Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[George]

Seconded.

Tripled and heading home for an inside-the-park home run!

[M forever]

Two competing discs, Dvorak from Dresden and Vienna:

Those discs aren't really competing, Sarge. They are complementing each other. After all, they both found their way into your home, so they are both winners...
Anyway, nice to see the Levine recording is available in this low budget format because the original release has been OOP for a while and copies are hard to find and expensive. Both discs are excellent, I personally prefer the Levine disc by a slight margin based on my (slight) personal preference for the playing style and because it sounds better - the Maazel recording is one of those very early digital DG recordings which sound very compact and rather dry. Not too bad, though, still fairly listenable. Although ultimately, I prefer the WP in the New World Symphony under Böhm's direction (also on DG, and in more "natural" and "athmoshperic" sound).
BTW, the SD was supposed to record more Dvořák symphonies under Levine, possibly a complete cycle. But that fell into the period when classical CD sales started plummeting, so the project was not pursued any further (just like Levine's Sibelius recordings in Berlin, that was supposed to be a complete cycle, too).


BTW, the T-man cover is really funny. I doubt that he would even consider reacting to any of Hurwitz' reviews though. Still, it was funny - you really seem to have too much time at your hands! Well, I know you are retired...

[prémont]

There is an alternative cover; it was designed after Thielemann read Hurwitz's review:

This is certainly manipulation.

[Henk]

[Sergeant Rock]

This is certainly manipulation.

No, no...I assure you, this is real; the cover was reshot 

[Sergeant Rock]

Those discs aren't really competing, Sarge. They are complementing each other. After all, they both found their way into your home, so they are both winners...

Well, I found it interesting that these two CDs, that I had never seen before, were in the bin together, identical programs, American conductors, leading two of the greatest European orchestras, both calling out to me, seemingly competing for my Euro bucks. So yeah, they both won 

BTW, the T-man cover is really funny....you really seem to have too much time at your hands! Well, I know you are retired...

Time well spent. I consider it my sacred mission to keep the GMG forum amused   Seriously, I can whip out one of my photoshop fakes within minutes. I hope you saw my Seans (Chicken Little Sean and Miss Phuket Sean). Classics, if I do say so myself.

Sarge

[M forever]

There is also a recording of the 7th and of the "Carnival" overture with WP/Maazel. Interesting that you have never seen these recordings before. The Maazel ones have been around since the dawn of the CD and have been repackaged many times. The original release of the 9th looked like this:



IIRC, each of the original CD releases only had one symphony on it. Those were among the earliest CDs I heard, a long time ago...when even you were still (relatively) young 

I hope you saw my Seans (Chicken Little Sean and Miss Phuket). Classics, if I do say so myself.

I vaguely remember seeing a chicken Sean once, but probably not the other one. Could you repost those masterpieces?

[Sergeant Rock]

There is also a recording of the 7th and of the "Carnival" overture with WP/Maazel. Interesting that you have never seen these recordings before.

No, I meant I'd never seen these new releases before...in fact, had not known of their existence (I knew Levine and Maazel had recorded these performances). Sometimes it pays to browse the brick and mortars like in the old days.

I'll try to find the threads with the Sean pics. I'll pm the links.

Sarge

[Brian]

I agree. Her playing is good and enjoyable. Just lacking that last bit of "something special" to make her stand out. Kind of like a female Jando. She had a great teacher though - Wilhelm Kempff.

Ah, that is where we disagree. In some composers I find Jando marvelous.    Personal taste, one presumes ...

[Sergeant Rock]

I wanted to add my two cents about Biret. I think she's absolutely marvelous in some music. Yes, her Brahms but the discs I couldn't live without are her Chopin Polonaises. I was on the hunt for thirty years for a completely satisfying recording and hers finally did it. Forget the big names, she's perfect in this music...perfect for me.

Sarge

[mn dave]

I own four of Biret's Chopin discs. I think it's still cheaper to buy the box to get the rest. I'll have to do math later. 

Here they are, Brian!

Volume 1: Ballades, etc.

Volume 2: Etudes

Volume 3: Mazurkas, vol. 1 (confusing, ain't it)

Volume 4: Mazurkas, vol. 2

That's it.

[Brian]

Thanks all for your comments on Biret! Sarge, I've never even listened to the Polonaises, I think. Must......rectify........soon........

I own four of Biret's Chopin discs. I think it's still cheaper to buy the box to get the rest. I'll have to do math later. 

Here they are, Brian!

Volume 1: Ballades, etc.

Volume 2: Etudes

Volume 3: Mazurkas, vol. 1 (confusing, ain't it)

Volume 4: Mazurkas, vol. 2

That's it.

Yeah, it's probably still cheaper. There are 14 CDs in the box, I think, so even at used Amazon prices buying individual CDs would probably run your total to about $60-$75 plus shipping.

[Bogey]

[PSmith08]

This is probably my favorite studio Beethoven PC5. Ultimately, I give top honors to Curzon with Boulez and the BBCSO from 1971 (BBCL, coupled with an interesting Mozart PC26), but Cliburn, Reiner, and the CSO of that period is a combination tough to beat.

[mn dave]

Mine is signed by Cliburn.

I'm sure I've mentioned it before. 

[karlhenning]

No, no...I assure you, this is real; the cover was reshot 

Looks just like a scene from a traditional Bavarian restaurant, yes?

http://www.youtube.com/v/vAaaAVJr9zg

[karlhenning]

Good morning, Bill!

[mahler10th]

I have today bought this...all four Symphonies performed by one of the best Scandanavian orchestras out there, Lahti Symphony Orchestra.  This is thinking mans music, I'm lost in Helsinki and wandering in Finlands vast forests...er...but never mind that, the music is great.  Kokkonen yet another discovery this year as a result of these boards.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I have today bought this...all four Symphonies performed by one of the best Scandanavian orchestras out there, Lahti Symphony Orchestra.  This is thinking mans music, I'm lost in Helsinki and wandering in Finlands vast forests...er...but never mind that, the music is great.  Kokkonen yet another discovery this year as a result of these boards.

I saw this offer, too, from eclassical. What is good about Kokkonen's music?

[Sergeant Rock]

This reflects the state of my bank balance. Only one CD today. Bought it for the cover art 




Jezetha, Hector, do you guys know this recording?

Sarge