Recordings That You Are Considering

[Florestan]

[asin]B004W5MNR2[/asin]
2. Stenhammar: SYMPHONIES AND PIANO CONCERTOS

Don't walk, run! It doesn't get any better than that. And in the process get this one too, it's a must when it comes to Stenhammar.

[mc ukrneal]

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. 

[asin]B001BSH26U[/asin]
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?

I can only give you a partial answer, as I own a couple of the symphonies, but not the ballets. The symphonies are generally under-rated and I think Muti does a fine job. I doubt I would put him as my favorite for anything, but they are pretty consistent of vision and well played. The ballets are gread, and Lanchberry has a good reputation with ballet, so I would not hesitate on that account. There are, of course, other sets or individual releases, and many of them are quite good. But to get them cheaply like this, if you want the symphonies anyway, seems like a good deal to me. The only thing that is unclear to me is if there might be cuts and if they are all complete ballets or if one of them is a suite or something. Normally, I would expect roughly 2cds for each ballet (nutcracker could be less, like 1.5). What's more, if you do not have them, you MUST get something. The music for all three ballets is fantastic.

Re: Medtner, Weber, Stenhammar - another rec from me. All are excellent. Concerto Koln are almost always worth getting, so I bet that one is fine too (though have not heard it myself).

[Karl Henning]

I can only give you a partial answer, as I own a couple of the symphonies, but not the ballets. The symphonies are generally under-rated and I think Muti does a fine job. I doubt I would put him as my favorite for anything, but they are pretty consistent of vision and well played. The ballets are gread, and Lanchberry has a good reputation with ballet, so I would not hesitate on that account. There are, of course, other sets or individual releases, and many of them are quite good. But to get them cheaply like this, if you want the symphonies anyway, seems like a good deal to me. The only thing that is unclear to me is if there might be cuts and if they are all complete ballets or if one of them is a suite or something. Normally, I would expect roughly 2cds for each ballet (nutcracker could be less, like 1.5). What's more, if you do not have them, you MUST get something. The music for all three ballets is fantastic.

Re: Medtner, Weber, Stenhammar - another rec from me. All are excellent. Concerto Koln are almost always worth getting, so I bet that one is fine too (though have not heard it myself).

There are good "fillers" in the 7-CD Brilliant Muti symphonies box . . . this may simply sound like Do what I have done, but I should suggest getting the ballets separately (and quite likely in superior accounts) and the Brilliant box.

[TheGSMoeller]

This one:

[asin]B00285QBXK[/asin]

But I think the road is Moroney.    

+1

Absolutely! So: +2 

Q

Thanks, friends.
Lots of love for Moroney, I see. Couldn't find any proper samples so how would you all compare this to Pinnock's concertos?

[kishnevi]

Thanks, friends.
Lots of love for Moroney, I see. Couldn't find any proper samples so how would you all compare this to Pinnock's concertos?

Pinnock is a Ford Explorer, safe and reliable.   Moroney is a completely reconstructed 1960s Mustang in tip top shape, the one you actually want to drive.

[Octave]

There are good "fillers" in the 7-CD Brilliant Muti symphonies box . . . this may simply sound like Do what I have done, but I should suggest getting the ballets separately (and quite likely in superior accounts) and the Brilliant box.

I'm afraid maybe that Brilliant symphonies box is out of print and tres cher now; there a spendier alternative/reincarnation from EMI, which I'm guessing is identical:
[asin]B0052RUYYS[/asin]
I will keep looking at ballet recordings.  My only full cycle of Tchaikovsky symphonies is the divisive [of respondes] Pletnev/DG, otherwise it's been a piecemeal approach for me.

Many thanks also to Florestan and mc ukrneal for the input.

[Mirror Image]

For me, in Tchaikovsky it doesn't get much better than these two sets:





Another favorite is Svetlanov's.

For the ballets, Svetlanov is about as good as it gets IMHO:

[Brian]

I agree: I prefer Jansons, if only because Muti's really good 4&6 are outweighed, to me, by his substandard 5. On the other hand, I really enjoy Muti's Serenade for Strings in Philadelphia, which comes in the Brilliant box.

[Brahmsian]

I agree: I prefer Jansons, if only because Muti's really good 4&6 are outweighed, to me, by his substandard 5. On the other hand, I really enjoy Muti's Serenade for Strings in Philadelphia, which comes in the Brilliant box.

  Wow, I really love that one, especially the opening of the 2nd movement. 

[mc ukrneal]

I agree: I prefer Jansons, if only because Muti's really good 4&6 are outweighed, to me, by his substandard 5. On the other hand, I really enjoy Muti's Serenade for Strings in Philadelphia, which comes in the Brilliant box.

I see classicstoday gives that set a 10 out of 10.

Personally, I don't think any of those sets is the way to go. Rather, I would reccomend the well-known Mravinsky (the stero 1960 set) for 4-6 (or if Bernstein is still desired, the 4-6 on DG, which is crazy, but crazy Bernstein good). Then, I would get someone else for 1-3 (Markevitch would fit the bill, but there is Dorati and several others that do well here too). Mravinsky is the standard against which all others are compared, and there is a reason for that. You will not find anything more exciting in all of recorded music in my opinion.

[Brian]

Mravinsky is the standard against which all others are compared, and there is a reason for that. You will not find anything more exciting in all of recorded music in my opinion.

This is VERY true.

Ray, my favorite 5 (Mravinsky aside) is Gatti, who's got the gorgeous second movement but also all the energy in the start and finale. And Jansons and the new Jurowski.

[mc ukrneal]

This is VERY true.

Ray, my favorite 5 (Mravinsky aside) is Gatti, who's got the gorgeous second movement but also all the energy in the start and finale. And Jansons and the new Jurowski.

Gatti does an excellent 4-6 as well. This might be a third alternative for those three.

[Mirror Image]

Personally, I don't think any of those sets is the way to go.

I do hope Octave goes with at least the Jansons set. I don't think he'll be disappointed with it. The Mravinsky can come later. The same with Bernstein on DG. These are great sets to have, but there's a consistency in Jansons' cycle that is hard to beat.

[Mirror Image]

Ray, my favorite 5 (Mravinsky aside) is Gatti, who's got the gorgeous second movement but also all the energy in the start and finale. And Jansons and the new Jurowski.

...reaches for Gatti box set.

[Octave]

Thanks everyone for these recommendations!  I will very probably check them all out in good time; I feel a Tchaikovsky phase coming on.  I already know the Mravinsky/Leningrad/DG 4-6, and it's great; the only problem with it is that was my first. 

[TheGSMoeller]

I do not own one Tchaikovsky disc. Not sure why. (sorry, random thought)

[Mirror Image]

I do not own one Tchaikovsky disc. Not sure why. (sorry, random thought)

Don't feel bad I don't own one Bach disc and I'm all the merrier for it. This said, I don't listen to Tchaikovsky much anymore. I went through a huge Tchaikovsky phase in 2009 that lasted probably three months. I still love his music though.

[Octave]

Don't feel bad I don't own one Bach disc and I'm all the merrier for it.

Whoa man





***WHOA MAN!***

[mc ukrneal]

I do not own one Tchaikovsky disc. Not sure why. (sorry, random thought)

Is that legal? 

[Mirror Image]

Whoa man





***WHOA MAN!***

Yeah, you have to remember my preference for the 20th Century. This said, I do like the Romantic Era a lot, but I also admire the music of Haydn who wrote some ear-tickling good music IMHO.