naxos music recommendations

[71 dB]

Hallé Orchestra, Mark Elder

Thank you karlhenning!

I don't have any Elgar by Hallé/Elder.
This CD contains also the short and funny Smoking Cantata. 

[johnQpublic]

Could you tell me a better recording of Falstaff?
(I don't find this performance dull...)

It's been a while since I've listened to this disc, but I remember liking it and I bought it because of very good reviews it got in Fanfare.

[Drasko]

The Poulenc chamber music is similarly good: the first volume is a little weak but the rest is uniformly excellent.

I have vols. 2 & 5 and they are excellent indeed, intended to get the rest.
What you didn't like about vol.1?

[not edward]

I have vols. 2 & 5 and they are excellent indeed, intended to get the rest.
What you didn't like about vol.1?

With volume one, sometimes the performances tend to being a little hesitant: for the most part the wind players are not on the level of Ronald van Spaendonck (love his version of the clarinet sonata in volume 2). I prefer the Decca recordings with Roge (don't know all the other Poulenc chamber music recordings, unfortunately) in all the works in volume 1.

[daPonte]

The Lutoslawski series is mostly good, with some performances that are truly outstanding (Cello Concerto, Livre, Mi-Parti.

The Poulenc chamber music is similarly good: the first volume is a little weak but the rest is uniformly excellent.

Couldn't agree more with both of these recommendations. Also, I've been enjoying this a lot lately:

[Harry]

The Poulenc series on Naxos is of a constant quality, and hard to beat in sound and musicians.
It was a great joy to listen through it!

[Harry]

And on a different level, I have to add, that if I think about it, I have a enormous collection of Naxos cd's. And with good reason.
For lets be honest, there is no Classical label that gives us so much for so little right!
If I go through the list many names crop up as being frontrunners in recording and interpretation.
Sure there are duds, they are everywhere, but in the last 5 years or so, almost all are fine, wether you like the interpretation or not.
I recall the latest issues, Tartini, violin concertos, Alfven 5th symphony, Martinu piano works, Arnold SQ, Glazunov, Noveletten and String Quintet, De Falla, piano works, Symanowski chamberworks, Pavlova, symphony No. 5, and I could go on a long time.
I for one, am grateful for this label. It brought me many times great pleasure.

[71 dB]

The Poulenc series on Naxos is of a constant quality, and hard to beat in sound and musicians.
It was a great joy to listen through it!

Those Poulenc discs have been on my wishlist for a long time...

[Harry]

Well eventually they will come, as all good things right?
A good day to you, and happy listening.
May I point out to you the very inexpensive Haydn SQ of high quality, and for 4,99 euro's, two cd's the opus 71 & 74.
Brilliant Classics!

[71 dB]

Well eventually they will come, as all good things right?
A good day to you, and happy listening.
May I point out to you the very inexpensive Haydn SQ of high quality, and for 4,99 euro's, two cd's the opus 71 & 74.
Brilliant Classics!

Good Monday Harry!

I'm calming down from the Bruhns thing...

Well, I don't know anything about Poulanc's music but I "sense" it's interesting.

Not planning buying Haydn SQs but if I do buy I'll pick Op. 76. Thanks anyway Harry!

[Michel]

There are many, many discs in the Naxos Historical series worth getting, in particular:

Toscanini's Beethoven from the 30's
Schnabel's Beethoven from the 30's
Milstein and Heifetz playing Tchaikovsky's VC
Reiner's Tristan and Isolde from 36 in Covent Garden with Flagstad and Melchoir
Leinsdorf's Die Walkure from the Met in 41.

From the non-historical series:

John Cage's Piano Music
Brahms Hungarian Dances
Tinter's Bruckner
John Field's piano music
Shostakovich Soundtrack to Gadfly

[vandermolen]

Hayasaka Piano Concerto (my best Naxos discovery)

Klauss Egge String Quartet No 1 (in "Norwegian 20th Century String Quartets"), a lovely work.

[Harry]

Hayasaka Piano Concerto (my best Naxos discovery)

Klauss Egge String Quartet No 1 (in "Norwegian 20th Century String Quartets"), a lovely work.

The Japanese series is a fascinating area!

[Drasko]

With volume one, sometimes the performances tend to being a little hesitant: for the most part the wind players are not on the level of Ronald van Spaendonck (love his version of the clarinet sonata in volume 2). I prefer the Decca recordings with Roge (don't know all the other Poulenc chamber music recordings, unfortunately) in all the works in volume 1.

Thanks, Van Spaendonck was really a find.
OT - have you received Munch's Deliciae Basiliensis? How is it? I still have it in my shopping basket but haven't got around to place the order yet.

[not edward]

Thanks, Van Spaendonck was really a find.
OT - have you received Munch's Deliciae Basiliensis? How is it? I still have it in my shopping basket but haven't got around to place the order yet.

I don't have it yet. I'll review it when it shows up.

[JoshLilly]

I have been sadly disappointed most of the time by Naxos recordings of operas, with one exception: Bellini's La Sonnambula that they have is just awesome (IMO, of course). I love it. Other than that, I tend to not like their operas.  Also:

Krommer, Wind Partitas (Naxos 8.553498). My favourite wind music ever.
Krommer, Clarinet Concertos (Naxos 8.553178). Ohhh, hot mama, this is great stuff
Carl Stamitz, Cello Concertos (Naxos 8.550865). Sweet, sweet slow movements, brilliant and gorgeous

[Don]

A recent Naxos set I can't recommend is Bach's WTC Bk. 1 played by Luc Beausejour on harpsichord.  The interpretations are okay but nothing special - too mainstream and not interesting.  The harpsichord sound is the major negative as it is very thin with weak bass response.

[71 dB]

I have been sadly disappointed most of the time by Naxos recordings of operas, with one exception: Bellini's La Sonnambula that they have is just awesome (IMO, of course). I love it. Other than that, I tend to not like their operas.  Also:

Carl Stamitz, Cello Concertos (Naxos 8.550865). Sweet, sweet slow movements, brilliant and gorgeous

Opera is Naxos' well-known weak point. Carl Stamitz's Cello Concertos are gorgeous indeed. I have that disc.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Opera is Naxos' well-known weak point.

Since you admit to not listening to opera how would you know?

[71 dB]

Since you admit to not listening to opera how would you know?

I do listen to opera but not all composers. I have 2 operas on Naxos (Wagner & Puccini)
Naxos operas get always bad reviews. That's how I know.