Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[PerfectWagnerite]

Yes, uneven he is, but when he's good he writes a music the world has never heard before or since. When I heard the opening of the Cello Concerto it was so achingly beautiful I had to stop. I don't have that with other composers. There is a tenderness and fragility to him that I can only manage in small doses. That's why I don't listen that often to him. Which says as much about him as about me, I suppose...

He also wrote a dud like the Violin Concerto, probably one of the worst by a big-name composer. That said, that one is probably the only "dud" he wrote (in my opinion anyway).

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

He also wrote a dud like the Violin Concerto, probably one of the worst by a big-name composer. That said, that one is probably the only "dud" he wrote (in my opinion anyway).

Never heard it, only read about it. Opinion is divided on that one - I have seen some commentators say it is unjustly neglected, and others say it is, as you put it, a 'dud'.

I'll have to listen for myself, I think...

[Kullervo]

I liked the Machaut Messe so much I decided to explore more pre-Renaissance music.

[karlhenning]

Yes, uneven he is, but when he's good he writes a music the world has never heard before or since. When I heard the opening of the Cello Concerto it was so achingly beautiful I had to stop.

The Cello Concerto is beautiful.  I have even scandalized the resident Schumann admirer of CMG by telling him that I like Shostakovich's re-scoring of the Schumann Cello Concerto — not that there is anything "wrong" with Schumann's scoring (there is not), but simply because I do enjoy the 'intersection' thus created between two great composers.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Never heard it, only read about it. Opinion is divided on that one - I have seen some commentators say it is unjustly neglected, and others say it is, as you put it, a 'dud'.

I'll have to listen for myself, I think...

The only recording I have of this work is with Leonidas Kavarkas (sic) and the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Wolfgang Sawllisch. As great a Schumann maestro as Sawallisch is, he couldn't make heads or tails of this work, which never really takes off. It is not a terrible piece per say but you expect more from the genius that wrote the 4 symphonies and piano and cello concertos.

[karlhenning]

He also wrote a dud like the Violin Concerto, probably one of the worst by a big-name composer.

Well, I am reserving judgment, at least until I hear a recording by Gidon Kremer, who has famously championed the concerto.

[Brian]

Well, I am reserving judgment, at least until I hear a recording by Gidon Kremer, who has famously championed the concerto.

I happen to own such a recording, but haven't listened to it. Maybe it's time!

@Harry - I am glad you have no problem with the Kubelik performances. It is better to have no problem than to have to go off searching for solutions!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I happen to own such a recording, but haven't listened to it. Maybe it's time!

Could you report back to us, if and when you have done so? Would be very interesting!

[Wanderer]

The only recording I have of this work is with Leonidas Kavarkas (sic)

You must mean Leonidas Kavakos, surely.

In the hands of Gidon Kremer, the concerto sounds nothing like the hideousness or "mess" some reviews describe it to be. I'm quite fond of it.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

In the hands of Gidon Kremer, the concerto sounds nothing like the hideousness or "mess" some reviews describe it to be. I'm quite fond of it.

Thanks for the info! I'm really getting curious now...

[karlhenning]

In the hands of Gidon Kremer, the concerto sounds nothing like the hideousness or "mess" some reviews describe it to be. I'm quite fond of it.

Thanks, Tasos! I knew it!

[karlhenning]

@Harry - I am glad you have no problem with the Kubelik performances. It is better to have no problem than to have to go off searching for solutions!

I have been interested in your 'read' on Kubelik, Brian;  nonetheless, I anticipate sonic pleasure when the set arrives . . . .

We'll see if performance meets expectations 

[Wanderer]

You're both welcome, Karl & Jezetha.  And I hope everyone had a great new year start. 

Delivered yesterday, just hours before setting off to Kyparissia for our traditional end-of-the-year family reunion:

-The Celibidache/Münchner Philharmoniker EMI set.
-The Mozart "complete sacred music" set with Harnoncourt.
-Mozart: Symphonies Nos.38-41 (Harnoncourt/COE).

[longears]

You must mean Leonidas Kavakos, surely.

Whom I've heard twice, in the Sibelius and the Brahms.  Your countryman was terrific in both, Tasos!

[PerfectWagnerite]

I got this in the mail:


but I had really ordered this:


but since the former is not readily available in the states and I don't have it I guess I'll keep it. It is suppose to be a great recording afterall.

[Daverz]

I got this in the mail:

but I had really ordered this:

Wow, how often is a screwup like that in the buyers favor?  The Eloquence version of this goes for $100 on Amazon Marketplace (or, rather, that's what someone thinks they can get for it.)

[PerfectWagnerite]

Actually, I got a copy on the Belart label, says here on the back cover it is  a Polygram company so I guess it is not a pirate. It also says recorded in 1967 so unless Mehta did another Bruckner 9th in 1967 on DECCA with the WP, it is the same performance as the Eloquence one. The sound is absolutely gorgeous BTW, you cannot believe this is a 41 year old recording.

[Gustav]

same thing happened to me too. I ordered (or at least intended to get) Sawallisch's Bruckner 5th on Orfeo, instead I got a much rarer Klemperer's Bruckner 5th with Philharmonia.

btw, were you ordering from Amazon.co.uk? Cause i have been ordering all my CDs from Amazon.com, and there was never a mix-up, but i only ONCE ordered it from Amazon.co.uk, and voila, they gave me the wrong disc.

[PerfectWagnerite]

same thing happened to me too. I ordered (or at least intended to get) Sawallisch's Bruckner 5th on Orfeo, instead I got a much rarer Klemperer's Bruckner 5th with Philharmonia.

btw, were you ordering from Amazon.co.uk? Cause i have been ordering all my CDs from Amazon.com, and there was never a mix-up, but i only ONCE ordered it from Amazon.co.uk, and voila, they gave me the wrong disc.

I ordered from Amazon.com, not amazon.co.uk. Well it was a private seller, so often they are not the most knowledgeable but still you would think they would get the picture correct.

The Klemperer 5th? THis one?

I wasn't aware it was all that rare because I found it used in NYC for $3.99 and it was still in shrinkwrap...in any case it is a bit slow for my taste, at least the final movement anyway. I think the Sawallisch is a much more balanced recording and the oboe isn't as annoying reedy and piercing.

[Lilas Pastia]

I ordered from Amazon.com, not amazon.co.uk. Well it was a private seller, so often they are not the most knowledgeable but still you would think they would get the picture correct.

The Klemperer 5th? THis one?

I wasn't aware it was all that rare because I found it used in NYC for $3.99 and it was still in shrinkwrap...in any case it is a bit slow for my taste, at least the final movement anyway. I think the Sawallisch is a much more balanced recording and the oboe isn't as annoying reedy and piercing.

Perfect, what you hear is the typical english oboe sound. It's not piercing, but penetrating. Very straight in tone, with no flutter whatsoever. Despite the really slow tempi, the very immediate recording ensures you hear tons of details a more fondu approach will leave by the wayside. I encourage you to persevere in taming this particular beast. Although there are more easily approachable interpretations, this has bean my yardstick for over 35 years