Recordings That You Are Considering

[Todd]

You own both sets?

Yes, plus Martin Roscoe's on Naxos.  Lee is my preferred complete set.  (Anderszewski's single disc is well worth consideration, too, with his subtler tonal coloring.)

[Mirror Image]

Yes, plus Martin Roscoe's on Naxos.  Lee is my preferred complete set.  (Anderszewski's single disc is well worth consideration, too, with his subtler tonal coloring.)

I'll definitely consider Lee's set. Thanks for the feedback. What do you make of Roscoe's on Naxos? Worth considering?

[Todd]

What do you make of Roscoe's on Naxos? Worth considering?

Yes.  I'd rate them Lee, Roscoe, Jones.  Roscoe does quite well in most of the works, especially Metopes.  Lee is good across the board, and delivers superb sonatas.

[Octave]

Thanks for the replies and input, Nav, DR, and Karl!

A couple more I'm looking at...

[asin]B0013ISU9G[/asin]
Schubert quintets by Budapest w/Georges Moleux, Benar Heifetz, Mieczyslaw 'The Forest Is My Throne' Horszowski (United Archives)

[asin]B008HIP7GE[/asin]
Schubert quintet D956, Vellinger Quartet w/Bernard Greenhouse - a BBC Music Mag freebee c.1998?
Does anyone know if this was reissued since then?

[Mirror Image]

Thanks for your feedback, Todd. I've got some more pondering to do...

In the meantime, I'm considering these:

[Leo K.]

Karl, Brian, Jens,

Much Thanks! I can't wait to go a'shopping when I get home 

[Fafner]

Okay, now I am puzzled. Is Sinfonietta and Taras Bulba doubled in these two box sets?

[asin]B0001Y4JH0[/asin]  [asin]B000AC5B0M[/asin]

Or is it a different recording? I would guess that people interested in buying one box would be just as likely to buy the other one as well.

[Papy Oli]

Seems identical, both by mackerras/VPO.

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Decca/4755232

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Decca/4756872

On the booklet of the yellow boxset, it shows a recording at Sofiensaal, Vienna, March 1980 for Sinfonietta / Taras Bulba. Maybe someone with the purple boxset can advise if they are indeed the same ones.

[North Star]

Okay, now I am puzzled. Is Sinfonietta and Taras Bulba doubled in these two box sets?

Yes, the same recordings. Leaving them out from either set wouldn't have cut the number of discs. (I don't own the opera box, though)

[Lisztianwagner]

Okay, now I am puzzled. Is Sinfonietta and Taras Bulba doubled in these two box sets?

[asin]B0001Y4JH0[/asin]  [asin]B000AC5B0M[/asin]

Or is it a different recording? I would guess that people interested in buying one box would be just as likely to buy the other one as well.

Great choice; the Janacek chamber music/orchestral box is definitely beautiful, so far I've listened to the first two discs, Taras Bulba and Sinfonietta and all the performances are excellent! I'm sure you won't be disappointed if you decide to buy this Janacek set.

The opera box has been in my wish-list too.....

[Mirror Image]

Okay, now I am puzzled. Is Sinfonietta and Taras Bulba doubled in these two box sets?

[asin]B0001Y4JH0[/asin]  [asin]B000AC5B0M[/asin]

Or is it a different recording? I would guess that people interested in buying one box would be just as likely to buy the other one as well.

Yes, these two performances are in both boxes.

[Octave]

It seems that Janacek is in the air!  I just bought DIARY OF ONE WHO DISAPPEARED.  I am thinking of buying a few items, not quite by the master's hand....




I actually already know Vol. 3 of the Naxos opera-suite trilogy, which I bought right when my classical music mania was kicking into full swing, on the recommendation of a friend with wide-ranging tastes.  I was hesitant to listen to something arranged/excerpted from LJ's own pieces, but I was also concerned that I would hate the operas.  (Absolutely, absolutely not the case; in fact, opera has been a blossoming interest almost without impediment, a great joy and discovery, I am relieved to say after so many years of hating it.)  Vol. 3 of this trilogy was, however, a pleasure.  Whether I need two more discs of it or not....
Also the third disc sounds really cool, and I already know I like Iva Bittová's sometimes-nutty singing; though how much this album has to do with Janacek might be another question.

[Mirror Image]

I was also concerned that I would hate the operas.  (Absolutely, absolutely not the case; in fact, opera has been a blossoming interest almost without impediment, a great joy and discovery, I am relieved to say after so many years of hating it.)

Opera was never an interest of mine until a year or so ago. Like you, I disliked it and the very idea of it just left a bad taste in my mouth, but I've really grown to love many operas, especially Delius, Janacek, Wagner, Shostakovich, Ravel, Debussy, Martinu, Strauss, and Bartok. I have yet to get into RVW's operas. Although I recall enjoying The Poisoned Kiss not too long ago. Sir John in Love and The Pilgrim's Progress are ones I need to take a crack at again. Janacek's operas are amazing. They gave me zero problems and, in fact, I hope to revisit them quite soon.

[Octave]

Yes, I've been thinking of initiating a kind of "personal essentials list" thread strictly for opera recordings (possibly adding the option for recital and bleeding-chunk discs as a coda), just to close down the horizons a bit and help me prioritize my acquisitions and listening and reading.  (And, as always, to open some horizons up.)  I think GMG has come rather close to such a thread at least a few times, but unless I am missing something entirely, no thread has yielded quite the useful stream of provisional and helpful short-listed suggested that the "Personal Essentials" thread in the Beginner's subforum did, for me at least.

Someone should warn me off such a project, though, if it already exists.  Also, I wonder whether it would best be placed in the Beginner's or the Opera/Vocal subforum?

[Karl Henning]

On the booklet of the yellow boxset, it shows a recording at Sofiensaal, Vienna, March 1980 for Sinfonietta / Taras Bulba. Maybe someone with the purple boxset can advise if they are indeed the same ones.

Apparently the same recording of these two instrumental works in the purple box, too.

[mc ukrneal]

Yes, I've been thinking of initiating a kind of "personal essentials list" thread strictly for opera recordings (possibly adding the option for recital and bleeding-chunk discs as a coda), just to close down the horizons a bit and help me prioritize my acquisitions and listening and reading.  (And, as always, to open some horizons up.)  I think GMG has come rather close to such a thread at least a few times, but unless I am missing something entirely, no thread has yielded quite the useful stream of provisional and helpful short-listed suggested that the "Personal Essentials" thread in the Beginner's subforum did, for me at least.

Someone should warn me off such a project, though, if it already exists.  Also, I wonder whether it would best be placed in the Beginner's or the Opera/Vocal subforum?

I don;t think it's been done, but I didn't do a search either. Opera is generally a less popular subject on these boards, though a love of mine. I have been slowly acquiring them in recent years, with Donizetti the one I seem to have the greatest affinity for (something that surprises me). I find with the composers that wrote many operas (like Rossini, Donizetti, etc.) that I wish I had a bit of a guidemap on how to explore that opera composer.

[Fafner]

Yes, I've been thinking of initiating a kind of "personal essentials list" thread strictly for opera recordings (possibly adding the option for recital and bleeding-chunk discs as a coda), just to close down the horizons a bit and help me prioritize my acquisitions and listening and reading.  (And, as always, to open some horizons up.)  I think GMG has come rather close to such a thread at least a few times, but unless I am missing something entirely, no thread has yielded quite the useful stream of provisional and helpful short-listed suggested that the "Personal Essentials" thread in the Beginner's subforum did, for me at least.

Someone should warn me off such a project, though, if it already exists.  Also, I wonder whether it would best be placed in the Beginner's or the Opera/Vocal subforum?

I think it is a great idea. I would certainly enjoy creating my personal essentials list. Beginners would probably be a better place for it, to keep it consistent with other similar lists.

[DavidRoss]

I'm considering purchasing Alexander Melnikov's recording of Shosty's Preludes & Fugues



I have not been able to hear it yet, but the clips on hm's site sound pretty good. The only recording I own is Scherbakov's. Occasionally I listen to another via Mog (Ashkenazy, Nikolayeva, and I've heard some of Lin -- which I should hear more of).

In recent years I've grown much more selective about purchases, partly due to limited funds and insufficient time to adequately listen to the recordings I already own, but mostly due to the ability to hear recordings in full via Mog and Spotify and other sources on the web. On the one hand, I seldom buy something I haven't heard. However, I've bought many CDs I wouldn't have except that I fell in love after hearing them on the web.

[kishnevi]

I'm considering purchasing Alexander Melnikov's recording of Shosty's Preludes & Fugues



I have not been able to hear it yet, but the clips on hm's site sound pretty good. The only recording I own is Scherbakov's. Occasionally I listen to another via Mog (Ashkenazy, Nikolayeva, and I've heard some of Lin -- which I should hear more of).

In recent years I've grown much more selective about purchases, partly due to limited funds and insufficient time to adequately listen to the recordings I already own, but mostly due to the ability to hear recordings in full via Mog and Spotify and other sources on the web. On the one hand, I seldom buy something I haven't heard. However, I've bought many CDs I wouldn't have except that I fell in love after hearing them on the web.

Melnikov's performance is high quality.  You need not fear on that account.  The question boils down to whether you have enough interest in the P&Fs to warrant getting a second recording, which is something only you can answer for yourself.

By way of context,  I have Scherbakov, Lin and Melnikov, and like all three; it would be very hard for me to say which one is "the best".

[jlaurson]

I'm considering purchasing Alexander Melnikov's recording of Shosty's Preludes & Fugues



I have not been able to hear it yet, but the clips on hm's site sound pretty good. The only recording I own is Scherbakov's. Occasionally I listen to another via Mog (Ashkenazy, Nikolayeva, and I've heard some of Lin -- which I should hear more of).

In recent years I've grown much more selective about purchases, partly due to limited funds and insufficient time to adequately listen to the recordings I already own, but mostly due to the ability to hear recordings in full via Mog and Spotify and other sources on the web. On the one hand, I seldom buy something I haven't heard. However, I've bought many CDs I wouldn't have except that I fell in love after hearing them on the web.

Try hearing Keith Jarrett's recording. After each new (or old) competitor in the DSCH P&F that comes my way, I still love his the best... mostly because I find it so clear, so much closer to Bach (so much further away from Schumann, as Nikolayeva makes it sound), that I can listen to it endlessly.