What are you listening to now?

[Lisztianwagner]

Franz Liszt
Piano Concerto No.1

[asin]B0000041C4[/asin]

[Ken B]

Re: Loeki Stardust:
This drives me crazy!  I keep almost buying this and then remembering the warning about the Newton Classics set.  It's like you are saying, "Look but don't touch." 

Re: Handel/OrganCtos/Koopman
Unless these are different recordings, I think there should be three discs, as included in the collection I have:

[asin]B001PK3M2C[/asin]

That's the set I have, it's great, but I think there should be 4 discs if I recall.

Do I hear 5? Going for 4,  4 is the latest bid, 5 anyone?

[Karl Henning]

Mennin Seventh, Variations Symphony

http://www.youtube.com/v/a4v0Wyrf0N4

[Lisztianwagner]

Franz Liszt
Piano Concerto No.1

[asin]B0000041C4[/asin]

Why not continuing with Richter: Piano Concerto No.2 and Piano Sonata.

[North Star]

After listening to Bach, it's hard to go back

Cantatas BWV 4 Christ Lag in Todesbanden, 150 Nach dir, Herr, verlanget micht & 196 Der Herr denket an uns
Suzuki & Bach Collegium Japan
[asin]B000025UVN[/asin]

[Pat B]

Yes, often the megaboxes are maddeningly megasamplerish.  The LUMIERES box thankfully includes a number of great whole recordings (operas, that jammin' Herreweghe Beethoven 9, etc), but truncates other discs that now I must have, cf. Rene Jacobs Mozart symphs, a great disc of Beethoven piano trios, etc etc etc.

Lumières is what I was just listening to -- specifically a symphony by Boccherini. I think the one by J.C. Bach (performed by Akamus of Berlin) is the highlight of that disc.

I also wish Lumières was a bit more compatible with HM's individual releases -- I have an aversion to duplication -- and I wish the box was physically smaller, but can't complain too much about such a well-priced collection of excellent (so far) recordings.

Up next, second listen to my second group of the second round of Mahler's second.

[Karl Henning]

Сергей Сергеевич [ Sergei Sergeyevich (Prokofiev) ]
Шестая соната для ф-п. Ля Мажор, соч. 82 [ Piano Sonata № 6 in A, Opus 82 ]
Anne-Marie M^cDermott

[asin]B0025X4PRO[/asin]

[listener]

SIBELIUS:  Symphony no.7  NY Phil.
and bits and pieces with the London Philharmonic incl. Lemminkäinen's Return
Beecham, cond.
KORNGOLD:  String Sextet op.10   SCHOENBERG: Verklärte Nacht   string sextet version
The Raphael Ensemble
all good examples of 'Where is this going?' hamonies

[North Star]

I also wish Lumières was a bit more compatible with HM's individual releases -- I have an aversion to duplication -- and I wish the box was physically smaller, but can't complain too much about such a well-priced collection of excellent (so far) recordings.

They do want to make money from their recordings, too, and these are bits from individual releases in a bargain box are a wonderful way to do this - especially since many releases are included completely, making the set worth it for just those.

[Karl Henning]

Сергей Сергеевич [ Sergei Sergeyevich (Prokofiev) ]
Шестая соната для ф-п. Ля Мажор, соч. 82 [ Piano Sonata № 6 in A, Opus 82 ]
Anne-Marie M^cDermott

[asin]B0025X4PRO[/asin]

Anne-Marie is dreamier in the Tempo di valzer lentissimo than Frederic, so I admit she wins me over.

[Ken B]

Skalkottas: The Return of Ulysses

[Karl Henning]

Сергей Сергеевич [ Sergei Sergeyevich (Prokofiev) ]
Шестая соната для ф-п. Ля Мажор, соч. 82 [ Piano Sonata № 6 in A, Opus 82 ]
Anne-Marie M^cDermott

[asin]B0025X4PRO[/asin]

Nor does Anne-Marie sound as if she is playing any less fast than Frederic in the Vivace, but she impressed me as having the beast under her control.

[North Star]

Buxtehude
Membra Jesu Nostri
Bovet, Kiehr, Scholl, Türk, Messthaler (SSATB) René Jacobs & Concerto Vocale
[asin]B00009IC6I[/asin]

[Brian]

Celebrating Mirare on NML:

[Karl Henning]

Сергей Сергеевич [ Sergei Sergeyevich (Prokofiev) ]
Шестая соната для ф-п. Ля Мажор, соч. 82 [ Piano Sonata № 6 in A, Opus 82 ]
Yakov Kasman

[asin]B007CYKIJ0[/asin]

He's a bit too relaxed in the Allegro moderato, I think . . . he seems to be squarely in Moderato territory.

[Todd]

Now that's a program I can appreciate.  Thoughts?

[Karl Henning]

Сергей Сергеевич [ Sergei Sergeyevich (Prokofiev) ]
Шестая соната для ф-п. Ля Мажор, соч. 82 [ Piano Sonata № 6 in A, Opus 82 ]
Yakov Kasman

[asin]B007CYKIJ0[/asin]

He's a bit too relaxed in the Allegro moderato, I think . . . he seems to be squarely in Moderato territory.

Kasman is more lyrical than Chiu in the Tempo di valzer lentissimo, but feels rushed compared to M^cDermott's unrushed, graceful nostalgia.  I'm afraid Kasman comes across as a little "workman-like" in this movement.

[The new erato]

First listen. I like this.

[Pat B]

They do want to make money from their recordings, too, and these are bits from individual releases in a bargain box are a wonderful way to do this - especially since many releases are included completely, making the set worth it for just those.

Yes, of course, and I'm sure the economics are different for HM than for Sony or UMG. But ultimately I am less likely to buy a full-priced individual release if I already have half of it.

It's also worth noting that some of the "teaser" selections come from releases that are now OOP (like Rousset's Couperin). So even if these bits made me want to pay HM for the full item, they don't allow me to do so.

Despite that reservation, I do think it's a great set and a fantastic value.

[North Star]

It's also worth noting that some of the "teaser" selections come from releases that are now OOP (like Rousset's Couperin). So even if these bits made me want to pay HM for the full item, they don't allow me to do so.

That is naughty!