Recordings That You Are Considering

[The new erato]

[Mirror Image]

Nice! I wonder if this is going to be a series? I'm sure Scots John will be thrilled.

[The new erato]

Who knows, and it remains to be seen whether it will trumf the cpo series (I'm not a buyer unless it is significabtly better). It would have been nice if they had focused on some of his unrecorded works though (and I guess it would also have made better business sense). There's an incredible amount to pick from, eg two large ballets:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Kurt_Atterberg

[Mirror Image]

Who knows, and it remains to be seen whether it will trumf the cpo series (I'm not a buyer unless it is significabtly better). It would have been nice if they had focused on some of his unrecorded works though (and I guess it would also have made better business sense). There's an incredible amount to pick from, eg two large ballets:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Kurt_Atterberg

I wasn't aware Atterberg wrote ballet music. Fantastic! That CPO set will certainly be hard to better.

[Brian]

UGH. I'm glad to see they're including suites and other fillers, but it annoys me to no end that Chandos keeps entrusting great, under-recorded music to Neeme Jarvi. Just in the past few months, un-French and un-volutpuous Saint-Saens, sparkle-less Suppe, and now I'm legitimately fearful for this Atterberg symphony series. Jarvi's a good conductor with traits like calculation, precision, speed, clockwork mechanism, academic correctness; he's never impressed me as being somebody who interprets with the kind of romantic warmth and flexibility Atterberg and Saint-Saens (et al) require.

[Mirror Image]

UGH. I'm glad to see they're including suites and other fillers, but it annoys me to no end that Chandos keeps entrusting great, under-recorded music to Neeme Jarvi. Just in the past few months, un-French and un-volutpuous Saint-Saens, sparkle-less Suppe, and now I'm legitimately fearful for this Atterberg symphony series. Jarvi's a good conductor with traits like calculation, precision, speed, clockwork mechanism, academic correctness; he's never impressed me as being somebody who interprets with the kind of romantic warmth and flexibility Atterberg and Saint-Saens (et al) require.

Can't really argue with that. Jarvi isn't a conductor I turn to for French music, although he has recorded some fine Roussel and Honegger (though recognized as a Swiss composer). He really does better in more modern repertoire.

[Mirror Image]

Not a recording, but a book I'm going to be buying with some of my birthday money:



Pretty much an essential book for the Delius fan I would think.

[jlaurson]

Not a recording, but a book I'm going to be buying with some of my birthday money:



Pretty much an essential book for the Delius fan I would think.

Unfortunately Eric Fenby suffered from a rare form of Viridiplantaechemotropism, which made him see Delius as a sunflower. Most chapters are really just about how he pressed Delius for oil.

[Octave]

Lambert Orkis plays Schubert impromptus etc on a fortepiano (Virgin Veritas, 2cd)
I really enjoyed a disc of Arleen Auger singing lieder with Orkis accompanying; and something hazily tells me that he might be using the same period instrument on at least some of these recordings.  There were a couple brief comments in the "Favorite Schubert Piano Recordings" thread, but not much in the way of evaluation or comparison of these solo recordings by Orkis.  I'm keen to acquire some Badura-Skoda and/or Planes recordings on fortepiano, though I guess my inclination is to wait and see if an affordable full set becomes available.  Maybe that's the better way to go?

[asin]B0002IQBBC[/asin]
Schubert music for violin/piano (Laredo/Brown - Brilliant classics reissue, originally on ____)

[asin]B00000DCSL[/asin]
Beethoven #5 and Schubert #8 by Jocchum w/Berlin & RCO, 1951/52 (Tahra)

[asin]B00000JMZD[/asin]
Schubert #1 and #2 by Rilling w/Real Filharmonia de Galicia - Haenssler


I have seen (understandably!) mixed but generally positive reviews of this/these Brilliant survey boxes, taken as a survey.  I'm curious if either is worth the time and money, and which one is best?  It seems that Austbø, Schmitt-Leonardy, and Turan are on both both boxes; but Grimaud and Lechner are only on the first edition (the black box) and are replaced by Weis and Alvanis on the newer white/blue box.  I have a small assortment of later Brahms by many hands, including all of Lupu's solo recordings; so I'm not sure how urgent this acquisition would be.
I have read a couple positive comments about the young Grimaud's handling of the earlier piano pieces, with which I'm less familiar.  My hesitation about the Katchen set comes mainly from memories of the sound quality and a personal lack of excitement in his late Brahms, though I cannot solidly vouch for either of these opinions.  (It's been too long.)  Unless the performances on either of these Brilliant boxes are remarkable, I might return to piecemeal collection, a new can o' worms.


LOTTE LEHMANN SINGS OPERA & LIEDER w/Bruno Walter at the piano in some pieces, rec. 1927-39 and 1942: Schumann, Frauenliebe und Leben, Op.42; Dichterliebe, Op.48 {w.Bruno Walter, piano. Rec.1942}; 5 Asstd. Songs & Duets {w.Melchior}. Arias from Oberon, Freischutz, Fidelio, Manon, Merry Wives of Windsor, Magic Flute, Madama Butterfly, Tannhauser, Walkure + 'Silent Night' & 'O, Du Frohliche'.

I don't really know where the cream of Lehmann's singing is; it's possible all I know is her WALKURE with Walter (via Naxos Historical), which was incendiary.

[asin]B004YP3U5E[/asin]

[Brian]

I own Brilliant's complete Brahms - the complete Brahms everything, including piano music - and I do like Hakon Austbo's way with the last pieces quite a lot. However, I've read a few reviews which were much more critical. I've also enjoyed Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy's contributions (the variations), and Louis Demetrius Alvanis does a good job with the transcription of the Bach Chaconne in D minor for left hand only and a few other random odds and ends. Haven't heard the full set, however, only about half of it.

Lambert Orkis plays Schubert impromptus etc on a fortepiano (Virgin Veritas, 2cd)
I really enjoyed a disc of Arleen Auger singing lieder with Orkis accompanying; and something hazily tells me that he might be using the same period instrument on at least some of these recordings.  There were a couple brief comments in the "Favorite Schubert Piano Recordings" thread, but not much in the way of evaluation or comparison of these solo recordings by Orkis.  I'm keen to acquire some Badura-Skoda and/or Planes recordings on fortepiano, though I guess my inclination is to wait and see if an affordable full set becomes available.  Maybe that's the better way to go?

My first reaction was "ooh! That looks really good." I like Lambert Orkis too.
My second reaction was, have you heard Lubimov's Schubert impromptus? Lubimov is my standard here, and a favorite of several other GMGers, including Que and, if my memory's right, Bulldog, who thinks it some of the finest voicing on piano he's ever heard. I mean, just listen to this... there are truly no words.

[Mirror Image]

Unfortunately Eric Fenby suffered from a rare form of Viridiplantaechemotropism, which made him see Delius as a sunflower. Most chapters are really just about how he pressed Delius for oil.

So this book isn't an essential read for a Delius fan because I'm reading a lot of reviews that state otherwise.

[The new erato]

I read Jens as saying it is a good read for a belieber, but perhaps not if you want a more detached vew.

[jlaurson]

So this book isn't an essential read for a Delius fan because I'm reading a lot of reviews that state otherwise.

I read Jens as saying it is a good read for a belieber, but perhaps not if you want a more detached vew.

Is this some form of reverse irony?   

[Todd]

A variety of things caught my eye recently:









The Heifetz for the violin sonatas alone, which, inexplicably, I do not yet own.

[Octave]

re: Schubert on fortepiano:

My first reaction was "ooh! That looks really good." I like Lambert Orkis too.
My second reaction was, have you heard Lubimov's Schubert impromptus? Lubimov is my standard here, and a favorite of several other GMGers, including Que and, if my memory's right, Bulldog, who thinks it some of the finest voicing on piano he's ever heard. I mean, just listen to this... there are truly no words.

Yes, I'm kind of flummoxed I forgot Lubimov, as I like him in everything I've heard; his HIP Mozart sonatas are a favorite.  Thanks for that suggestion!

[North Star]

re: Schubert on fortepiano:
Yes, I'm kind of flummoxed I forgot Lubimov, as I like him in everything I've heard; his HIP Mozart sonatas are a favorite.  Thanks for that suggestion!

The Lubimov disc is sensational!

[DavidRoss]

Is this some form of reverse irony?   

If not for the autonomic nervous system, our species would probably be extinct....

[mahler10th]

OH WOW!!
I missed this.  This is great news!  Sometimes ago last year I hear Jarvi was planning an Atterberg set, so this must be the beginnings of it.  I CANNOT WAIT to get my ears on these, this is truly exciting for me.   

Brian:  UGH. I'm glad to see they're including suites and other fillers, but it annoys me to no end that Chandos keeps entrusting great, under-recorded music to Neeme Jarvi. Just in the past few months, un-French and un-volutpuous Saint-Saens, sparkle-less Suppe, and now I'm legitimately fearful for this Atterberg symphony series. Jarvi's a good conductor with traits like calculation, precision, speed, clockwork mechanism, academic correctness; he's never impressed me as being somebody who interprets with the kind of romantic warmth and flexibility Atterberg and Saint-Saens (et al) require.

Yes, well, I agree that with some things Jarvi isn't perhaps the first choice for this, but I understand that it is something he wanted to do rather than being hooked into it by a record company.  I am beside myself now...this is great...now to find it and await it's delivery...

EDIT 5 mins later:  - Where is it?  I'll check Chandos website, I don't see it on Amazon...
EDIT another 20 mins:  - Curses!  It it yet to be released.

[Gurn Blanston]

Is this some form of reverse irony?   

I don't know, but so far it's the funniest thing I've read this year.

[Brian]

The music is interesting, but I can't say I like the sometimes-unsteady tone of Pekka Kuusisto. It made me listen to less of the disc than I had intended. More recommendable, then, if you already know you like the violinist.