What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Karl Henning]

Maiden-Listen Mondays!

The Zappa Album
Ensemble Ambrosius
"Barking Bunny Records"

[KeithW]

Mahler / Horenstein / Das Lied von der Erde (1972)

[asin]B000042NZC[/asin]

[classicalgeek]

Started off the work week with this:

Sergei Rachmaninov   
Capriccio bohémien, op. 12   
Valeri Polyansky; Russian State SO



Lots of fun!

Now on to this:

Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf   
Sinfonia in G minor, Grave g1
Uwe Grodd; Failoni Chamber Orchestra

[asin]B00000DAJ9[/asin]

[Sergeant Rock]

I know I risk giving the young HIPsters here apoplexy, but after reading the recent conversation in the Vivaldi thread, I decided to dust off my old "Stravaganza" box with Scimone conducting I Solisti Veneti




Sarge

[Karl Henning]

I know I risk giving the young HIPsters here apoplexy, but after reading the recent conversation in the Vivaldi thread, I decided to dust off my old "Stravaganza" box with Scimone conducting I Solisti Veneti




Sarge

Then I am in good company, indeed. (Or, will be: mine hasn't yet landed.)

[fridden]

A first listen to a recording of Shostakovich symphony No.8 with Evgeny Mravinsky conducting the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra.
[asin]B00000I9W8[/asin]

What a performance! This is from the UK premiere and recorded in 1960. The sound is very good and the orchestra and Mravinsky really do a fantastic job.

The fact that Mravinsky and the orchestra were able to finish the performance at all considering all the coughing that is going on in the audience is a miracle!

This must be one of the worst live recordings ever as far as coughing goes. Around 10 minutes in the first movement it is totally out of control! 

It is actually quite sad because it ruins this otherwise great recording.

[KeithW]

This must be one of the worst live recordings ever as far as coughing goes. Around 10 minutes in the first movement it is totally out of control! 

It is actually quite sad because it ruins this otherwise great recording.

This was true, sadly, of a number of BBC Legends recordings.  Those damp London winters!  It is a real shame, as there were so many fine performances by great artists of the 1960s-1980s.

My favourite Mahler recording was ruined by coughs, and I hope that one day the licensing restrictions can be overcome and a remastered, de-coughed version released:

[asin]B00000I9WX[/asin]

[Henk]

*
[asin]B003V8SW6C[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

Maiden-Listen Mondays!

D. Scarlatti
Missa quatuor vocum in g minor
Concerto Italiano
Rinaldo Alessandrini

[asin]B000NQDE3G[/asin]

[TheGSMoeller]

Maiden-Listen Mondays!

D. Scarlatti
Missa quatuor vocum in g minor
Concerto Italiano
Rinaldo Alessandrini

[asin]B000NQDE3G[/asin]

Nice one, Karl. Many more good listens await ahead with that disc. If you become interested in a second version of the Stabat Mater I would suggest Vox Luminis, its a nice contrast in performances.

Thread duty:

[asin]B0016MJ3NQ[/asin]

[classicalgeek]

Aaron Copland   
Music for the Theatre   
Leonard Bernstein; New York Philharmonic

[asin]B0000027J9[/asin]

[Henk]

*
[asin]B003XT8Y3A[/asin]

[Marc]

Maiden-Listen Mondays!

D. Scarlatti
Missa quatuor vocum in g minor
Concerto Italiano
Rinaldo Alessandrini

[asin]B000NQDE3G[/asin]

Karl, wake up and stop mourning!

Christ has risen!

Topic duty:

I am enjoying one of those oldies in the European organ world again:



Mentioned by member milk here:
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,5263.msg616459.html#msg616459

[sheffmark]

Excellent choices, both these recording are very, very beautiful, althought I think Bernstein's versions of Mahler symphonies are almost unbeatable.

Thanks!
I'll check that one out!!

[Karl Henning]

Karl, wake up and stop mourning!

Christ has risen!

Well, but you know, the Orthodox Pascha is this Sunday coming : )

[sheffmark]

Chailly, Solti, Bernstein, Wit, Mackerras... Indeed there are many tastes in music - Mahler is no exception. Swift and lean, broad and brooding, 20th c. analytical style, Viennese avant-garde, Romantic and Brucknerian, rooted in Bohemian tradition - you name it! And every conductor has his individual style.

What your taste in Mahler will be is anyone's guess, so any recommendation at this moment will be rather random in that respect.  First you get to know a compose better, and then you'll develop a mental image of what you feel he should sound like. That will be your touchstone when hearing and judging a recording. It can also work the other way around: you hear a recording and then you think: that is it!!

You could go about this by exploring work by work, starting with the 4th symphony, for instance. Another approach is to buy a good but not so expensive symphony cycle to get a wider grip on Mahler as a composer, and go from there. The disadvantage of that is that the total of Mahler symphonies is a lot to take in - it could be a bit overwhelming. 

Worthwhile alternative versions of the 4th can be found in the giant Mahler thread on the forum: Mahler Mania Rebooted. And there is a nice overview to be found HERE. I personally like performances that remain close to Mahler's roots: Bruno Walter (Sony), George Szell (Sony), Haitink/RCO/Amelink (Universal) and Kubelik (DG). (And Willem Mengelberg of course, but that's another story since it is an historical recording...)

Good cycles are IMO: Bernstein (DG), Chailly (Decca), Kubelik (DG) and Haitink/RCO (Universal). All in good sound, Chailly in superlative sound - if that is a consideration. But I wouldn't go that route just now - save it for a bit later.

Good luck...and have fun!

Q

Thank-you very much for the advice Que!
There is a hell of a lot to explore just on one composer and one piece of music!!
There's so much to take in!
I'll take it nice and steady and enjoy the ride!

[sheffmark]

Yes, those are the ones! Highly recommended!

Q's advice is excellent, and I think it's a great suggestion that you could come and join the Mahler-Mania thread, which is in the 'Composer Discussion' area of the forum.

Hope you have a nice day, Mark!

p.s: Ilaria is certainly correct in saying that Leonard Bernstein was one of the greatest Mahlerian conductors of all time. All of his performances of the Mahler symphonies come highly recommended too, especially no.3 and 6 from me! Take your time though, you don't need to go and purchase all of these rapidly! But if you do want a first complete Mahler cycle, I would recommend the Bernstein set on DG.

Thanks madaboutmahler!
Great advice and i'll certainly check out the Mahler-Mania thread too!
Hope you have a nice day too!

[springrite]

Thanks madaboutmahler!
Great advice and i'll certainly check out the Mahler-Mania thread too!
Hope you have a nice day too!

He (and I, and company..) won't stop until your avatar is changed to Gustav. 

[Marc]

Well, but you know, the Orthodox Pascha is this Sunday coming : )

Pfui dich!

There's no mentioning of the Virgin Mary in that ancient story!



Play Händel's Israel in Egypt instead!

[Lisztianwagner]

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No.7

[asin]B000001GPX[/asin]