What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[jlaurson]

After Barenboim/WPh live (LvB PC4, no good; Boulez Notations for Orch., impressive; Bruckner Te Deum, quite good), I'm now listening to Gerard Souzay (how I love him) in Schubert. On the new re-release label "NewtOn Classics; recycling important Universal Catalog recordings and less expensive than Testament.

[listener]

BIZET  Les Pêcheurs de Perles   (The Pearl Fishers)
Ileana Cotrubas,  Alain Vanzo,  Guillermo Sarabia,   Roger Soyer
Paris Opera Chorus and Orch.      Georges Prêtre, cond.
This set has no text/translation, but a synopsis which does clarify the action.  The singing is in that mellifluous style that de-emphasises consonants, making word sequences incomprehensible but beautiful.  I am using the text from the older Dervaux lp for assistance.  Alain Vanzo as Nadir is terrific.   I like the slightly forward sound of the orchestra, this is one of "exotic" operas (set in Ceylon/Sri Lanka) that get a lot of atmosphere from the orchestration rather than hoping for recognition of unknown folk idioms.

[George]

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Outstanding recording. A must for Martinu fans!

[bhodges]

Tonight, a short after-dinner listening session with a friend visiting from Amsterdam.  He is a big fan of the orchestra there, but had never heard these recordings.

Debussy: "Iberia" from Images (Antal Dorati/Concertgebouw, live recording from April 5, 1987)
Dvořák: "Song of the Moon" from Rusalka (Karita Mattila/Jukka-Pekka Saraste/Finnish RSO, from Karita Live!)
Jule Styne: "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Karita Mattila/same)
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 3, Movement I (Chailly/Concertgebouw)

--Bruce

[kishnevi]

Tonight, a short after-dinner listening session with a friend visiting from Amsterdam.  He is a big fan of the orchestra there, but had never heard these recordings.


Dvořák: "Song of the Moon" from Rusalka (Karita Mattila/Jukka-Pekka Saraste/Finnish RSO, from Karita Live!)
Jule Styne: "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Karita Mattila/same)

--Bruce

That's definitely a pairing that is--what is le mot juste--ah, of course....a pairing that is most interesting.

[bhodges]

Kind of unusual, eh!  From an excellent disc (assuming you like Ms. Mattila) called Karita Live!, with Wagner, Puccini, Strauss...and the Jule Styne encore.  She also does Gershwin's "Summertime."

--Bruce

[Harry]

Good morning GMGers.

This fine cool morning I put the second CD in from this box of which I sang praises enough, and I seriously hope somebody is interested in. Well I know Sonicman ordered it.
Its pure music making of a very high order.

[The new erato]

First listen to my countryman (and townsman!) Ståle Kleiberg, thanks to recommendations on this site.

[mc ukrneal]

Morning all! Johann Strauss II has some great music, and I have been fortunate to discover an operetta of his called Furstin Ninetta. The music is wonderful (and well played) and has all the sparkle and charm one would expect. The chorus here is excellent too. Very crisp. There is no dialog (don't know if the original has any). The singing is generally good. Naxos have given us a gem - and no idea why there hasn't been a recording of this delightful operetta until now.

[The new erato]

Is this an Austrian No No Ninetta?

[mc ukrneal]

Is this an Austrian No No Ninetta?

Err, not familar with that. Maybe take at look at the Naxos site - there is a description and synopsis. It's a typically silly, funny, rediculous, cross-dressing, romantic problems, etc. type plot.

The site: http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=8.660227-28&catNum=660227&filetype=About+this+Recording&language=English

[springrite]

Is this an Austrian No No Ninetta?

Too much of an inside joke for many, I am afraid.

I will consult Dr. PDQ about this, though.

[Harry]

Morning all! Johann Strauss II has some great music, and I have been fortunate to discover an operetta of his called Furstin Ninetta. The music is wonderful (and well played) and has all the sparkle and charm one would expect. The chorus here is excellent too. Very crisp. There is no dialog (don't know if the original has any). The singing is generally good. Naxos have given us a gem - and no idea why there hasn't been a recording of this delightful operetta until now.

Yes its a fine operetta, the music has all the charm that it needs. I am non to sure about the soloists especially the coloratura. Where are the days of Erika Koth or Erna Berger, and to a lesser extent Anneliese Rothenberger. The coloratura singing before 1960 was so much more natural. When ever there is a recording released of that time I buy it.
The choir and orchestra sound under rehearsed, and the sound is muddled, makes the choir sound more like a wall of sound. Ad hoc soloists and instrumentalist a far cry from the orchestras Willy Mates en Boskovsky worked with. Even the EMI recordings were much better.

[Harry]

Well totally different from operetta are the Piano Quartets by Friedrich Kuhlau. On to the second disc again with the G minor quartet and the Sonata for Violin and Piano in F minor. As said before slowly but surely the music takes hold of me, I love the lyrical early romantic flow in the music.

[mc ukrneal]

Yes its a fine operetta, the music has all the charm that it needs. I am non to sure about the soloists especially the coloratura. Where are the days of Erika Koth or Erna Berger, and to a lesser extent Anneliese Rothenberger. The coloratura singing before 1960 was so much more natural. When ever there is a recording released of that time I buy it.
The choir and orchestra sound under rehearsed, and the sound is muddled, makes the choir sound more like a wall of sound. Ad hoc soloists and instrumentalist a far cry from the orchestras Willy Mates en Boskovsky worked with. Even the EMI recordings were much better.

Well, I agree that some of the soloists could be better. Some (especially the soprano) have issues with intonation on high notes or 'scoop' the notes (or occassional strain). But the men (low voices) are quite good.
 
I actually find the orchestra and chorus excellent. I don't find the sound muddled (perhaps because I listen on earphones?). But I would agree that they may lack some of what Boskovsky and others could bring in terms of 'authenticity'. Anyway, still enjoying it...

[Harry]

Well, I agree that some of the soloists could be better. Some (especially the soprano) have issues with intonation on high notes or 'scoop' the notes (or occassional strain). But the men (low voices) are quite good.
 
I actually find the orchestra and chorus excellent. I don't find the sound muddled (perhaps because I listen on earphones?). But I would agree that they may lack some of what Boskovsky and others could bring in terms of 'authenticity'. Anyway, still enjoying it...

Well maybe I am too critical, but I could not stomach the soloists. My tolerance level is too low I guess in this. Happily in a short time there will be many releases from old recordings between 1948-1958, including Ninette. I keep you posted.

[mc ukrneal]

Well maybe I am too critical, but I could not stomach the soloists. My tolerance level is too low I guess in this. Happily in a short time there will be many releases from old recordings between 1948-1958, including Ninette. I keep you posted.

Please do!

[Que]

Good morning GMGers.

This fine cool morning I put the second CD in from this box of which I sang praises enough, and I seriously hope somebody is interested in. Well I know Sonicman ordered it.
Its pure music making of a very high order.

My order from jpc has arriced, and I will get to Meyerson's Böhm set soon - can't wait!

First I'll try a disc that Harry concluded was a dud! Seems we pick out the same stuff, Harry!



Q

[Harry]

Another fine discovery was a CD from Antonio Brioshchi from the Milanese school.  His Sei Sinfonie's are a marvel. Its the second in a series by DHM, and the first from another composer was released two months ago. The performance and music is of a high level, as is the production as a whole. Its released at a competitive price of 10 euro's.



And the first release in this series.



All world premiere recordings by the way!