Recordings That You Are Considering

[Que]

Harnoncourt uses boy sopranos which some tolerate, some don't. The soloists are first-rate, and Bach is one of the composers Harnoncourt truly shines in.

I really like Gardiner (I should give one of his CDs a spin, it has been a while) but I don't think he is as spiritual as other conductors, and his approach to Bach is what led to the now infamous article in I think the Times (but it could be the New Yorker) "speed freaks do Bach." The thing is that he is VERY GOOD at Bach and he loves Bach, and you can tell. But the problem is that the discourse is split between a fanatical cult that thinks that his recordings are transformative above everyone else, or people think that his conducting is hot garbage.

Bottom line, please just go to YT and listen for yourself if you don't pay for streaming. Don't blind buy an expensive, big box set.

I agree with David: these are two interpretations that are almost on the opposite sides of the Bach cantatas spectrum. Harnoncourt's sincere Lutheran take, powerful in a spiritual way, with boy sopranos and Gardiner's smooth British Bach. (Full disclosure: I'm a big fan of the Harnoncourt/Leonhardt cycle).

I think I'd suggest giving Herreweghe's cantata recordings a listen: less radical than Harnocourt but authentic, heartfelt, beautiful interpretations. Calling them a "happy medium" would sell them short. Actually, I don't believe I've ever saw anyone here not liking them.

[Mandryka]

]

Although Bach is one of my most listened-to composers, I must admit to not having delved that much into his vocal religious works. It's honestly not a favorite genre of mine, so getting a complete set of the cantatas seems like a massive overkill. A set of digestible highlights seems like the best option, certainly for now at least, so which of these two is the better one? The Gardiner set obviously has more music (including the masses and passions in the same package), but does it have any notable flaws, or are there any factors that might cause one to prefer Harnoncourt?

Neither. Try Gardiner's second recordings, and the earlier ones from Suzuki.

[Florestan]

Harnoncourt's sincere Lutheran take, powerful in a spiritual way

Paradoxically, Harnoncourt  was a devout Roman Catholic.

[Spotted Horses]

I agree with David: these are two interpretations that are almost on the opposite sides of the Bach cantatas spectrum. Harnoncourt's sincere Lutheran take, powerful in a spiritual way, with boy sopranos and Gardiner's smooth British Bach. (Full disclosure: I'm a big fan of the Harnoncourt/Leonhardt cycle).

I think I'd suggest giving Herreweghe's cantata recordings a listen: less radical than Harnocourt but authentic, heartfelt, beautiful interpretations. Calling it a "happy medium" would sell them short. Actually, don't believe I've ever saw anyone here not liking them.

I would agree with the comments about Herreweghe. I don't know this collection, but Harmonia Mundi released about a half-dozen three disc sets of "famous" cantatas with Herreweghe, as well as the Passions and Mass. If that's what this is, it would be on top of my list for a Bach religious music survey.

[DavidW]

Herreweghe is tops with me as well, his small set is affordable too.

And then my favorite complete set is Koopman.

[Que]

Paradoxically, Harnoncourt  was a devout Roman Catholic.

Evidently that wasn't an obstacle.   Leonhardt was a devout Protestant BTW.

[Que]

I would agree with the comments about Herreweghe. I don't know this collection, but Harmonia Mundi released about a half-dozen three disc sets of "famous" cantatas with Herreweghe, as well as the Passions and Mass. If that's what this is, it would be on top of my list for a Bach religious music survey.

You mean these wonderful sets that own myself - great presentation with hardcover booklets full of beautiful artwork and full notes & texts - they cover indeed more than just the cantatas. But the same (Harmonia Mundi) recordings. Herreweghe has continued recording Bach on his own Phi label.

[Spotted Horses]

You mean these wonderful sets that own myself - great presentation with hardcover booklets full of beautiful artwork and full notes & texts - they cover indeed more than just the cantatas. But the same (Harmonia Mundi) recordings. Herreweghe has continued recording Bach on his own Phi label.

That's it, but I collected them individually. I didn't like the packaging because having the booklet and the discs in the same hardcover book made it impossible to scan the booklet.  Now they are ripped on my hard disc (sand booklet scans).

[DavidW]

I have the smaller box with the sleeves.

[André]

This is Elgar so I might not get m(any) reply(es), but I'd like to know if this version of the most beautiful violin concerto ever written has been heard here at GMG ?

[Florestan]

This is Elgar so I might not get m(any) reply(es), but I'd like to know if this version of the most beautiful violin concerto ever written has been heard here at GMG ?

Have not heard it but my question is: is this the only work on this disc? If yes, then I wonder who besides the nuttiest of Elgar nuts will buy it?

And btw, you're wrong: the most beautiful violin concerto ever written is Mozart's Fourth.

[Jo498]

Elgar's is the longest somewhat standard repertoire violin concerto around 60 min, so it's usually the only work on a disc.

[Florestan]

Elgar's is the longest somewhat standard repertoire violin concerto around 60 min, so it's usually the only work on a disc.

Excuse me? Surely 20 mins of more music can easily fill such a disc. Heck, Elgar's own Salut d'Amour, Chanson de Nuit and Chanson de Matin would do the trick. 

[André]

Excuse me? Surely 20 mins of more music can easily fill such a disc. Heck, Elgar's own Salut d'Amour, Chanson de Nuit and Chanson de Matin would do the trick. 

There's Carissimi to round out the disc. It's a 4 min piece for orchestra, transcribed here for violin and piano. I didn't mention it bc I think that's an insult to the concerto. Who would buy an Elgar disc for Carissimi ? 😖

BTW Mozart's 4th concerto is a peach and I love it. My first purchase of it was a Seraphim LP with Heifetz and Beecham. Sweet memories...

[Florestan]

Mozart's 4th concerto is a peach and I love it. My first purchase of it was a Seraphim LP with Heifetz and Beecham. Sweet memories...

I sweetly imprinted on Vladimir Spivakov / English Chamber Orchestra on an old Melodyia LP. But I have yet to hear a bad performance of it --- my favorite is always the one I currently listen to.

[Jo498]

It's not that uncommon to have a disc with a 50 min long piece without a filler. (60 min seems wrong, this was from memory; my only recording is Kennedy's that seems among the slowest at 54 min, several are below 50 so the Reger VC is probably longer but a far less frequently played/recorded piece.)

It was of course very common because the CD would just be like the LP. Later, shortish CDs seemed poor value for the money so one often got fillers but not always. Nowadays it seems to me that with streaming/downloads we again get some shortish CDs.
And I also doubt that one would nowadays base a purchase decision on whether "Salur d'amour" is included for 3 min more playing time...

[DavidW]

This is Elgar so I might not get m(any) reply(es), but I'd like to know if this version of the most beautiful violin concerto ever written has been heard here at GMG ?

Yes I have, it is very good. Another poster listened to it recently and was impressed. I didn't love the recording so much that I ran out and bought it, but I enjoyed my time with it.

[Brian]

Any comparative thoughts on these dueling Shostakovich 13s in SACD? Karabits, Wigglesworth.

[Madiel]

Does anyone happen to have the 2-CD versions of Alicia de Larrocha's recordings for Decca? They got issued with a couple of different cover arts:





I'm trying to line up recording dates, especially for this first volume (though there are 4 all told), so that I'm completely confident as to which versions they are. She recorded some of these pieces quite a few times.

[Traverso]

Does anyone happen to have the 2-CD versions of Alicia de Larrocha's recordings for Decca? They got issued with a couple of different cover arts:





I'm trying to line up recording dates, especially for this first volume (though there are 4 all told), so that I'm completely confident as to which versions they are. She recorded some of these pieces quite a few times.

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