What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[SonicMan46]

WA Mozart - Complete Sonatas for Pianoforte & Violin w/ David Breitman (pianoforte) & Jean-Francois Rivest (violin) on the Analekta label (one new to me) - these two just play wonderfully together (apparently had already played these works in concerts many times before recording them); HIP performances & instruments - packaged as 2-CDs each contained in a single-size jewel box, so 4 CDs total; just getting through Vol. 1 - fabulous! 

 

[Florestan]

[Kullervo]

Haydn - Symphony No. 98 (Jochum, London PO)

[Que]

WA Mozart - Complete Sonatas for Pianoforte & Violin w/ David Breitman (pianoforte) & Jean-Francois Rivest (violin) on the Analekta label (one new to me) - these two just play wonderfully together (apparently had already played these works in concerts many times before recording them); HIP performances & instruments - packaged as 2-CDs each contained in a single-size jewel box, so 4 CDs total; just getting through Vol. 1 - fabulous! 

 

Nice to see these recordings getting new coverage here - they very much deserve it!
Amongst the many treasures I discovered thanks to GMG.

Q

[bhodges]

Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle (Haitink/Berlin Philharmonic/Tomlinson/von Otter/Elès) - One of the many delights of this extraordinary recording is the brief opening narration by Sandor Elès (1936-2002), a Hungarian-born actor apparently known for playing the role of Paul in Brian Clemens' And Soon the Darkness (1970).

John Tomlinson is positively malevolent as Bluebeard and Anne Sofie von Otter pours out great, vulnerable beauty as Judith.  Haitink and the Berlin Philharmonic sound sensational; the CD was made from live recordings, and it must have been quite an experience to have been there. 

--Bruce

[Sergeant Rock]

Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto #1 D major (disc also contains 2 and 4):




Sarge

[M forever]

Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle (Haitink/Berlin Philharmonic/Tomlinson/von Otter/Elès) - One of the many delights of this extraordinary recording is the brief opening narration by Sandor Elès (1936-2002), a Hungarian-born actor apparently known for playing the role of Paul in Brian Clemens' And Soon the Darkness (1970).

John Tomlinson is positively malevolent as Bluebeard and Anne Sofie von Otter pours out great, vulnerable beauty as Judith.  Haitink and the Berlin Philharmonic sound sensational; the CD was made from live recordings, and it must have been quite an experience to have been there. 

I was in one of the concerts. That must have been in the mid 90s or so, maybe early 90s. I didn't know they recorded that.

[bhodges]

I was in one of the concerts. That must have been in the mid 90s or so, maybe early 90s. I didn't know they recorded that.

Wow, I am really envious.  I've heard this piece live in concert maybe five or six times (several with von Otter) but this one is by far the best combination of soloists, conductor and orchestra, and is one of the few that includes the narration -- not essential, but it is a small detail that helps to set the mood. 

The notes say the recording was made from performances Feb. 1, 3 and 4, 1996.

--Bruce

[Lilas Pastia]

Nice to see these recordings getting new coverage here - they very much deserve it!
Amongst the many treasures I discovered thanks to GMG.

Q

I hope I played a part . These are simply must-haves. Not that 'definitive' would apply, but immensely rewarding certainly does.

Note on the Gerhard series on Montaigne. I think I have most of those discs, and they do sound quite different from the Chandos series. As is often the case in such situations, it's a matter of swings and roundabouts. The Montaigne feature a totally different orchestral culture and engineering. Leaner, more acerbic, very transparent and delicate yet with lots of gumption when needed. The Chandos play to Gerhard's sumptuous aural imagery and definitely put him more in the mainstream of european musical culture.

[not edward]

Note on the Gerhard series on Montaigne. I think I have most of those discs, and they do sound quite different from the Chandos series. As is often the case in such situations, it's a matter of swings and roundabouts. The Montaigne feature a totally different orchestral culture and engineering. Leaner, more acerbic, very transparent and delicate yet with lots of gumption when needed. The Chandos play to Gerhard's sumptuous aural imagery and definitely put him more in the mainstream of european musical culture.

Agreed. Fans will want both sets.

I was disappointed that Chandos didn't record The Plague, but at least the old Decca Headline recording under Dorati is finally out on CD. I've been enjoying (if that's the right word for such a dark piece) this of late.

[bhodges]

Note on the Gerhard series on Montaigne. I think I have most of those discs, and they do sound quite different from the Chandos series. As is often the case in such situations, it's a matter of swings and roundabouts. The Montaigne feature a totally different orchestral culture and engineering. Leaner, more acerbic, very transparent and delicate yet with lots of gumption when needed. The Chandos play to Gerhard's sumptuous aural imagery and definitely put him more in the mainstream of european musical culture.

Thanks (and to edward, too -- I did notice that Plague recording).  I will no doubt pick up some of both series at Academy (I've seen a number of them there).  And "sumptuous aural imagery" is right on the mark. 

PS, another composer whose work I have never, ever seen programmed in a concert hall.

--Bruce

[Drasko]

[sidoze]

That looks rather sunny. If there are any dances on the melancholic side, could you rip and upload them to me please Mr. Drasko?

this beauty:

[bhodges]

A broadcast from the 1984 Ojai Festival with Boulez conducting:

Schoenberg: "Song of the Wood Dove" from Gurrelieder (w/Claudine Carlson)
Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony
Boulez: Eclat/Multiples
Stravinsky: L'Histoire du Soldat

--Bruce

[SonicMan46]

Nice to see these recordings getting new coverage here - they very much deserve it!
Amongst the many treasures I discovered thanks to GMG................

Q - finished Vol. 1 - superb performances & sound recording; looking forward to the second set of discs; same here also - a recommendation that easily made my 'wish list' and arrived recently in the mail! 

[Solitary Wanderer]

Love this performance/recording of Thea King playing Mozarts oboe concerto. Warm, lyrical and utterly charming;perfect Sunday morning music

[George]

Mozart

Anda

PC's

[Drasko]

That looks rather sunny. If there are any dances on the melancholic side, could you rip and upload them to me please Mr. Drasko?

Yes, sure I can, no problem but you can buy all of them for huge amount of £3 from eclassical:

http://www.eclassical.com/eclassic/eclassical?&song_id=100152&x=20&limit=0&page=more%5finfo&q=greek+dances&y=8

[George]

Nice documentary on Glenn Gould:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jiuw44HHb4g&mode=related&search=

[sidoze]

Pay to download music? Surely you jest.

Just a sample of 1 rather dour dance will do me fine thanks.