What are you listening to now?

[The new erato]

This may have had something to do With it (copied from wikemedia):

"Passionate about all things German, in the 1930s Goodall openly sympathized with the Nazi regime, which he perceived as a defender of Germanic cultural traditions. Goodall also actively supported Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists, and he eventually joined the party just five days after Britain's declaration of war on Germany. He maintained his outspoken pro-Nazi views during World War II, the uninhibited expression of which once led him to be briefly questioned by the police. Goodall was known to refer to the Holocaust as a "BBC Jewish plot" "

His own worst enemy is a concept that springs to mind. No doubt he would be better known if it weren't for these political controversies.

[aligreto]

Schubert: Die Winterreise [Prégardien/Staier]....

[Tsaraslondon]

This may have had something to do With it (copied from wikemedia):

"Passionate about all things German, in the 1930s Goodall openly sympathized with the Nazi regime, which he perceived as a defender of Germanic cultural traditions. Goodall also actively supported Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists, and he eventually joined the party just five days after Britain's declaration of war on Germany. He maintained his outspoken pro-Nazi views during World War II, the uninhibited expression of which once led him to be briefly questioned by the police. Goodall was known to refer to the Holocaust as a "BBC Jewish plot" "

His own worst enemy is a concept that springs to mind. No doubt he would be better known if it weren't for these political controversies.

I'd never heard about that before, and I must say it does colour one's perceptions of the man, if not of his music-making. Karajan and Schwarzkopf come in for a lot more flac, though it has always seemed to me that their Nazi party membership was more career based than ideological.

[Mookalafalas]

First time really enjoying this work (Haydn's Creation).  I'm not good with oratorios.  What a difference a little English makes! (from the Rattle Big Box)
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[The new erato]

I'd never heard about that before, and I must say it does colour one's perceptions of the man, if not of his music-making. Karajan and Schwarzkopf come in for a lot more flac, though it has always seemed to me that their Nazi party membership was more career based than ideological.

Yes, indeed, and I agree. While admiring his Wagner, he's been an extremely controversial musician to most British reviewers.

[Camphy]

Earlier, Nielsen's Sinfonia Espansiva:

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[Camphy]

Now:

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[Tsaraslondon]

Earlier, Nielsen's Sinfonia Espansiva:

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I love this Nielsen set, and still think it one of the best Nielsen cycles you will hear.

[Camphy]

I love this Nielsen set, and still think it one of the best Nielsen cycles you will hear.

My love for it increases with every listen. Haven't heard many alternatives though, only Schønwandt and Bernstein (not a set of course). If I were looking for another cycle, I'd be most curious about Oramo.

[Florestan]

Fourth and final disc of the series. My first in-depth encounter with Paul Badura-Skoda´s art. I´m positively impressed. Have his Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert sets as well but somehow I´ve managed to avoid them. Must remedy this situation.

Now playing

[Henk]

Excellent disc.

[Maestro267]

Got a fair bit of Sibelius planned for today, the 150th anniversary of his birth.

Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite
Lahti SO/Vänskä

[Florestan]

Excellent disc.

And artwork. 

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

From the big box.  Revisiting one of my favorite Pictures.  The Glinka/Balakirev and Bach/Busoni are superb, too.

How do you like this as compared with the famed Richter recording?

There's no excuse for me not having heard Kissin's endeavors by now, of course.

[aligreto]

Lively, charming, entertaining and well played.

[Florestan]

Gaetano Pugnani, Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf, Václav Pichl - Violin Concertos - Prague Chamber Orchestra, Jitka Adamusová

Splendid music and musicmaking.

[Wakefield]

And artwork. 

I find deeply provocative - and "provocative" isn't a random word - this relationship among image, sexual appeal and artistic values.

Probably, there is no place for surprise if classical music adopts the same values prevailing in pop music; after all, their owners and executives are the same, at least if we talk about corporations like Sony.

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

Often forgotten and very difficult to get hold of, this is surely one of the best studio recordings of Tristan und Isolde, with Linda Esther Gray a superb Isolde, warm and vulnerable in a way Nilsson is not, but with plenty of steel when required, the voice rich and firm in the lower register, gleaming and powerful at the top. What a tragedy that illness cut short her career. Mitchinson is not on her level, but his is still a creditable Tristan, and there are excellent performances from Wilkens, Joll and Howell as Brangane, Kurewenal and Marke.

Goodall's experience and love of the score is evident in every phrase. His tempos may be slightly slower than some, but the music never drags and there is no want of power. Recorded in very natural sound, this is in every way a five star recording, which should be far better known than it is.

Beautiful talking points for this Tristan, Greg. . . . . . 'sold.'

I really do appreciate all of your opera breakdowns- and I can't tell you how much I learn from them; and how much joy and excitement I've had in listening to so much of what you run up the flagpole. 

I would not be going out on a limb in saying that you're the 'Anna Wintour' (founder and Editor Supreme- praise be her name- of Vogue) of the operatic world- you really do separate the 'Supremely-and-Sublimely-Gorgeous' from the merely 'beautiful-and-distinguished.' Only the best of the best makes it on to your editing table.

The famed 'September issue' of Vogue really should have your opera breakdowns for the year. Ha.  Ha.  Ha. 

Anyway, I can't wait to hear Linda Ester Gray's Isolde and to luxuriate in the gorgeously engineered Decca sound.

Great news. I so look forward to the discovery of what she brings to the table in Act II. 

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

Excellent disc.

I agree.

I have all of Buniatishvili's recitals and I find her Chopin and her Frank/Grieg cd's the most engaging for me.

I love her command and attack on the presto of the Chopin's Sonata No. 2- which is faster than Argerich's (though Martha's is cleaner); and her Mazurka in A minor, Op. 17/4 is pure air-and-light lovely.

I found her Lizst cd too heavy in tone and hard-driven, although the her treatment of the last movement of Grieg's Sonata for Violin and Piano, No. 3 has a vivacious lightness of touch that's completely captivating to me in every way.

[Karl Henning]

I find deeply provocative - and "provocative" isn't a random word - this relationship among image, sexual appeal and artistic values.

Probably, there is no place for surprise if classical music adopts the same values prevailing in pop music; after all, their owners and executives are the same, at least if we talk about corporations like Sony.

If there is ever a compact disc with my music, heaven help my sales if the cover should have a photograph of the composer!