Mozart in Period Performances (HIP)

Started by Bunny, April 12, 2007, 10:40:31 AM

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Scarpia

This was the first one I got from the series, and it was da bomb.


Antoine Marchand

Quote from: DarkAngel on March 25, 2010, 04:20:20 AM




I think that Jacobs on the cover is a totally unnecessary torture for his fans...

George

Quote from: Antoine Marchand on March 25, 2010, 04:23:32 PM
I think that Jacobs on the cover is a totally unnecessary torture for his fans...

I agree.

Sorin Eushayson

#383
Quote from: Elgarian on March 25, 2010, 03:48:41 AM
This is new to me ... wow! How exhilarating. Thanks Sorin.
(Just placed my order!)
You're welcome.  Be forewarned, however, that he is about as slow in the first movement as he is fast in the final...  :-\  Great elsewhere, though.  For the first movement I think Immerseel's is tops and I know you already have that one. :)

Quote from: DarkAngel on March 25, 2010, 04:20:20 AM
This is in my pre-order basket, 3/29/10 release date coming up fast..........it will be mine!
Follow-up to the thrilling Jacobs March 2007 release below

Whew... I'm steering clear of that one. The only adjective I'd use to describe the first is "distorted," not "thrilling."  :-\

DavidRoss

Quote from: DarkAngel on March 25, 2010, 04:27:28 AM


MDT is having sale on Linn Records label this month so I just ordered newest hybrid MacKerras set, this will join the excellent previous release (one of the very best 38-41 ever made)
Quote from: DavidRoss on March 25, 2010, 08:39:43 AM
Tempting, especially at the sale price.  I already have MacKerras's previous cycle--are these SCO discs significantly better/different?  How do these HIPer but still modern instrument performances compare with the better period instrument ones, like Jacobs or Minkowski?
Answering my own query (pasted from "listening now" thread):

Mozart's "Prague" symphony, a bit of comparative listening among Mackerras, Mackerras, & Abbado:



I'm not as "convinced" by Mackerras's SCO Mozart as the reviewers who've praised it as virtually the greatest Mozart on record.  Yes, it's quite good, with more open and transparent sound than his Telarc Prague set, also with notably higher levels and much punchier winds and brass, but the SCO strings lack the propulsive bite of the PCO, and since there's scarcely a gnat's whisker of difference in Mackerras's approach between the two, for me it's really a toss up as to which is preferable--and the value of the Prague set, especially at the new reduced price, makes it a superb bargain.

Finally, I've only compared the Prague so far among these three.  Abbado has more drive than Mac's PCO, and the clarity of his SCO, and compares favorably in my estimation.

I also compared Mac's G minor #40s with a few others.  Again, not a lot of difference in approach between Mac's efforts, with my preference for the bite of Prague over the better sound of the Scots, and both are pretty good compared to most, but fall far short of Minkowski's exciting and beautiful HIPI recording.
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

DarkAngel

Quote from: DavidRoss on April 05, 2010, 09:54:16 AM
Answering my own query (pasted from "listening now" thread):

Mozart's "Prague" symphony, a bit of comparative listening among Mackerras, Mackerras, & Abbado:



I'm not as "convinced" by Mackerras's SCO Mozart as the reviewers who've praised it as virtually the greatest Mozart on record.  Yes, it's quite good, with more open and transparent sound than his Telarc Prague set, also with notably higher levels and much punchier winds and brass, but the SCO strings lack the propulsive bite of the PCO, and since there's scarcely a gnat's whisker of difference in Mackerras's approach between the two, for me it's really a toss up as to which is preferable--and the value of the Prague set, especially at the new reduced price, makes it a superb bargain.

Finally, I've only compared the Prague so far among these three.  Abbado has more drive than Mac's PCO, and the clarity of his SCO, and compares favorably in my estimation.

I also compared Mac's G minor #40s with a few others.  Again, not a lot of difference in approach between Mac's efforts, with my preference for the bite of Prague over the better sound of the Scots, and both are pretty good compared to most, but fall far short of Minkowski's exciting and beautiful HIPI recording.

Abbado fares better than many would think against the newest top versions, don't forget the MacKerras/SCO is a hybrid SACD which is of value to some people......

Minkowski I have owned for a long time but never really stopped to consider it a top contender in late Mozart symphonies, perhaps because for now it is a one off with no other CDs to follow to date.....

If you seek something similar to Minkowski version Jacobs/HM is the choice, just listened last night before placing my order for the new 39, 40 CD for Harmonia Mundi, very fast clean clarified textures....you can easily hear the sharp tympani whacks for instance, more unique sounding than MacKerras if that is what you seek


DarkAngel

#386


This arrived a couple days ago, bit of a mixed bag for me.

CD1 sounded very average to me, contains symphonies 29,31,32 just seemed a bit flat and routine, no sparkle here.
CD2 sounds like a new lease on life, much more vibrant and full of life for symphonies 35,36 these are a real winner!
I have no explanation why same team would produce different results for CD1 & CD2, just reporting what I hear

DarkAngel

 

Forgotten gems that should be sought out...........

I have owned these for a long time and just pulled them out again, why these are now out of print is a mystery to me! These are reall HIP performances with original instruments recorded in late 1980s, they are full of excitement and drama even more than the MacKerras just mentioned above. I think they were 5 of these CDs total with symphonies 29-41, still can get some decent prices used at Amazson sellers......

Lets hope someday these will be re-issued in remastered boxset and people wil re-discover them  :)

Coopmv

Quote from: DarkAngel on April 10, 2010, 12:57:51 PM


This arrived a couple days ago, bit of a mixed bag for me.

CD1 sounded very average to me, contains symphonies 29,31,32 just seemed a bit flat and routine, no sparkle here.
CD2 sounds like a new lease on life, much more vibrant and full of life for symphonies 35,36 these are a real winner!
I have no explanation why same team would produce different results for CD1 & CD2, just reporting what I hear

I am done with Mozart Symphonies.  Between the sets by Hogwood, Pinnock and the Mackerras' set on Telarc, I have more than enough Mozart Symphonies when Mozart is not even one of my favorite composers.

DarkAngel

Quote from: Coopmv on April 10, 2010, 01:12:41 PM
I am done with Mozart Symphonies.  Between the sets by Hogwood, Pinnock and the Mackerras' set on Telarc, I have more than enough Mozart Symphonies when Mozart is not even one of my favorite composers.

It is too late for me my fate is sealed and financial damage is done........I have huge Mozart collection between various symphonies, concertos, and operas

Coopmv

Quote from: DarkAngel on April 10, 2010, 02:30:52 PM

It is too late for me my fate is sealed and financial damage is done........I have huge Mozart collection between various symphonies, concertos, and operas

What kind of numbers are we talking about here?  I probably have close to 200 CD's/LP's for this unloved composer.  Perhaps you have twice this number?

Antoine Marchand

... this chat about sizes is always a bit crude.  ;D

Gurn Blanston

Quote from: Antoine Marchand on April 10, 2010, 03:05:04 PM
... this chat about sizes is always a bit crude.  ;D

Sometimes you read stuff and you just can't freakin' believe your eyes, you know?  :D

8)

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Now playing:
Academy of Ancient Music / Hogwood - Hob 01:014 Symphony in A 2nd mvmt - Andante
Visit my Haydn blog: HaydnSeek

Haydn: that genius of vulgar music who induces an inordinate thirst for beer - Mily Balakirev (1860)

DavidW

I'm just surprised that Coop doesn't have any reel to reel tapes of Mozart! :D

DavidRoss

Are y'all suggesting there may be more than a little compensation involved...?  ;)
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

Gurn Blanston

Quote from: DavidW on April 10, 2010, 04:01:07 PM
I'm just surprised that Coop doesn't have any reel to reel tapes of Mozart! :D

Probably some of those 8" boys... :)

8)

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Now playing:
Academy of Ancient Music / Hogwood - Hob 01 014 Symphony in A 4th mvmt - Finale: Allegro
Visit my Haydn blog: HaydnSeek

Haydn: that genius of vulgar music who induces an inordinate thirst for beer - Mily Balakirev (1860)

Gurn Blanston

Quote from: DavidRoss on April 10, 2010, 04:03:11 PM
Are y'all suggesting there may be more than a little compensation involved...?  ;)

Oh, my!   :o

8)

----------------
Now playing: Academy of Ancient Music / Hogwood - Hob 01 014 Symphony in A 4th mvmt - Finale: Allegro
Visit my Haydn blog: HaydnSeek

Haydn: that genius of vulgar music who induces an inordinate thirst for beer - Mily Balakirev (1860)

Coopmv

Quote from: DavidW on April 10, 2010, 04:01:07 PM
I'm just surprised that Coop doesn't have any reel to reel tapes of Mozart! :D

I have 3 reels of Barclay-Crocker tape on the Hogwood Mozart Symphonies ...

George

Quote from: DavidRoss on April 10, 2010, 04:03:11 PM
Are y'all suggesting there may be more than a little compensation involved...?  ;)

I get a check every month for listening to Mozart.  ;D

Coopmv

Quote from: George on April 10, 2010, 04:11:28 PM
I get a check every month for listening to Mozart.  ;D

George, You've got the best job ...    ;D