with Münchinger, etc), I think I'll still get ~6 hours of unduplicated music from this set.  Unless I proceed to buy some more operas, then...
Thinking about getting this.  There is no question I love this man's voice.

Ok, really quite enough for now....

[springrite]

Unreserved recommendation for the Medtner (and you should explore more of this great great composer!) and the Weber is good, too. As for the Flagstad, I have no problem with the label. As you said, Flagstad certainly had one of the greatest voices of the century so the performances should be fantastic.

[Florestan]

3. Medtner: PIANO CONCERTO #1 + PIANO QUINTET (Hyperion) - Dmitri Alexeev + New Budapest 4tt
I actually know no Medtner at all, recommendations are appreciated

This set is excellent.

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5. Weber: PIANO CONCERTOS 1 & 2 (Hyperion) - w/Demidenko
I know almost nothing by Weber as well; mainly just Kleiber's famous Freischütz. 

Don't hesitate, buy with confidence. One of the best issues in that series. Demidenko is superb.

For great Weber I recommend you these:

[Octave]

Thanks, springrite and Florestan!

[jlaurson]

Emerson in Mendelssohn

Emerson in Dvorak

Emerson in Mendelssohn received my only facetious review: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2005/02/mendelssohns-quartets-via-emerson.html

Sound samples of other Mendelssohn SQ4t Cycles found here: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2011/12/mendelssohn-quartets-galore.html

Also very good the ongoing cycle of the Mandelring Quartet, which might just challenge the year-long supremacy of the Talich Quartet.

The Dvorak is fine, but also not my favorite. (But then I'm a little biased against the Emersons, which I really only love in very select repertoire... American, 20th century, and the Art of the Fugue (not to be mistaken with a horrible and sloppy "Bach Fugues" album).

[Brian]

Octave, the Savall Handel Water Music is absolutely essential, one of the Great Recordings.

[Octave]

Thanks for that Savall tip, Brian; that seems to be a major consensus among HIP-friendly Handelians.

One more item I was thinking about was this set of Tchaikovsky symphonies and ballets. 

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Tchaikovsky: SYMPHONIES/BALLETS (EMI, 10cd - Muti, Lanchbery, Philharmonia, Philadelphia, etc)

I am pretty sure that I'd like this Muti cycle of the symphonies, and for the moment, I think I could pay the more or less same price and get the Lanchbery ballets "free"; I own none of the ballets, so this would hopefully be at least a slight improvement.  (GMG'er DarkAngel has said before that s/he loves these recordings; I have't seen other opinions on them.)  My only slight concern is whether there's significantly better mastering on any of the subsequent re-editions of the Muti symphonies, like the 7cd from 2011, which would seem to include some more Muti music.  Maybe I should get that and a different set of ballet music?

[The new erato]

And they are one of my favorite groups! .. especially for their great Bartók SQs set .. my favorite string quartets of all time.

My favorite quartets as well, but I've never warmed to the Emerson's version, feeling they lack fire. My bad, probably.

[TheGSMoeller]

More curious than really considering. I'm in the mood for another set of Bach Harpsichord Concertos and just saw this on Amazon, released Nov. 2012 in the US.

[Coopmv]

More curious than really considering. I'm in the mood for another set of Bach Harpsichord Concertos and just saw this on Amazon, released Nov. 2012 in the US.

I already have many versions of these works but do have some mix feelings about the group Musica Amphion  ...

[TheGSMoeller]

I already have many versions of these works but do have some mix feelings about the group Musica Amphion  ...

Mind giving me a few recommendations? Other than Pinnock, Van Asperen and the new release with Matthew Halls.
Thanks, friend 

[Wakefield]

Mind giving me a few recommendations? Other than Pinnock, Van Asperen and the new release with Matthew Halls.

This one:

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Stupendous performances, terrific sound quality, alternative versions (f.i., concerto in A minor for four harpsichords, played without strings accompaniment) and a nice variety of harpsichords.

I don't have the new set on Brilliant Classics, but I have this (only the concertos for several harpsichords):

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... and certainly Moroney and his people are preferable. Actually, Leonhardt and Moroney are, IMO, the best available versions. Even -and probably I won't say it very frequently in Baroque music-, there are two integral recordings played on modern instruments (but with harpsichords, of course), highly recommendable: Müller-Brühl (Naxos) and Rilling (Hänssler).

But I think the road is Moroney.    

[kishnevi]

My favorite quartets as well, but I've never warmed to the Emerson's version, feeling they lack fire. My bad, probably.

No,  you're not the only one who doesn't like Emerson/Bartok.  It's the only recording of theirs I don't care for.  I differ from Jens regarding their Mendelssohn:  they may be restrained, but they aren't emotionless; and the Octet is a very fine performance.

Note to Octave:
The HM English Church Music set is very good, and so is the Orpheus Haydn, even if it is on modern instruments.

This one:

[asin]B00285QBXK[/asin]

Stupendous performances, terrific sound quality, alternative versions (f.i., concerto in A minor for four harpsichords, played without strings accompaniment) and a nice variety of harpsichords. 

+1

[Octave]

Thanks very much for those tips, Jeffrey.

Sorry to slop out some more items, but feedback on any of the following would be appreciated.

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1. David Oistrakh: 100th BIRTHDAY EDITION (Brilliant Classics, 20cd)
Not as good a deal as it once was, but I've just realized that it a single-box edition those two 10cd boxes in the Russian Historical Archives series, one dedicated to violin concertos and one to chamber works.  I'm already an Oistrakh nut, but by no means a collector....yet.  I absolutely loved most of that big EMI ~studio retrospective box, a ~1950 Beethoven VC w/Gauk, the studio Shost VC1 w/Mitropoulos, the trio w/Knushevitsky and Oborin, and his famous Sibelius VC w/Ormandy, among others.  I've received some mixed but not discouraging counsel regarding these Brilliant recordings.  I know I need to find that Shost CV1 w/Mravinsky, but I'm not sure I'd want to buy a 20cd box if that's the main highlight.

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2. Stenhammar: SYMPHONIES AND PIANO CONCERTOS

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3. Dowland/Byrd: GOE NIGHTLY CARES [Fretwork - Virign, 2cd]
I got the Fretwork 5cd ENGLISH MUSIC set and loved it, particularly the Lawes, and even things that I preferred elsewhere (I still like their Purcell, even having heard Jordi Savall's luminous version).  Having liked things I've heard from both of these composers, this looks interesting.

[Que]

Sorry not to have much intelligent to say about this, but I really, really liked it.  Another album I enjoyed so much, I sanctioned it to the shelf to "keep it fresh" for a future listen.  For those in N. America, you might still be able to get a cheap deal on it via BRO (US$6 for a 3cd).  I'd like to know more about Garrido's other productions.

Thank you!

This one:

[asin]B00285QBXK[/asin]

Stupendous performances, terrific sound quality, alternative versions (f.i., concerto in A minor for four harpsichords, played without strings accompaniment) and a nice variety of harpsichords.
[...]
But I think the road is Moroney.    

Absolutely! So: +2 

Q