Purchases Today

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Just bought:



I've had my eye on this for awhile. This will be my last purchase for awhile. I have a lot coming in the mail over the next week or so.

[Moonfish]

Thanks to the Elgar fans here at GMG I now feel a compulsion to hear Teresa Cahill's voice...   

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Thanks to the Elgar fans here at GMG I now feel a compulsion to hear Teresa Cahill's voice...   

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You couldn't have chosen a better performance of The Spirit of England and it's not just Cahill's voice that saves the day. The orchestral accompaniment from Alexander Gibson is top-notch.

[Mirror Image]

Okay, I know I said I was done buying CDs for awhile but my CDCDCD flared up again and here's the result:

[Moonfish]

Okay, I know I said I was done buying CDs for awhile but my CDCDCD flared up again and here's the result:

Ah, "The Dream of Gerontius" recording is alluring....   
Temptations!!!

[Mirror Image]

Ah, "The Dream of Gerontius" recording is alluring....   
Temptations!!!

I'm not sure how good the performance will be, but it seemed to get some good press. The audio samples certainly sounded nice. Elder's and Barbirolli's performances, however, are stamped into my mind, so it's going to be hard to convert me, but I'm always interested in hearing what Colin Davis does with Elgar.

[Moonfish]

I'm not sure how good the performance will be, but it seemed to get some good press. The audio samples certainly sounded nice. Elder's and Barbirolli's performances, however, are stamped into my mind, so it's going to be hard to convert me, but I'm always interested in hearing what Colin Davis does with Elgar.

Yes, it does sound like a worthwhile listening project. TDOG has become one of my favorite recordings over the last year. It is so rich and passionate in its emotional unfolding. C Davis certainly must add something to the TDOG discography?

[Mirror Image]

Yes, it does sound like a worthwhile listening project. TDOG has become one of my favorite recordings over the last year. It is so rich and passionate in its emotional unfolding. C Davis certainly must add something to the TDOG discography?

I agree it's an incredible work. I'm sure Colin Davis does fine in Gerontius, but, as I mentioned, he's under some stiff competition. Anyway, as I mentioned to you on the Elgar thread, you've got to check out Elder's Elgar series with the Halle Orchestra. Hopefully, one day, they'll box up the series and this would certainly make it convenient for the collector who hasn't explored this series yet.

[Moonfish]

As it has been an Elgar Saturday there is a need for a minor Elgar splurge... 

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As it has been an Elgar Saturday there is a need for a minor Elgar splurge... 

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Cool, Moonfish. This set has one performance I'm definitely interested in hearing your opinion and that's the Violin Concerto with Kyung Wha Chung and Solti. I've heard nothing but good things about that particular performance. The various Mackerras performances in that set are quite good. I was also quite surprised by how good Solti was in Elgar. His performances are definitely quite exciting and quite unbuttoned all the way around. Perhaps what I look for most in Elgar is that sense of excitement but coupled with a more inward looking approach like I find in Colin Davis. This kind of mixed approach is what I find in Andrew Davis, Elder, and Barbirolli. You should definitely seek these three conductors' performances of Elgar. I think you'll highly enjoy them.

[Moonfish]

Cool, Moonfish. This set has one performance I'm definitely interested in hearing your opinion and that's the Violin Concerto with Kyung Wha Chung and Solti. I've heard nothing but good things about that particular performance. The various Mackerras performances in that set are quite good. I was also quite surprised by how good Solti was in Elgar. His performances are definitely quite exciting and quite unbuttoned all the way around. Perhaps what I look for most in Elgar is that sense of excitement but coupled with a more inward looking approach like I find in Colin Davis. This kind of mixed approach is what I find in Andrew Davis, Elder, and Barbirolli. You should definitely seek these three conductors' performances of Elgar. I think you'll highly enjoy them.

Yes, that specific compilation seems to include a lot of varied performances which is why I fell for it. In the past Solti kept surprising me with plenty of passion and fervor in his performances. As you know I have been mostly wandering in the Boult realm. I realize that I need to expose myself to other renditions. However, at this point I think I am trying to dwell on and attune to Elgar's music rather than his interpreters. Barbirolli and Davis are next, but you have definitely triggered my interest for Elder.  When I start to like a piece I suddenly feel like I want to hear it over and over (TDOG got me for sure as well as #1 & #2). So much to listen to....

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Yes, that specific compilation seems to include a lot of varied performances which is why I fell for it. In the past Solti keeps surprising me with plenty of passion and fervor in his performances. As you know I have been mostly wandering in the Boult realm. I realize that I need to expose myself to other renditions. However, at this point I think I am trying to dwell on and attune to Elgar's music rather than his interpreters. Barbirolli and Davis are next, but you have definitely triggered my interest for Elder.  When I start to like a piece I suddenly feel like I want to hear it over and over (TDOG got me for sure as well as #1 & #2). So much to listen to....

Yes, definitely familiarize yourself with the music first and foremost. I was lucky in the regard that Barbirolli was the conductor that I cut my teeth with in Elgar. We all enter through our own doors. You've got to forge your own path, which is really what I've done with classical since I started to seriously listen to it six years ago. So much to listen to without a doubt. Please keep us up to date with your Elgarian journey.

[Bogey]

One of the finest sets out there.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, Brian.

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Just bought for $3 (+ shipping):



I need another recording of La Mer or Prelude like I need a hole in my head. Anyway, I'm not sure of the quality of these performances but I've always admired Ashkenazy's conducting and knowing how he has a great ear for tonal shading and subtlety, he should be great in these Debussy classics.

[Cosi bel do]

One of the best versions I know of La Mer, it won (with a margin) the (heavy) blind comparison I had organized. And it was well deserved. The rest of the CD is as good.

[Brian]

I need another recording of La Mer or Prelude like I need a hole in my head. Anyway, I'm not sure of the quality of these performances but I've always admired Ashkenazy's conducting and knowing how he has a great ear for tonal shading and subtlety, he should be great in these Debussy classics.

I seem to remember that recording being a controversial finalist in the Blind Listening Game! EDIT: I see Discobolus just posted that it won...this goes to show that memory is never accurate, because what I remembered was my personal ballot, not the final results.

[Mirror Image]

One of the best versions I know of La Mer, it won (with a margin) the (heavy) blind comparison I had organized. And it was well deserved. The rest of the CD is as good.

Excellent! Good to hear these are great performances.

[Cosi bel do]

The ranking was actually :

1. Ashkenazy/Cleveland 1986
2. Abbado/Lucerne 2003
3. Boulez/Cleveland 1993

Then were Tabachnik 2010, Giulini/LA 1980, Bernstein/NYP 1961 ex aequo with Dutoit/Montréal 1989... The full ranking of the 32 versions is here.

[Brian]

And my personal ballot in the final round was

1. Abbado/Lucerne
2. Tabachnik
3. Ashkenazy
4. Boulez
5. Giulini

Tragically Bernstein did not reach the final; I liked his recording more than the other five.

[springrite]

Tragically Bernstein did not reach the final; I liked his recording more than the other five.

Or so you thought.