What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Harry]

Goodmorning all and everyone.


Yesterday I did not quite finish the Volume 18 of Haydn's Baryton Trios, due to my flu, but since I feel somewhat better now, I play the rest which is Baryton Duet XII:1 in A & XII: 3&5.
What a wonderful box of goodies this is, and no one should pass this one without buying it. Most of the time OOP with Brilliant is OOP.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

MOERAN | Symphony in G minor
New Philharmonia
Adrian Boult

My future roommate picked this up on Colin's [Dundonnell's] recommendation, I borrowed it from him, and by golly, it's a cool piece. A very rhapsodic work, to be sure, but a very cool one - quiet an enjoyable listen. Great orchestration by Mr. Moeran, by the way.

Mr. Moeran wishes me to thank you for your appreciation.

[Harry]

The same fate of partially listening was this box with Lehar's operetta "Das Land des Lachlens" which I will finish also. As remarked before Camilla Nylund is a party pooper par excellance, she breaks your sensitivities without previous warning, and damage your ears beyond repair, but, as long as you turn the volume down, for she has quite a lot, it is acceptable to a certain degree. The further excellent performance is a joy.

[Valentino]

Good morning. No baroque today!



Messiaen: MChronochromie. Cleveland/Boulez

I must buy The rest is noise. Maybe the book can tell me what I like so much about 20th century French avant-garde (or whatever it's called).

[Harry]

Good morning. No baroque today!



Messiaen: Monochromie. Cleveland/Boulez

I must buy The rest is noise. Maybe the book can tell me what I like so much about 20th century French avant-garde (or whatever it's called).

You must have ears of steel!

[Valentino]

Fitting the sound of the old Melos Quartet! 

One more from the same disc: La Ville d'en haut.

[Harry]

Joseph Haydn.
Complete Baryton Trios, Volume 19.

Divertimento for eight instruments in G, Hoboken X:4, in A, Hoboken X:3, in G, Hoboken X:12.
Quintet for Baryton, two Horns, Viola, & Bass, in D, Hoboken X:10.

Esterhazy Ensemble & Piccolo Concerto-Wien.

Very well done indeed, although the tempi are somewhat on the slow side, as a whole this is a treat in all respects.

[Que]

Following Harry's lead: 



Disc 8: trios nos. 53 - 59.

Q

[Harry]

Since I am quite a operetta addict, I will play this one today again, to cheer myself up.

[springrite]

I will be doing four days of lectures, driving to the place every morning. I will bring a couple of operetta CDs in the car, following Harry's example. (Highlight CDs).

[Harry]

For me it is a curious circumstance, that from disliking modern recordings with opera, I presumed, that every recording would be repellant to me, but how wrong I was. Looking into the wrong era of recording proved my error. I do not like the studied and full bodied singing of modern times, lets say after 1960, with a few exceptions. Exploring recordings from 1930 onwards was a proverbial find for me, a virtual treasure trove, with voices less operatic, and tempi very much to my liking, the present recording a case in point. This is for me the best recording of "Cosi fan Tutte" so far. And in the German language too, which makes it easy for me to follow, for German is my second language, with which I grew up. Ferrando is sung by a unspoiled Rudolf Schock, and what a lyrical voice it is. Fiordiligi sung by Annelies Kupper is a absolute delight, not to mention a voice which makes me very happy, Dorabella by Hertha Topper, simply delightful. Horst Gunter with his unobtrusive voice makes a fine Guglielmo, but the real piece of resistance is my beloved Erika Koth, that thrills the hell out of me with her bell like performance of Despina, cute, and absolute convincing, and finally Walter Berry as Don Alfonso, simply marvelous.
The Choir and Symphony Orchestra des Bayerischen Rundfunk, conducted by Eugen Jochum, and recorded in Munchen, February 1957, sounds very well. The tempi are well judged.
Absolute winner for me.

[Dundonnell]

Mr. Moeran wishes me to thank you for your appreciation.

What....no 'Ernie'

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

What....no 'Ernie'

No, we keep things formal, Ernie and me.

[Que]

For me it is a curious circumstance, that from disliking modern recordings with opera, I presumed, that every recording would be repellant to me, but how wrong I was. Looking into the wrong era of recording proved my error. I do not like the studied and full bodied singing of modern times, lets say after 1960, with a few exceptions. Exploring recordings from 1930 onwards was a proverbial find for me, a virtual treasure trove, with voices less operatic, and tempi very much to my liking, the present recording a case in point. This is for me the best recording of "Cosi fan Tutte" so far. And in the German language too, which makes it easy for me to follow, for German is my second language, with which I grew up. Ferrando is sung by a unspoiled Rudolf Schock, and what a lyrical voice it is. Fiordiligi sung by Annelies Kupper is a absolute delight, not to mention a voice which makes me very happy, Dorabella by Hertha Topper, simply delightful. Horst Gunter with his unobtrusive voice makes a fine Guglielmo, but the real piece of resistance is my beloved Erika Koth, that thrills the hell out of me with her bell like performance of Despina, cute, and absolute convincing, and finally Walter Berry as Don Alfonso, simply marvelous.
The Choir and Symphony Orchestra des Bayerischen Rundfunk, conducted by Eugen Jochum, and recorded in Munchen, February 1957, sounds very well. The tempi are well judged.
Absolute winner for me.

Harry, I quite agree that Jochum has a great way with Così !

Check out this bargain at jpc, wich is on my shopping list:
(And have a look at the line up! )



Seefried, Prey, Haefliger, Merriman, Fischer-Dieskau, Köth, Berlin PO, Jochum

Q

[George]

[Que]

Live, 14th of April 1953, Titiana-Palast, Berlin, recording by Sender Freies Berlin.

Q

EDIT: I assume these will included in the recent set of postwar recordings with the Berliner on Audite.
Naturally, DG couldn't possibly have used the original tapes for this issue, considering Audite's claim to be the first... Yeah....right! Considering that this CD was issued in 1985 the original tapes have aged another 24 years since then! I'm mighty curious if the Audite issue actually sounds better...

Q

[Harry]

Harry, I quite agree that Jochum has a great way with Così !

Check out this bargain at jpc, wich is on my shopping list:
(And have a look at the line up! )



Seefried, Prey, Haefliger, Merriman, Fischer-Dieskau, Köth, Berlin PO, Jochum

Q

I will, thanks Que. The line up is indeed impressive.

[Que]

I will, thanks Que. The line up is indeed impressive.

Recorded just at the twillight of great opera singing, all went to waste after that with a uniform "international" style of singing... 
Luckily the HIP movement took over the Holy Flame some time later. Though I'm eagerly awaiting the return of the authentic French Romantic operatic style....

Q

[Christo]

Finally found my copy of this Hendrik Andriessen cd, OOP for long. I remember it was recorded back in 1991 in the Geertekerk (St. Gertrude Church) in Utrecht, just a few steps from my home at that moment. But forgot to buy it when it was still available, and made a long search to find a copy now (that is to say, for 6 euro in stead of Amazon's $152.91 ...).

Now playing: the Chromatic variations (1970):

                                      

[Harry]

Recorded just at the twillight of great opera singing, all went to waste after that with a uniform "international" style of singing... 
Luckily the HIP movement took over the Holy Flame some time later. Though I'm eagerly awaiting the return of the authentic French Romantic operatic style....

Q

I just ordered it, for 8 euro's that's a deal.