The one recording you believe everyone should own

[Florestan]

Funny how a musician saying a few words between numbers becomes a crazy, oppressive thing to do.

IMHO he really had no business saying those few words during a concert. People paid their tickets to hear him playing not speaking.

Take Maurizio Pollini: he is as leftist as it gets but he never mix music with politics. He reserves his political opinions for the interviews.

And how could any sane person object to their country being turned into a weapons platform for a foreign power?

I fully support, and agree with, the installation of the US anti-missile shield in my country. I think this makes me a lunatic in your eyes. 

[The new erato]

I fully support, and agree with, the installation of the US anti-missile shield in my country. I think this makes me a lunatic in your eyes. 

The problem of that obviously being that it destroys the finely tuned terror balance based on "If you destroy me; I destroy you"; not whether you actually enjoy being a part of that race or not.

[Florestan]

The problem of that obviously being that it destroys the finely tuned terror balance based on "If you destroy me; I destroy you"; not whether you actually enjoy being a part of that race or not.

I'm afraid I don't quite get your point. "If you destroy me" then there's obviously no way I will destroy you, ain't it?

My own point is that if the US anti-missile shield is installed in my country then there is no way the Russians will ever step in again --- and you know what, I'll rather live under American de facto rule than Russian. And yes, I am as biased as it gets. 

[springrite]

There is nothing that I have that I believe everyone should own.






(Of course there are a few that if they don't own, their so-called collection is worthless as a result and their tastes are obviously inferior...) 

[The new erato]

I'm afraid I don't quite get your point. "If you destroy me" then there's obviously no way I will destroy you, ain't it?

My own point is that if the US anti-missile shield is installed in my country then there is no way the Russians will ever step in again --- and you know what, I'll rather live under American de facto rule than Russian. And yes, I am as biased as it gets. 

I guess you know that one can push a button on discovering entry vehicles.

And I have no problems with your choice, my point only being that this question have wider implications than what is comfortable for Roumania.

[jlaurson]

IMHO he really had no business saying those few words during a concert. People paid their tickets to hear him playing not speaking.

Take Maurizio Pollini: he is as leftist as it gets but he never mix music with politics. He reserves his political opinions for the interviews.

Not anymore. During the Vietnam era, he did. But he learned his lesson.

It's unfortunate that conviction of one's believes, perhaps in fêted musicians even stronger, bears no correlation whatsoever with knowledge and appreciation of facts and realities in matters economic and political. Same trouble with opera directors... talented in every way, but then semi-educated demi-morons when it comes to the even the most shallow analysis of globalization, international trade, financial markets et al.

Krystian Zimerman, the great Polish concert pianist, is usually a man of few words. He doesn't, as a rule, talk to the audience during performances.
[Guardian article]

That's not my experience. Every time I've heard him (I think trice), he bitched am moaned about America, about Immigration, about how his piano was destroyed, about Guantanamo...

I'm not surprised about his lack of judgment, that he rather believes Russian propaganda than US propaganda.



Did I mention that I think everyone ought to have this recording, apart from the aforementioned Scarlatti?


J.S. Bach,
concertos italiens
Alexandre Tharaud
Harmonia Mundi

[Florestan]

And I have no problems with your choice, my point only being that this question have wider implications than what is comfortable for Roumania.

Of course. But, with all due respect, if what's comfortable for Romania might not be so for Norway is no reason I should not endorse it. I dare say that, if asked in a poll, the vast majority of your countrymen would not care at all if Russia extends over the Carpathian Mountains as long as their own peace and way of life goes on undisturbed... (not to mention they'd have real troubles placing us on the map or telling Bucharest from Budapest)

Now don't get me wrong: personally I am a very cosmopolitan person and would LOOOOOVE to see the world being a playground of love and brotherhood and I'm sure you are of the same stock too; but let's face reality: the world is far from it. Not even the peaceful Norway is immune from hate and violence, as the Breivik case showed. During history nobody (with the notable exceptions of Napoleon the 3rd --- in a genuine manner--- and Woodrow Wilson --- because of his fanatical hate for the Austrian Empire) ever cared for our fate --- why then should we care for others'? 

[Karl Henning]

There is nothing that I have that I believe everyone should own.

No indeed! Let them get their own!

[DavidRoss]

Then you might like this... http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2006/04/political-piano-zimerman-at-shriver.html

I especially like your suggestion that he should have played the Fidelio transcription. 

[Wakefield]

Not anymore. During the Vietnam era, he did. But he learned his lesson.

[Leon]

I really think the entire box set is mandatory, but for the sake of discretion, I'll humbly suggest this recording:

[asin]B00000411S[/asin]

This is the one I began with prior to investing in the entire collection - well worth the investment, too.

[DavidRoss]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/apr/28/krystian-zimerman-missile-defence-poland

I'm not sure bigoted is the right word. To me it looks more like a personal vendetta (see the last two paragraphs).

The Guardian article presents just one of many examples of his self-righteous idiocy. Bigots are people who stubbornly refuse to open their minds to information that does not support their prejudices, especially prejudices against entire classes of people whom they dehumanize with hateful stereotypes.  See this Merriam Webster definition:

bigot: a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance

It's unfortunate that conviction of one's beliefs, perhaps in fêted musicians even stronger, bears no correlation whatsoever with knowledge and appreciation of facts and realities in matters economic and political. Same trouble with opera directors... talented in every way, but then semi-educated demi-morons when it comes to even the most shallow analysis of globalization, international trade, financial markets et al.

I've never understood how someone can feel strongly about a subject yet refuse to inform himself about it. Perhaps it's not their feelings about the subject that are so strong, but rather their addiction to the intoxicating cocktail of neurotransmitters fueled by feelings of self-righteous superiority and hateful judgmentalism.

And when such arrogant ignoramuses actively pursue an agenda that causes real harm to other people, I find it difficult not to let my dismay about that affect my appreciation of their art...especially in the case of someone like Zimerman who goes out of his way to remind concertgoers of his spiritual shortcomings, which may well manifest in his art.  The challenge is especially great in cases like Wagner, whose vicious antisemitism so informs the Ring that it's virtually impossible to overlook.

But enough of such digression. Back to the one recording everyone should own!

I have no opinion on that, as I am hardly qualified to prescribe for everyone, and cannot even decide on the one recording I should own, if one were all allowed me (say, by a beneficent government staffed by well-meaning bureaucrats who earnestly believe they know what's in others' best interest).

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Back to the one recording everyone should own!

I have no opinion on that, as I am hardly qualified to prescribe for everyone, and cannot even decide on the one recording I should own, if one were all allowed me (say, by a beneficent government staffed by well-meaning bureaucrats who earnestly believe they know what's in others' best interest).

Since our tastes seem to run fairly close, David, I'd be interested in what recording you might consider something of a "favorite". If such a thing is possible...

[DavidRoss]

Since our tastes seem to run fairly close, David, I'd be interested in what recording you might consider something of a "favorite". If such a thing is possible...

Where to begin, Don? There are so many!

How about a box set of Sibelius's symphonies? Even then I'd have a hard time choosing among those I most love: Blomstedt, Bernstein, Berglund, Segerstam, Vänskä....

If restricted to single discs, which ought I choose among DLVDE recordings, let alone those of Strauss's Four Last Songs? And how could I be without Dame Janet singing Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen?

Nor would I want to be without Bach's cello suites, sonatas & partitas for violin, violin concertos, or Goldbergs on piano. And which towering Beethoven masterpiece should I choose among dozens?

Mozart's operas are easy: Jacobs's Cosi. Or should I trade Jacobs's delicious orchestra for the fabulous singing on Böhm's Walter Legge recording? Or maybe Le Nozze would be a better choice...? But how could I be without the D minor concerto and the great G minor?

Elgar's cello concerto? Rodrigo's concerto for guitar (or Ponce's)? The Rach 2 (or 3)? Brahms's piano quintet? Pärt's Fratres?

I toss up my hands in surrender. (And I've strayed rather far from the thread's intent.)

If there were one -- just one -- recording of classical music that everyone should own, the piece would have to be a cultural touchstone: something that practically defines the very notion of Western classical music and which represents the art form at its finest. Voyager has Beethoven's 5th symphony and the op. 130 quartet.  Perhaps, if there were a record with first-rate recordings of one of the great symphonies (say, the 7th), one of the great piano sonatas (Moonlight? Waldstein? Pathétique?), and the Grosse Fuge, that might do the trick.

I'll bet there are two recordings that almost every GMGer has: Gould's first Goldbergs and Kleiber's LvB 5 & 7. But should everyone own either of these? That's a big "Duh" from me. 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Where to begin, Don? There are so many!

Heckova task, I know, but I can only nod my head in agreement. Much obliged, Dave!

[eyeresist]

Not if the words are few enough, and are about the music.

The Guardian story doesn't say how long he spoke for. A half hour speech would obviously be wrong, but a few words might inform the subsequent interpretation in an interesting way.

My own point is that if the US anti-missile shield is installed in my country then there is no way the Russians will ever step in again --- and you know what, I'll rather live under American de facto rule than Russian.

I certainly agree with the last part (unlike a certain idiot relative who, given the choice between US and Chinese hegemony, said he would choose the latter). But I don't think anyone thought the missiles installed in Cuba were going to make that country more secure from US attack 

[Gorio1968]

Browsing through this today and I noticed that four "guests" were as well. It may have been dormant for six years but I am sure other recommendations would be appreciated.

[amw]

Dvořák Slavonic Dances - Karel Šejna/Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, or maybe Mozart String Quintets K515 & 516 - Chiara Banchini/Ensemble 415

[Que]

Since the previous issue (on Tahra) I posted long time ago has run OOP, a repost of this:

[asin]B00N5ARXH0[/asin]
Q

[aukhawk]

Even though it is not my own favourite, go-to version of this music - but for other reasons ...