Purchases Today

[Spineur]

Some interesting stuff, including the Weinberg! How is the Sgambati piano solo music, does he go beyond say Schumann stylistically?

I'll let you know when the CD are here.  From what I have heard it is quite varied.  His most performed piece (and quite famous) is his transcription from Gluck Orphée et Euridice.  Some other pieces are precursors to Ferrucio Busoni.  So there is much to discover.

[Que]

Oh well  I didn't remember your final wrap-up...
Ok, anyway now I have it  , so I'll try not to be influenced by your comments and see if I like it 

I've read a lot of positive reviews about it, so it is definitely up to personal taste I think.

Will be curious what you make of it! 

Q

[Turner]

I'll let you know when the CD are here.  From what I have heard it is quite varied.  His most performed piece (and quite famous) is his transcription from Gluck Orphée et Euridice.  Some other pieces are precursors to Ferrucio Busoni.  So there is much to discover.

Good, thanks. One rarely sees that music recorded. I really like Respighi´s quite conservative piano music on Naxos, and a good deal of Busoni´s, have got some Sgambati as well, but no piano music by him.

[Todd]

I'm gonna rattle the walls with a Sibelius shootout.

[Henk]

[aligreto]

Koppel: Symphonies 3 & 4....

[André]

Arrived today:

[Autumn Leaves]

Latest purchase:



Despite her reputation, I haven't been collecting any Callas recordings up till this point because I don't want to listen to Opera in Mono (I know she has some Stereo recordings but these would not seem to her best as it was my understanding that her voice was in decline by this stage..) - As this recording was very cheap and was made in 1955 (which would suggest the Mono to be of decent fidelity) I thought I'd give it a go..

[kishnevi]

From the used CD store

1) Schoenberg Pelleas & Melisande/ Wagner Siegfried Idyll
    Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin, C. Thielemann conductor

2)Debussy La Mer Jeux  Le Martyre de saint Sebastien (fragments symphoniques) Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune
    Orchestre symphonique de Montreal, C. Dutoit conductor

3) Brahms Four Symphonies
     Wiener Symphoniker, W. Sawallisch, conductor

And two operas

Rossini La Pietra del Paragone
Clarion Concerts Orchestra and Chorus,  N. Jenkins conductor on Vanguard label
Cast includes Jose Carreras

Gluck Iphigenie in Aulis
Chorus of Bavarian Radio Munich Radio Orchestra K. Eichhorn conductor on Euridisc label
Sung in German
Cast includes Fischer-Dieskau, Moffo, and Auger

[PerfectWagnerite]

Latest purchase:



Despite her reputation, I haven't been collecting any Callas recordings up till this point because I don't want to listen to Opera in Mono (I know she has some Stereo recordings but these would not seem to her best as it was my understanding that her voice was in decline by this stage..) - As this recording was very cheap and was made in 1955 (which would suggest the Mono to be of decent fidelity) I thought I'd give it a go..

The justly famous Tosca is in excellent mono also.

[Autumn Leaves]

The justly famous Tosca is in excellent mono also.

Good stuff - thanks for letting me know.
I'll see how I go with this one and if I give it much play I'll try to pick up Tosca (the Mono one) and some of her other Puccini .

[kishnevi]

Good stuff - thanks for letting me know.
I'll see how I go with this one and if I give it much play I'll try to pick up the Tosca and some of her other Puccini .

Avoid the Turandot (bad SQ, although I haven't yet played the newest mastering).  And at some point try her Norma.

[Autumn Leaves]

Avoid the Turandot (bad SQ, although I haven't yet played the newest mastering).

Ok thanks - although the Turandot is also in Mono it was recorded later than the MB and Tosca recordings so, at least in my experience, that would make me think it would likely be of better quality than the other 2, though Im not going to discount your view at this point - can you tell me which version you have that sounded bad and did you listen to it recently?

And at some point try her Norma.

I had Joan Sutherland's recording of this Opera at one stage but I cant remember much about the work itself - I promised myself Id finish with Verdi and Puccini before moving on to Bellini, Rossini, etc.. but Ill keep your recommendation in mind.

[kishnevi]

Ok thanks - although the Turandot is also in Mono it was recorded later than the MB and Tosca recordings so, at least in my experience, that would make me think it would likely be of better quality than the other 2, though Im not going to discount your view at this point - can you tell me which version you have that sounded bad and did you listen to it recently?

I had Joan Sutherland's recording of this Opera at one stage but I cant remember much about the work itself - I promised myself Id finish with Verdi and Puccini before moving on to Bellini, Rossini, etc.. but Ill keep your recommendation in mind.

The Turandot was in the same Home of Opera series as the Butterfly. I only listened to it once.  The most obvious flaw was a weird placement of the Emperor.  Apparently they wanted to suggest he was high up and remote, so he was apparently recorded a considerable distance from the mike.

Have not heard her other two Puccini recordings.  If you are looking at Verdi, then I suggest her Rigoletto.  And the "Mexico City" Aida, which is was live, so not the best SQ, but is excellent despite that (and contains a famous interpolated high note she threw in as a way of putting the tenor in his place).  Since it's live, it's not part of the Home of Opera series.

[Autumn Leaves]

The Turandot was in the same Home of Opera series as the Butterfly. I only listened to it once.  The most obvious flaw was a weird placement of the Emperor.  Apparently they wanted to suggest he was high up and remote, so he was apparently recorded a considerable distance from the mike.

Thanks, good to know this sort of stuff - I appreciate your reply.
I have a confession to make - I have not listened to Turandot yet! (I will be hearing it soon though.. ).

Have not heard her other two Puccini recordings.  If you are looking at Verdi, then I suggest her Rigoletto.  And the "Mexico City" Aida, which is was live, so not the best SQ, but is excellent despite that (and contains a famous interpolated high note she threw in as a way of putting the tenor in his place).  Since it's live, it's not part of the Home of Opera series.

OK - thanks for vouching for these.

It seems there is no shortage of Callas re-issues if one is interested in her - I noticed she has a big-box of Remastered recordings which looks nice (although it's a bit too expensive for me ATM).

[ritter]

....
Gluck Iphigenie in Aulis
Chorus of Bavarian Radio Munich Radio Orchestra K. Eichhorn conductor on Euridisc label
Sung in German
Cast includes Fischer-Dieskau, Moffo, and Auger

That's an interesting one, as it's Richard Wagner's arangement of Iphigénie en Aulide made for Dresden in 1847 (that's why it's sung in German).... 70% Gluck + 30% Wagner ?  ...

[kishnevi]

That's an interesting one, as it's Richard Wagner's arangement of Iphigénie en Aulis made for Dresden in 1847 (that's why it's sung in German).... 70% Gluck + 30% Wagner ?  ...

I'll let you know later today when I listen to it.  I didn't know about the Wagner connection: they were used copies, both lacking any sort of booklet or track listing, (For six dollars each, I won't complain.)

[ritter]

I'll let you know later today when I listen to it.  I didn't know about the Wagner connection: they were used copies, both lacking any sort of booklet or track listing, (For six dollars each, I won't complain.)

It is a wonderful opera (in its original guise, or in this adaptation). I do not have that recording you bought (I think it's long OOP), but a newer one on Oehms. Most enjoyable!

[aligreto]

Joyce DiDonato: In War and Peace....





A gift, actually 

[Sergeant Rock]

Arrived today, purchases recommended by Surprised by Beauty (the Braunfels' chapter written by our Jens): Braunfels's Te Deum, String Quintet and Phantastische Erscheinungen eines Themas von Hector Berlioz; and Stephen Albert's Symphony RiverRun.






Sarge