Free downloads from the Concertgebouworchestra (120th anniversary)

[Keemun]

I had the same problem, so after a couple of tries I decided to download the Schubert mp3 with FlashGet, an external download manager.  I have FlashGet installed on my computer and the FlashGot Firefox plugin installed in Firefox, so it was very easy and I got the entire file on the first try.  (You have to have FlashGet installed on your computer before you can use the FlashGot Firefox plugin.)

[mahler10th]

Listening now to Mendelssohns 4rth thanks to one of the finest orchestras in the World.
And thanks to Otterhouse!

[Lilas Pastia]

I did have similar problems with the Beethoven and Mendelssohn files. At first, they downloaded only partially and in random lengths, so I deleted the files and tried again. It took about 3-4 attempts each, then I got the complete files.

Same here. I tried again, and got incomplete files of a different length from yesterday's. I'll try again, hoping it doesn't take forever. They are interesting looking.

[hautbois]

Such beautiful performances....especially the Mendelssohn....hoping that what comes next is even better! Enjoying them tremendously! 

Howard

[bhodges]

I listened to the Harnoncourt Schubert 8 the other night and thought it was lovely (and it's not a piece I crave that often).

(PS, I merged the two similar threads on this subject by otterhouse and imperfection--thanks again to both of you for posting this.)

--Bruce

[Lilas Pastia]

The incomplete downloads problem seems to have been fixed.

A word of warning about the Bruckner 8 (Haitink, 02-2005). It's the exact same performance as that commercially issued by Philips. They could have chosen another one. It's not like the KCO never programs Bruckner...

[Dancing Divertimentian]

A word of warning about the Bruckner 8 (Haitink, 02-2005). It's the exact same performance as that commercially issued by Philips.

Lilas, is 02-2005 the date of the recording? I have a Haitink/RCO 8th on Philips from 1981 (studio).

[Drasko]

I think Lilas may have gotten the labels wrong. Haitink's Bruckner 8th from 02.2005 is released on RCO Live, same as Jansons' Sibelius and Beethoven also offered for download. Kondrashin's Mendelssohn is available in one of the Concertgebouw Anthology boxes. Date for Bernstein's Mahler 1st is aproximately the same as for DG release (DG gives just 'live October 1987'). Don't know if Guilini's Sony Dvorak was live or studio but that also fits the time frame.

So AFAIK the recordings that haven't been available before should be Harnoncourt's Schubert, Jansons Franck (with loud mobile phone ringing at the beginning of second movement) and Chung's Saint-Saens.

[M forever]

Mahler 1 with Bernstein was recorded in concerts at the Concertgebouw October 8-10, 1987. This is probably one of those concerts. They also went on tour around the same time, I think that was after the Amsterdam concerts, but it has been so long, I don't clearly remember. I do remember the concert in Berlin though which was great. They were in town for two concerts. The other concert was Schubert 9 (which DG also recorded in Amsterdam with LB).

[Lilas Pastia]

Lilas, is 02-2005 the date of the recording? I have a Haitink/RCO 8th on Philips from 1981 (studio).

Drasko got it right (as usual ).

[MishaK]

Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere on GMG already, but the Concertgebouw is celebrating its 120th anniversary and Nederland 4 Radio is giving away for free ten broadcast recordings of symphonies with the Concertgebouw Orchestra (320kbps mp3 files). Good stuff to be found here:

http://kco.radio4.nl/?lang=en

All you have to do is sign up to receive a login and you can download to your heart's delight. I'm not sure if the Jansons Beethoven 2 and Brahms 2 are any different than the RCOlive recordings that have been issued commercially, same goes for Haitink Bruckner 8. The Kondrashin Mendelssohn 4 I believe is the same as was issued in the RCO Anthology 1970s set.

[tr. pianist]

Thank you for posting this link. I did not know about it.
I am going to listen to Brahms now.

[Bruckner is God]

Excellent!
Thank you for the link.
It seems these are the same recordings that were previously commercially released on RCO Live.
Very generous of them.

[Kuhlau]

I grabbed all ten of the symphonies available a couple of weeks ago. The quality of performances varies, much as you'd expect, with the Sibelius Symphony No. 2 and Schubert Symphony No. 8 'Unfinished' being two of the least impressive.

The Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 'Organ' begins superbly, but it failed to satisfy me in the longer run. On the plus side, the Brahms Symphony No. 2 and Mahler Symphony No. 1 both have plenty to offer. I've yet to hear the remainder.

FK

[Bruckner is God]

That was a very unispiring performance of Bruckner 8. Both Haitink and the orchestra sound as if they are on autopilot. Very disapointing.

[Maciek]

I've merged the 2 topics.



I wasn't excited with the Bruckner or Sibelius either. In fact, I switched the Bruckner off before it finished. I did like the Mahler very much. And I quite enjoyed this rendition of the Schubert too. Not the Brahms though, nor the Dvorak.

[Lilas Pastia]

That's pretty much my own opinion on this Haitink B8. He did a lot better other times around (all of them prior to this 2005 "effort").