What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[The new erato]

The string trio no 1 on this disc is really something special as string trios go.

[jhar26]

How anyone can listen to any recording by Uchida is beyond me.   

It's not that difficult. You put the cd in your cd player, push the 'play' button and you're on your way.

[Scarpia]

It's not that difficult. You put the cd in your cd player, push the 'play' button and you're on your way.

...to hell on earth.   

[jhar26]

...to hell on earth.   

Well, it beats the monotony of having to sit on a cloud while you're listening to harp music 24/7.

[Scarpia]

Well, it beats the monotony of having to sit on a cloud while you're listening to harp music 24/7.

You've put your finger on it, that's what a Uchida CD is like.  I can't imagine a person with your avatar could tolerate Uchida.   

[jhar26]

You've put your finger on it, that's what a Uchida CD is like.  I can't imagine a person with your avatar could tolerate Uchida.   

Well, she's as unlike Argerich as it gets, I'll give you that. But even though Argerich is my favorite that doesn't mean that I'm not open to other - very different sounding musicians as well.

[The new erato]

The wonderful BWV 21 cantata from Gardiners latest release on SDG (vol 2). My favorite cantata in a treasurechest of masterpieces.

[Lethevich]

Awesome rough and tumble stuff.

[Coopmv]

Absolutely!

Listening:



Good morning.

Q

I have these 2 sets by Edwin Fischer on Naxos Historical ...

[Antoine Marchand]

I totally agree with you Antoine!

Interesting. I only have Gardiner but I'm planning to buy the new Glossa recording pretty soon. I do agree, intimacy is the magic word in early Venetian opera and one of the reasons I like it so much!

Brilliant has made a great job; unfortunately, I didn't buy L'Orfeo at time and it is currently a bit hard to get that set (excepting the new 9-CD set of complete operas). I didn't originally purchase that Orfeo because I thought that I had too many versions of that work, but today I think that was a mistake. I am even considering to purchase the version recorded by Vartolo on Naxos. Has somebody heard it?

On the other hand, I have also considered the Incoronazione on Glossa, but I have been cautious because I was not very impressed by La Venexiana performing L'Orfeo. I am a big fan of that ensemble and their wonderful cycle of madrigali (which I have complete), but I am not sure that they are achieving the same success in their opera cycle and the Selva morale e spirituale, also recently recorded by them.

[Scarpia]

Well, she's as unlike Argerich as it gets, I'll give you that. But even though Argerich is my favorite that doesn't mean that I'm not open to other - very different sounding musicians as well.

My mental picture of Uchida is of a pianist writhing in orgasmic ecstasy over a simple dominant-tonic cadence in a silly Mozart piano sonata.  Her hypersensitivity results in truncation of expression in her performances.  I had her Schubert Piano Sonata cycle, and I'd have to characterize it as the worst piano recordings I have ever heard.

[Bulldog]

How anyone can listen to any recording by Uchida is beyond me.   

That's because there are other folks with different tastes than yours.  I've always been smitten with her Mozart piano sonata survey.

[Scarpia]

That's because there are other folks with different tastes than yours.  I've always been smitten with her Mozart piano sonata survey.

I always thought I had a good imagination, but the concept someone enjoying an Uchida performance escapes me.  I realize she is a genius of sorts; for someone to have such technical ability and use it to make great music so annoying requires something beyond ordinary talent.   

[kishnevi]

I always thought I had a good imagination, but the concept someone enjoying an Uchida performance escapes me.  I realize she is a genius of sorts; for someone to have such technical ability and use it to make great music so annoying requires something beyond ordinary talent.   

I've found her Mozart to be above average; and of her Beethoven mini-cycle (the late sonatas) the only thing I don't like is the Avedon photography.

[listener]

BRAHMS   String Quartets op. 51  nos. 1 & 2
   String Quartet op 67
HAYDN  String Quartet op. 33/2
         Budapest String Quartet
     recorded c.1955  in the Library of Congress

[Que]

 

Q

[Gabriel]

I always thought I had a good imagination, but the concept someone enjoying an Uchida performance escapes me.  I realize she is a genius of sorts; for someone to have such technical ability and use it to make great music so annoying requires something beyond ordinary talent.   

I've heard her live twice: once plating Mozart's KV 488 and 491, and once playing Beethoven's opp. 109, 110 and 111. I enjoyed her playing, and what is more, I really admired it. The fact that Arrau is my favourite interpreter of Beethoven (with a style so different to hers) doesn't add or substract anything from my conclusion: it just helps me to realize how immense great music is.

[Sergeant Rock]

That's because there are other folks with different tastes than yours.  I've always been smitten with her Mozart piano sonata survey.

I feel the same way. She's one of my favorite interpreters of Mozart (for the very reason Scarpia apparently hates her: because she digs deep, making even the simplest music profound) and in a few pieces, I find her head and shoulders above anyone else I've ever heard. Her latest recording



has been playing almost non-stop since I acquired it a few weeks ago.

Sarge

[Gabriel]

I feel the same way. She's one of my favorite interpreters of Mozart (for the very reason Scarpia apparently hates her: because she digs deep, making even the simplest music profound) and in a few pieces, I find her head and shoulders above anyone else I've ever heard. Her latest recording



has been playing almost non-stop since I acquired it a few weeks ago.

Sarge

I share your opinion on Uchida's Mozart, Sarge. I have always enjoyed her cycle of sonatas in Philips, and when I listened to her playing those two concertos (it was at the Cité de la Musique in Paris) I realized how much her delicate and transparent depth is really - and not just through a recording - suitable for Mozart.

[The new erato]

On the other hand, I have also considered the Incoronazione on Glossa, but I have been cautious because I was not very impressed by La Venexiana performing L'Orfeo.

On www.newolde.com about that recording:

"Cavina's L'Orfeo may be the finest recording to date of a Monteverdi opera."