What are you listening 2 now?

[MusicTurner]

Bellini - "Norma", complete opera

- 1) Callas,Gui (1952) /documents live 3CD
- 2) Callas,Serafin (1954) /emi 3CD
- 3) Caballe,Cillario (1972) /rca 3CD

Am not a Bellini listener & usually not very fond of Callas' voice either, but have gotten a little more interest in this opera recently. Due to a lot of cheap buyings, have had the option to compare these three, and for me, there's a clear winner: Callas/Gui live in London 1952, which has hair-rising intensity and technically good singing, in spite of the rather poor sound. I prefer it to the studio recording and don't like Caballe's voice in this work. So 2) + 3) will go into a big pile of CDs for selling.

I also have Sutherland/Bonynge/decca on LP, but didn't compare.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Bellini - "Norma", complete opera

- 1) Callas,Gui (1952) /documents live 3CD
- 2) Callas,Serafin (1954) /emi 3CD
- 3) Caballe,Cillario (1972) /rca 3CD

Am not a Bellini listener & usually not very fond of Callas' voice either, but have gotten a little more interest in this opera recently. Due to a lot of cheap buyings, have had the option to compare these three, and for me, there's a clear winner: Callas/Gui live in London 1952, which has hair-rising intensity and technically good singing, in spite of the rather poor sound. I prefer it to the studio recording and don't like Caballe's voice in this work. So 2) + 3) will go into a big pile of CDs for selling.

I also have Sutherland/Bonynge/decca on LP, but didn't compare.

Ah, I see that you've come over to the Dark Side, Luke....er, MT.  Welcome! 

PD

[Biffo]

On which label: Sony or DG?

Sony, the (fairly) recently released box set, been slowly working through it over several weeks.

[MusicTurner]

Ah, I see that you've come over to the Dark Side, Luke....er, MT.  Welcome! 

PD

A bit more of Verdi too recently, such as 'Rigoletto', was able to supplement with better recordings (IMO) there too.

And Mascagni, BTW - after all, Cavalleri Rusticana is an effective, catchy work

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Janacek's piano sonata From the Street with Firkusny followed by In the Mists with Paul Crossley (courtesy of youtube).

A bit more of Verdi too recently, was able to supplement with better recordings (IMO) there too. And Mascagni, BTW 

Woo hoo! 

PD

[Klavier]

This is an enjoyable new release via Qobuz.

[MusicTurner]

This is an enjoyable new release via Qobuz.

As a side remark, for the cover they used a section of a painting by Gijsbrechts freely available from a Danish art museum, the SMK /Statens Museum for Kunst
https://open.smk.dk/artwork/image/KMS1901
The museum must have calculated with some commercial use when it made a ton of paintings generally, digitally available.

[vandermolen]

Balakirev: Symphony No.1
New arrival and better recorded than the Hyperion Svetlanov Twofer set:

[vandermolen]

I enjoyed this today.

It's a great CD (both works)!

[vandermolen]

Gara Garayev (Kara Karayev): The Seven Beauties.

I love that atmospheric scores. I got my daughter to buy me the excellent Chandos recording last Christmas (or maybe the one before!)

[vandermolen]

I'll be giving this Segerstam recording of Nørgård's 3rd a listen today at some point. I really like those Segerstam recordings. It seems he stretches the music out quite a bit, but it sounds so organic.

I want to thank you for encouraging me to persevere with Norgard's Third Symphony John. I've finally grasped its importance.

[The new erato]

I want to thank you for encouraging me to persevere with Norgard's Third Symphony John. I've finally grasped its importance.

Nørgaards 3rd is brilliant and made me latch onto the composer.

In a very diifferent vein, in my "listening to discs I own that I barely ever have listened to", I've played Lloyd's 4th and 5th. Very enjoyable though not particuarly personal in style.

[vandermolen]

Bliss, Piano Quartet, Maggini Quartet, Daniel Donohoe



A striking work in three movements which a first movement which begins slowly and gathers momentum, a charming intermezzo and a vigorous finale. The first movement has a sort of Dvorak/New World feel, maybe some modal writing? Thoroughly enjoyable!

The Oboe Quintet is my favourite piece of chamber music by Bliss, although I think that the Melos Ensemble's performance is best.

[vandermolen]

British Symphonies
John Joubert #1
London PO
Vernon Handley
Lyrita

Good stuff. Lots of enjoyable music in this release, but the Joubert is well worth a spin - the opening of the second movement is great when turned up loud to fully appreciate the end of the first 😀

Didn't put me Orff though (If you know, you know. See what I did there?)

A big thumbs up for Joubert's 1st Symphony and for No.1 by Mathias, with which the Joubert was once coupled on CD.

[The new erato]

Now playing:



A disc I know reasonably well, being a secret afficionado for the classical musical, though usually not advertising playing them in this thread. Superb stuff, with a great version of My Funny Valentine!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Balakirev: Symphony No.1
New arrival and better recorded than the Hyperion Svetlanov Twofer set:

Both the sets are wonderful!

I love that atmospheric scores. I got my daughter to buy me the excellent Chandos recording last Christmas (or maybe the one before!)

I wish I had a daughter like that! 

[vandermolen]

Both the sets are wonderful!


I wish I had a daughter like that! 

Haha - yes, I'm lucky!
She is in Canada at the moment visiting her lovely husband's family and friends at the moment (in Hamilton and Vancouver) so I'll have to wait until her return until I send her a list of my Christmas requirements. 

Yes Manabu - both of those Balakirev sets are fine. I'm really enjoying the Chandos one at the moment.

[Traverso]

The Oboe Quintet is my favourite piece of chamber music by Bliss, although I think that the Melos Ensemble's performance is best.

Well,a good moment to listen to this recording 

Mozart Clarinet Trio "Kegelstatt"

Spohr  Octet - Allegro

Bliss conversations
        Oboe Quintwet
        Clarinet Quintet

Peter Graeme oboe
Gervase de Peter clarinet

[vandermolen]

Well,a good moment to listen to this recording 

Mozart Clarinet Trio "Kegelstatt"

Spohr  Octet - Allegro

Bliss conversations
        Oboe Quintwet
        Clarinet Quintet

Peter Graeme oboe
Gervase de Peter clarinet

I didn't know that that set existed - it's a fabulous performance which finally appeared on CD in the Warner Bliss box.
:

[Spotted Horses]

I didn't know that that set existed - it's a fabulous performance which finally appeared on CD in the Warner Bliss box.
:

I have that set, but didn't remember that there are Bliss recordings in there.