What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Harry]

1st exposure to these works ....

I am enjoying the Concert Music for Brass and Strings. I've read on Musicweb that the gem on this recording is the Violin Concerto.



Charles

And how is Kavakos doing?

[Choo Choo]

The ARG Bruckner overview mentions Suitner and Horenstein, but dismisses them.

Yet both of these have substance which the Rögner appears to lack.  It comes across (to me) as very much a superficial interpretation.  I think it was Wand who said that he always took twice as long over preparing the 5th as any of the others.  It sounds to me like Rögner simply didn't put in the time.

His recording of the 6th is a lot better.  I don't know why that should surprise me, but it does.

[PerfectWagnerite]

I don't think any Furtwängler Bruckner has good enough sound to be generally recommendable.  Non "hi-fi" recordings have never been mentioned in the overviews (Furtwängler's DG Schubert 9th was shortlisted in the Schubert overview).  The Dohnanyi recording is praised, but Donny Vroon doesn't like Dohnanyi's conducting ("some of us will never enjoy his objectified Bruckner"), so it doesn't get shortlisted.  The overview complains about too close placement and extraneous noise in the Barenboim recording.

Actually some of Furt's Bruckner is in pretty decent mono sound. I have a 5th with the BPO (EMI) and an 8th and 9th with the BPO and VPO (forgot the label) that actually sounds pretty good, a little boxy but with enough dynamic range to give you a feeel for Furt's conducting, which is magnificent BTW. No one conducts Bruckner or Wagner like Furt. His sense of pacing, of projecting and guiding you to each and every climax, is still unsurpassed in my opinion.

Dohnanyi's Bruckner is quite differerent. It almost has a savage nature that is contrary to the contemplative and mystical nature that one usually associate Bruckner. The only one I don't have is Dohnany's 7th, and I can say they are all magnificent. I highly recommend it as essential Bruckner listening.

[Daverz]

Okay, I can buy that. I don't usually recommend "historical" recordings either as a first choice.

They do sort of apologize at the beginning for not being able to recommend any Furtwängler because of the sound.

Hmmm...."objectified Bruckner"...I don't know. I think it's the most overtly dramatic of any version I've heard. Dohnányi plays down the usual reverential, spiritual elements and gives us a full-blooded. hyper-Romantic experience. I wouldn't call that objective conducting.

That's just Donny Vroon.  The rest of the paragraph is glowing praise of performance, playing and sound.

I have to admit I wasn't blown away by the Rögner, either, but I'll have to give it a few more listens.

[Sergeant Rock]

Love Battle in general, and THANKS so much for the scoop on Battle doing Mahler's 4th, Sarge!

It's a version not every Mahlerite appreciates, the objection most often raised concerns the intensely slow tempo in the last movement. For me, though, that's what makes it so special. Maazel lets Battle caress every word and the result is pure aural ravishment to these ears. He stretches out the end of the movement to heavenly length...not inappropriate given the subject matter

I agree with George about Szell/Cleveland/Raskin (in some ways very similar to Maazel's interpretation actually) but for me Battle trumps Raskin. I own them both of course.

Sarge

[Charles]

And how is Kavakos doing?

Buon giorno Harry!

Going quite well ... I like it!  Kavakos has a sweet tone.

Charles

[Sergeant Rock]

Dohnanyi's Bruckner is quite differerent. It almost has a savage nature that is contrary to the contemplative and mystical nature that one usually associate Bruckner.

Well said, PW. That describes it perfectly. After forty years of listening to this symphony, I've concluded it works best, at least for me, when played this way. All my little nagging doubts about the symphony vanished after I bought this recording.

Sarge

[PerfectWagnerite]

Well said, PW. That describes it perfectly. After forty years of listening to this symphony, I've concluded it works best, at least for me, when played this way. All my little nagging doubts about the symphony vanished after I bought this recording.

Sarge

I am actually listening to the Celibidache Munich Bruckner 8th right now and it is such a contrast to CVD !

[Haffner]

It's a version not every Mahlerite appreciates, the objection most often raised concerns the intensely slow tempo in the last movement. For me, though, that's what makes it so special. Maazel lets Battle caress every word and the result is pure aural ravishment to these ears. He stretches out the end of the movement to heavenly length...not inappropriate given the subject matter

I agree with George about Szell/Cleveland/Raskin (in some ways very similar to Maazel's interpretation actually) but for me Battle trumps Raskin. I own them both of course.

Sarge

I think the fact that there are few "penultimate" recordings of any Classic Music masterpieces tends to be a good thing for us collectors, nicht wahr?

[Danny]

Bach Preludes and Fugues (No. 1-12), BMV 846-857 played by Glenn Gould.

[Haffner]

Bach Preludes and Fugues (No. 1-12), BMV 846-857 played by Glenn Gould.

Got some real fine listening there, Danny!


I'm pulling out my copy now.

[George]

Got some real fine listening there, Danny!


I'm pulling out my copy now.

lol! 

Mine a is a...(ahem) copy too. 

[not edward]

[Danny]

Got some real fine listening there, Danny!


I'm pulling out my copy now.

WE both have excellent taste, I see!

[George]

Onion

String Quartet #18

Arditti QT


I dedicate this one to Andy! 

[Haffner]

Onion

String Quartet #18

Arditti QT


I dedicate this one to Andy! 

I must differ with the performance, as there are far more odorous interpretations  .

[not edward]

I must differ with the performance, as there are far more odorous interpretations  .

The Ardittis do a great job with peeling back the contrapuntal layers, though.

Now listening to A Short Grind in a Fast Coffee Machine.

[George]

I must differ with the performance, as there are far more odorous interpretations  .

[Haffner]

[George]

The Ardittis do a great job with peeling back the contrapuntal layers, though.

Now listening to A Short Grind in a Fast Coffee Machine.

These tears are tears of joy!