What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Bogey]

Something great that I almost never listen to - fixing this now.

Now that recording needs a full report, Lethe.

[Henk]

disc 1

[Homo Aestheticus]

Wagner makes the grade. 0:)  

And with flying colors, needless to say....

0:)

[Coopmv]

And with flying colors, needless to say....

0:)

When it comes to dramatic opera, Richard Wagner is second to none ...   

[Coopmv]

I expect to be playing this double DECCA later today.  The set arrived from MDT a number of weeks ago. 

[Keemun]

[Lethevich]

Now that recording needs a full report, Lethe.

Unfortunately this is the first recording I've actually had in my hands to properly listen to, so comparison-wise I cannot be helpful - I've been satisfied enough with the many TV and radio broadcasts of it until now.

It is rather good, possibly extremely good. The recorded sound is great both in balance and clarity and with an impressive dynamic range. The conducting is rather middle-ground, with a few stand-out HIP hallmarks in evidence initially with more choppy phrasing than I have come to expect from the syrup-drenched clips I hear all over TV and radio, but this becomes unnoticable as the performance goes on. Choir and especially soloists are strong, and overall the performance does not feel like it has any deficit in gravitas, which I felt might have been a risk before playing (especially given Herreweghe's kind of limp Bruckner). The performance is overall rather reverential; the pacing is well-considered and poised, without attempting to shock with any overt examples period performance tricks, but benefitting immensely from the slightly stripped-down nature. I can see this recording appealing to a wide range of people looking for a solid performance to fill a gap in their collection.

[Coopmv]

Now playing Act 3 from Samson from this set.  This set has been great, even if the piece was not performed on period instruments ...

[DavidRoss]

When it comes to dramatic opera, Richard Wagner is second to none ...   

...but twenty-second to many.  Come on...if you like the guy, then at least respect him enough to agree with him that he didn't create operas but "music dramas."

Now playing: LvB, op 57, 54, 79, 7  -- Kovacevich

[mahler10th]

Karajan is STILL my favourite conductor.  He brought the music to us in big, dynamic ways, and changed the transparency of Classical Music forever.

[Coopmv]

Karajan is STILL my favourite conductor.  He brought the music to us in big, dynamic ways, and changed the transparency of Classical Music forever.

Agree.

[Coopmv]

The aria "Let the bright Seraphim" is no doubt the high point of Act III in this set ...    

[Henk]

disc 2

[bhodges]

Phil Kline: John the Revelator (Lionheart / Ethel) - Kline is a minimalist (sort of) best known for his works using boomboxes (e.g., his Christmas piece called Unsilent Night, designed for any number of participants).  This is a "mass for six voices" that begins with a beautiful example of "sacred harp" music, "Northport," and then incorporates a string quartet (Ethel) to create a kind of minimal-Renaissance hybrid.  Not bad, have to listen to it again. 

--Bruce

[DavidRoss]

Karajan is STILL my favourite conductor.  He brought the music to us in big, dynamic ways, and changed the transparency of Classical Music forever.

Fortunately not.  "Transparency" and "Karajan" are not concepts usually linked, except by mutual exclusivity.  Happily, Karajan's influence over interpretive style has been virtually nil over the past twenty years or so, while the influence of HIPsters and conductors such as Harnoncourt, Mackerras, Abbado, Boulez and the like has become mainstream.

Now playing:

[Coopmv]

This CD is among the fewer than 20 Telarc CD's I own.

[springrite]

When it comes to dramatic opera, Richard Wagner is second to none ...   

That reminds me of the American navy visiting Portsmouth (I think it was) after WWII, with a huge warship leading the way, flying a banner that said "Second To None". The Brits, not having quite the same quality or quantity warships but not wanting to be shown-off by the arogant Americans, sent out the smallest gunship it had, flying a huge banner that said: "NONE!"

[bhodges]

That reminds me of the American navy visiting Portsmouth (I think it was) after WWII, with a huge warship leading the way, flying a banner that said "Second To None". The Brits, not having quite the same quality or quantity warships but not wanting to be shown-off by the arogant Americans, sent out the smallest gunship it had, flying a huge banner that said: "NONE!"

Love that little story!  Very quotable, thanks for sharing it. 

Now listening to:

Barber: Piano Concerto (Stephen Prutsman / Marin Alsop / RSNO)

--Bruce

[FideLeo]

[Coopmv]

Is Andrew Manze now the director/conductor of the English Concert, the post that used to be held by Trevor Pinnock?  Is Egarr now the conductor of AAM?