Recordings That You Are Considering

[Brian]

Most of those recordings date from the '50s.



Beethoven / Blomstedt / Dresden.

[ChamberNut]

Brian,

This is the one my wife got me for Christmas!     Wonderful performances!

[Daverz]

Beethoven / Blomstedt / Dresden.

I love the Blomstedt/Dresden cycle.  Wonderful playing, and warm and well balanced recordings.

[Renfield]

Most of those recordings date from the '50s.

Generally,

Cortot + Chopin = Get


Although his best recordings, in my opinion, were earlier than that - and I don't know how many times he recorded the second sonata. (Let alone the Schumann, which I haven't heard from him.)

However, it's Cortot: even if he's not playing well, he's still brilliant, and I think you won't go wrong in sampling his art.

[Que]

Now prices in British Pounds are (almost) the same in Euros, the MDT offer on Zig Zag Territoires - a pricey label - looks quite attractive all of a sudden: £ 9,74 for a single, £13,70 for a double.

I am considering these below, any comments or addidtional recommendations are welcome!







Q

[George]

Generally,

Cortot + Chopin = Get


Although his best recordings, in my opinion, were earlier than that - and I don't know how many times he recorded the second sonata. (Let alone the Schumann, which I haven't heard from him.)

However, it's Cortot: even if he's not playing well, he's still brilliant, and I think you won't go wrong in sampling his art.

I got a few of Cortot's Chopin CDs on Naxos with different covers. I wonder if these are considered good Cortot? The transfers are by MOT, so they are great!

 

[Renfield]

I got a few of Cortot's Chopin CDs on Naxos with different covers:  

That is an excellent series.

And even more excellent is the EMI box set with most of his very best recordings (a lot of them overlapping with the Naxos):





Rego, the one thing I have heard from all these, van Immerseel's Beethoven, is very good. It's not quite as good as Vänskä's outstanding cycle, and it it occasionally feels a little "gimmicky" (to me - and especially in the "heavier" symphonies), but it's very good overall.

[Drasko]

I am considering these below, any comments or addidtional recommendations are welcome!

I have de Visee disc but haven't listened to it yet, could upload some randomly picked clips if you want. Heard Rannou play Forqueray in concert, it was very beautiful, on the slow side, kinda dreamy, but that's not necessarily so on the disc, different instrument, different acoustics. I will be buying it myself definitely.

[Brian]

The Third Symphony was posted somewhere on the forum, and I recall it being rather emotionless - kind of bland and vague, very fast but not very heated. You might want to try Norrington's SWR Stuttgart cycle, which unfortunately MDT doesn't have on offer (50 pounds). I myself am ordering a Beethoven cycle from MDT - Mackerras's terrifically acclaimed new one from Scotland, which at £16.45 for all nine is an absolute steal right now!

[George]

That is an excellent series.

And even more excellent is the EMI box set with most of his very best recordings (a lot of them overlapping with the Naxos):

More excellent in content, right? The sound on the Naxos surely is better?

[Renfield]

Rego, the one thing I have heard from all these, van Immerseel's Beethoven, is very good. It's not quite as good as Vänskä's outstanding cycle, and it it occasionally feels a little "gimmicky" (to me - and especially in the "heavier" symphonies), but it's very good overall.

The Third Symphony was posted somewhere on the forum, and I recall it being rather emotionless - kind of bland and vague, very fast but not very heated. You might want to try Norrington's SWR Stuttgart cycle, which unfortunately MDT doesn't have on offer (50 pounds). I myself am ordering a Beethoven cycle from MDT - Mackerras's terrifically acclaimed new one from Scotland, which at £16.45 for all nine is an absolute steal right now!

Mackerras' cycle (from Edinburgh 0:)) is indeed superb*. However, I feel I undersold the van Immerseel a bit, above.

The set is excellent. The performances are uniformly polished, they possess exceptional verve, and if they're not especially idiomatic, the making up for which can occasionally sound a little artificial (hence "gimmicky"), they certainly are consistently effective. The playing is great (understatement - the playing is exceptionally great), and there are a number of brilliant moments on offer.

So "lean, mean, killing machine" Beethoven, perhaps to the expense of "flavour"; but exceptionally good as such.



*Or 8/9 of it are. I'm among those who found the tacked-on Philharmonia 9th rather pointless.

More excellent in content, right? The sound on the Naxos surely is better?

Believe it or not, I'm not at all certain the Naxos has better sound, in this case. Certainly, the sound is very different, but this is one of the times the EMI engineers might have done a better job in highlighting the performances, versus the Naxos "faithfulness" approach.

However, I haven't done a proper side-by-side comparison yet (I've still to rip the Naxos), so maybe my current impression will change.

[George]

Believe it or not, I'm not at all certain the Naxos has better sound, in this case. Certainly, the sound is very different, but this is one of the times the EMI engineers might have done a better job in highlighting the performances, versus the Naxos "faithfulness" approach.

However, I haven't done a proper side-by-side comparison yet (I've still to rip the Naxos), so maybe my current impression will change.

Sure, let me know if you do a side by side with these two? .

[Renfield]

Sure, let me know if you do a side by side with these two? .

Will do.

[George]

Will do.

Thanks! 

I just read over at RMCR that the EMI is overfiltered, as I expected, but some of the repertoire is unique to the EMI. So I will get the EMI as well. 

I am listening to my Naxos Preludes/Impromptus CD now and it sounds great!

[Que]

Rego, the one thing I have heard from all these, van Immerseel's Beethoven, is very good. It's not quite as good as Vänskä's outstanding cycle, and it it occasionally feels a little "gimmicky" (to me - and especially in the "heavier" symphonies), but it's very good overall.

However, I feel I undersold the van Immerseel a bit, above.

The set is excellent. The performances are uniformly polished, they possess exceptional verve, and if they're not especially idiomatic, the making up for which can occasionally sound a little artificial (hence "gimmicky"), they certainly are consistently effective. The playing is great (understatement - the playing is exceptionally great), and there are a number of brilliant moments on offer.

So "lean, mean, killing machine" Beethoven, perhaps to the expense of "flavour"; but exceptionally good as such.

Thanks, Van Immerseel has got some rave reviews on that one. And I am, as is probably known around here, generally a fan of his work. Though I have my doubts if Van Imerseel is a natural in Beethoven, like he is a Mozart and Schubert, Bruno Weil might be a better candidate.

I have de Visee disc but haven't listened to it yet, could upload some randomly picked clips if you want. Heard Rannou play Forqueray in concert, it was very beautiful, on the slow side, kinda dreamy, but that's not necessarily so on the disc, different instrument, different acoustics. I will be buying it myself definitely.

Well, I really want some solo disc(s) by Blandine Rannou and figured this might be it, instead of opting for Christophe Rousset again... Maybe I should still consider Rousset? 

Q

[rubio]

I'm considering this cheap EMI set of complete Dinu Lipatti. I only know his Chopin Waltzes which I like a lot, but how are his performances of other composers?

http://www.emi-icons.com/50999_2_07318_2_3.php

[rubio]

And anyone heard this set by Maryla Jonas?

[Novi]

And anyone heard this set by Maryla Jonas?

Very lovely mazurkas; nice, 'dancey' rhythms, although her 24/3 always seemed a little rushed for my tastes.

[George]

I'm considering this cheap EMI set of complete Dinu Lipatti. I only know his Chopin Waltzes which I like a lot, but how are his performances of other composers?

http://www.emi-icons.com/50999_2_07318_2_3.php

I am also curious, more about the sound on these Icon boxes. Has anyone bought one? 

[Drasko]

And anyone heard this set by Maryla Jonas?

Buy it. Some of the finest mazurkas around, and before sidoze comes around ranting about fake reverb I don't really find it that obtrusive, and you can hear one mazurka and judge for youself, here:
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,4659.msg179511.html#msg179511