What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Lethevich]

Not sure why these recordings are dismissed so much - the group sounds very sharp to me, and the recorded sound is marvellously vivid compared to many of the classic recs.

[Scarpia]

Not sure why these recordings are dismissed so much - the group sounds very sharp to me, and the recorded sound is marvellously vivid compared to many of the classic recs.

I had the cycle at one point and sold it on Amazon marketplace.  What put me off was what I perceived to be a lack of humor in those parts which I thought should be "sarcastic."   The playing was precise, to be sure, but I thought it was lacking in personality or individuality.  No complaint about the audio engineering.

[Lethevich]

Hmm, makes sense. I don't listen to these works very often so am far from "inside" them. I guess the worst that can happen is once I familiarise myself I'll move onto another ensemble

[rubio]

This oratorio about the christening of Norway must be one of the major events of Norwegian classical music history.

[Scarpia]

Hmm, makes sense. I don't listen to these works very often so am far from "inside" them. I guess the worst that can happen is once I familiarise myself I'll move onto another ensemble

You can do worse.  I first got to know the quartets through the Naxos series, which I loved, but which I didn't love as much the second time around.  Currently I have a very slowly advancing program of listening to them again in the Fitzwilliam and Brodsky Quartet cycles, which I am enjoying a lot.  I also had the Sorrel and rashly sold them, now I'm thinking I want them back.  Maybe that's a mistake.

In any case, the St. Petersburgh Quartet installments regularly appear in Hyperion's "Please Buy me" offer (two of them are there now).  The thing I miss most about them is the cover art.

[Sergeant Rock]

Best Recordings of 2010 Countdown

Nos. 1 - 10
http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-recordings-of-2010-1.html
http://www.weta.org/fmblog/?p=2532

Fascinating list, Jens. But check new release #9...the text is incorrect.

Sarge

[Lethevich]

Whenever anybody mentions this disc I get an unswayable urge to play the tone poem Christmas Eve contained on it. The extra-musical associations I do not fully buy into (either the title, or the inspiration), but as a piece of music it is one of Bax's best and curiously damned with faint praise in many online reviews.* More than any other work by Bax (bar Tintagel, but that doesn't count) it grips me throughout. The supposed lulls and lightness come across as razor-sharp in inspiration between Bax's usual masterfully written ebb and flow - a beautiful section here, an orchestral tutti of stupendous power there, growing in excitement to an ecstatic second half - oh, and don't forget the organ at the end The collision of nature-painting in the first half and hymn-like jubilation in the second is a weird fusion but it works brilliantly.

*Edit: I must say, though, I may simply be barking mad. I just noticed that AMG goes so far as to say Christmas Eve is not an interesting work.. They can bugger off

[DavidRoss]

Not sure why these recordings are dismissed so much - the group sounds very sharp to me, and the recorded sound is marvellously vivid compared to many of the classic recs.

Are they dismissed?   I just thought they were unknown and neglected in comparison with the usual 'golden age' suspects.  I like 'em, too.  And thanks for the tip--think I'll put some on just because I've not played any of them since acquiring the Danels cycle.  Hmmm, maybe:

[Scarpia]

In any case, people interested in this cycle should look at the "someone please buy me" section of the Hyperion web site.  Two installments of the cycle currently there offered for half price.  I think another disc from the cycle appeared there in the last few weeks (or months).

[Brian]

FREITAS BRANCO | Vathek
RTE National Symphony Orchestra
Alvaro Cassuto

By far the most interesting Freitas Branco piece I've heard so far. It's neither overlong, like the symphonies, nor underdressed, like the forgettable suites. Highlights include an introduction for brass which prefigures Janacek (Vathek was written in 1913) and a variation (No 3) which is a fugato for, count them, fifty-nine solo voices. Each string player and many of the winds get their own part. Madness! 

[Conor71]

[jlaurson]

Best Recordings of 2010 Countdown

Nos. 1 - 10
http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-recordings-of-2010-1.html
http://www.weta.org/fmblog/?p=2532

Fascinating list, Jens. But check new release #9...the text is incorrect.

Sarge

I feared something like that might happen. Thanks much for pointing it out!!!

[Bogey]

Top-shelf!

[Mirror Image]

Villa-Lobos, Heitor - Choros & BBs - another new box arrival highly recommended by Mirror Image - will spin the first disc shortly and expect to enjoy - 

I have no doubt in my mind that you will love this set. Can't wait to hear your impressions of it.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



A fine cycle of works.

Yes, I was raving about this set months ago. A fine set indeed.

[listener]

a couple of non-mainstream cd's
William WALLACE  Symphonic Variations;  Concerto Variations;  Dance Suite;  Introduction & Passacaglia
London Symphony Orch.      Boris Brott, cond.
Klaus EGGE Piano Concerto 2, op. 21 (Variations and Fugue on a Norwegian Folk Tune)
Eva Knardahl, piano      Trondheim Symphony Orch.     Jiri Starek, cond.
                  Symphony 1, op. 17
Bergen Philharmonic Orch.       Karsten Andersen, cond.
Concerto from NOP 1828   Symphony from Philips 6507 049

[greg]

Beethoven- Piano Sonatas 8, 9, 10 (Barenboim)

Yummy. 

[Todd]

Pulled Britten's The Turn of the Screw off the cull pile, had a listen, and decided to let it go.  It's been years since I last heard it, and it's just not my cup of tea.  Some of the music is nice enough, I suppose, but it drags on for such a short work.  At least I freed up some shelf space.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Made my way through the entire set and I'm listening to Symphony No. 15 right now. I recommend this set to Shostakovich fans. It doesn't matter if you already own many symphony cycles, what's another one going to hurt?

[petrarch]

Listening to this again since a couple of years ago. Simply wonderful, and the transfer is much better sounding than some previous releases on Wergo, which I was listening to before I put this one on.