Recordings That You Are Considering

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Linn doesn't? Also:  dacapo doesn't.

DaCapo doesn't?

Sometimes, sometimes not.


[asin]B00AOALXJI[/asin]

When they don't it is a nuisance, because the label is one of the factors used when evaluating the attractiveness of a release.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

I'm not sure the Nielsen was before they decided on this... I think it's after -- but an exception because it was a co-production with the NYPhil.

They are betting on the fact that the covers by their designer (Denise Burt) are so striking that it's not even necessary to put the label on it. Much like it wouldn't be with an ECM release. It's gutsy but I like it, because it's betting on quality.

You can tell daft, insecure amateurish labels by trying to jam every last bit of information in three different font-sizes of Arial or Times New Roman on their covers... which I always find a major turn-off.

[Brian]

They are betting on the fact that the covers by their designer (Denise Burt) are so striking that it's not even necessary to put the label on it.

Generally it works - I can recognize a Dacapo cover immediately, generally by the typeface alone.

Linn doesn't?

As an aside, another instantly recognizable label is the German Avi-Music:



Which, like Dacapo, bets you don't need a logo to tell it's theirs.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

I'm not sure the Nielsen was before they decided on this... I think it's after -- but an exception because it was a co-production with the NYPhil.

They are betting on the fact that the covers by their designer (Denise Burt) are so striking that it's not even necessary to put the label on it. Much like it wouldn't be with an ECM release. It's gutsy but I like it, because it's betting on quality.

You can tell daft, insecure amateurish labels by trying to jam every last bit of information in three different font-sizes of Arial or Times New Roman on their covers... which I always find a major turn-off.

Eh, I can't recognize a DaCapo release just by the cover art. I probably could recognize an installment in the Holmboe series, but duh, who else records Holmboe? I don't need anything as blatant as the DG cartouche, but an unobtrusive graphic logo in the corner isn't going to spoil anyone's cover art.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Eh, I can't recognize a DaCapo release just by the cover art. I probably could recognize an installment in the Holmboe series, but duh, who else records Holmboe? I don't need anything as blatant as the DG cartouche, but an unobtrusive graphic logo in the corner isn't going to spoil anyone's cover art.

Well, DaCapo only records Danish repertoire (and occ. danish artists in non-Danish rep), so it's tendentially easy to have the content help you recognize the label. But I find Burton's design -- unlike Linn's -- very distinctive, indeed. Although it works better 'in person' than with small digital copies online.

[Brian]

I have it, but haven't listened in a long time. I'm not sure I would describe their style as "mellow" in these particular recordings but it probably depends on your frame of reference—they're probably most similar to the Pacifica Quartet, of sets I've heard.

Hmm... I'm not sure it's for you, based on what you say. But now I'm interested. It's one of the few Mandelring sets I don't have. And although I do like a certain kind of tenacity in my Mendelssohn, I think the pushed vigor of the Eschers is decidedly over the top and comes back empty in places where a different approach would result in a considerable yield. Btw. Do you have the Talich Mendelssohn?

Sorry I forgot to reply, but thank you for these posts. The Pacifica Quartet comparison actually helps a lot. I sampled some of the Mandelring and it sounds great. (Though for Jens, I should clarify, by great I do not mean "just like the Eschers"!) I think I do have the Talich and like it.

[Jo498]

Is there a convenient and good way of collecting the Boccherini string/guitar quintets? I see Brilliant has a series and there are individual or double albums by various people like Mischa Maisky, Fabio Biondi, Roel Dieltiens, etc. etc.

I don't know the Boccherini Edition on Brilliant. It would be a little too much for me. And I had acquired quite a bit of Boccherini before it even came out. I used to dislike the guitar, so I only have these pieces if coupled with something else.

There are a two or three good chamber recordings with Europa galante on Virgin (maybe twofer now), a bunch of quintets with ensembles involving Bylsma (Seon, Sony?) and I think another two on harmonia mundi, Cpo has several discs with quartets, some on modern, some on historical instruments. Then there was a smallish Boccherini Edition on Capriccio that had a few very good chamber discs on modern instruments, two involving the Petersen quartet (one quartets, one quintets).
That's what I have and I think most of it is very good with the older Bylsma on Seon sometimes a little rough around the edges as to expected from 1970s HIP.

[JBS]

I don't know the Boccherini Edition on Brilliant. It would be a little too much for me. And I had acquired quite a bit of Boccherini before it even came out. I used to dislike the guitar, so I only have these pieces if coupled with something else.

There are a two or three good chamber recordings with Europa galante on Virgin (maybe twofer now), a bunch of quintets with ensembles involving Bylsma (Seon, Sony?) and I think another two on harmonia mundi, Cpo has several discs with quartets, some on modern, some on historical instruments. Then there was a smallish Boccherini Edition on Capriccio that had a few very good chamber discs on modern instruments, two involving the Petersen quartet (one quartets, one quintets).
That's what I have and I think most of it is very good with the older Bylsma on Seon sometimes a little rough around the edges as to expected from 1970s HIP.

Brilliant had a series of Boccherini's quintets involving Communita Magnifica (going by memory, the spelling may be wrong) that reached 10 volumes of mostly 2 CDs each. I have the feeling the series stopped before recording all the quintets. I don't know about current availability or how much is in the Boccherini Edition Brilliant put out.  The Europa Galante recordings were better, but there is a lot of stuff EG did not record,  and for that the Brilliant series would be a good option if it's actually available.

[Jo498]

I doubt everything by Boccherini has been recorded although some Italians recorded quite a bit already in the 50s/60s. Boccherini supposedly wrote 42 trios, 91 quartets, about 125 quintets (most with two celli but a dozen with 2 violas and 3 with double bass) as well as a bunch of sextets and a few pieces with woodwind, piano or guitar + strings (most of the latter actually based on earlier pieces by himself).
I have about two dozen discs (about 5 with symphonies, the rest is chamber) and a few mixed recitals and of course some overlap (like the musica notturna delle strade di Madrid) and that's enough Boccherini for me.
Although his music is both better and more diverse than the ubiquitous Menuetto indicates and I'd probably get another Boccherini disc sooner than another Ries or Onslow.

[Madiel]

I probably could recognize an installment in the Holmboe series, but duh, who else records Holmboe?

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

But I already have those, so they don't complicate the identification process...

[Madiel]

But I already have those, so they don't complicate the identification process...

Ah well, yes, if already have all the BIS albums, then anything you don't have is most likely Da Capo.

There ARE various other obscure recordings, but in terms of labels you're likely to encounter it's really only those 2.

[MickeyBoy]

Pretty damning (if not actually harsh) review from Hurwitz: https://www.classicstoday.com/review/senseless-stravinsky-from-luxembourg/

The album illustration mentions a "game of cards." Isn't a jeu de cartes a pack or desk of cards?

[Madiel]

The album illustration mentions a "game of cards." Isn't a jeu de cartes a pack or desk of cards?

No. "Jeu" means "Game".

EDIT: A bit of googling found a couple of sources saying that for the pack/deck, the right word is "paquet".

[André]

The album illustration mentions a "game of cards." Isn't a jeu de cartes a pack or desk of cards?

It could mean a deck of cards or a game of cards. Jeu is also the term used to designate a set of similar things, like un jeu de clés, un jeu de tournevis (a set of keys, a set of screwdrivers).

[MickeyBoy]

No. "Jeu" means "Game".

EDIT: A bit of googling found a couple of sources saying that for the pack/deck, the right word is "paquet".

My Collins-Robert gives 'deck of cards' for jeu de cartes. I remember buying one in Paris many moons ago. But your mention of paquet struck an odd twang in my memory. Paquet de cigarettes, yes, so also paquet de cartes a jouer, from the same dictionary. So thanks for refreshing my French, a losing proposition.

I'd like to know which meaning Stravinsky intended.

[edit] Thanks for the precision, Andre. A consultation of the Petit Larousse illustre for the game of bridge gives un jeu de cartes. So clearly Stravinsky meant 'a card game.'

[Jo498]

Stravinsky means the actual game which involves of course a deck. It is ballett and there is a kind of game going on, the dancers represent cards, including a mischievious joker.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Thoughts on this set? "Revolutionary Harmonic Balancing Technique" sounds gimmicky--how do these sound?

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Thoughts on this set? "Revolutionary Harmonic Balancing Technique" sounds gimmicky--how do these sound?

They sound OK. Nothing sensational; certainly not worse than what else is out there (including various releases on DG) but also not notably better. By notably, I don't mean direct comparative listening, which I've never done with these performances which are -- dare I say it -- really not that special to me. Good to have and probably essential to Furtwaengler Buffs... but not Bruckner I turn to to hear BRUCKNER. Only to hear Furtwaengler.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Interesting, OK. Curious--to whom do you turn to hear BRUCKNER?