What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Brian]

Todd, aren't the last 3 sonatas on disk 8? I have disk 7 right to hand here and it ends with the Hammerklavier, so I guess I just naturally assumed...

By golly you're right! Volume 8 has Op 101, 109-111

[Antoine Marchand]

Coincidently, earlier I was listening to Brautigam playing the Pathétique, but the guy is like a maniac playing this music. So I needed a detoxification:



She is energetic, but also cerebral. Like a nuclear explosion: terrible, but coldly calculated.

[Sergeant Rock]

Maybe HIP would help?

Maybe. It's an electrifying performance that made me take interest in the old warhorse again. Try it. You might like it.

Timings: 22:14  9:15  8:55

Sarge

[Todd]

Todd, aren't the last 3 sonatas on disk 8? I have disk 7 right to hand here and it ends with the Hammerklavier, so I guess I just naturally assumed

Hey, you're right!  Somehow that totally eluded me.  I forgot which volumes I have!  (Perhaps that's a sign that I finally have too many LvB sonata recordings?)  I guess I will be buying volume 8 forthwith.  I still say bring on the Diabellis, though.

[Que]

Dvorak's string quartets have been much discussed lately!
This is the only recording I know on period instruments, and I like it very much. Samples at ARTA Records.

Q

[Sergeant Rock]

Well, this is my favorite version. I'll be interested to hear what your thought is comparing the Arabella version.

As I wrote in the Purchase thread: the two performances are as different as night and day. Steinbacher/Nelsons is in the Slow and Grand style (to borrow Brian's phrase); ruminative, like a grand meditation on the work. That's not to say it's boring or "un-Beethovenian"--I found it gripping and maybe the best sounding recording I've ever heard of the work. Steinbacher's tone reminds me of Mutter (whom I love); when she forgoes vibrato, the sound produced has a breathtaking purity. It's Beethoven to wallow in 

Timings: 26:32  10:15  11:02

Edit: The Zehetmair is my favorite version too, and has been since I saw Jens recommendation four or five years ago...in the Gramophone forum, I believe.

Sarge

[Gurn Blanston]

As I wrote in the Purchase thread: the two performances are as different as night and day. Steinbacher/Nelsons is in the Slow and Grand style (to borrow Brian's phrase); ruminative, like a grand meditation on the work. That's not to say it's boring or "un-Beethovenian"--I found it gripping and maybe the best sounding recording I've ever heard of the work. Steinbacher's tone reminds me of Mutter (whom I love); when she forgoes vibrato, the sound produced has a breathtaking purity. It's Beethoven to wallow in 

Timings: 26:32  10:15  11:02

Sarge

Excellent, thanks. My very first recording of this work was Mutter's 1984 with Karajan. I did and do still like it, despite the fact that it really is OTT in the wallowing department. So unlike many, I won't be put of by ruminative, although ponderous would be right out.

[Antoine Marchand]

Bach, JS - Brandenburg Concertos et al w/ Jeannette Sorrell & Apollo's Fire - ... for another perspective, a MusicWeb review HERE, which is less flattering - 

If that guy got a disc for free for writing that "review", he is necessarily a genius. 

[Sergeant Rock]

Beethoven Piano Sonata #2 A major op.2/2, Lilya Zilberstein playing a Bechstein.




Sarge

[Bogey]

[The new erato]

Works for String Orchestra

Ett ensamt skidspör, for reciter, strings and harp
Grevinnans konterfej, for reciter and strings
Incidental music: Rodlan, Opus 8
Presto
Andante Festivo
Rakastava, Opus 14
Romance, Opus 42
Suite Champêtre Opus 98b
Impromptu
Suite for violin and strings, Opus 114

This is a fine disc of some very wortwhile repertoire.

[Antoine Marchand]

Bach, JS - Brandenburg Concertos et al w/ Jeannette Sorrell & Apollo's Fire - 2 1/2 hrs of music on 2 discs w/ several harpsichord concertos and a reconstructed violin concerto (w/ Elizabeth Wallfisch) - misled into thinking that this was a 'new' recording from a very positive American Record Guide review (check the Purchases thread - file attached to one of my posts there) - actually the recording dates are fairly recent (1999-2005)...

It's true those are not new recordings, but I think it's a new disc at some extent. Originally, when this 2-CD set was released for the first time (2002? 2000), AFAIK it didn't include those three additional concertos now on Avie:

[Marc]

Another one listening to Bach .... for a change.

Great chorale stuff for the organ, played by Christopher Herrick:



Herrick wants those sleepers to get awake so quickly, that I did not expect his sinful self would be able to fly away from here in such a rush .... but he managed!
So far, listening to the Schüblers: pretty fast tempi, sometimes a bit pedantic, but a surprisingly full-bodied and convincing call to Jesus Christ Himself, to abide with us (BWV 649).

[bhodges]

Saito Kinen Orchestra
Seiji Ozawa, Music Director and Conductor
Christine Goerke, Soprano
Anthony Dean Griffey, Tenor
Matthias Goerne, Baritone
SKF Matsumoto Choir
Ritsuyukai Choir
SKF Matsumoto Children's Chorus
Pierre Vallet, Chorus Master

Britten: War Requiem

This concert last night was quite moving, mostly due to the sensitive, gorgeous singing of the three soloists--all superb.  Christine Goerke's focused voice was able to cut through everything, including the massed choirs.  Griffey showed many of the same traits that made his Peter Grimes so marvelous.  And Goerne, perhaps the best of all, was incredibly moving in his final monologue, where he sings, ever so gently, "I am the enemy you killed, my friend."  Very powerful, hearing such piercing texts sung with such beauty.

--Bruce

[listener]

a seasonal set
J.S. BACH  Magnificat in D
Nancy Argenta, Patrizia Kwella, Charles Brett, Anthony Rolfe-Johnson, David Thomas
Monteverdi Choir
                 Cantata 51   Jauchzet Gott in Allen Landen
Emma Kirkby sop;  Crispian Steele-Perkins, trumpet
English Baroque Soloists          John Elliot Gardiner, cond.
HOWELLS    Hymnus Paradisi
Heather Harper, Robert Tear, Bach Choir, King's College Choir, New Philh. O.  Willcocks cond.
FINZI     Dies Natalis
William Brown     English Chamber Orch.  Christopher Finzi, cond.

[The new erato]

Absolutely lovely disc.

[Henk]

Boulez - Anthémes 2
Boulez - Dérive 1

 

I like these works. I like Boulez.

[SonicMan46]

It's true those are not new recordings, but I think it's a new disc at some extent. Originally, when this 2-CD set was released for the first time (2002? 2000), AFAIK it didn't include those three additional concertos now on Avie:

 

Hi Antoine - yes, the newly released 'old' set is indeed a bargain w/ the amount of music due to the additions mentioned in a previous post.

Concerning the MusicWeb review, I'm not really in agreement w/ the reviewer, i.e. I like the 'up close' miking of these recordings - does it 'muddle the sound' well probably a personal preference - I'd rather be up front & muddy rather than stranded in the last row - 

I feel that this set is a competitive version for a PI interpretation - many would likely be quite pleased w/ these recordings - Dave 

[Antoine Marchand]

This week I have listened to my three last Brandenburgs (Sorrell, Kuijken and Egarr) and now the second disc from this one:



IMO Alessandrini delivers a version less satisfactory than the other three.

The next week I will listen to Suzuki and some older versions. 

[Antoine Marchand]

I feel that this set is a competitive version for a PI interpretation - many would likely be quite pleased w/ these recordings - Dave 

I think the same way, Dave.

It's a fresh version, totally enjoyable and with some nice bonus.

It's an excellent acquisition, although I wouldn't recommend it to people searching for extreme emotions (a Wow! recording) in the way of people like Fasolis, Il Giardino Armonico or even Alessandrini.