What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Que]

Excellent and sober performances of this intriguing music; Meyerson -who has a natural and fluent "voice"- uses all the necessary rethorical resources to convice us about the excellence of these compositions. Great recorded sound, beautiful instrument and interesting notes, including a long interview to the performer.

Yes, good, isn't it?!

Q

[Opus106]

No allergic reactions so far...

Bach - Mass in B minor - Blomstedt, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orch and Chamber Choir, and soloists
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=4A4365349B7B3056

I'm re-listening to Quoniam tu solas Sanctus (Gardiner) because I love the cute horn solo so much. And, of course, ride the rocket to outer space in Cum Sancto Spiritu after that.

[Bogey]

Due to Conor's recent purchase:

Beethoven
Septet Op. 20
Academy of St.-Martinns-in-the Field Chamber Ensemble
Brilliant Classics
Recorded 1998

Beethoven
Sextet Op. 81b for 2 horns, two violins, viola, and cello
Erben Quartet with Gerhard Meyer and Rudolf Hörold, horns
Brilliant Classics
Recorded 1969

[greg]

Takemitsu- The Dorian Horizon


NICE work! 

[SonicMan46]

For the afternoon, some more recent arrivals:

Hahn, Reynaldo & Vierne, Louis (1874-1947 & 1870-1937, respectively) - Piano Quintets w/ Stephen Coombs & the Chilingirian Quartet - know neither of these composers, but Vierne was one of the greatest organist of his times and held the organ post at Notre Dame for 37 yrs!  Short bio HERE - I own none of his organ compositions of which there are MANY!

Haydn, Joseph - London Symphonies w/ Minkowski & gang; live performaces (which so far is evident only in the surprise in the Surprise) - just getting started on this 4-CD set - and already know that I'll enjoy - 


 

[Conor71]

Mozart: Piano Trios #5 & 6, Clarinet Quintet .

[Coopmv]

Yes, good, isn't it?!

Q

Q,  I bought the same set a few months ago on your recommendation as well ...     

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD1 from this set, which just arrived yesterday from across the pond for a first listen ...

[Bogey]

More Conor "coat-tailing":

Beethoven

String Quintets Op. 29, 104, 4
Fuge for String Quintet Op. 137
Sechs Tänze Ländler WoO 15
The Zurich String Quntet
Brilliant Classics
Recorded 2004

Prelude & Fuge Hess 29
Prelude & Fuge Hess 30
Prelude & Fuge Hess 31
Minuet for String Quartet Hess 33
Prelude & Fuge Hess 40
Perez Quartet
Brilliant Classics
Recorded 2007

[Daverz]

The Sinfonietta is my #1 recording for auditioning stereo equipment, so I must have listened to it dozens of times.  Still not sick of it yet.

[Bogey]

The Sinfonietta is my #1 recording for auditioning stereo equipment, so I must have listened to it dozens of times.  Still not sick of it yet.

Any other "audiophile" recordings that you rec. in the classical genre, Daverz?

[Coopmv]

The Sinfonietta is my #1 recording for auditioning stereo equipment, so I must have listened to it dozens of times.  Still not sick of it yet.

I tend to favor Wagner overtures for auditioning new audio equipments, amplifier in particular ...   

[Bogey]

 

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD2 from this set for a first listen ...

[Brahmsian]

Wagner

Parsifal, Act I

Placido Domingo, Parsifal

Christian Thielemann
Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
DG

Beautiful!

[Daverz]

Any other "audiophile" recordings that you rec. in the classical genre, Daverz?

Lyrita is usually excellent.  Get Boult's Bax and Holst discs.

Also EMI, RCA, and Decca recordings from the "Golden Age of Stereo" (late 50s - 60s).   There was an EMI series called Artist Profile that was all Golden Age stuff all excellently transferred.

The problem with this Moeran disc as a test disc s that it always sounds pretty fabulous no matter what.  I use it mainly for hearing what's going on in the midbass.

For more extensive testing, I actually like to use recordings that are kind of marginal in some way, just to see what the equipment does or does not for them.

[Mirror Image]

Barber: v cto op. 14 - Oliveira/St. Louis/Slatkin

In my opinion, this is one of the worst performances of the Barber Violin Concerto I've heard. Slatkin really has no feel for the music, while Oliveira can barely make it through the last movement. He clearly isn't a virtuoso like Hahn or Bell who, in my assessment, make this concerto their own from start to finish. I have heard many other performances of the Barber too that I found not quite right: Stern (who I can't stand anyway), Shaham (he nailed the Korngold, but fudged the Barber and Previn didn't help), and Perlman (a violinist I used to admire, but now going back to a few of his that I own I am disappointed with his sloppy way of playing).

Music is subjective of course, but we all have our favorite performances. At least you're listening to this beautiful work!

[Coopmv]

In my opinion, this is one of the worst performances of the Barber Violin Concerto I've heard. Slatkin really has no feel for the music, while Oliveira can barely make it through the last movement. He clearly isn't a virtuoso like Hahn or Bell who, in my assessment, make this concerto their own from start to finish. I have heard many other performances of the Barber too that I found not quite right: Stern (who I can't stand anyway), Shaham (he nailed the Korngold, but fudged the Barber and Previn didn't help), and Perlman (a violinist I used to admire, but now going back to a few of his that I own I am disappointed with his sloppy way of playing).

Music is subjective of course, but we all have our favorite performances. At least you're listening to this beautiful work!

You and I share the dislike for Stern, who I have never liked.  Grumiaux and Szeryng would run rings around him.  I also do not have a single recording by Stern ...

[Mirror Image]

You and I share the dislike for Stern, who I have never liked.  Grumiaux and Szeryng would run rings around him.  I also do not have a single recording by Stern ...

My main problem with Stern is with his overall technique. He vibratos EVERYTHING! Vibrato should be used much more sparingly. He's just too erratic for my tastes. Yes, Grumiaux, Szyeryng, and not to mention, Oistrakh, Heifetz could all run circles around him.

I own only one recording with Stern and it's with him and Bernstein performing the Barber. I listened to Stern's performance one time and it made me sick to my stomach. I couldn't take anymore of his nonsense.

[Coopmv]

My main problem with Stern is with his overall technique. He vibratos EVERYTHING! Vibrato should be used much more sparingly. He's just too erratic for my tastes. Yes, Grumiaux, Szyeryng, and not to mention, Oistrakh, Heifetz could all run circles around him.

I also would prefer the younger generation violinists such as Andrew Manze and Gidon Kremer over Stern anytime ...