What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Papy Oli]

Good afternoon all 

Watching/listening to :

Daniel Barenboim
Beethoven -  sonata no.8 Op.13 "Pathétique"

Off the DVD series "Barenboim on Beethoven" - concert No.3

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

This wonderful box has given me lots of pleasure already, for their fine performances, sound and integrity. This is my second run through, and it gets better with each hearing.
CD 5 with the Etudes Tableaux, opus 33 & 39, recorded in 1983, by Anthony Howell, in a lifelike acoustic. intimate, and warm, yet with a open upper range. The works most of us know, what I have to add is, that it is as a complete set, a winner, in all respects, there is nothing to be wished for after this. Rachmaninoff pure, and eloquent.
It comes in a sturdy box and cardboard sleeves with boring artwork and colours, albeit the booklet is a excellent source of info, 71 pages, with all the recorded data, and some nice pictures.
In total 8 discs.

[madaboutmahler]

Was listening to Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kije Suite
[asin]B000001GQC[/asin]

Absolutely adorable this piece, such a great piece! I really love Prokofiev's use of his material in this piece, for example basing the last movement only on themes heard earlier on in the suite from the other movements. Such an irresistable piece that I might go and listen to it again now!  

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Second run through of this set containing 7 CD'S with the Madrigali by Monteverdi, in really excellent performances, and the recording equals that. A set not to be missed, released as a budget box. 7 CD'S in a sturdy box and cardboard sleeves, beautiful artwork, solid info about recording dates and venues, and track info on box, cardboard sleeves. and booklet. The info about the madrigali is sparse so you must look elsewhere for that.
EMI Virgin recordings, 1989-1991. Four explanatory pages written by Adelaide de Place, and translated by Hugh Graham, they are adequate, but that's it.

CD II, ii Secondo libro de Madrigali 1590. (64:38)

[TheGSMoeller]

[Lisztianwagner]

Richard Wagner
Parsifal
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan

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[Que]

Q

[Drasko]

The 8th.

On today's Building the Library on BBC3 Rob Cowan's top choice went to Colin Davis LSO Live recording.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016kd38

[Que]

The 8th.

On today's Building the Library on BBC3 Rob Cowan's top choice went to Colin Davis LSO Live recording.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016kd38

Of course, not to Talich, Šenja, or Kubelík for that matter!

Q

[Karl Henning]

I am starting for the second time with this box, which I find extraordinary beautiful, and of which I saw no GMG er taking the same path.

In admittedly inconvenient timing, mijn vriend, my box arrived only during my absence. I started with Il settimo libro . . . will certainly enjoy digging into this!

[Karl Henning]

Ives Symphony #1 D minor, Litton conducting the Dallas Symphony

[asin]B000I8OIHA[/asin]

Sarge

Mine landed the other day. I haven't even listened to the Fourth yet, so entirely has the First engaged me . . . though I've mixed it up with Central Park in the Dark.

A banner year, really, in which both the Elgar & Ives symphonies have come to "click" for me.

[Drasko]

Of course, not to Talich, Šenja, or Kubelík for that matter!

Q

I was surprised actually. Rob Cowan is very well versed in Czech music and music making and his preferences usually go in that direction. Talich's both recordings were prominently featured, and so were Kubelik's (Sejna's 8th has some unsurmountable existential problems ). He even did side by side comparison of Kubelik's Berlin and Bavarian recordings (and came in strong favor of latter, which I remember disliking for some reason after hearing it one time on radio). The only place where I disagreed was his dismissal of Ivan Fischer on account of too much portamento (I find Fischer's return to some older practices most welcome after decades of straight-laced internationalized sound). It was very good show all around (can be streamed for the next 6 days) so when he in the end opted for well played but somewhat anonymous Davis I was bit surprised.


8th, again

[jlaurson]

I am listening to this for the third time in the past 2 days:

Debussy Preludes Book I, Images Book I, Estampes (Arrau)

Is it one of these that you listen to? And if one of the first two, do you know if the recordings are the same as the third? Or did he record the Debussy a second time, too, as he did the Beethoven? Me thinks the latter.

Debussy, Preludes & Stuff Arrau Philips

Debussy, Preludes & Stuff Arrau Philips

Debussy, Preludes & Stuff Arrau Philips France

Thread Duty: Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 (while making pumpkin soup for the better half)


L.v. Beethoven,
Complete Symphonies and 8 Overtures
Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig
Riccardo Chailly
Katerina Beranov, Lilli Paasikivi,
Robert Dean Smith, Hanno Mueller-Brachmann
Decca (5 CDs)

[Lethevich]

L.v. Beethoven,
Complete Symphonies and 8 Overtures
Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig
Riccardo Chailly
Katerina Beranov, Lilli Paasikivi,
Robert Dean Smith, Hanno Mueller-Brachmann
Decca (5 CDs)

I was sure that it would be six discs with all those overtures included - that is quite some crowbar job.

[Brahmsian]

Prokofiev

Symphony No. 7 in C sharp minor, Op. 131

Neeme Jarvi
Scottish National Orchestra

Chandos

[asin]B001HY4TLE[/asin]

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Prokofiev

Symphony No. 7 in C sharp minor, Op. 131

Neeme Jarvi
Scottish National Orchestra

Chandos

[asin]B001HY4TLE[/asin]

Will start on this box soon. How do you like it so far?

[Brahmsian]

Will start on this box soon. How do you like it so far?

Absolutely adore it, Harry!  I especially love the take on the Classical Symphony and Symphony No. 4 (both the original and revised versions).

[jlaurson]

I was sure that it would be six discs with all those overtures included - that is quite some crowbar job.

Quite: Overtures Prometheus & Leonore 3 fit on disc 1. (Sys. 1 & 2) 71 minutes

Fidelio Ovt. on disc 2 (Sys. 3 & 4) 77 minutes

Corolian on disc 3 (Sys. 5 & 6) 76 minutes

Egmont & Ruins of Athens on disc 4 (Sys. 7 & 73 minutes

Feastday & King Stephen on disc 5 with the 9th (!) - the latter taking only 62.50. 75 minutes

[Brahmsian]

Strauss, R.

Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64

Kempe
Staatskapelle Dresden

EMI Classics

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[Coopmv]

I'm happy to see the image function is back!

For a first run:



Interestingly, this recording was originally issued on the Italian Symphonia label (now sadly defunct, but their wonderful catalogue is being reissued by Swiss Pan Classics).

Q

Indeed, I prefer not to do that free advertisement for Amazon ...