What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[BachQ]

First movement ... of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, performed by the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra under Dudamel.

Wow.  The first movement of Beethoven's 5th!  You've arrived .........

Let us know when you make it to the Spring movement of Vivaldi's Four Seasons ..........

[val]

SCHUBERT:  Lieder           / Schwarzkopf, Edwin Fischer  (EMI, 1952)

A very famous recording but, in my opinion, not very convincing. Schwarzkopf style is too artificial for this music, that needs above all a simple and spontaneous approach.

Edwin Fischer is remarkable.

[George]

Symphonies? 

[Harry]

Symphonies? 

These are fine recordings, in fact the best IMO.
Enjoy.

[George]

These are fine recordings, in fact the best IMO.
Enjoy.

I was merely making light of the fact that orbital was actually listening to symphonies. 

Haven't heard them. 

[Harry]

I was merely making light of the fact that orbital was actually listening to symphonies. 

Haven't heard them. 

Well its about time then!

[Harry]

Alexander Glazunov
Ballade in f major, opus 78.
Symphony no. 3 in D major, opus 33.
Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC/Tadaaki Otaka.

I will be very blunt about this, disappointing on all counts. That is my verdict, whatever learned critics say, as I was informed, disappointing it still is.
Flat uninspired, sluggish playing, especially in the brass, tempi that drag, and he holds deliberately some desks back when they should gain tempo, but far worse are the dynamics and shadings Otaka applies. I can say without blushing, that 40 % of the things played as noted down on the score are inaudible, and thats not a problem of recording.
It bores me to smithereens, it does.
Sure on the last few pages of the last movement inspiration looks around the corner, only to laps back again in lethargy.
Welsh, Japanese, Russian, Swedish, a mix that does not work.
I am seriously thinking of binning this box.
For Christ sake, even the second movement, a mighty chance to show of for any orchestra, is a dead duck, as dead as a dodo.
The recording is adequate, but not up to BIS best standards.

[locrian]

Oh, I'm a bad boy for listening to this, I know.

[Hector]

Du Pre on R3, again.

I'm sorry but although she may have been in remission when some of these pieces were recorded they are painful to listen to. It's shameful that the Beeb saw fit to broadcast them and it is best to draw a veil. The best, however, is yet to come.

Arnold and his pisstaking symphonies 3 and 4.

I hear that they are remaking the 'St. Trinians' films (with Jude - 'Dave' - Law?) but I bet they do not use Arnold's original music.

Vernon Handley on Conifer, sorry, Decca!

[locrian]

LvB 2 and 4 syms - Masur/Leipzig

[karlhenning]

Last night, we were all below the green lemon together:

[orbital]

Any idea how this compares to the Inbal set on Philips?

I could not really say. That was my first ever encounter with his symphonies. But I definitely liked what I heard.

Symphonies? 

Radio  but does it really matter?  I liked them, and they played all three. The frist one was the one I enjoyed the most as a first impression.

[bhodges]

I could not really say. That was my first ever encounter with his symphonies. But I definitely liked what I heard.

Muti's recording of the First Symphony is one of my favorite recordings, period.  The chorus and soloists are excellent, and EMI captured the sound of the Philadelphia Orchestra beautifully.

--Bruce

[hautbois]

After Mozart. Gidon Kremer, Kremerata Baltica. The most beautiful, sad, happy, amazing Mozart album i have heard in my life. No kidding. If you have any misconceptions about Mozart, here is one album that tells you what Mozart is all about, with a twist.

Howard

[locrian]

Disc 7 of this monster:

[Que]

Q

[Drasko]

[George]

Bach

Richter

WTC


THEN...

[Que]

Goodness, how did this come about? 

Q

[George]

Goodness, on did this come about? 

Q

$12.95 for the set in a budget bin. I didn't ask questions, just went straight to the register. 

(Plus it certainly is in keeping with my historical binge)