What are you listening 2 now?

[André]

Dietrich Erdmann
Must have listened to this 6-7 times in the past 2 months. Every time I feel these are pleasant, sometimes quite original works, but in the end not groundbreaking. And yet I return to them again and again. The concerto for bassoon and contrabasson and the Serenade for flute, clarinet and strings stand out.

[classicalgeek]

I prefer Berglund's Bournemouth recordings of Sibelius, so if you can find those, then do not hesitate! I'll also mention Berlgund's Kullervo in Bournemouth, which was the first recording of this work. It still sounds fresh and exciting. A real sense of occasion for sure.

I actually got Berglund's Bournemouth cycle when Presto was having their boxset sale.   I've been listening to the Helsinki cycle (great 1st, up-and-down but mostly positive 2nd, disappointing 4th)... maybe it's time to crack open the Bournemouth recordings to do a side-by-side comparison!

Still no luck on his Bournemouth Kullervo, though. Seems like ordering from Japan may be my best bet.

[Daverz]

I actually got Berglund's Bournemouth cycle when Presto was having their boxset sale.   I've been listening to the Helsinki cycle (great 1st, up-and-down but mostly positive 2nd, disappointing 4th)... maybe it's time to crack open the Bournemouth recordings to do a side-by-side comparison!

Still no luck on his Bournemouth Kullervo, though. Seems like ordering from Japan may be my best bet.

By the way, the Kullervo in the Helsinki box is actually the Bournemouth recording.  I think you can still get a good price on this box.

[Mirror Image]

By the way, the Kullervo in the Helsinki box is actually the Bournemouth recording.  I think you can still get a good price on this box.

Perhaps in that box set you posted, but the Helsinki one is in this newer issued set, which is the set classicalgeek owns (I own it, too):



This disc:

[Mirror Image]

I actually got Berglund's Bournemouth cycle when Presto was having their boxset sale.   I've been listening to the Helsinki cycle (great 1st, up-and-down but mostly positive 2nd, disappointing 4th)... maybe it's time to crack open the Bournemouth recordings to do a side-by-side comparison!

Still no luck on his Bournemouth Kullervo, though. Seems like ordering from Japan may be my best bet.

Yes, please do. I think you will be more than pleasantly surprised by these tremendous performances from Bournemouth.

[Mirror Image]

First-Listen Monday!

Grieg
Lyric Pieces V-VII
Eva Knardahl, piano

From this new acquisition -



I'm so glad I went with this BIS set instead of the Naxos one. Knardahl is just remarkable.

[Mirror Image]

Respighi: Vetrate di Chiesa (Chuch Windows)

I could save the first three movements, but San Gregorio Magno just doesn't sound great at all! It lacks much more punch, timpani, biblical spirit, grandeur. Terribly underwhelming.

Yeah, this is the general impression I get from Falletta. She knows the notes, knows how to get a good performance but quite often I'm left wondering if there could have been more drive to her performances. I do love her Holst recording. Her Griffes is also top-notch.

[vandermolen]

You know the Previn box set was my introduction to RVW, as recommended by someone that no longer posts here.

Although that recording is different to the one in the box.

[vandermolen]

Looks like a nice recording, Jeffrey, but of course I couldn't imagine it topping Svetlanov or Rozhdestvensky for me, but that's okay. The couplings are also quite nice. I only have one performance of Carnival Overture and it's on this fine disc:

I've listened to the Glazunov CD twice now, with great pleasure. I like all the shorter works on the CD as well - making a nice programme.

[Mirror Image]

I've listened to the Glazunov CD twice now, with great pleasure. I like all the shorter works on the CD as well - making a nice programme.

Very nice, Jeffrey. Do you own the Glazunov PCs? I'm sure you do since I believe you own the Serebrier set.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Jerome Moross: Frankie and Johnny.

JoAnn Falletta/New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

[Mirror Image]

Staying with a Norwegian theme...

Irgens-Jensen
Symphony in D
Trondheim Symphony Orchestra
Eivind Aadland



I haven't heard this work in ages (or really any of Irgens-Jensen's music). Quite fine!

[DavidW]

Although that recording is different to the one in the box.

Oh that is funny!  I selected it because it was easier to select that one album as opposed to the combing through the box in Qobuz.  Which version do you prefer?

[Todd]

[Daverz]

Perhaps in that box set you posted, but the Helsinki one is in this newer issued set, which is the set classicalgeek owns (I own it, too):

Ah, I didn't know that the Warner issue made that change. If you can still find a good price on the EMI issue, it may still be a cheaper way to get the Bournemouth Kullervo despite all the duplication because of high shipping costs from Japan.

[classicalgeek]

Perhaps in that box set you posted, but the Helsinki one is in this newer issued set, which is the set classicalgeek owns (I own it, too):

Just so I have this all straight:

EMI first boxed up Berglund's Helsinki symphony cycle, plus his Helsinki tone poems, but included his Bournemouth Kullervo (I had this set, but sadly sold it off along with my initial collection ca. 2007-2008 )


When they reissued that set (as Warner Classics), they gave us his Helsinki symphony cycle, plus his Helsinki tone poems, this time with the Helsinki Kullervo on this set, which I have:


Meanwhile they released the Bournemouth symphony cycle, plus some of the tone poems and orchestral odds and ends - but not all of them on this set (which I also have):


The remaining tone poems and other orchestral bits (plus what I presume are duplicate performances of King Kristian II and The Bard) were released as a 'Double Forte' mid-priced two-fer (which I don't have, but want!):


But no Bournemouth Kullervo! So the only way to acquire his Bournemouth Kullervo on CD is to get A) the old EMI box of his Helsinki cycle, or B) the single-disc Japanese reissue.

Only slightly confusing!  


TD: another unfamiliar composer:

Walter Braunfels
Fantastical Apparitions on a Theme by Hector Berlioz
Sinfonia Brevis
Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz
Gregor Buhl
(on Qobuz)



Braunfels is a delightful and rewarding composer, who reminds me a lot of Richard Strauss. I was more impressed by the Fantastical Apparitions, a wild, carefree, 'everything-but-the-kitchen-sink' set of variations lasting a good 50 minutes. It's a work that never loses its sense of humor, and it's dazzlingly orchestrated (and played.) The Sinfonia Brevis struck me as more conservative, less willing to take risks, but it still had its share of great tunes.

[Daverz]

Just so I have this all straight:

There's also this towfer:



https://www.amazon.com/Sibelius-Oceanides-Finlandia-Serenades-Historiques/dp/B00004Z34P

[Linz]

Bach Vol.2 CD1 of The Gardiner Set BWV 0002, BWV 0010, SWV 0386 & BWV 0076

[Mirror Image]

Just so I have this all straight:

EMI first boxed up Berglund's Helsinki symphony cycle, plus his Helsinki tone poems, but included his Bournemouth Kullervo (I had this set, but sadly sold it off along with my initial collection ca. 2007-2008 )


When they reissued that set (as Warner Classics), they gave us his Helsinki symphony cycle, plus his Helsinki tone poems, this time with the Helsinki Kullervo on this set, which I have:


Meanwhile they released the Bournemouth symphony cycle, plus some of the tone poems and orchestral odds and ends - but not all of them on this set (which I also have):


The remaining tone poems and other orchestral bits (plus what I presume are duplicate performances of King Kristian II and The Bard) were released as a 'Double Forte' mid-priced two-fer (which I don't have, but want!):


But no Bournemouth Kullervo! So the only way to acquire his Bournemouth Kullervo on CD is to get A) the old EMI box of his Helsinki cycle, or B) the single-disc Japanese reissue.

Only slightly confusing!

Yes, I believe you have the sequence of events more or less accurately described. I bypassed the EMI Bournemouth set and went straight for the Japanese hybrid SACD reissue from Tower Records plus some other Japanese issues. So my Sibelius Berglund Bournemouth collection is a hodgepodge of Japanese releases, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Mirror Image]

Now playing this entire recording:




Outstanding!