Purchases Today

[Karl Henning]

Just received this (long deleted  ) CD, bought secondhand through the www.discdogs.com marketplace:



As a Boulez completist, it was absolutely imperative I add this to my collection  , and Harvey's fascinating Mortuos plango, vivos voco was absent from my shelves. The Höller piece also seems attractive. I'm not mad about Ferneyhough, but let's see what the two versions of Funerailles sound like, and, finally, I've never heard a note of Dufourt  (so I'm broadening my horizons).

Listening to the Harvey...ravishing! 

That Harvey is a great, great piece!

[Karl Henning]

Do you know, I own no Boulez! Seriously - none.

You mean as conductor? Do you mean also, as composer?  If the latter case, and if you are entertaining possible remediation, I have two suggestions:

The Rituel in memoriam Bruno Maderna

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Sur Incises

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[mc ukrneal]

You mean as conductor? Do you mean also, as composer?  If the latter case, and if you are entertaining possible remediation, I have two suggestions:

Actually neither. I have heard a couple of pieces on youtube, but they didn't strike a chord with me. So I have have put him to the side for the moment. But I do appreciate the recommendations so that I know what to keep an eye out for in the future.

[ritter]

Do you know, I own no Boulez! Seriously - none. I nearly came close to buying his take on Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe, but opted for Martinon instead. Nevertheless, interesting cd you got there.

Mc ukrneal, my opinion will be biased, as I unashamedly admit that in my opinion Boulez is the single most important personality in music since the end of WW2, but if youy wish to remedy the absence of Boulez form your collection, Karlhennings suggestions are an excellent starting point, to which I would add this (that has--finally--recently been made available on CD):



As a conductor, the Mahler 6th (either the Vienna on DG or the Lucerne on Accentus), the Ravel and Debussy (both the earlier recordings on CBS/Sony or the more recent ones on DG) and the Stravinsky are all top notch.

[Sergeant Rock]

Arrived just now (delivered by Hermes instead of my Bundespost Frau): Rameau played by Tzimon Barto (recommended by wintersway and Monkey Greg) and  Nørgård Symphonies 3 and 7 (heard the Third, thanks to sanantonio, on YouTube the other day and fell in love).




Sarge

[mc ukrneal]

As a conductor, the Mahler 6th (either the Vienna on DG or the Lucerne on Accentus), the Ravel and Debussy (both the earlier recordings on CBS/Sony or the more recent ones on DG) and the Stravinsky are all top notch.

I saw a Mahler 6th of his on TV 2-3 years ago (I think it was then). I was very excited to hear it, but it was a terrible disappointment. I turned it off about mid-way through (I want to say he was conducting Chicago SO, but this may be wrong). The one recording I am considering is the Ravel Concertos disc. I need those and that looks like a good one.

[springrite]

I saw a Mahler 6th of his on TV 2-3 years ago (I think it was then). I was very excited to hear it, but it was a terrible disappointment. I turned it off about mid-way through (I want to say he was conducting Chicago SO, but this may be wrong). The one recording I am considering is the Ravel Concertos disc. I need those and that looks like a good one.

I would expect you to have at least a few Boulez recordings, even if by accident, or because you actually wanted it for the soloist. The Ravel concerti would be a perfect case in point. Why not get it for Zimerman?

[Sergeant Rock]

I saw a Mahler 6th of his on TV 2-3 years ago (I think it was then). I was very excited to hear it, but it was a terrible disappointment. I turned it off about mid-way through

I'm one of the few Mahler fanatics who doesn't care for Boulez's 6th; your response doesn't surprise me. But I do like his M2, 4, 5 and 7--not that I'm recommending them to you 

Sarge

[ritter]

Bought a book on Honegger that looks quite interesting:

That is the "standard" book on Honegger, originally published many yeras ago in France by Fayard...I still haven't got round to reading it, but will do so sometime soon...

I've been quite obsessed with Honegger's Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher these past months... extarordinary piece (music and Claudel's text)...the DVD of a production from Montpellier on Accord (I suppose it's availale in the US) is highly recommended (Sylvie Testud sets the benchmark in the title role, I think).

[mc ukrneal]

I would expect you to have at least a few Boulez recordings, even if by accident, or because you actually wanted it for the soloist. The Ravel concerti would be a perfect case in point. Why not get it for Zimerman?

I just seem to be disappointed by Boulez (as a conductor). I was not particularly keen on his La Mer either (in the blind listening) and it's not the first thing of his I've disliked. Perhaps I've been unlucky or perhaps his approach somehow clashes with mine. Then again, the Ravel of his I heard sounded pretty good. That's why I was thinking of the concerto disc (which will also be heavily influenced by the soloist).

[springrite]

I just seem to be disappointed by Boulez (as a conductor). I was not particularly keen on his La Mer either (in the blind listening) and it's not the first thing of his I've disliked. Perhaps I've been unlucky or perhaps his approach somehow clashes with mine. Then again, the Ravel of his I heard sounded pretty good. That's why I was thinking of the concerto disc (which will also be heavily influenced by the soloist).

I don't think you were unlucky. I think you just don't like his style. I am not a big fan of surgical treatments and often autopsies either. Interestingly, his Mahler 7 got me to finally love that symphony, after which his version became my least favourite version!

The Ravel concerti is good, btw.

[ritter]

I saw a Mahler 6th of his on TV 2-3 years ago (I think it was then). I was very excited to hear it, but it was a terrible disappointment. I turned it off about mid-way through (I want to say he was conducting Chicago SO, but this may be wrong). The one recording I am considering is the Ravel Concertos disc. I need those and that looks like a good one.

Sure it was the 6th, mk unreal? I know of video versions of two the 7th with Boulez, with Chicago and with the Concertgebouw. But I've never heard of a Chicago Mahler 6th on video (but I may be mistaken, of course)... Among my mahlerian friends, even the most rabid anti-boulezians are impressed by his 6th, while his 7th is a bit more controversial....

As springrite points out, the Ravel concerti with Zimermann are well worth getting (and superior, in my opinión, to the more recent Aimard--much as I admire the latter pianist).

[Harry]

I have Abbado's take on the 1,7 and 10 by Mahler and am quite content with them.

[ritter]

I have Abbado's take on the 1,7 and 10 by Mahler and am quite content with them.

And Abbado's Vienna Mahler 4th with Frederica von Stade is one of the best Mahler recordings I know...

[mc ukrneal]

Sure it was the 6th, mk unreal? I know of video versions of two the 7th with Boulez, with Chicago and with the Concertgebouw. But I've never heard of a Chicago Mahler 6th on video (but I may be mistaken, of course)... Among my mahlerian friends, even the most rabid anti-boulezians are impressed by his 6th, while his 7th is a bit more controversial....

As springrite points out, the Ravel concerti with Zimermann are well worth getting (and superior, in my opinión, to the more recent Aimard--much as I admire the latter pianist).

It's possible I am mistaken. I just remember turning it off. Since I have seen a number of performances of the 6th and 7th since then (on video), they start to become one!

[Karl Henning]

--not that I'm recommending them to you 

Sarge

(* chortle *)

[ritter]

.....Since I have seen a number of performances of the 6th and 7th since then (on video), they start to become one!

5th, 6th, 7th...yes, they all sound the same  ..ooops, no, that was Bruckner 

[Mirror Image]

That is the "standard" book on Honegger, originally published many yeras ago in France by Fayard...I still haven't got round to reading it, but will do so sometime soon...

I've been quite obsessed with Honegger's Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher these past months... extarordinary piece (music and Claudel's text)...the DVD of a production from Montpellier on Accord (I suppose it's availale in the US) is highly recommended (Sylvie Testud sets the benchmark in the title role, I think).

Thanks for your feedback, ritter. I look forward to reading it, but, like you do probably, I've got a lot of books to read before this one on Honegger. I need to get out my recording of Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher (w/ Serge Baudo on Supraphon) and give it a spin. Embarrassingly, I haven't even heard the work yet.

[springrite]

Thanks for your feedback, ritter. I look forward to reading it, but, like you do probably, I've got a lot of books to read before this one on Honegger. I need to get out my recording of Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher (w/ Serge Baudo on Supraphon) and give it a spin. Embarrassingly, I haven't even heard the work yet.

I don't think that is one of the better recordings of the work, I am afraid.

Then again, I do not even have a CD version and should really have one, maybe the Ozawa or that French one... Humm...

[ritter]

I don't think that is one of the better recordings of the work, I am afraid.

Then again, I do not even have a CD version and should really have one, maybe the Ozawa or that French one... Humm...

I concur...the Baudo was my introduction to the piece in LP many, many years ago, but I now find it a bit ponderous, and with cavernous sound. The Ozawa with Marthe Keller is not universally acclaimed, but I quite enjoy it. There's a very recent one form a rather surprising source: Helmut Rilling on Hänssler (on the slow side, but with astonishing orchestral textures--and slightly germanic-inflected choruses  ). But do seek out (if you allow me the recommendation) the Montpellier DVD:

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