Never Recorded, O-O-P, or A Better Recording Needed: Your Wish List!

[PerfectWagnerite]

Obviously there is a wide array of choices for the New World Symphony. Why are you interested in this one? Just curious.

My roommate in college had that CD and was one of the first CDs that lead me to start getting into classical music. I couldn't remember whether as a whole it was a good or bad performance by music critic standards just that the music was great and I was captivated by that performance. That lead me to buy my own "New World" Symphony which I believe was the much heralded Kondrashin recording. For some reason I never loved the Kondrashin, then I bought the Dohnanyi/Cleveland and didn't really like that one either. Then he moved out and I couldn't listen to the Conlon anymore and I never saw it in the stores:(

[Pat B]

My roommate in college had that CD and was one of the first CDs that lead me to start getting into classical music. I couldn't remember whether as a whole it was a good or bad performance by music critic standards just that the music was great and I was captivated by that performance. That lead me to buy my own "New World" Symphony which I believe was the much heralded Kondrashin recording. For some reason I never loved the Kondrashin, then I bought the Dohnanyi/Cleveland and didn't really like that one either. Then he moved out and I couldn't listen to the Conlon anymore and I never saw it in the stores:(

Makes complete sense. Good luck on the hunt!

[Ten thumbs]

As I've remarked elsewhere, it really is time for a recording of Stephen Heller's Beethoven Variations, Op.133.

[vandermolen]

Ovchinnikov: 'War and Peace' (soundtrack to soviet film) + Symphony 2

Bax: Symphony 3 LSO Edward Downes (RCA)

Khachaturian: Symphony 1 Tjeknavorian LSO (RCA)

Miaskovsky: Symphony 21 Chicago SO Morton Gould (RCA)

Rimsky Korsakov: Symphony 2 'Antar' Chicago SO Morton Gould (RCA)

Vaughan Williams: Tallis Fantasia, English Folksong Suite, Coates London Suite etc Morton Gould and his Orchestra (RCA)

SHAME ON RCA 

[Abuelo Igor]

As far as I know, the Miaskovsky and the Rimsky-Korsakov are here:

[Que]

Here's wishing for a complete Palestrina mass collection (there are over 100 of them) done by a small, gritty male ensemble.

SECONDED !! 

(And the Beethoven SQs complete HIP style, add the Schubert SQs for good measure.....)

Q

[NikF2]

Koechlin's 'Ballade for Piano & Orchestra' - I find the recording by Myrat with the Monte Carlo Philharmonic to be relatively noisy.

[Mirror Image]

Koechlin's 'Ballade for Piano & Orchestra' - I find the recording by Myrat with the Monte Carlo Philharmonic to be relatively noisy.

There's so many orchestral works by Koechlin that haven't even made it to disc yet. It would have also been nice if Heinz Holliger finished recording The Jungle Book on Hanssler.

[NikF2]

There's so many orchestral works by Koechlin that haven't even made it to disc yet. It would have also been nice if Heinz Holliger finished recording The Jungle Book on Hanssler.

That's another on my haven't heard that yet list.
I'm starting to better appreciate what Harry is meaning with his 'so much to listen to and so little time' quote.

[Mirror Image]

That's another on my haven't heard that yet list.
I'm starting to better appreciate what Harry is meaning with his 'so much to listen to and so little time' quote.

There have been two complete cycles of The Jungle Book recorded: Zinman on RCA and Bedford on Musicales Actes Sud. There have also been two partial cycles recorded: Segerstam on Marco Polo and Holliger on Hanssler. My suggestion is to try and track down the Zinman recording. It could probably be bought cheaply on the used market. For me, Koechlin's The Jungle Book is one of the pinnacles of 20th Century composition.

Here's a quote to remember as well from Rachmaninov: "Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music."

By the way, here's a review I wrote on Zinman's Jungle Book from Amazon:

Charles Koechlin (pronounced KAY CLAN) is, in my estimate, one of the most underrated French composers of all-time. He was overshadowed by Debussy and Ravel because he did not know how to promote his music and had very few conductors that were interested in getting his music performed. I'm sure this could be debated, but let's face it, his music won't be spoken in the same breath as Brahms any time soon, especially if the more conservative audiences have anything to say about it. Orchestras continue to rehash the same old programs year after year with no new repertoire being performed. I honestly think "The Jungle Book" could gain repertory status if it had proper exposure. To my knowledge only two recordings exist of the complete cycle: this one from Zinman and the other one from Steuart Bedford. Leif Segerstam recorded all of the cycle except for "Three Poems," which I find puzzling, because Segerstam has released several other Koechlin recordings on Marco Polo. You would think he would perform the whole "Jungle Book" cycle. Anyway, in all honesty, the Bedford and Segerstam simply can't compete with Zinman who I think has the full measure of this music. Zinman may seem like an odd choice, but I think he has a full grasp of the wide scope which "The Jungle Book" requires to be successful.

Now I would like to talk about the music, which I think is some of the most original music to come out of the early to mid 20th Century. This work preoccupied Koechlin for many years. I would say, if you're familiar with his style, this is a very approachable work, but if you're unfamiliar with his music then I should say approach with a little caution. This is not to scare you off but rather warn you that you've never heard anything quite like this before. Koechlin favors harmony and texture over melody and rhythm, but don't let this fool you, these are not atmospheric pieces that tickle your ear, this is highly complex music that when the climaxes thrust forward, you will feel like someone has just punched you in the face. Koechlin is an incredible orchestrator, probably one of the finest in music history along with Ravel, Rimsky-Korsakov, R. Strauss, Schoenberg, etc. The colors he's able to pull from the orchestra are simply astonishing. His approach to harmony is also one of the key characteristics of his music. Nobody writes harmony like this. In fact, Koechlin has written a treatise about harmony and also orchestration. It should be noted that while Koechlin's music was obscure, he was well respected as an educator and was highly regarded by his peers.

This music is so hard to describe, but I think if you have an open-mind about music then Koechlin won't be too difficult for you to grasp. I recommend repeat listening of his music, because so often people will miss some of the subtlety that his music offers. This isn't highly driven music like Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" or Bartok's "The Miraculous Mandarin," but it does have it's moments of rhythmic thrust. The performances from Zinman and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra are exemplary. Iris Vermillion, one of the loveliest voices I've heard in quite some time, Johan Botha, and Ralf Lukas are all impeccable. Also, the audio quality is remarkably good.

If you enjoy "The Jungle Book," then please check out Hanssler's series of Koechlin. The orchestral recordings are led by Heinz Holliger with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra and have proven to be a revelation to me. Zinman's "The Jungle Book" is out-of-print, but should be available in the used market. Enjoy the music!

[NikF2]

Here's a quote to remember as well from Rachmaninov: "Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music."

That's true indeed.

By the way, here's a review I wrote on Zinman's Jungle Book from Amazon:

Charles Koechlin (pronounced KAY CLAN) is, in my estimate, one of the most underrated French composers of all-time. He was overshadowed by Debussy and Ravel because he did not know how to promote his music and had very few conductors that were interested in getting his music performed. I'm sure this could be debated, but let's face it, his music won't be spoken in the same breath as Brahms any time soon, especially if the more conservative audiences have anything to say about it. Orchestras continue to rehash the same old programs year after year with no new repertoire being performed. I honestly think "The Jungle Book" could gain repertory status if it had proper exposure. To my knowledge only two recordings exist of the complete cycle: this one from Zinman and the other one from Steuart Bedford. Leif Segerstam recorded all of the cycle except for "Three Poems," which I find puzzling, because Segerstam has released several other Koechlin recordings on Marco Polo. You would think he would perform the whole "Jungle Book" cycle. Anyway, in all honesty, the Bedford and Segerstam simply can't compete with Zinman who I think has the full measure of this music. Zinman may seem like an odd choice, but I think he has a full grasp of the wide scope which "The Jungle Book" requires to be successful.

Now I would like to talk about the music, which I think is some of the most original music to come out of the early to mid 20th Century. This work preoccupied Koechlin for many years. I would say, if you're familiar with his style, this is a very approachable work, but if you're unfamiliar with his music then I should say approach with a little caution. This is not to scare you off but rather warn you that you've never heard anything quite like this before. Koechlin favors harmony and texture over melody and rhythm, but don't let this fool you, these are not atmospheric pieces that tickle your ear, this is highly complex music that when the climaxes thrust forward, you will feel like someone has just punched you in the face. Koechlin is an incredible orchestrator, probably one of the finest in music history along with Ravel, Rimsky-Korsakov, R. Strauss, Schoenberg, etc. The colors he's able to pull from the orchestra are simply astonishing. His approach to harmony is also one of the key characteristics of his music. Nobody writes harmony like this. In fact, Koechlin has written a treatise about harmony and also orchestration. It should be noted that while Koechlin's music was obscure, he was well respected as an educator and was highly regarded by his peers.

This music is so hard to describe, but I think if you have an open-mind about music then Koechlin won't be too difficult for you to grasp. I recommend repeat listening of his music, because so often people will miss some of the subtlety that his music offers. This isn't highly driven music like Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" or Bartok's "The Miraculous Mandarin," but it does have it's moments of rhythmic thrust. The performances from Zinman and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra are exemplary. Iris Vermillion, one of the loveliest voices I've heard in quite some time, Johan Botha, and Ralf Lukas are all impeccable. Also, the audio quality is remarkably good.

If you enjoy "The Jungle Book," then please check out Hanssler's series of Koechlin. The orchestral recordings are led by Heinz Holliger with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra and have proven to be a revelation to me. Zinman's "The Jungle Book" is out-of-print, but should be available in the used market. Enjoy the music!

Very interesting. I'm really only familiar with his Ballade and The Seven Stars (which we got to hear at a concert last year - wonderful!)  but reading that certainly encourages me to add more of his music to my wish list. Thanks for posting it.

[Mirror Image]

Very interesting. I'm really only familiar with his Ballade and The Seven Stars (which we got to hear at a concert last year - wonderful!)  but reading that certainly encourages me to add more of his music to my wish list. Thanks for posting it.

Do check out the Holliger series on Hanssler. Works like Le buisson ardent Parts I & II, Vers la voûte étoilée, and Le Docteur Fabricius have remained imprinted in my mind since the first time I've heard them. He also wrote a lot of beautiful chamber music and vocal works that may be of interest as well.

[NikF2]

Do check out the Holliger series on Hanssler. Works like Le buisson ardent Parts I & II, Vers la voûte étoilée, and Le Docteur Fabricius have remained imprinted in my mind since the first time I've heard them. He also wrote a lot of beautiful chamber music and vocal works that may be of interest as well.

He's definitely one I'll be listening to more of.

[André]

Apart from the Collegium Aureum discs of Beethoven opus 132 and Schubert D. 810 (Death and the Maiden quartet) already mentioned, I'd nominate the 'lost' albums issued by another very fine 'mitteleuropa'-style ensemble: Ensemble 13 Baden-Baden led by Manfred Reichert. The complete Kammermusik by Hindemith and the most sweetly exhilarating version ever of the Berg-Schoenberg arrangements of Strauss waltzes. On the Harmonia Mundi label.

Also, Glière's Ily'a Muromets symphony played by a USSR orchestra under Nathan Rakhlin (Melodiya). Beats any more recent versions handily.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Apart from the Collegium Aureum discs of Beethoven opus 132 and Schubert D. 810 (Death and the Maiden quartet) already mentioned, I'd nominate the 'lost' albums issued by another very fine 'mitteleuropa'-style ensemble: Ensemble 13 Baden-Baden led by Manfred Reichert. The complete Kammermusik by Hindemith and the most sweetly exhilarating version ever of the Berg-Schoenberg arrangements of Strauss waltzes. On the Harmonia Mundi label.

Also, Glière's Ily'a Muromets symphony played by a USSR orchestra under Nathan Rakhlin (Melodiya). Beats any more recent versions handily.

You mean this one?



That is supposed to be the earliest recordings of this work although I don't think it is uncut.

[André]

I think it's that one, although the cover art is different. BTW it's one of the more 'recent' ones, having been recorded in 1975 in full stereo.

Mine was a 2 lp set and it was definitely uncut. It's available in these outfits that cut lps to cd. I'm wary of these cdr though. Sometimes they don't play on my machine even though they are new.

[vandermolen]

As far as I know, the Miaskovsky and the Rimsky-Korsakov are here:

Great news! Thanks do much. 

[vandermolen]

I think it's that one, although the cover art is different. BTW it's one of the more 'recent' ones, having been recorded in 1975 in full stereo.

Mine was a 2 lp set and it was definitely uncut. It's available in these outfits that cut lps to cd. I'm wary of these cdr though. Sometimes they don't play on my machine even though they are new.

I found this transfer to be excellent - better than the official Russian Disc CD and I totally agree that it's the best performance and I have collected them all 
http://www.bearacreissues.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=335&category_id=1&keyword=Gliere&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=12