Purchases Today

[André]

The Ysaye sonatas seem to be getting popular.  If my count is right, these two are the third and fourth recording of Op. 27 to be issued in the last 12 months.

.

There are musical and logistic reasons for that. First, it's a set of 6 sonatas. Neat. People love sets. 100 years ago they didn't. Then they happen to range in mood, style and length so that the whole doesn't become a mind-numbing chore. Then there is the 'people' factor: each sonata is conceived as an homage to the particular style and strength of a famous virtuoso of the time (early 1900s). Finally there is the music itself: sufficiently varied in expression to make for a whole recital, and fiendishly difficult but at the same time elegant and thoughtful so the 'art that conceals art' becomes a focus for both artist and listener.

I have the Philippe Graffin set.

[kishnevi]

.

There are musical and logistic reasons for that. First, it's a set of 6 sonatas. Neat. People love sets. 100 years ago they didn't. Then they happen to range in mood, style and length so that the whole doesn't become a mind-numbing chore. Then there is the 'people' factor: each sonata is conceived as an homage to the particular style and strength of a famous virtuoso of the time (early 1900s). Finally there is the music itself: sufficiently varied in expression to make for a whole recital, and fiendishly difficult but at the same time elegant and thoughtful so the 'art that conceals art' becomes a focus for both artist and listener.

I have the Philippe Graffin set.

Don't have him.  Do have seven other recordings, plus these two.  Zehetmair was the first and still the one I like best.

[André]

I'll take your word for it and go for Zehetmair next time ! 

[André]

An Ysaye homage in reverse: look at the composers who wrote for the great belgian virtuoso:

[kishnevi]

An Ysaye homage in reverse: look at the composers who wrote for the great belgian virtuoso:

Must be good.
"1 used from $164.84, 1 new from $45.29"
 

[André]

Well, after due consideration and agonizing for 2 seconds I have ordered that 4 cd set. Almost 5 hours of great music. Of course everybody knows/loves/owns the Franck, but what are your chances to come across the Ropartz, Samazeuilh or Lazzari sonatas ? 

Price wise, check amazon.fr: it's verrrry affordable.

[kishnevi]

Well, after due consideration and agonizing for 2 seconds I have ordered that 4 cd set. Almost 5 hours of great music. Of course everybody knows/loves/owns the Franck, but what are your chances to come across the Ropartz, Samazeuilh or Lazzari sonatas ? 

Price wise, check amazon.fr: it's verrrry affordable.

In fact, I do not particularly care for the Franck.
I missed noticing it was a set!
Will investigate, but meanwhile
I have 2 sets of the symphonies, but both are PI, so I went for this MI set, which has been hanging on my wishlist for several years.
[asin]B001FWRYVA[/asin]

[kishnevi]

Well, after due consideration and agonizing for 2 seconds I have ordered that 4 cd set. Almost 5 hours of great music. Of course everybody knows/loves/owns the Franck, but what are your chances to come across the Ropartz, Samazeuilh or Lazzari sonatas ? 

Price wise, check amazon.fr: it's verrrry affordable.

Ordered from AmazonFR marketplace vendor Dodax. Total in USD =$36

[Mirror Image]

Has he done Sibelius with the Halle before? If so, I don't have it.  The only composer I've gone deep with Elder is Elgar.  And the two installments of Wagner's Ring that have been issued.  I'm hoping they get around to the other two.

Yep, besides the latest recording you bought, he's recorded Symphonies Nos. 1-3, The Oceanides, and Pohjola's Daughter with the Halle on their house label. Besides Elgar, I've followed Elder's Vaughan Williams, which has been hit/miss. The best thing of RVW he's done is the Pastoral Symphony recording. That's a must-hear!

[Mirror Image]

Bought earlier today:

[kishnevi]

Yep, besides the latest recording you bought, he's recorded Symphonies Nos. 1-3, The Oceanides, and Pohjola's Daughter with the Halle on their house label. Besides Elgar, I've followed Elder's Vaughan Williams, which has been hit/miss. The best thing of RVW he's done is the Pastoral Symphony recording. That's a must-hear!

Thanks. I will keep an eye out for those.

[71 dB]

My March shopping budget (and more) went to the X-Files Blu-ray seasons 1-9 box. Now, after a month I can finally buy more classical music:

[asin]B000053W4E[/asin]

[The new erato]

Well, after due consideration and agonizing for 2 seconds I have ordered that 4 cd set. Almost 5 hours of great music. Of course everybody knows/loves/owns the Franck, but what are your chances to come across the Ropartz, Samazeuilh or Lazzari sonatas ? 

Price wise, check amazon.fr: it's verrrry affordable.

I ordered it.

[The new erato]

Ordered these from presto:

[asin]B00PKLTFO6[/asin]
[asin]B010EJOB74[/asin]
[asin]B01C0BYA9I[/asin]

[Que]

Ordered these from presto:

[asin]B00PKLTFO6[/asin]

Nice!

Purchased yesterday at Tower Records, Shibuya, Tokyo:

[asin]B00SRVC3HM[/asin]


[asin]B000AA4L82[/asin]

CDs in Japan (like everything else) cost an arm and a leg, so I had to restrict myself to discounted items.
I was also looking for a few OOP Japanese isued items. But with Japanese efficiency anything that stays too long on the shelve gets sold off in sales, so no luck on those items...

Q

[PerfectWagnerite]

Nice!

Purchased yesterday at Tower Records, Shibuya, Tokyo:

Is that the same Tower Records that went bankrupt about 10 years ago? Didn't know they still have stores overseas.

[Mirror Image]

Is that the same Tower Records that went bankrupt about 10 years ago? Didn't know they still have stores overseas.

They pulled their retail stores in the US, but they're still an international chain.

[Brian]

They pulled their retail stores in the US, but they're still an international chain.

Not necessarily relevant, but I recently discovered that there are over 50 Blockbuster Video rental stores still operating, because the franchise owners were 100% independent from the parent company, so when the company folded, they kept going. There are almost 10 Blockbusters in El Paso, TX, alone.

[Mirror Image]

Not necessarily relevant, but I recently discovered that there are over 50 Blockbuster Video rental stores still operating, because the franchise owners were 100% independent from the parent company, so when the company folded, they kept going. There are almost 10 Blockbusters in El Paso, TX, alone.

I used to work for Blockbuster (for about two years). Bad hours and lousy pay, but I got to see new films two weeks before their release date. That was the only perk of that job.

[aligreto]