What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Kuhlau]

Currently listening to a rather 'lightweight' (I can think of no better description) performance of the Debussy String Quartet, as played by the Fairfield Quartet on Hyperion or Helios, depending on which issue you have. It's not a grab-you-by-the-throat affair like that given by the Cleveland Quartet on Telarc, nor as sparkling as the Belcea Quartet's outing on EMI. Pleasant enough, if a little distantly recorded.

FK

[Bulldog]

What's your opinion about quality of sound of the recordings, Harry?. That set looks another great bargain.

I have three discs from the set, and the sound is not good (too much reverberation and some hiss).

[SonicMan46]

Goldberg, Johann Gottlieb (1727-1756) - Chamber Music w/ Musica Alta Ripa; student of JS Bach (and his eldest son), a brilliant harpsichord prodigy, and 'namesake' of Bach's Goldberg Variations (if interested, Wiki article HERE) - not much available & new composer to me based on a Fanfare recommendation (reprinted @ ArkivMusic) - died at the age of 29 yrs from TB - little other music available by him - 

[imperfection]

Bach - Goldberg Variations - Canadian Brass

Maybe not exactly a preferred version by many, but I like how this sounds! And its by a local band too!  Recommended.

[Lilas Pastia]

I've finally gotten around to Popov's Symphony No. 1.  This has become one of my favorite pieces, which has a feeling of controlled chaos.  And all the beautiful dissonances!

A formidable work to be sure.

Lots of Marilyn Horne lately. Glorious voice, great musicianship, amazing versatility.

[imperfection]

Celibidache/MPO: Brahms 1st

This is a very gentle, smoothened reading. Tempi are uniformly slow, much details are unfold very clearly, but then it lacks some of the bite and intensity my favorite versions (Furtwangler, Solti, Giulini) gives. Karajan might be accused of excessively rounding off hard edges, but my, is he nothing compared with this Romanian.

[Brian]

A lovely evening program, wasted on writing papers.

JANACEK | Sinfonietta
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra; Rafael Kubelik [mono]

SIBELIUS | Violin Concerto
Gil Shaham, violin
Philharmonia; Giuseppe Sinopoli

TCHAIKOVSKY | Symphony No 5
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra; Paul Kletzki

Unfortunately, the search for an ideal digital Sibelius Concerto will apparently continue. Though Shaham is, of course, marvelous, for the most part.

[UB]

I finally found time to sit down and listen to Eotvos's violin concerto "Seven - Memorial for the Columbia Astronauts"  featuring the playing of Akiko Suwanaiv with Eotvos leading the Goteborgs Symfoniker in a recent concert. It is a truly beautiful concerto and I think it will end up as one of favorite violin concertos written since 1970.

Did any one here get to hear a live performance of this work at the Proms or somewhere else? The notes mention that 6 of the 7 violinists are spread around audience and I wondered how that sounded.

[PaulR]

Shostakovich:  Viola Sonata op. 147 Annette Bartholdy/Julius Drake.

Maybe not exactly the best night time music, but....I like it

[Brian]

TCHAIKOVSKY | Symphony No 5
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra; Paul Kletzki

Color me impressed! The first movement features some eccentric use of rubato, in that it is very drastic indeed; the exposition begins as one of the slower, more plodding openings I've heard before the first full orchestral statement of the theme, when Kletzki sends in the proverbial cavalry and the tempo rockets up. The last three movements are superb by anybody's measure and free of idiosyncrasies; the orchestra is terrific. A recording I will return to often.

[Harry]

What's your opinion about quality of sound of the recordings, Harry?. That set looks another great bargain.

As far as I can hear, it is good to excellent.

[Harry]

I have three discs from the set, and the sound is not good (too much reverberation and some hiss).

Hmmm, must have been different discs.
The reverberation is to my ears normal, and you only get some hiss when you turn the volume up very high.
There is not one of those 13 discs that is bad, they are all good recordings.

[Harry]

Goldberg, Johann Gottlieb (1727-1756) - Chamber Music w/ Musica Alta Ripa; student of JS Bach (and his eldest son), a brilliant harpsichord prodigy, and 'namesake' of Bach's Goldberg Variations (if interested, Wiki article HERE) - not much available & new composer to me based on a Fanfare recommendation (reprinted @ ArkivMusic) - died at the age of 29 yrs from TB - little other music available by him - 

Ach, yes most excellent recording and fine music, I simply love this issue.

[Que]

Listening to this disc:                                       From the 15-CD Leonhardt set:

       

Q

[Harry]

Listening to this disc:                                       From the 15-CD Leonhardt set:

       

Q

Well dear Que, thanks to your constant advocacy, I have ordered this today.
I am sure that was a good choice.

[springrite]

Bach - Goldberg Variations - Canadian Brass

Maybe not exactly a preferred version by many, but I like how this sounds! And its by a local band too!  Recommended.

Have you heard their Art of the Fugue? Lots of fun, too!

[Harry]

This is a disc not to be missed by anyone, if I may be so bold as to tell ya all!
Especially when you think that it will set you back for only 6 euros.

[Que]

Well dear Que, thanks to your constant advocacy, I have ordered this today.
I am sure that was a good choice.

Morning, Harry!  
It's a marvelous bargain - I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

I haven't gone through the entire set yet, but so far, so (very) good.
Particularly enjoyed the J.S. & C.Ph.E. concertos, also the organ discs - though I find Leonhardt's style a bit stern. And this Böhm disc, together with the disc with Weckmann & Froberger, show Leonhardt at his best IMO.

Q

[Harry]

And yet to my ears another winner that should be on the list of Harpsichord lovers.
Apart from the excellent recording, and the fine sounding instruments, D'Anglebert is a composer to be treasured.
Playing disc two.

[Harry]

Beethoven.
Symphony no. 1 in C major, opus 21.
The Academy of Ancient Music, < Christopher Hogwood>

Well lets begin with this complete cycle, that waited so long in the side lines. Though very good on authentic instruments, the first is no match to Norrington, or even a better non authentic instruments performance from David Zinman, that outshines this recording in every respect. Hogwood as a Grandpa of the authentic instruments era, has not the advantage of that. Give the guy a walking stick.
Ahhhhhhhh, just listen at the lame second movement, where is the cantabile con moto?
The last movement makes sense though, although it could be more molto!