Recent posts

#1

Opera and Vocal / Re: Massenet

Last post by nico1616 - Today at 01:23:35 PM

Great topic where I want to mention some of my favorites.

First of all there is Manon with Cotrubas, Kraus and Van Dam. Great singing and conducting all around, and I want to mention the Cotrubas/Van Dam duet in the church, it is most moving (on oublie...) and one of the reasons I got addicted to Massenet.

Another great one conducted by Plasson is Hérodiade, again with Van Dam in his prime. Heppner and Studer also stand out.

For Werther I turn to Davis with Carreras/Von Stade.

And last but not least a recent recording of Ariane, an unknown gem. Where some of Massenet's works get long-winded in the last act (Werther almost becomes insufferable) Ariane has no weak spots, a joy from start to finish.

[Hans Huber]

#2

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...

Last post by Linz - Today at 01:21:39 PM

Hans Huber Symphony No.1, op.63 ''William Tell' and Symphony No.7, ''Swiss' Stuttgarter Philharmonker, Jörg-Peter Weigle

#3

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: Indian Classical Music

Last post by Traverso - Today at 01:19:39 PM

I have named a few very famous South Indian performers whom I like, and whom I would recommend. And, additionally, crossover examples like Shakti which demonstrate that Carnatic music may be not difficult at all.

Of course, I like North Indian music as well, in many different formats too, from complex lengthy ragas to Dhrupad, or Ghazal, or Qawwali, or baul music.

While a couple decades ago I used to listen more often to sitar and other instruments, now I am more often attracted to vocalists, from both North and South.

This is one of my first LP's,I still have it,are you familiar with this recording?
He would be 100 years now

#4

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...

Last post by Lisztianwagner - Today at 01:07:55 PM

I think I have both recordings, but never really listened to them, I need to look them up and give them a spin to listen closely. What is your evaluation?

I think they are tremendous recordings, both in the orchestral and the vocal performance! I have no other terms of comparison for the Florentinische Tragödie, but Chailly is always brilliant in Zemlinsky and also in this case his recording is very passionate and intense; the Kertész is engrossing and hauntingly beautiful (personally, my favourite version of Bluebeard's Castle), while Ludwig and Berry are extraordinary as main characters.

#5

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: Indian Classical Music

Last post by JBS - Today at 12:38:54 PM

Question to the moderators;
There's a good deal of substantive information in these posts on Indian music; it would be a shame to lose them in the general flow of this thread.
Is there a dedicated Indian music thread they can be transferred to? Or use them to open a dedicated thread if one does not currently exist?

#6

The Diner / Re: The unimportant news threa...

Last post by Todd - Today at 12:29:34 PM

Meet The Onion's new CEO, former disinformation reporter Ben Collins

I initially thought the news story originated with The Onion, but no.  You can't make this stuff up.

[Saturday]

#7

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What concerts are you look...

Last post by ultralinear - Today at 12:25:01 PM

Saturday:
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Dalia Stasevska Conductor
Leif Ove Andsnes Piano
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3
Bartók Concerto for Orchestra

Stasevska is Principal Guest Conductor with the BBC SO here, and I generally go to anything she's conducting.  Such energy - like a human firework on the podium.  Which doesn't suit every program, but should be wonderful in the Bartok.  And also the Rachmaninov - I saw her conduct his 3rd Symphony a few weeks after Jurowski had given a typically controlled, meticulous but somewhat disjointed performance of the same piece, and honestly it was like a whole other work, bursting with life.  You should have seen what she did with Mosolov's Iron Foundry.  

#8

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: Indian Classical Music

Last post by AnotherSpin - Today at 12:18:33 PM

Subramaniam is of course a great violinist with a breathtaking technique and an inspiringly high artistic quality. I don't listen to crossover music, so I can't say anything meaningful about that.  The more melodic character of the Persian-influenced Hindustani style makes it an easier entrance for me.

I have named a few very famous South Indian performers whom I like, and whom I would recommend. And, additionally, crossover examples like Shakti which demonstrate that Carnatic music may be not difficult at all.

Of course, I like North Indian music as well, in many different formats too, from complex lengthy ragas to Dhrupad, or Ghazal, or Qawwali, or baul music.

While a couple decades ago I used to listen more often to sitar and other instruments, now I am more often attracted to vocalists, from both North and South.

[Top Gun: Maverick]

#9

The Diner / Re: Last Movie You Watched

Last post by Karl Henning - Today at 12:13:47 PM

Watched Top Gun: Maverick recently. Some great flying scenes and a few fun moments, but I came away from it feeling it was all rather tired, the same old cliched male posturing, with Tom Cruise seeming like he was playing Tom Cruise just once too often. A shame, I generally like him, and think he plays the all-action, witty, rule-breaking leads well.

Hard on it's heels, I watched Nobody, a 2021 movie with Bob Odenkirk. Graphically violent once it gets going, also in seen-the-plot/characters-a-thousand-times-before territory, but unlike Top Gun it seemed very self-aware, and consequently felt fresh/amusing and well worth the ride. This was perhaps largely down to Odenkirk, who really grabs the attention, but some good supporting contributions too.

I think you've hit on something. Even though I've enjoyed all the MI movies, I haven't bothered with the latest, nor with TG:Maverick. I feel he's gone to the well once too many, perhaps. 

#10

GMG News / Re: Missing Members

Last post by Karl Henning - Today at 12:10:24 PM

Such a funny film!

I remember the TV sitcom with Tony Randall & Jack Klugman. It's high time I saw the movie!