What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Sergeant Rock]

That beastly conservatory concerts one?

Yeah, the one with all the las, des, dess and dus 


Sarge

[nico1616]

Started the day with Böhms 1957 Don Juan.
Now listening to Bernstein DG Mahler 2.

[Sergeant Rock]

Do you recommend this recording?

--Bruce

Only if you're a Heifetz fan. He plays it as a virtuoso vehicle, downplaying the Schmalz. The last movement is breathtaking though...I mean, he plays it so fast you barely have time to breathe 

The Shaham/Previn/LSO is the usual recommendation, the safe, and perhaps best version (I haven't heard anyone say anything negative about it). But I prefer the insanely over-the-top, Hollywoodish Mutter/Previn/LSO (I think the music can take it) and the Schmid/Ozawa/Vienna Phil. Harry Collier and Wanderer turned me on to the Schmid recording on Oehms.



Wanderer wrote in the Korngold thread:

For my taste, the best overall renditions of Korngold's violin concerto available are those by Schmid and Shaham. They are both brilliant and manage to sound quite different; the Vienna version manages to gloriously illustrate the bittersweet Korngoldian harmonies and atmosphere in an electrifying performance, whereas the LSO version paints a more exuberant, virtuosic soundscape. I slightly prefer Schmid's performance, but I wouldn't want to be without Shaham, either.

The Oehms release has the advantage of an all-Korngold program, immaculately performed. The op.23 suite for two violins, cello and left hand piano (a second Wittgenstein commission, after his satisfaction with the op.17 left hand piano concerto Korngold had composed for him) is a glorious work that ought to be standard repertoire and it receives an impressively atmospheric performance here, as well.

Sarge

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

From this CD a curious Quintet for Piano and Strings, and in the last movement Eight Voices, "Life Quintet" ( curious title), and that was not a good decision to my ears. First of all the voices are mediocre, and secondly it drips virtually with excessive vibrato, thirdly its as fitting to the quintet as a flea that proposes marriage to a Elephant, and it is nowhere coherent and adaptable to the first three movements. Its for me a horreur!  "Impossible"
The first three movements are well written, and beautifully performed. So I will write on the listening notes, that I must block all memory of it, and never play it again.
Il sera fait!

[North Star]

Prokofiev
Piano Concerto no. 2
Béroff & Masur
[asin]B0013D8K7S[/asin]

[Sergeant Rock]

Miklós Rózsa Violin Concerto, Heifetz, violin, Walter Hendl conducting the Dallas Symphony Orchestra




Sarge

[North Star]

Bartók
Out of Doors, Petite Suite (arrs. of the 44 violin duos)
Zoltán Kocsis
[asin]B003Y3MYWW[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

Some of Janson's CDs [...] are truly top notch, the 10th, 4th, and 13th

+1

[Lisztianwagner]

Now listening to Bernstein DG Mahler 2.

Wonderful choice, it's quite hard to beat Bernstein in Mahler

[Sergeant Rock]

Dipping: Act II Scenes 4 & 5 Die Walküre, Janowski conducting the Staatskapelle Dresden




Sarge

[Henk]

Mozart - Piano Concertos (Anima Eterna, van Immerseel)

[pi2000]

Arnold Rosé
[asin]B000F6ZIDI[/asin]

[nico1616]

Wonderful choice, it's quite hard to beat Bernstein in Mahler

Hmmm, I don't know. After listening for a long time to Mahler's 4th, 5th and 6th symphony (and now loving them enormously), this 2nd does not leave such a great impression.
I'm afraid I find this one to be quite bombastic and over the top. I will listen to it some more and maybe I will change my mind, but it could well be that this is not my cup of tea.
It is of course not Bernstein's fault, this is a great performance, but it is the work itself.
I will let you know how it evolves

[Mirror Image]

But isn't it great that I started with this one, then, John; I can appreciate the 'better' cycles more later. 

I suppose so, Karlo but I always recommend Barshai for newcomers to Shostakovich's symphonies. By the way, the Jansons set of Shostakovich had a defective disc (the performance of the 7th symphony), I hope yours doesn't. Many people have complained about this on Amazon.

[nico1616]

Dipping: Act II Scenes 4 & 5 Die Walküre, Janowski conducting the Staatskapelle Dresden




Sarge

A great place to dip, these are among my favorite Wagner scenes!

[Karl Henning]

... but I always recommend Barshai for newcomers to Shostakovich's symphonies.

So you're okay with the sloppy ensemble patches in the Sixth and Ninth, I guess.

[Mirror Image]

So you're okay with the sloppy ensemble patches in the Sixth and Ninth, I guess.

Even orchestral musicians make mistakes. I'm quite fine with it, so that's a "yes."

[Karl Henning]

Even orchestral musicians make mistakes.

You've not told me anything I don't know, where I've told you something you did not.

Apart from that, your post just means "the cycle I prefer is the cycle I prefer."  Which is fine, but not exactly news ; )

[Brian]

I have been listening to Debussy's 'La mer' for Discobole's blind listening game. Four complete listens in the past two days, and probably two more today!

[Mirror Image]

You've not told me anything I don't know, where I've told you something you did not.

Apart from that, your post just means "the cycle I prefer is the cycle I prefer."  Which is fine, but not exactly news ; )

It's been awhile since I've listened to Barshai's cycle, so cut me some slack, Karl. I just remember enjoying the whole cycle a lot.