Melodiya Madness!

[Cato]

Look for a Melodiya recording from the early 1970's with Prokofiev's take-no-prisoners exorcist cantata Seven, They Are Seven!

[dirkronk]

After I posted above, I recalled a series of historic-performance LPs put out by Melodiya back in the late '70s and early '80s. I've never seen these on CD but I suppose it's possible that they've been released in this batch of discs. They included a 2-LP set of live Annie Fischer performances that I've seen nowhere else, a collection of violin recordings by Jan Kubelik, a smattering of WWII-era Furtwangler performances (presumably from archives taken back to Russia), some compilations of less well known but interesting Russian and eastern European artists, plus various other live/radio performances and 78 transcriptions. Some are treasures and some are yawns, but IF you happen to notice some odd historic stuff, do look closely to see if anything interests you.

Cheers,

Dirk

[karlhenning]

Look for a Melodiya recording from the early 1970's with Prokofiev's take-no-prisoners exorcist cantata Seven, They Are Seven!

Bring it on! 

[Daverz]

How could I forgot Rozhdestvensky doing all the Prokofiev ballets?  At least get Cinderella.  The new Melodiya transfer is much better than any previous one.

[Peregrine]

Also, just about anything by the Beethoven Quartet of Moscow (you already have a Shosty SQ cycle so you may not want to duplicate there--though I would     --but also look for their Beethoven quartets and the group or its members doing assorted Brahms and other works).

Yes, I'ld forgotten those, they're excellent. Haven't seen any of their Beethoven on CD yet, but will snap it up when found...

[dirkronk]

Speaking of a Rozhdestvenski cycle, Dirk rightly mentions his Sibelius and here is one instance where I hear orchestral playing and conducting that just sound perfect to my ears for this composer. I know some people who positively hate it, so there you have it.

Yep. As my dad was fond of saying, that's what makes horse races. I like and in some cases love other conductors' interps of individual Sibelius symphonies, but the Rozh consistently satisfies in just about all. And that's rare, in my experience.

Dirk

[The new erato]

How could I forgot Rozhdestvensky doing all the Prokofiev ballets?  At least get Cinderella.  The new Melodiya transfer is much better than any previous one.

The Chout should have priority as it is great and there are few other (none?) wortwhile alternatives.

[karlhenning]

The Chout should have priority as it is great and there are few other (none?) wortwhile alternatives.

I find the Jurowski very good, indeed.

[Drasko]

.....the "anything from 1965 Concerts." (I edited slightly on purpose.) There are several short works--Mozart Figaro o'ture, Mussorgsky Khovanshchina prelude, etc.--that are astonishing in interp and presentation. These, along with the Hindemith, Honegger, Bartok and a number of others from '65, were originally put out on LP in a clothbound box that is a treasure (a friend owned it and I've been looking for my own copy for at least two decades). Do NOT miss these.

Moscow concerts were never put on CD together by Melodiya (although most of pieces are available in various different couplings). But british label Scribendum has done it and in pretty decent transfers by Abbey Road Studios. Their distribution in US is lousy (sometime appear at BRO, but never noticed this particular box) so you'd probably have to order it from UK:

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Scribendum/SC031

[Drasko]

I'm not dismissing Mravinsky or Rozhdestvensky as Bruckner conductors, but again, I can't enjoy it as much as you do on account of the orchestral playing.

I never mentioned Rozhdestvensky's Bruckner. Little I heard gets dismissed mostly by his own recording engineers with some of the weirdest EQ-ing and most extreme spotlighting I ever heard. Who knows what his concept would exactly be in some more neutral environment. Not sure but don't think those even are Melodiya recordings. The one I find fascinating even through bizarre sound is that strange 4th in Mahler edition.

Rozhdestvenski's Sibelius and Prokofiev are completely different story and I quite enjoy both.

[Lethevich]

I never mentioned Rozhdestvensky's Bruckner. Little I heard gets dismissed mostly by his own recording engineers with some of the weirdest EQ-ing and most extreme spotlighting I ever heard. Who knows what his concept would exactly be in some more neutral environment. Not sure but don't think those even are Melodiya recordings. The one I find fascinating even through bizarre sound is that strange 4th in Mahler edition.

Yeah, I am not spending a penny on the Rozhdestvensky due to all the negative feedback on the recording balance (especially from M). Compared to those reports, the Mravinskys sound great.

I'd probably like the Mravinsky 8th more if I hadn't heard the Tennstedt/BSO/1974 broadcast, which (to me) feels like it shares similar qualities - a very earth-moving performance, and with terrific momentum, and the orchestra playing their hearts out (especially in the BSO recording). No Mississippi paddle steamer tempos in those two performances

[dirkronk]

Moscow concerts were never put on CD together by Melodiya (although most of pieces are available in various different couplings). But british label Scribendum has done it and in pretty decent transfers by Abbey Road Studios. Their distribution in US is lousy (sometime appear at BRO, but never noticed this particular box) so you'd probably have to order it from UK:

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Scribendum/SC031

Thanks for the link...and now you have me VERY curious. I know that the LP set I referred to contained all 1965 performances, but I've never delved into the venue...I always figured they were done IN Leningrad. Also, there are a number of 1965 performances in the BMG/Melodiya "Mravinsky Edition" set #1 that I figured were lifted from the LP box (I also have single LP copies of all but a couple of records that were in that box--just not the box set itself). IIRC, the notes were sparse, but surely they'll tell me where the recordings were done. In any case, now I have to see whether the Moscow recordings ARE the 1965 recordings I know and love...or whether there are OTHER 1965 recordings of the same repertoire that may offer even more impressive performances. Aaaarrghh!



Dirk

[Renfield]

Update

So the "Melodiya raid" was performed today, albeit later than it perhaps should have been... Purchases:


Mravinsky

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 5 / 6, 10

Schubert: Symphony No. 8 / Sibelius: Symphony No. 7, The Swan of Tuonela

Box set containing:
Glazunov: Symphony No. 4
Ovsyanko-Kulinovsky: Symphony No. 21
Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker excerpts
Prokofiev: 2nd suite from "Romeo And Juliet"
R. Strauss: Ein Alpensinfonie (Part of the same box set as above, but should be interesting.)
Hindemith: Symphony "Harmonia Mundi"
Honneger: Symphony No. 3
Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion and CEleste
Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Stravinsky: "Agon"

Box set containing:
Beethoven: Symphony No. 4
Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 2, 3, 4
Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 8, 9
Tchaikovksy: Francesca da Rimini, Capriccio Italiano, Serenade for Strings

Richter

Beethoven Sonatas Nos. 8, 23, Bagatelles, Choral Fantasia



The other Shostakovich symphonies by Mravinsky Drasko mentioned above were sold out, as were any Svetlanov discs beyond a Tchaikovsky 3rd Symphony/ Romeo and Juliet which, however, I did not buy right now. There was a very great deal of Gilels recordings I didn't touch, likewise for the Furtwängler war-time recordings, out of lack of further funds.

I also asked about the All-Night Vigil, which was alas not currently available.


However, I was told that they would be restocking with Melodiya discs in about a month's time, and were expecting "even more than previously". I was pointed to the supervisor of that store's classical department, whom I've coordinated with in the past, as well, and as soon as I have a talk with him next time I go for a round of classical purchases, which is likely to be on the 14th or around it, I'll update this thread for your information.

[Mark]

I also asked about the All-Night Vigil, which was alas not currently available.

Much appreciated, sir.

[sidoze]

Look for a Melodiya recording from the early 1970's with Prokofiev's take-no-prisoners exorcist cantata Seven, They Are Seven!

The Rozhdestvensky? I think that's on LP only. Haven't heard it but I know its reputation as the preeminent recording of the work. I have the live Ancerl/CzechPO, unfortunately in rather poor sound, yet clear enough to hear it's one hell of a piece.

[Renfield]

The Rozhdestvensky?

Which reminds me, nothing from Rozhdestvensky apart from a Shostakovich 7th was available today. Perhaps in the upcoming re-stock, as I'm rather interested in his Sibelius...

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Renfield,

Any word on the packaging as to remastering? Anything like a 24bit or such?

[Renfield]

Renfield,

Any word on the packaging as to remastering? Anything like a 24bit or such?

"20 Bit Digital Audio Processing, Sonic Solutions Turbo-Bit-Mapping, NoNoise Remastering", for the Mravinsky disc I just checked (and for all the sense that makes). Original release year appears to be 2004, for this edition.

And most of the rest is in Russian, which I unfortunately don't currently speak.

(Subjectively speaking, however, the sound is quite good!)

[Dancing Divertimentian]

"20 Bit Digital Audio Processing, Sonic Solutions Turbo-Bit-Mapping, NoNoise Remastering", for the Mravinsky disc I just checked (and for all the sense that makes). Original release year appears to be 2004, for this edition.

And most of the rest is in Russian, which I unfortunately don't currently speak.

(Subjectively speaking, however, the sound is quite good!)

The bit about "20 Bit Processing" is good news, indeed!

Historical recordings given the 20 or 24Bit treatment can really be opened up sound-wise.

The NoNoise bit can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the engineer. Applied carefully NoNoise shouldn't hurt much. But in the wrong hands it can sheer away ambiance from the sound, leaving it flat, dry, and lifeless.

In the past NoNoise to me has been akin to a cop-out. Too many instances where it's been applied in lieu of any real attempt at remastering. Just flip a switch and machine-off those pesky noises. Hopefully those days are gone, however, and if you enjoy the sound on these discs then Melodiya has probably done there homework well.   

[George]

Richter

Beethoven Sonatas Nos. 8, 23, Bagatelles, Choral Fantasia

The cream of the crop.