Recent posts

#1

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: BIS Records taken over by ...

Last post by Spotted Horses - Today at 06:48:06 AM

Well, Didn't RvB retire? Do you expect him to write these emails from his grave too?

Based on the email he wrote announcing the sale of Apple, he remains involved.

However, it is clear that BIS won't be BIS when RvB is no longer there, Apple or no Apple.

#2

Great Recordings and Reviews / Re: "New" Music Log

Last post by Todd - Today at 06:47:37 AM

For no good reason, I've never listened to either Dvořák's Mass in D or his Te Deum.  I've heard his Stabat Mater (under Kubelik) and Requiem (under Ancerl), but not these.  Well, now was the time, I thought.  That no less than Antoni Wit conducts all but guaranteed success.  And a success it is.  The Mass, evidently scaled up from the original, smacks of 19th Century grandeur, but having flowed from the pen of Dvořák, the tunes are simply gorgeous, and even with the scale, it sounds like a slightly beefier, definitely sunnier approach to liturgical music that Fauré later mimicked-ish, at least in the quieter sections.  Sure, one can hear whiffs of Wagner in the brass in some places, but it's tasteful, restrained Richie.  It really sounds just splendid, celebratory, and lovely.  The Te Deum sounds more identifiably Dvořákian, and it is entirely extroverted and often most showy, though never garish, even in the most over the top moments. 

#3

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: BIS Records taken over by ...

Last post by 71 dB - Today at 06:44:35 AM

That has changed.

Well, Didn't RvB retire? Do you expect him to write these emails from his grave too?

#4

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

Last post by AnotherSpin - Today at 06:41:43 AM

#5

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: BIS Records taken over by ...

Last post by Todd - Today at 06:37:26 AM

I kind of suspect that the very generic descriptions are now being written by ChatGPT.

Better that than Copilot.

#6

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: BIS Records taken over by ...

Last post by Brian - Today at 06:32:13 AM

eClassical sends emails to its customers with every new BIS release. Before the sale, these were written by Robert von Bahr personally, with his own judgment of the music included - which was not always positive! He was very honest but also very proud of his musicians and producers.

That has changed. I kind of suspect that the very generic descriptions are now being written by ChatGPT.

#7

Great Recordings and Reviews / Re: Favourite pianist who emer...

Last post by Mandryka - Today at 06:31:25 AM

At the start of this  it was proposed that wish-lists for new recordings by the artists would illuminating. Todd often did this in his illuminating Asian Invasion thread.
For Steven Osborne I would love to hear some or all of the following

-Beethoven Op 31 sonatas
-Late Schubert sonatas - I've heard him play D 959 and D 960 live and they were really good interpretations
-Schumann Fantasie - one of my favourite pieces - I just listened to YES version which is magical, despite slightly overlong pauses in first movement but a definite YESSS!!
-Liszt Sonata and Annees de Pelerinage, both among my favourite pieces
-Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time, which I've heard him play live twice. He is a leading Messiaen interpreter.

Have you heard Osborne's DBT? Seeing you mention the Schumann fantasy made me think of it - it's a CD with his Mozart PC 24.

The thing I would love to hear him play on record is Kurtag's Jatekok - I heard him play Kurtag duets with Paul Lewis and it was great fun. And of course, I'd like to hear him play Messiaen's Catalogue d'Oiseaux.

#8

Composer Discussion / Re: Mozart

Last post by Brian - Today at 06:25:25 AM

One point that creates some philosophical wiggle room is that the exact nature of performances in that era does not mean that the composers were satisfied with that nature. It is hard to imagine someone like Beethoven or Mozart accepting sloppy playing, amateurs, etc. except as the cost of doing business. I think if they were given a choice, they'd choose better players.

For example, Haydn left clarinets out of so much of his work because he didn't know any good clarinetists. What if he had?

This point has also been made about composers who were dissatisfied with the instruments available and might well have been delighted by the manufacturing innovations of later generations.

#9

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

Last post by prémont - Today at 06:19:30 AM

Of course I can always buy the set for you and then send it to you

 I asked to reserve the set via a voicemail.

Thanks again. I sent you a PM.

#10

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

Last post by Traverso - Today at 06:05:14 AM

Thanks so very much.

    

Of course I can always buy the set for you and then send it to you

 I asked to reserve the set via a voicemail.