Purchases Today

[André]

I bought that one not too long ago, André. I liked it, I liked it very much! Hope you do too.

Good evening  to you...

Thank you for your input, Rafael 

I ordered it while listening to the 1962 de Larrocha version. While I love the latter, I think it's good to have an alternative  POV. Apparently Chauzu is more brooding, which I think may shed another light on this extraordinary work. Plus, it's a modern recording, which should benefit the sometimes dense pianistic textures. Plus plus, I got it new for 3.19$CAD 

[ritter]

This was my initial reaction when I bought the set:

Just delivered, and now playing:


So far (I've reached El Corpus Christi en Sevilla) this is first-rate. Olivier Chauzu avoids excesses, but brings out the polyphony of Albéniz's extraordinary piano writing in a very clear way, while maintaining the flow of the musical discourse in a very natural way. One of the great Iberia recordings I know (and I know quite a few).

Up next, what for me is the high point of the suite, Rondeña (but I already sampled that on YouTube—that's what led me to order the CDs  ).

Strangely, I've never warmed to Alicia de Larrocha in Iberia (I have her 1962 EMI recording). I can't pinpoint what it is...perhaps a certain lack of poetry and warmth? But I admit she's almost universally admired in the work, so it's probably me. 

I must relisten to Chauzu, but was ready to place him at the top of my list of Iberia recordings, along with Rafael Orozco, and ahead of classics such as Esteban Sánchez, Leopoldo Querol, Ricardo Requejo, etc., etc.

[vers la flamme]

This was my initial reaction when I bought the set:


Strangely, I've never warmed to Alicia de Larrocha in Iberia (I have her 1962 EMI recording). I can't pinpoint what it is...perhaps a certain lack of poetry and warmth? But I admit she's almost universally admired in the work, so it's probably me. 

I must relisten to Chauzu, but was ready to place him at the top of my list of Iberia recordings, along with Rafael Orozco, and ahead of classics such as Esteban Sánchez, Leopoldo Querol, Ricardo Requejo, etc., etc.

I'd never accuse Alicia de Larrocha of lacking in poetry and warmth. Perhaps try again with her (later?) Decca recording...? You may or may not be pleasantly surprised.

[Madiel]

Just bought after a long three year search:

Oodles of authenticity, I imagine.

[Madiel]

I'd never accuse Alicia de Larrocha of lacking in poetry and warmth. Perhaps try again with her (later?) Decca recording...? You may or may not be pleasantly surprised.

I definitely liked her 2nd Decca recording more than I did the earlier versions, having sampled them all.

[Mirror Image]

Oodles of authenticity, I imagine.

Oh yes. I owned a few of these recordings already (around two or three) and have greatly enjoyed them.

[steve ridgway]

I bought a few downloads of Scelsi yesterday - Chandos had 25% off the Giacinto Scelsi Collection albums (though the website was at one point failing to show the reduction) and Qobuz had a good price on the Musica Viva album.

[Mirror Image]

Just bought:

[Brian]

I definitely liked her 2nd Decca recording more than I did the earlier versions, having sampled them all.

Thanks for this post and perspective. When I was considering whether to buy her complete Decca Big Box, it seemed like there was a lot of internet chatter about how earlier was always better for her. Not a lot of people saying the reverse.

[Mirror Image]

Some Tubin odds-and-ends:

[Symphonic Addict]

Some Tubin odds-and-ends:

I hope you'll enjoy Tubin's chamber music as much (or more) as I do, John. Most of the works are worth your time.

[Mirror Image]

I hope you'll enjoy Tubin's chamber music as much (or more) as I do, John. Most of the works are worth your time.

Excellent to read. I've been meaning to buy these particular recordings for quite some time.

[Mirror Image]

Just bought:

[flyingdutchman]

Just bought:

You should try some of Dvorak's operas.

[Mirror Image]

You should try some of Dvorak's operas.

I already have heard Rusalka (own both Neumann and Mackerras), but I also own recordings of The Devil and Kate and Dimitrij, but I just haven't heard these two yet. Someday...

[flyingdutchman]

I already have heard Rusalka (own both Neumann and Mackerras), but I also own recordings of The Devil and Kate and Dimitrij, but I just haven't heard these two yet. Someday...

Try King and the Charcoal Burner. It's a wonderful opera. The one on Orfeo with Albrecht.

[Mirror Image]

Try King and the Charcoal Burner. It's a wonderful opera. The one on Orfeo with Albrecht.

Thanks, I've been looking at those Orfeo recordings, but as I said, it'll be a long time before I get to any more of his operas. It also doesn't help when I'm not a huge of the genre in general.

[flyingdutchman]

Thanks, I've been looking at those Orfeo recordings, but as I said, it'll be a long time before I get to any more of his operas. It also doesn't help when I'm not a huge of the genre in general.

Neither am I. Opera and me? Not even hardly.  BUT, Dvorak has such a way with melody and the lyricism of his comic operas really is great.

[André]

Not obvious from the disc cover, but this is a disc of music by East German composer Siegfried Matthus. Couldn't find a pic of the back for contents, so here's a list taken from the Musicweb review:

Siegfried MATTHUS (b. 1934)
Manhattan Concerto - For the 70th Birthday of Siegfried MATTHUS

Concerto for trumpet, percussion and orchestra (1982) [20'45]
(1. Intrada 4'08; 2. Adagio und Passacaglia 5'45; 3. Vivace 2'49; 4. Adagio lamentoso 5'51; 5. Stretta con collera 2'12)
Robert Hofmann (trumpet); Michael Gärtner (drums)
Orchester Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken/Michael Stern
Manhattan Concerto for Orchestra (1994) [21'38]
(6. Moderato 4'02; 7. Allegro assai 7'25; 8. Adagio 3'45; 9. Cadenza · Energico 6'26)
Stephan V. Böhnlein, Michael Gärtner, Wolfram Winkel, Edgar Guggeis, (percussion)
Orchester Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken/Günther Herbig
Der Wald - Concerto for percussion and orchestra (1984) [20'03]
(10. Andante 8'34; 11. Allegro agitato · Larghetto lugubre e lamentoso 3'49; 12. Rezitativ Allegro energico e marcato · Allegro vivace risoluto 7'40)
Michael Gärtner (percussion)
Orchester Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken/Günther Herbig

Rec, Großen Sendesaal des Funkhauses am Halberg in Saarbrücken, 1 rec, 03.12.1999 - 06.12.1999, 2 06.12.2002 - 07.12.2002; 3 31.03.2003 - 01.04.2003. DDD
PERC-PRO 40012004 [62'36

Read more: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2004/nov04/Matthus.htm#ixzz6zwo7Xttt

[Mirror Image]

Neither am I. Opera and me? Not even hardly.  BUT, Dvorak has such a way with melody and the lyricism of his comic operas really is great.

I'm definitely looking forward to digging into those works for sure.