What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Opus106]

This CD has quickly become one of my favourite purchases, yet. And my interest in the Baroque violin has been piqued (for a second time.)

Giuseppe Tartini
Violin Sonata in G minor, Op. 2 No. 1
Fabio Biondi and Europa Galanate

[Italian Violin Sonatas - Virgin Classics veritas]

Edit: And thanks to this CD, Michel Mascitti and his Psyché have been delightful discoveries.

[Harry]

This CD has quickly become one of my favourite purchases, yet. And my interest in the Baroque violin has been piqued (for a second time.)

Giuseppe Tartini
Violin Sonata in G minor, Op. 2 No. 1
Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante

[Italian Violin Sonatas - Virgin Classics]

Yes another one of those CD'S you keep coming back to, at least I do.

[George]

Hi George, I hope all is well?

Indeed it is. And you?

Thread duty:



The Rite of Spring - Stravinsky

[SonicMan46]

Lessel, Franz (1780-1838) - disc mainly of chamber works by Lessel; nice companion to the Wind Sextets shown yesterday from MDG - recommendation back in Gurn's 'classical' thread!

Haydn, Joseph - Symphonies, Complete - now listening to disc #10 (of 33) - consistently excellent music, well performed - need to get through this box soon, because the Haydn Baryton Box is about to ship from England!  My, Papa Haydn was a busy guy! 


 

[Harry]

Excellent choice Dave concerning the Symphonies.
All is well George, thank you!

And again I play one of my favorite CD'S, for the umpteenth time.
Ludolf Nielsen's third Symphony, absolutely smashing piece of the highest Romantic Art.

[Keemun]

I know this recording is very good, on a musical as performance level, and the recording is also something to be treasured.
A fine passing of the time with these well balanced Cello Suites.

Yes, indeed.  I was called away from my office, so I am back now listening again. 

[karlhenning]

Hindemith
Kammermusik № 7, Opus 46 / № 2
Wayne Marshall, organ
Members of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Abbado

[Renfield]

Yes, indeed. I was mighty surprised how truly excellent this set is. With all that easy Karajan-bashing, we sometimes forget that there was a bona-fide reason he was considered so fantastic.

I hereby recommend you for the Order of the Llama, on behalf of the Renfield Karajan Association (RKA). The members will vote on this shortly.

(Anyone who catches the reference also earns a virtual Karajan-fan pat in the back from me.)

[George]

Yes, indeed.  I was called away from my office, so I am back now listening again. 

How dare they make you work at work? 

[prémont]

Symphony No.2 from here

Gorgeous sound from the BPO, handsome conducting by one of the foremost Beethoven interpreters.

I see that this is the 1977 cycle. I always thought that the 1962 cycle (the only one I know a small part of other than the EMI cycle) was preferable to the other cycles. But members of the Karajan fan club may of course say, that one must have all four cycles, or is it actually five??

[karlhenning]

Hindemith
Der Schwanendreher
Tabea Zimmermann, viola
Bavarian Radio Symphony
David Shallon

[Keemun]

How dare they make you work at work? 

Well, much of my work is done while sitting in my office listening to music.  But I cannot be a hermit and stay in here all the time. 

[karlhenning]

Well, much of my work is done while sitting in my office listening to music.  But I cannot be a hermit and stay in here all the time. 

Hear, hear . . . and if it weren't such a bitter March day, I'd get out for a walk, myself.

Well . . . I'll be getting out to meet with Kwoon later today, in all events.

[Renfield]

I see that this is the 1977 cycle. I always thought that the 1962 cycle (the only one I know a small part of other than the EMI cycle) was preferable to the other cycles. But members of the Karajan fan club may of course say, that one must have all four cycles, or is it actually five??

Four complete.

As for which one is preferable to the others, it depends on one's criterion; Gramophone, for one, also an anti-Karajan bastion (bar Richard Osborne) these days, recommends the 1977 cycle as Karajan's all-round best. And I agree, with that exact qualification: "all-round".

[George]

Hear, hear . . . and if it weren't such a bitter March day, I'd get out for a walk, myself.

Someone needs to email mother nature and inform her of the date.  

[George]

Four complete.

As for which one is preferable to the others, it depends on one's criterion; Gramophone, for one, also an anti-Karajan bastion (bar Richard Osborne) these days, recommends the 1977 cycle as Karajan's all-round best. And I agree, with that exact qualification: "all-round".

Are there more top choices from the middle two sets than the outer two? (please say yes)

[Renfield]

Are there more top choices from the middle two sets than the outer two? (please say yes)

It'll have to depend on what you want from your Beethoven cycle, so to speak.

But generally, yes, the 1962-3 has the most 'top choices", I'd say - especially the 4th and 7th, and the 3rd and 5th overall.

The 1980s set has what I consider Karajan's best reading of the Eroica, and almost-best 9th (the 4th movement spoils it), as well as his most convincing 5th (strictly IMO), but not his 'best' if you count consistency in the orchestral playing and good sound. The 1970s cycle does not have a single bad performance, and the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th(?), 7th, 8th and 9th are all in contest for "best, all things considered".

The Philharmonia cycle has a great 9th, a great 5th and 6th, and very good performances of all the rest, but which are mostly superceded by the BPO efforts. However, one of Karajan's best Beethoven recordings (IMO, again) is also a very old VPO 5th on EMI.

Ditto for a brilliant 7th on Decca with the same orchestra.

[hautbois]

Ravel, Mother Goose, Haitink, Boston Symphony, Decca 80th tribute

[Harry]

Ludolf Nielsen
Hjortholm, Tone Picture, opus 53.

Composed in 1923, it is indeed a picturesque flow of beautiful notes, that warms your heart. Well played and recorded, with a excellent conductor that propels the music to unlimited heights.   

[Que]

Re: Weinberger's Bach

Only content? Not enthusiastic?

Picking up on Premont's chuckle-worthy pun:

Yes... this is the set in a nutshell: It makes you CONTENT, not enthusiastic. 

Well, my opinion on Weinberger so far is that his set is a mixed bag. Major attractions are the quality of the recordings, the wonderful instruments that are used and Weinberger's well informed and generally expressive style. Frustrating is that Weinberger hits the nail right on the head and goes for it on several occassions, just to return ot downright plodding and dragging performances in other instances.... Though he is by no means like Harald Vogel, who in a historically correct style, wonderfully recorded and on great instrumenst plods right through Buxtehude's entire organ œuvre...

NOW:



Q