Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[Todd]

Could you report back on any which you find exceptional?

Will do.

[Heather Harrison]

I bought another group of CDs today.  Here are the first two.



These two CDs of Boccherini's music were on the used rack.  The first has two cello concertos and two symphonies, performed by Anner Bylsma (cello) and Tafelmusik.  The only piece on this CD that was previously familiar to me is Symphony G. 506 "La casa del diavolo", which is one of my favorite symphonies of the Classic period outside of Mozart's and Haydn's best work.  It is a very stormy and energetic piece.  The others on the CD are more typical examples of Classical elegance.  As I have come to expect from Tafelmusik, the performances are very good.

The second CD includes four quintets for guitar and string quartet, performed by Pepe Romero and members of the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.  Boccherini settled in Spain, and much of his music shows the influence of his adopted home.  While much of the music in the guitar quintets sounds fairly typical of the light, elegant music that was popular at the time, a few movements are unmistakably Spanish.  I can't imagine that, anywhere else in Europe, the finale of a multi-movement chamber piece would have been a fandango (as it is in G. 448).  Performances are very good; Romero plays the prominent guitar part with great skill.

While I like the style of the Classic period, my one real complaint is that composers often stuck too closely to the forms expected of them, so a lot of the music tends to sound very much alike.  I tend to like best music that adds something to the usual style, such as Haydn's Sturm und Drang symphonies and string quartets, Mozart's late symphonies and operas, and Gluck's reform operas.  Boccherini's music sometimes adds some novelty to the Classical style, in this case with the Spanish influence in the guitar quintets and the unusual storminess of Symphony G. 506.  I'm glad I was watching for him when I searched the used rack today.  I would recommend either of these CDs to someone who wants to explore the Classical repertoire beyond Haydn and Mozart.

Heather

[Maciek]

For those of you looking for another take on Gorecki's Third, I'd like to also recommend an excellent recording with Stefania Woytowicz - if it's not oop?

But of course, you should also try the "brutal" Gorecki. Like his Muzyczka cycle. Or Genesis. Or at least Symphony No. 2 (much better than No. 3, IMO, but already going in that slow, meditative direction).

[Heather Harrison]

Here are three more from yesterday's shopping trip.



When I looked up the image of this one, I found that it is out-of-print and currently going for almost $27 on Amazon, so I consider it to be a lucky find on the used rack for $8.  Every now and then, I encounter music by Benjamin Britten, and I inevitably find it to be fascinating.  There is incredible variety in his work.  I have found accessible, lyrical, and entertaining pieces; and I have also found music that is austere, complex, and drifting in and out of tonality.  All of these characteristics are in evidence on this CD, from the exuberance and nostalgic feel of Simple Symphony to the rich complexity of Lachrymae for viola and orchestra and Prelude and Fugue.  All of these diverse characteristics can even be found together in one piece - Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge.  Elegy for solo viola is also a real treat; the viola as a solitary instrument has a great deal of expressive power; it is a shame that more composers haven't taken advantage of it.  All of the music is performed beautifully by Lars Anders Tomter (viola) and Norwegian Chamber Orchestra conducted by Iona Brown.  For anyone who wants a good selection of Britten's music, I would recommend this CD.



One reason I went into F.Y.E. yesterday was to see if they might actually have a CD of music by Szymanowski.  I did realize that this would be a long shot.  From time to time, I have heard talk of this composer (generally in glowing terms) and I have been meaning to check out his music.  But there are so many CDs and so many composers that it can take time for me to get around to something.  As it turns out, F.Y.E. had only one Szymanowski CD (which is one more than I expected to find) - this one.  And it is a very good one.  The music is quite unique, exotic, and beautiful.  Performances are top quality, and the sound quality is excellent.  Included are Songs of a Fairy-tale Princess, Harnasie, and Love Songs of Hafiz.  It is performed by City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Simon Rattle, with Iwona Sobotka (soprano), Katarina Karneus (mezzo-soprano), and Timothy Robinson (tenor).  The songs are especially lovely, and the ballet Harnasie includes a diverse array of fascinating and exotic music.  I have a feeling that more of Szymanowski's music will soon find its way into my collection.



This is a CD of piano miniatures of the Romantic era.  It is played by Robert Silverman on a small grand piano dating from 1898 - just the type of piano that middle-to-upper class people might have had in their homes.  And this is the sort of music that people used to enjoy playing at home.  It is salon music - small scale and not too difficult to play.  There are 18 tracks, and 18 composers are represented.  Some pieces are very familiar (Schumann's Traumerei and Liszt's Liebestraum, for example).  Others are not so familiar, and there are little-known composers represented.  This is a nostalgic look at a time before the phonograph when music-making in the home was commonplace.  The music is played beautifully, and the vintage piano has a nice sound - just different enough from the usual concert grand to make it interesting.

Heather

[Heather Harrison]

I just finished listening to this one:



This is a very early recording (April 1954) in RCA Victor's famous series of stereo recordings.  Unlike most of the others in this new series of SACD reissues, this one does show its age somewhat.  The orchestral has a bit of that muffled 1940's sound, although the piano is reasonably clear.  But it is incredibly good for 1954.  It is interesting to hear this very early stereo recording, as it represents a midpoint in RCA Victor's rapid technological progress from the experimental recordings of 1953 to the excellent recordings that came out later in 1954.  Every now and then, there is a short time window in which major advances in recording technology occur.  The first was, of course, Edison's invention of the phonograph in 1877.  Next came the advent of commercial recordings in the 1890's.  Perhaps the greatest single improvement of all time was the introduction of electrical recordings in 1925; before-and-after comparisons show an incredible difference in quality.  Then came high fidelity and stereo in the 1950's.  Of course, we are probably all grateful for the major advance in the 1980's, when the CD was introduced, but that built upon all of the important advancements of the past.

For anyone who is interested in the history of advancements in recording technology, I would highly recommend this 2-channel SACD as it is a great snapshot of this history.  Or for those who like good historical performances, I would also recommend this.  But if you expect this to have the same recording quality of most of the other releases in the "Living Stereo" series, you might be disappointed.  As for the music, I am not as familiar with Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 as I am with his chamber music (which I consider to be some of the best of the mid-to-late Romantic).  This is very dark, moody, and stormy music.  It is innovative and, at many junctures, rather dissonant.  Anyone who accuses Brahms of being a boring conservative should give this piece a fair hearing.  This piece seems to be a rather tough nut to crack - definitely not as immediately accessible as much of the composer's work.  When I encounter something like this, I am seldom put off; rather, I am intrigued and I want to further explore its mysteries.  Also, I am drawn to dark and moody music.  I think I am going to end up comparing performances of this one; it is probably worth getting to know.  I would like to hear a modern recording with better sound - any recommendations?

(Note that I was listening to this under the influence of a glass of Pouilly-Fume, so that might have colored my impressions a bit; wine will tend to bring out the moodiness in music.)

Heather

[Heather Harrison]

This thread has been uncharacteristically inactive this evening; people must have taken a very temporary break from buying stuff.

Here is the next item from my recent purchase.



I am glad I found this.  I have four of Rameau's operas on DVD, but I wanted one on CD so that I could have one available to listen to anywhere.  This one isn't yet available on DVD, as far as I know.  It is Rameau's first opera, and it is, musically, a bit more complex than the others.  From reading the liner notes I found that this is the very piece of music that is responsible for the term "Baroque" as applied to music.  Apparently, audiences of the day thought it was too complicated and the term "Baroque" was applied as a pejorative.  Since complicated Baroque music is now in vogue, this opera should be popular.  I would not hesitate to call it a masterpiece; it has everything that I could want out of "overly complicated" Baroque music - intricate counterpoint, virtuoso arias, storm scenes, elegant dance numbers, and polyphonic choral sections.  As I have come to expect out of Minkowski, the performance is superb.  I notice that there is also a CD of this opera performed by William Christie; that one may also be worth a try.

Heather

[71 dB]

This thread has been uncharacteristically inactive this evening; people must have taken a very temporary break from buying stuff.

Here is the next item from my recent purchase.

I am glad I found this.  I have four of Rameau's operas on DVD, but I wanted one on CD so that I could have one available to listen to anywhere.  This one isn't yet available on DVD, as far as I know.  It is Rameau's first opera, and it is, musically, a bit more complex than the others.  From reading the liner notes I found that this is the very piece of music that is responsible for the term "Baroque" as applied to music.  Apparently, audiences of the day thought it was too complicated and the term "Baroque" was applied as a pejorative.  Since complicated Baroque music is now in vogue, this opera should be popular.  I would not hesitate to call it a masterpiece; it has everything that I could want out of "overly complicated" Baroque music - intricate counterpoint, virtuoso arias, storm scenes, elegant dance numbers, and polyphonic choral sections.  As I have come to expect out of Minkowski, the performance is superb.  I notice that there is also a CD of this opera performed by William Christie; that one may also be worth a try.

Heather

Thanks Heather for the introduction to this opera. I am a Rameau fan but I don't have this one. I also like complex music so this should be bliss for my ears. I must add it to my wishlist! 

[Harry]

Delivered today!

Soler,Pad Sämtliche
Richter,F Symphonien
Händel,Ge Christophe
Händel,Ge John Eliot
Brian,Hav Symphonie
Purcell,H Musik für
Rozsa,Mik Sinfonia c
Boehe,Ern Symphonisc
Ensemble Alta Musica
Ragazzi,A Sonate a q
Schubert, Tänze für
Boehe,Ern Symphonisc
Hill,Alfr Streichqua
Mendelsso Ein Sommer
Wetz,Rich Violinkonz
Händel,Ge Acis und G
Moreno To Gitarrenwe
Gottschal Symphonien
Rodrigo,J Kammermusi
Scarlatti 9 Flötenko
Mendelsso Ein Sommer
Schubert, Klavierson
Ensemble Badinerie -
Turina,Jo Klavierwer
Musique Transalpine

[M forever]

Are the numbers the quantities in which you ordered each title?

[Soundproof]

Thanks Heather for the introduction to this opera. I am a Rameau fan but I don't have this one. I also like complex music so this should be bliss for my ears. I must add it to my wishlist! 

You probably have this one? If not, I'd like to recommend it.


http://www.fnacmusic.com/album/c823e0c2-65f3-4259-b20a-5cde1d0ef366.aspx

[Kullervo]

Delivered today!

Soler,Pad Sämtliche
Richter,F Symphonien
Händel,Ge Christophe
Händel,Ge John Eliot
Brian,Hav Symphonie
Purcell,H Musik für
Rozsa,Mik Sinfonia c
Boehe,Ern Symphonisc
Ensemble Alta Musica
Ragazzi,A Sonate a q
Schubert, Tänze für
Boehe,Ern Symphonisc
Hill,Alfr Streichqua
Mendelsso Ein Sommer
Wetz,Rich Violinkonz
Händel,Ge Acis und G
Moreno To Gitarrenwe
Gottschal Symphonien
Rodrigo,J Kammermusi
Scarlatti 9 Flötenko
Mendelsso Ein Sommer
Schubert, Klavierson
Ensemble Badinerie -
Turina,Jo Klavierwer
Musique Transalpine

I have my crack team of experts working day and night to decipher this

[Harry]

I have my crack team of experts working day and night to decipher this

Don't worry, by and by they will find their way to the listening thread, and than you say, O, yes, now I understand!

[71 dB]

I have my crack team of experts working day and night to decipher this

Why decipher? The point of Harry's post was he bough only 25 CDs! 

[Sergeant Rock]

This thread has been uncharacteristically inactive this evening; people must have taken a very temporary break from buying stuff.

I ran out of money...it really sucks.

Sarge

[BachQ]

I have my crack team of experts working day and night to decipher this

Looks like you also have a nifty time machine to go back to the 1950's ..........

[Don]

I ran out of money...it really sucks.

Sarge

That's for sure, because I was going to hit you up for a music loan.

[Sergeant Rock]

That's for sure, because I was going to hit you up for a music loan.

Bad timing, Don. Try again next month.

Sarge

[Mark]

These two, used, for under £10 delivered:

[Heather Harrison]

You probably have this one? If not, I'd like to recommend it.


http://www.fnacmusic.com/album/c823e0c2-65f3-4259-b20a-5cde1d0ef366.aspx

I have it, and it is a very good one.

Anyway, here are the final two items from my recent purchase.



Both of these are SACDs performed by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Vienna Philharmonic.  I listened to them away from home, so I heard the CD layer and haven't heard the SACD programs yet.  Sound quality on the CD layer is excellent on both of them.

Verdi's Requiem also includes Eva Mei, Bernarda Fink, Michael Schade, Ildebrando d'Arcangelo, and the Arnold Schoenberg Choir.  I have one other performance of Verdi's Requiem, but I haven't spent a lot of time with it and don't know it really well.  This performance is mostly understated and reverential, and the vocal soloists are on the lighter side.  However, the more powerful passages come off quite well.  I liked this performance; it emphasized the reverential nature of the music and didn't sound as "operatic" as I might have expected from Verdi.  It might not be to everybody's taste, but it works for me.

This is my second recording of Bruckner's Symphony No. 5.  I still need to do a good comparison with the other one (Jochum's 1960's recording on DG); when I have done a good enough comparison, I'll post my opinion in the Bruckner thread.  Taken on its own, this performance came off very well.  The loud, powerful, Wagnerian passages are bright and clear, and the introspective quieter sections are played with great feeling.  This is complex and difficult music, full of contrasts and with great emotional range; I can only imagine that it is quite a challenge to perform.  I am looking forward to hearing the SACD layer; this is the sort of music that should benefit from the best possible recording technology.  As an added bonus, a CD of excerpts from the rehearsals is included.  It is the sort of thing that is interesting to hear once; it gives an idea of how a performance comes together.

Heather

[Choo Choo]

Today I finally gave into temptation, and ordered the first 3 x 2CD sets of Herman Koppel, Composer & Pianist in MDT's Danacord "sale".

   

I say "sale" in quotes because they're still £20 per set - and I've been putting off this buying decision, mainly because it's not that impressive a bargain - until today MDT sent me an email saying "Why don't you stop annoying yourself and just buy the bloody things?"  (that's not exactly how they worded it, but it's how I interpreted it.)