What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[ChamberNut]

Mahler

Symphony No. 6 in A minor

Tennstedt
London Philharmonic Orchestra
EMI Classics

After listening to the Andante Moderato movement yesterday for both the Eschenbach/Philadelphia Orchestra and Gergiev/LSO recordings, (both very tepid and bland IMO)I have no desire to listen to their entire 6th, so I'm listening to my trusted Tennstedt copy. 

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD8, the last CD from the set.  The SQ and the performance are generally excellent.  But according to George, the performance on the Kempff mono set is a bit better (Kempff was also 10 years younger) and that set is now on its way.

[Catison]

Who knew there was a vocal part to Spartacus?

[Coopmv]

I wouldn't know why, if the quality of the performance is good?  Besides, BC issues recordings from other labels, including some from labels you regularly buy, like Universal Classics, EMI or Tactus.

BTW the recording by the Van Swieten Trio of the Haydn piano trios is unparalleled IMO. Your loss if you don't want it for other reasons than on account of the performance. Briliant is doing Haydn fans some BIG favours with this and the Baryton trios set.

There was some misunderstanding here.  I obviously will buy CD's released by BC that were originally licensed from UniversalMusic.  I just will not buy any recordings made by some provincial ensemble in Croatia, just to randomly pick a name to make my point.  I think Naxos is more known for doing this ...

[Harry]

There was some misunderstanding here.  I obviously will buy CD's released by BC that were originally licensed from UniversalMusic.  I just will not buy any recordings made by some provincial ensemble in Croatia, just to randomly pick a name to make my point.  I think Naxos is more known for doing this ...

The fact that a ensemble is picked from Croatia, does not necessarily mean that it is bad. I think Naxos was known for doing this, but then we talk 20 years back.
Brilliant is one of the biggest and better labels, that gives us outstanding new recordings as Hadyn's Baryton trios, or the rightly famed Piano trios, that Que was talking about, plus fine licensed recordings from known and unknown ensembles that have a high level of performance. I only have to remember the Tactus recordings, the many CRD and ASV recordings, not to mention several Hyperion and Chandos issues, and so on, and on....

[ChamberNut]

Beethoven

Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56

Oistrakh
Rostropovich
Richter

Berliner Philharmoniker - Karajan
EMI Classics (GROTC)

[ChamberNut]

Brahms

Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102

Oistrakh
Rostropovich

Cleveland Orchestra - George Szell
EMI Classics (GROTC)

[Que]

There was some misunderstanding here.  I obviously will buy CD's released by BC that were originally licensed from UniversalMusic.  I just will not buy any recordings made by some provincial ensemble in Croatia, just to randomly pick a name to make my point.  I think Naxos is more known for doing this ...

OK, I understand your point as that you don't want to buy recordings by 2nd rate performers and that you generally associate Brilliant Classics, and Naxos, with such issues.

Well, firstly I can assure you that the Dutch Van Swieten Trio, its members part of the larger Van Swieten Society, consists of 1st rate players. Bart van Oort is a renowned fortepianist who studied under Stanley Hoogland and Macolm Bilson, he is now professor at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, the Sweelink Conservatory in Amsterdam and the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Antwerp. And I assume that cellist Jaap ter Linden is a more familiar name. Violinist Rémy Baudet plays in Brüggen's Orchestra of the 18th Century, violinist Franc Polman plays, amongst other things, also in the Nepomuk Pianoforte Quintet (another fine ensemble on BC) in the Schuppanzigh String Quartet, and has been involved in projects with Minkowski's Les Musiciens du Louvre, Brüggen's Orchestra of the 18th Century, etc. etc.

Secondly, I think it is unfair to generally associate Brilliant Classics with 2nd rate performers, even when their own original productions are concerned - the Van Swieten Trio, Bart van Oort's solo recordings and the Esterhazy Ensemble are fine examples of top performers recorded by BC. But course, as any other label BC has its share of mediocrity as well.  But I see no reason to avoid BC as such.

Q

[ChamberNut]

Stravinsky

Symphony in Three Movements
Symphony of Psalms
Symphony in C

Sir Simon Rattle
Berliner Philharmoniker
Rundfunkchor Berlin
EMI Classics

*Still my favorite purchase in 2009 so far. 

[imperfection]

....That first movement was damn near perfect...

[Lethevich]

I don't tend to associate DSCH with the piano, but every time I hear this piece I am blown away. Where did it come from?

[karlhenning]

I don't tend to associate DSCH with the piano, but every time I hear this piece I am blown away. Where did it come from?

A visit to Dresden, to help adjudicate a Bach festival (IIRC).

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD4 from this set, as I am finally done with Kempff's stereo Beethoven PS and the mono set has not arrived yet.  Sonata No. 30 had some movements that were very beautifully played by Kempff ...

[Coopmv]

....That first movement was damn near perfect...

I am now persuaded to re-listen to this recording ...   

[Coopmv]

OK, I understand your point as that you don't want to buy recordings by 2nd rate performers and that you generally associate Brilliant Classics, and Naxos, with such issues.

Well, firstly I can assure you that the Dutch Van Swieten Trio, its members part of the larger Van Swieten Society, consists of 1st rate players. Bart van Oort is a renowned fortepianist who studied under Stanley Hoogland and Macolm Bilson, he is now professor at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, the Sweelink Conservatory in Amsterdam and the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Antwerp. And I assume that cellist Jaap ter Linden is a more familiar name. Violinist Rémy Baudet plays in Brüggen's Orchestra of the 18th Century, violinist Franc Polman plays, amongst other things, also in the Nepomuk Pianoforte Quintet (another fine ensemble on BC) in the Schuppanzigh String Quartet, and has been involved in projects with Minkowski's Les Musiciens du Louvre, Brüggen's Orchestra of the 18th Century, etc. etc.

Secondly, I think it is unfair to generally associate Brilliant Classics with 2nd rate performers, even when their own original productions are concerned - the Van Swieten Trio, Bart van Oort's solo recordings and the Esterhazy Ensemble are fine examples of top performers recorded by BC. But course, as any other label BC has its share of mediocrity as well.  But I see no reason to avoid BC as such.

Q

My goal this year is to get to know more about some Dutch performers and ensembles.  I have a good number of recordings by Leonhardt and van Asperen and of course RCO both on CD and on LP.  However, my exposure to Dutch chamber groups is practically nil.  The following Haydn Piano Trios is now on my shopping list for July ...

[greg]

Mahler

Symphony No. 6 in A minor

Tennstedt
London Philharmonic Orchestra
EMI Classics

After listening to the Andante Moderato movement yesterday for both the Eschenbach/Philadelphia Orchestra and Gergiev/LSO recordings, (both very tepid and bland IMO)I have no desire to listen to their entire 6th, so I'm listening to my trusted Tennstedt copy. 

Tennstedt! Hell yeah! 
Glad to hear you're listening to this. Of all the 6s I've heard, no one gets it right for me quite like he does. "Frightening intensity" is a perfect description.

....That first movement was damn near perfect...

We actually agree on something! 

[ChamberNut]

Schubert

Mass in E flat major, D.950

Collegium Musicum 90
Richard Hickox
Chandos

[val]

SHOSTAKOVITCH:      Symphony n. 4          / WDR Symphony Orchestra, Barshai

The orchestra is very good. But Barshai is not very convincing in this work. The important dramatic moments of the first movement seem pale, and I would expect more contrasts between the moments of great intensity and the lyrical ones. With Barshai the first movement seems, somehow, deprived of its vertebral column, reduced to a set of episodes.
Kondrashin remains, in my opinion, the great interpreter of this Symphony.

[Lethevich]

[Sergeant Rock]

Mahler Six




Sarge