What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Dr. Dread]

Bruckner 4

Berlin/Karajan

1975

[karlhenning]

Full inbox, biotch!

Bring that hammer down, Sara! 

[DavidRoss]

Well, as already stated I have over 200 Hyperion/Helios CDs - these are quite well done regarding sound reproduction - I would not hesitate to purchase this label if the music is what you may want.  But, as always, check out the reviews or the opinions on this forum; Hyperion has an excellent website w/ brief summaries of comments made from reviews of their releases; plus, many other sources (Amazon, MusicWeb, ClassicsToday, Fanfare, and many others provide reviews) - also, if you're in the USA, checkout BRO - currently have over 500 CDs listed at about $7 per disc (these are 'new'); also, have a listing of their Helios selections - 

Goodness, yes--hyperion consistently offers fine recorded sound.  Try some of their issues engineered by Tony Faulkner, for instance, like the Bantock series by Handley with the RPO.  Or if Bantock's not to your taste, try Angela Hewitt's Goldbergs engineered by Ludger Böckenhoff.

[Coopmv]

Now playing disc 3, the last disc and Act 3 for Alcina in this set ...

[Dr. Dread]

Tchaikovsky Symphony  #1

Berlin/Karajan

1979

[RussellG]

Well, as already stated I have over 200 Hyperion/Helios CDs - these are quite well done regarding sound reproduction - I would not hesitate to purchase this label if the music is what you may want.  But, as always, check out the reviews or the opinions on this forum; Hyperion has an excellent website w/ brief summaries of comments made from reviews of their releases; plus, many other sources (Amazon, MusicWeb, ClassicsToday, Fanfare, and many others provide reviews) - also, if you're in the USA, checkout BRO - currently have over 500 CDs listed at about $7 per disc (these are 'new'); also, have a listing of their Helios selections - 

I have just scoured my collection for Hyperion and found a grand total of ONE, which I guess makes me far less of an authority on their sound quality than somebody with over 200 

The one I have sounds great - no excessive brightness here Frumaster.  Now playing (1990):

[imperfection]

Symphony No.2 from here

Gorgeous sound from the BPO, handsome conducting by one of the foremost Beethoven interpreters.

[Dr. Dread]

The Tchaikovsky wasn't cutting it, so...

some LvB sonatas - Richter

[SonicMan46]

Lessel, Franz (1780-1838) - Wind Sextets w/ Dieter Klocker & Consortium Classicum; Polish composer & a student of Haydn - clarinets, horns, & bassoons - first experience /w Lessel, and stimulated by comments in Gurn's 'classical thread' - just a first listen tonight, but quite enjoyable - now, I've a 'weakness' for wind chamber works but w/ Dieter on the clarinet, this one is a winner! 

[Bogey]

..... now, I've a 'weakness' for wind chamber works....

As do I, Dave.  Just added to my wish list.

[DavidRoss]

This should come with a warning label plastered across the cover:

WARNING:  Virtuoso musicians at play.  For experienced listeners only!

It's easy to hear why opinions are sharply divided on this one.  It's almost like jazz, damned near deconstructing old Louie while staying within the rules, if not the conventions.  Should it be anyone's first recording of these works?  No effin' way!  But should it be one's third, fourth, or fifteenth?  You betcha!  It's not so much for those who want or need to hear these late quartets as Beethoven may have imagined them, but rather for those who want to hear the unconventional possibilities contained within them.  I'll still listen most often to recordings by the Alexander, the Takacs, or the Emerson Quartets, but this one will certainly get its share of hearings in the years ahead.  Playfulness of the highest order!

[Que]

Content

Still contemplating the purchase of the complete set by spinning the individual volumes I got a while ago as a bargain. Still volume is very good BTW.

Q

[The new erato]

Last night, this magnificent disc:

[Harry]

Symphony No.2 from here

Gorgeous sound from the BPO, handsome conducting by one of the foremost Beethoven interpreters.

Hear, hear!

[Florestan]

Joh. Sebast. Bach

Suites for Cello Solo nos 1,2 & 6

Pau Casals

[jlaurson]

This should come with a warning label plastered across the cover:

WARNING:  Virtuoso musicians at play.  For experienced listeners only!

It's easy to hear why opinions are sharply divided on this one.  It's almost like jazz, damned near deconstructing old Louie while staying within the rules, if not the conventions.  Should it be anyone's first recording of these works?  No effin' way!  But should it be one's third, fourth, or fifteenth?  You betcha!  It's not so much for those who want or need to hear these late quartets as Beethoven may have imagined them, but rather for those who want to hear the unconventional possibilities contained within them.  I'll still listen most often to recordings by the Alexander, the Takacs, or the Emerson Quartets, but this one will certainly get its share of hearings in the years ahead.  Playfulness of the highest order!

Don't say I didn't warn anyone:

"What the Hagens do to the Heiliger Dankgesang in op. 132 is almost creepy. They are to Beethoven what Boulez is to Mahler. You see (or hear, rather) details and connections that you can't in the score or other interpretations, because their playing is of the most nuanced order.  Theirs is Beethoven like that hot, unattainable supermodel. We adore it from afar, but we know that we are not going home with her. Our girlfriend is more approachable, cuddles with us, and eats Chunky Monkey ice cream on occasion. Our girlfriend's name is Vegh. Or Budapest, Juilliard, Guarneri, Italiano. Not Hagen. The chance to spend a night with her, alas, is irresistable. ...."

Symphony No.2 from here

Gorgeous sound from the BPO, handsome conducting by one of the foremost Beethoven interpreters.

Yes, indeed. I was mighty surprised how truly excellent this set is. With all that easy Karajan-bashing, we sometimes forget that there was a bona-fide reason he was considered so fantastic.

Content

Still contemplating the purchase of the complete set by spinning the individual volumes I got a while ago as a bargain. Still volume is very good BTW.

Picking up on Premont's chuckle-worthy pun:

Yes... this is the set in a nutshell: It makes you CONTENT, not enthusiastic. 

[prémont]

Content

Only content? Not enthusiastic?

[Harry]

And with renewed vigor I have placed in the player the XII Volume of these wonderful trios.

No. 81-87.

[RussellG]

It's piano night in the George household tonight.  I have Saint-Saëns piano concertos to follow this (1979):

[George]

"What the Hagens do to the Heiliger Dankgesang in op. 132 is almost creepy. They are to Beethoven what Boulez is to Mahler. You see (or hear, rather) details and connections that you can't in the score or other interpretations, because their playing is of the most nuanced order.  Theirs is Beethoven like that hot, unattainable supermodel. We adore it from afar, but we know that we are not going home with her. Our girlfriend is more approachable, cuddles with us, and eats Chunky Monkey ice cream on occasion. Our girlfriend's name is Vegh. Or Budapest, Juilliard, Guarneri, Italiano. Not Hagen. The chance to spend a night with her, alas, is irresistable....."

Great writeup! I need to read more of your blog. 

One question - when you say "adore it" from afar, do you mean adore her from afar? Or is this a deliberate play on the objectification of models?