What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[RebLem]

In the week ending Saturday, 01 SEP 2007, I listened to the following:

1,2, 3. 10/10 Byrd: Excerpts from Cantiones Sacrae of 1575 (CD 1, 63:37), 1589 (CD 2, 50:34), and 1591 (CD 3, 47:08 )—Edward Higginbottom, Choir of New College, Oxford—3 MHS 5368703, lic from CRD Records. Unfortunately, in each case, these are excerpts, not the complete works, but they are beautifully performed in superb 21st century sound.

4. 10/10 Bach, J.S.: Cantatas 130 (16:23), 131 (23:18 ), and 132 (21:02)—Rilling, cond., usual suspects—hanssler CD, Vol. 41 of CBE—Fine performances

5. 10/10 Bach, J.S.: A Book of Chorale settings for Advent and Christmas (51:29)—Rilling, cond, usual suspects, Gerhard Gnann, organ—hanssler CD, Vol. 78 of CBE.

6, 7.. 10/9 Beethoven: Sym. 1 (25:32), 2 (31:56), 3 (52:22), 4 (36:02)—Furtwangler, cond., Wiener Phil., CDs 1 & 2 of the 5 CD EMI 5 67498 2 set of postwar performances of all the Beethoven symphonies---the 2nd symphony is from 1948, and is in very poor sound; I have heard recordings from the mid-1930's that sound better. The others are all from 1952 and are in much more modern mono sound. Superb performances, particularly of the Eroica, though the Marcia funebre sounds like a routine run-through compared to Furtwangler's magnificent wartime recording.

6, 7. 10/10 Shostakovich: CD 1--Two Pieces for String Quartet, Op. 36 (1931) (6:29), String Quartets 1 (1938 ) (13:40), 3 (1946) (31:13), 4 (1949) (24:26). CD 2—String Quartets 2 (1944) (35:29), 5 (1952) (30:20), 7 (1960) (12:05)—Shostakovich Quartet, recorded 1980-85 in Moscow—part of a 5 CD Regis set of the complete Shostakovich String Quartets, lic. from Olympia Records. I have heard a few people describe this set as the greatest set ever of the Shostakovich quartets. I was skeptical, thinking the Borodin and St Petersburg String Quartets pretty much had that wrapped up. Listening to these performances has changed my mind. I am a believer. These are, interpretively, and sound-wise, the greatest performances I have ever heard of each and every one of these works Caveat: another well thought of set is that by the Danel Quartet, which I have, but have not yet listened to. I will be listening to those sometime in the next couple of months. Stay tuned.

I apologize for last week's report, which contained at least 2 inaccuracies. When discussing what I was going to listen to this week, I said the Shostakovich cycle was a 9 CD set; it is, of course, only 5. And, I described the Byrd box as a 2 CD set. The spine of the box does indeed say it is a 2 CD set, but this is an error; it is a 3 CD set.

On tap for next week, there is, of course, my Bach CBE stack. Then there are the 3 remaining CDs of the Shostakovich quartet cycle—another twofer, and one single CD jewel box. Under that is the 10 CD set of the Beethoven string quartets by the Gewandhaus Quartet. 9 CDs constitute the entire cycle by the current Gewandhaus Quartet, but there is a 10th CD of excerpts from various of the quartets by previous incarnations of the Gewandhaus Quartet going back to the 1920's. Then the other pile has 3 boxes—on top is a 4 CD Brilliant box of Telemann Tafelmusik, then a 3 CD set of the complete Grieg chamber music, and another Decca box (6 CDs?) retrospective on the work of conductor Ataulfo Argenta.

My new car is now in Albuquerque. I have seen it, and I will take delivery on it tomorrow, Sunday, the 2nd, after they have added on some options at the dealership. It's a brand new teal 2008 Toyota Scion xB I am buying from Karl Malone Toyota here in Albuquerque. http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4216290.html
_________________
"Racism is America's Original Sin."--Francis Cardinal George, Catholic Archbishop of Chicago.
"Guns don't kill people; gun nuts do.--popular bumper sticker.
"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."--Sigmund Freud
"Only little people pay taxes."--Leona Helmsley
"Crescit sub pondere virtus."--Motto on McCann family crest.

[George]

In celebration of my 37th birthday (today):

Rachmaninov

Prelude Op. 23/5

Richter

1971

[Que]

In celebration of my 37th birthday (today):

George, a very happy birthday from this side of the world!




I'm starting this morning with this:



Q

[Que]

Next:



Q

[sidoze]

Maria Tipo playing Bach's Keyboard Partitas on EMI Gemini.  Very attractive interpretations that are somewhat lacking in drive and power.

yeah but her playing is always bottom-heavy and rich in sound. That's what makes her chopin nocturnes so attractive to me. plus she's always highlighting odd voices. it's nice to find a female pianist who goes her own way like this.

[hautbois]

Dvorak, Serenades op.22 and op.44 and dances. (Transcriptions for nonet, double woodwind quintet etc.)
Czech Nonet, Prague Wind Quintet etc. (Praga Digital-Harmonia Mundi)

One of the best cds i have ever listened to in my entire life - period.

I feel like recommending this until someone buys it and nods in agreement with me. The sonics, the performances, everything about this recording is perfect, perfecto, PURRRRRFECT. I just bought a new pair of Bose headphones (Triport around ears) to replace my old Sennheisers which is starting to have problems, and this cd is now HEAVENLY with it.

BEAU-TI-FUL. And that Mahler guy who wrote his symphony of a thousand (Chailly/RCO which i just purchased at an absolutely low price) should be just close around the corner. NOT!

Howard

[Bonehelm]

Happy birthday from HK, George.

I'm listening to Celibidache's Bruckner symphony no.8...and it's very slow, slower than what I expected

[Lilas Pastia]

In the week ending Saturday, 01 SEP 2007, I listened to the following:

1,2, 3. 10/10 Byrd: Excerpts from Cantiones Sacrae of 1575 (CD 1, 63:37), 1589 (CD 2, 50:34), and 1591 (CD 3, 47:08 )—Edward Higginbottom, Choir of New College, Oxford—3 MHS 5368703, lic from CRD Records. Unfortunately, in each case, these are excerpts, not the complete works, but they are beautifully performed in superb 21st century sound.

[ etc, etc, etc.]

My new car is now in Albuquerque. I have seen it, and I will take delivery on it tomorrow, Sunday, the 2nd, after they have added on some options at the dealership. It's a brand new teal 2008 Toyota Scion xB I am buying from Karl Malone Toyota here in Albuquerque. http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4216290.html
_________________
"Racism is America's Original Sin."--Francis Cardinal George, Catholic Archbishop of Chicago.
"Guns don't kill people; gun nuts do.--popular bumper sticker.
"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."--Sigmund Freud
"Only little people pay taxes."--Leona Helmsley
"Crescit sub pondere virtus."--Motto on McCann family crest.

This is the item I'm most interested in from your list. Care to make a copy?

[George]

George, a very happy birthday from this side of the world!

Happy birthday from HK, George.

Thanks guys! 


Now Playing:

Beethoven

Piano Concerto 2

Argerich/London Sinfonetta

Denon

[johnQpublic]

Haydn - Overture to "La fedelta premiata" (Huss/Koch)
Vorisek - Mass in B-flat (Freeman/Cedille)
Salieri - Sinfonia "Il giorno onomastico" (Bamert/Chandos)

[karlhenning]

In celebration of my 37th birthday (today):

Rachmaninov

Prelude Op. 23/5

Richter

1971

Happy birthday, George! Good listening to you, today and always!

[George]

Happy birthday, George! Good listening to you, today and always!

Thanks, Karl!

Hope you are enjoying your Stravinsky set today. I have much of the original CDs from that set and enjoy it.

[SonicMan46]

In the week ending Saturday, 01 SEP 2007, I listened to the following:

6, 7. 10/10 Shostakovich: CD 1--Two Pieces for String Quartet, Op. 36 (1931) (6:29), String Quartets 1 (1938 ) (13:40), 3 (1946) (31:13), 4 (1949) (24:26). CD 2—String Quartets 2 (1944) (35:29), 5 (1952) (30:20), 7 (1960) (12:05)—Shostakovich Quartet, recorded 1980-85 in Moscow—part of a 5 CD Regis set of the complete Shostakovich String Quartets, lic. from Olympia Records. I have heard a few people describe this set as the greatest set ever of the Shostakovich quartets. I was skeptical, thinking the Borodin and St Petersburg String Quartets pretty much had that wrapped up. Listening to these performances has changed my mind. I am a believer. These are, interpretively, and sound-wise, the greatest performances I have ever heard of each and every one of these works Caveat: another well thought of set is that by the Danel Quartet, which I have, but have not yet listened to. I will be listening to those sometime in the next couple of months. Stay tuned.

RebLem - I've had that Shostakovich SQ set for a while, and certainly agree w/ your comments!  I have not heard the Danel Quartet in these works but others have commented on their excellent performances - will look forward to your comparison listening; I'd love to have others performing these works - 

[SonicMan46]

George, a very happy birthday from this side of the world!

Second Q's greetings - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!    Dave

[George]

Second Q's greetings - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!    Dave

Thanks Dave! 


Now Playing:

Cziffra plays Liszt

Live, 1959 in Torino

Arkadia

[wintersway]

Good morning/day to all!

[Harry]

George my dear friend, I wish you all the best on this and every other day for the rest of your life.
I hope you celebrate it with your best friends and family, and that all presents may be to your liking.
You are still on the good side of your thirties.

[Robert]

ALFVEN
Three Sweedish Rhapsodies
Jarvi RSPO

Terrific music for a Sunday morning. This is  tailor made for Harry....

[Harry]

ALFVEN
Three Sweedish Rhapsodies
Jarvi RSPO

Terrific music for a Sunday morning. This is  tailor made for Harry....

That is the reason why I have them in my collection.

[johnQpublic]

Just finished playing that 2-disc set at work all last week!  Some tunes from it are still popping up in my head.