Purchases Today

[The new erato]

You haven't heard of Dudamel?      

[Harry]

Ordered.

http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2014/10/on-my-order-list-as-of-today.html?spref=tw

[NLK1971]

This OOP set arrived today.  Purchased used for £13 (inc. postage) from a mega-seller via Amazon France:

[asin]B000003VQK[/asin]

[Dancing Divertimentian]

This OOP set arrived today.  Purchased used for £13 (inc. postage) from a mega-seller via Amazon France:

[asin]B000003VQK[/asin]

That there ^ is a super fine set. 

[NLK1971]

That there ^ is a super fine set.

Going by the reviews it seemed the best choice to fill a gap in my collection and I don't suppose Naive are going to reissue these performances any time soon.

[Ken B]

Pre ordered the DHM 50 cd collection volume 2. Got it at Azon de for €67 shipped, ie about $90.

Might cancel, but wanted to get the low price guarantee. Releases in 30 days.

Perfect for Zaubermoonboy and passes the Brian test too.

Tracklist here. No performers but still useful. https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/deutsche-harmonia-mundi-50-cd-collection/hnum/6143473

[ritter]

Going by the reviews it seemed the best choice to fill a gap in my collection and I don't suppose Naive are going to reissue these performances any time soon.

I've had it for years, and it's superb! Great price you got, as well! Hope you enjoy it...

Just the combination of names on the cover, Schoenberg plus Arditti plus Upshaw, already gives an indication of the quality within    It is surprising that Naïve has never reissued this 

[NLK1971]

I've had it for years, and it's superb! Great price you got, as well! Hope you enjoy it...

Just the combination of names on the cover, Schoenberg plus Arditti plus Upshaw, already gives an indication of the quality within    It is surprising that Naïve has never reissued this 

Thanks, the Amazon mega-sellers have their uses....  I believe Naive (as opposed to the original label, Auvidis) reissued it many years ago, but it's long out of print.
It seems absurd that they recently released the Arditti recording of Verkarte Nacht with no coupling at all.

[André]

Ordered.

http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2014/10/on-my-order-list-as-of-today.html?spref=tw

Excellent music, excellent interpretations, geat sound, great price. You chose wisely, Harry !

[Moonfish]

Pre ordered the DHM 50 cd collection volume 2. Got it at Azon de for €67 shipped, ie about $90.

Might cancel, but wanted to get the low price guarantee. Releases in 30 days.

Perfect for Zaubermoonboy and passes the Brian test too.

Tracklist here. No performers but still useful. https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/deutsche-harmonia-mundi-50-cd-collection/hnum/6143473

I pre-ordered mine from Amazon Japan a few days ago. Baklavaboy recommended it [Thank you!!].  It cost me $69 shipped to the US.  I bought another item from the site a few weeks ago and it arrived two (!) days later via overnight DHL. I was quite surprised. 
So are you going to change your order Ken? 

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B00NX4NMGO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

[Ken B]

I pre-ordered mine from Amazon Japan a few days ago. Baklavaboy recommended it [Thank you!!].  It cost me $69 shipped to the US.  I bought another item from the site a few weeks ago and it arrived two (!) days later via overnight DHL. I was quite surprised. 
So are you going to change your order Ken? 

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B00NX4NMGO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

Zowie.

I cancelled and ordered from Japan. Had to create a new account, which is odd. But many thanks Moonfish! That,s 20 bucks saved.

[Todd]

A bit more Liszt, plus, I want to hear what a recording that earned a 1 on ClassicsToday sounds like.  I mean, maybe it's a 2, or even a 3.

[Brian]

Ken and Moonfish, I am currently interested in hearing 31 of the 50 DHM CDs. 31/69. On the other hand, I have only heard one of the French Harmonia Mundi Lumieres CDs, so that still needs exploring first! What do you guys think?

A bit more Liszt, plus, I want to hear what a recording that earned a 1 on ClassicsToday sounds like.  I mean, maybe it's a 2, or even a 3.

This IS the perverse, insane Barto you're looking for. I'm afraid the more verbose 2010 MusicWeb version of myself came down hard on that one, also. To wit:

"All one needs hear from Tzimon Barto's new two-disc set of late Schubert piano works is his two-minute, thirteen-second performance of the Moment Musical No. 3 in F minor. It is a remarkable performance, for everything about it is wrong.

"The problems begin with the unnatural, exaggerated pause between the first two chords. Barto then softens his left-hand's harsh tone considerably, leaving room for the main tune to enter, but the theme itself is phrased artificially again, endings of every line tapering off into the ether (check 0:28). New phrases signal increases in speed, which last until midway through the phrase, when the pace slacks and the cycle repeats. The central section is largely acceptable, although again devoid of a consistent tempo, but then at 1:16 the main theme trips over itself on its return. Sometimes the little trills which end each line of the stanzas are phrased cleanly, precisely; sometimes they are run together in a clatter (0:08); sometimes they are played with artificial mystery and soft glow (1:16); sometimes (1:40) they kick off their shoes and dance. Oh, and the artificial pause after the first chord comes back, in the form of another delay before the last.

"I've barely even mentioned the bass part. As Schubert wrote it, it is simplicity itself: one-two, one-two, one-two. But Barto never plays two consecutive one-twos the same way: sometimes the stress is on one, sometimes on two, sometimes they are equal. Sometimes there is a quick "cut" from one to two, and sometimes he takes all the time in the world. The louder and softer bits of the piece are sometimes correlated with Schubert's actual dynamic markings.

"We have all heard many pianists play this famous tune, and I suspect many of this website's readers will have played it themselves. Tzimon Barto's performance sounds like that of a wilful youngster adding his own "twist" to the music, to impress us with how creative he is, and possibly to provoke his piano teacher.

"...Contrary to the popular myth, we critics do not really enjoy writing negative reviews; I would much rather make everything a "recording of the month." It means good listening, after all, as well as the pleasure of writing appreciative replies to our experiences. We know that the artists are people, too, with their own visions and sensibilities, and do our best to respect their efforts. But I must confess temptation to violate that unwritten principle, respect, in this case. After all, Tzimon Barto's performances exhibit little to no respect for the written scores by Franz Schubert, and his rewriting of the dynamics, tempi, rhythms and stresses are tantamount to an insult to the composer. The Capriccio label already has an excellent series of Schubert CDs by Michael Endres; there was no need for this testament to one performer's egotism. Avoid."

[Todd]

"...Contrary to the popular myth, we critics do not really enjoy writing negative reviews; I would much rather make everything a "recording of the month." It means good listening, after all, as well as the pleasure of writing appreciative replies to our experiences. We know that the artists are people, too, with their own visions and sensibilities, and do our best to respect their efforts. But I must confess temptation to violate that unwritten principle, respect, in this case. After all, Tzimon Barto's performances exhibit little to no respect for the written scores by Franz Schubert, and his rewriting of the dynamics, tempi, rhythms and stresses are tantamount to an insult to the composer. The Capriccio label already has an excellent series of Schubert CDs by Michael Endres; there was no need for this testament to one performer's egotism. Avoid."

So, a 2?

[Brian]

So, a 2?

It could be worse: it could be boring.

[Moonfish]

Ken and Moonfish, I am currently interested in hearing 31 of the 50 DHM CDs. 31/69. On the other hand, I have only heard one of the French Harmonia Mundi Lumieres CDs, so that still needs exploring first! What do you guys think?

Hmm. Depends on if you have the money. It is a good deal that will serve you well later as you explore the label. However, the Lumieres box is a gold mine (as many GMGers have stated previously) so I think you would be happy with your musical journey either way (purchase or no purchase). The new DHM set seems like an interesting compilation, but I have a feeling of that the Lumieres is the better of the two.

[Ken B]

Ken and Moonfish, I am currently interested in hearing 31 of the 50 DHM CDs. 31/69. On the other hand, I have only heard one of the French Harmonia Mundi Lumieres CDs, so that still needs exploring first! What do you guys think?

This IS the perverse, insane Barto you're looking for. I'm afraid the more verbose 2010 MusicWeb version of myself came down hard on that one, also. To wit:

"All one needs hear from Tzimon Barto's new two-disc set of late Schubert piano works is his two-minute, thirteen-second performance of the Moment Musical No. 3 in F minor. It is a remarkable performance, for everything about it is wrong.

"The problems begin with the unnatural, exaggerated pause between the first two chords. Barto then softens his left-hand's harsh tone considerably, leaving room for the main tune to enter, but the theme itself is phrased artificially again, endings of every line tapering off into the ether (check 0:28). New phrases signal increases in speed, which last until midway through the phrase, when the pace slacks and the cycle repeats. The central section is largely acceptable, although again devoid of a consistent tempo, but then at 1:16 the main theme trips over itself on its return. Sometimes the little trills which end each line of the stanzas are phrased cleanly, precisely; sometimes they are run together in a clatter (0:08); sometimes they are played with artificial mystery and soft glow (1:16); sometimes (1:40) they kick off their shoes and dance. Oh, and the artificial pause after the first chord comes back, in the form of another delay before the last.

"I've barely even mentioned the bass part. As Schubert wrote it, it is simplicity itself: one-two, one-two, one-two. But Barto never plays two consecutive one-twos the same way: sometimes the stress is on one, sometimes on two, sometimes they are equal. Sometimes there is a quick "cut" from one to two, and sometimes he takes all the time in the world. The louder and softer bits of the piece are sometimes correlated with Schubert's actual dynamic markings.

"We have all heard many pianists play this famous tune, and I suspect many of this website's readers will have played it themselves. Tzimon Barto's performance sounds like that of a wilful youngster adding his own "twist" to the music, to impress us with how creative he is, and possibly to provoke his piano teacher.

"...Contrary to the popular myth, we critics do not really enjoy writing negative reviews; I would much rather make everything a "recording of the month." It means good listening, after all, as well as the pleasure of writing appreciative replies to our experiences. We know that the artists are people, too, with their own visions and sensibilities, and do our best to respect their efforts. But I must confess temptation to violate that unwritten principle, respect, in this case. After all, Tzimon Barto's performances exhibit little to no respect for the written scores by Franz Schubert, and his rewriting of the dynamics, tempi, rhythms and stresses are tantamount to an insult to the composer. The Capriccio label already has an excellent series of Schubert CDs by Michael Endres; there was no need for this testament to one performer's egotism. Avoid."

I am not sure what you mean by 31/69, nor why only 31 of the 50 interest you, nor how these 31s are related. That said ...

The Lumieres box is terrific. It is also pretty cheap.

The first DHM 50 box was all pre 1800, and is the best box ever. The second one covers more time, and for me has a few more dupes. But DHM is a reliably excellent label. Their 10 boxes are all outstanding.  So I am sure it will be fabulous. I doubt the price will ever drop below $69 though, and Lumieres has been around and cheap for a while. They both pass the Brian test IMO but if you are prioritizing my advice is the opposite of the Fishes: grab the DHM at 69 now. Take a look at the price for the oop first one ...

[Ken B]

Ain't we helpful?
MF: Go left!
KB: Go right!

[Moonfish]

Ain't we helpful?
MF: Go left!
KB: Go right!

Well, if you have unlimited shelf space and plenty of cash? Get it! Go right!
No shelf space and the credit cards maxed out? Go left! Lumieres will sustain you!

[Pat B]

Brian already has Lumières -- he and I bought it at the same time. It's really a fantastic set. Listen to the other 28 discs already!

I am resisting the new DHM box, but that's partly because I'm already losing the battle against my Pile, and it has reinforcements (in the form of the Fricsay box and a few other goodies) en route. The DHM does look very nice.