New Member

[MagicMark]

Charles,

I appreciate that.

Now I'm making a list of books & composers to get.

I'm going to have a look at them. At a glance I noticed that the Sibelius: Complete Symphonies (Paavo Berglund) in MP3 is going for less than $12 on Amazon. There are multiple versions of this, with some complete sets for much more, such as the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and Neeme Järvi version for $65. Is there much of a difference?

Each time I listen to the album I have now, my appreciation for it grows. Some of the songs that disinterested me at first, I'm starting to like.

[Ken B]

Charles,

I appreciate that.

Now I'm making a list of books & composers to get.

I'm going to have a look at them. At a glance I noticed that the Sibelius: Complete Symphonies (Paavo Berglund) in MP3 is going for less than $12 on Amazon. There are multiple versions of this, with some complete sets for much more, such as the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and Neeme Järvi version for $65. Is there much of a difference?

Each time I listen to the album I have now, my appreciation for it grows. Some of the songs that disinterested me at first, I'm starting to like.

Those are all good sets. Your masters plan is a good cheap first step.

[Moonfish]

Welcome to GMG, MM!   

If you are willing to spend a bit more (@~$2/disk) and get a broad spectrum approach I would invest in a box set. This recent set from DG would serve as a great foundation and allow exposure to some major works, orchestras and artists. Have fun!

[asin] B00LNRJMCQ[/asin]

"1 - 2 Bach, Brahms, Tschaikowsky - Oistrach
3-4 Bach Cello Suites Fournier
5 Beethoven 5&7 Kleiber
6 Beethoven 6 Schubert 5 Böhm
7 Beethoven 9 Karajan
8 Beethoven Piano Concertos 4&5 Kempff
9 Beethoven Sonaten 8,14,21,23 Kempff
10 Brahms 4 Kleiber
11-12 Brahms Piano Concertos Gilels
13 Brahms Cello Sonaten Rostropovich
14 Chopin Liszt Piano Concertos 1
15 Chopin Etudes Pollini
16 Chopin Polonaises Pollini
17 Debussy La mer Ravel Bolero Mussorgsky Bilder Karajan
18 Dvorak 8&9 Kubelik
19 Dvorak Slawische Tänze Kubelik
20 Dvorak Cello Concerto Rostropovich
21 Grieg Lyric Pieces Gilels
22 Mahler 1 Kubelik
23 Mahler 5 Karajan
24 Mendelssohn 3&4 Karajan
25 Mendelssohn Bruch Violin Concertos Mutter
26 -27 Mozart 35,36,38-41 Böhm
28 Mozart Klavierkonzerte 6,17,21 Anda
29 Mozart Violinkonzerte 3&5 Mutter
30 Mozart Bläserkonzerte Prinz, Tripp, Zeman
31-32 Mozart Zauberflöte Böhm
33 Orff Carmina burana Jochum
34 Prokoviev Piano concerto 3 Ravel Piano concerto Argerich
35 Prokofiev Scythian Suite Kije Abbado
36 Rachmaninov 2 Tschaikowsky 1 Richter
37 Schubert 3&8 Kleiber
38 Schubert Der Tod und das Mädchen Forellenquintett Gilels Amadeus
39 Schubert Die schöne Müllerin Wunderlich
40 Schubert Winterreise Fischer-Dieskau
41 Strauss Zarathustra Till E. Don Juan Karajan
42 Strauss 4 letzte Lieder Tod und Verklärung Janowitz Karajan
43-44 Tschaikowsky 4-6 Mrawinskiy
45 Tschaikowsky Balletsuiten Rostropovich+
46 Verdi Requiem Fricsay
47-49 Wagner Tristan und Isolde Böhm
50 Martha Argerich Debut Recital Liszt Chopin Brahms Prokofiew Ravel"

[MagicMark]

Moonfish, I checked that out. I realize that CDs are a better quality than MP3. Maybe some day my lifestyle will be more stationary. For now it's just easier for me to stick with the MP3s. Thanks.

[MagicMark]

OK Ken.

[Mirror Image]

I'm going to have a look at them. At a glance I noticed that the Sibelius: Complete Symphonies (Paavo Berglund) in MP3 is going for less than $12 on Amazon. There are multiple versions of this, with some complete sets for much more, such as the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and Neeme Järvi version for $65. Is there much of a difference?

I think Jarvi is a decent Sibelian. He has done some good work, but for the BIS label. Berglund's Sibelius is legendary. His performances need no further elaboration.

[Karl Henning]

Thanks Karl. I'm in Boston too.

I see!

If you enjoy choral music, and if Harvard Square on a Monday evening is convenient for you, we have a new ensemble singing an inaugural concert at 8pm, 11 May in Harvard's Memorial Church.  Be welcome!  Or, if you're not interested, no sweat!

[Karl Henning]

Some of the songs that disinterested me at first, I'm starting to like.

That happens a lot!  One's ears expand . . . one of the wonderful aspects of immersion in classical music.

[Cato]

I think Jarvi is a decent Sibelian. He has done some good work, but for the BIS label. Berglund's Sibelius is legendary. His performances need no further elaboration.

Legendary is the term to use for Watanabe's conducting of the Japan Philharmonic in the Sibelius symphonies:

[asin]B00000I75L[/asin]

This one offers Symphonies 1, 2, 5, and 7 plus Swan of Tuonela.  Unfortunately, the set with the complete symphonies is now out-of-print and sells for hundreds of dollars.

[mc ukrneal]

Welcome and enjoy the journey!

By the way, if you get Amazon Prime, you can get a number of albums for free.

[MagicMark]

If you enjoy choral music, and if Harvard Square on a Monday evening is convenient for you, we have a new ensemble singing an inaugural concert at 8pm, 11 May in Harvard's Memorial Church.

Thank you for invite, Karl.
Although I won't be going to that one, I'd be interested in attending future ones. I'm looking at your blog.

[MagicMark]

Welcome, Mark!  I frequently dance to classical music myself! Today I'm doing free-form ballet to Beethoven's 9th.

I study popping, Joe. It seems that I'll be performing mostly to classical music.

[Mirror Image]

Legendary is the term to use for Watanabe's conducting of the Japan Philharmonic in the Sibelius symphonies:

[asin]B00000I75L[/asin]

This one offers Symphonies 1, 2, 5, and 7 plus Swan of Tuonela.  Unfortunately, the set with the complete symphonies is now out-of-print and sells for hundreds of dollars.

I don't own this recording or the set from Watanabe but I'm happy with the Finns such as Segerstam, Berglund, and Vanska.

[Jubal Slate]

On this album I've liked: Beethoven (7th, 9th), Schubert (Trio #2), Tchaikovsky (Swan Lake, Nutcracker 71 Waltz of Flowers), Chopin (Sonata #2).

You are doing it right.  Now you need more Beethoven, Schubert and Chopin.

[MagicMark]

Now you need more Beethoven, Schubert and Chopin.

Yup

[NJ Joe]

>>>I study popping, Joe. It seems that I'll be performing mostly to classical music.<<<

Excellent!  I think the 1st movement of Mozart's Symphony No. 40 would be a good place to start!

[NJ Joe]

Oh yes...the Handel hop, the Schumann shuffle, the Beethoven bounce...great dancing music 

Sarge

Hey Sarge, you forgot the Tchaikovsky Twerk!

[Mirror Image]

Hey Sarge, you forgot the Tchaikovsky Twerk!

Don't forget the Strauss waltz, Ravel bolero, or the Piazzolla tango.

[Hollywood]

Howdy Mark. Greetings from Beethoven and Schubert's Vienna. Welcome to the forum. 

[EigenUser]

Don't forget the Strauss waltz, Ravel bolero, or the Piazzolla tango.

Or the Ligeti Limbo

yeah, we'll work on it...

I read somewhere that the conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen "still has nightmares" about an "awful little dance number" Ligeti performed when trying to get players to lighten up in style while playing his piano concerto in rehearsal.

Anyways, if you like the Debussy Danses..., you ought to hear Ravel's Introduction and Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet, and strings.