Recordings That You Are Considering

[nesf]

Being stuck at the butt-end of of a country in terms of orchestra-access sucks! Most corners of the UK are well-serviced for professional orchestras, but mine is not, hence I am stuck with the "Sinfonia Classica" (or whatever name they choose for the occasion) doing regional tours of draughty halls and theatres. I sympathise with your situation.

There's only one professional orchestra here (I'm almost certain) and it's based in Dublin. Down south, well we get visits the odd time but no scheduled stuff. If you like Jazz there's a big festival and there's a lot of popular stuff like the "Three Tenors" (Irish version) but nothing like having regular concerts doing serious classical music.

[Mirror Image]

I don't really have an opinion on it I wish I could enthuse myself more.

Well we all like certain composers more than others. That's just the way it is. But you do champion an underapprciated composer around these parts: Allan Pettersson.

[DavidW]

I don't really have an opinion on it I wish I could enthuse myself more.

I wish the sound quality was a little bit better than dog shit!  Great performances marred by bad sound.

[DavidW]

But you do champion an underapprciated composer around these parts: Allan Pettersson.

Lethe had to fill the void that Paulb left!

[Karl Henning]

Hah!

[jlaurson]

There's only one professional orchestra here (I'm almost certain) and it's based in Dublin. Down south, well we get visits the odd time but no scheduled stuff. If you like Jazz there's a big festival and there's a lot of popular stuff like the "Three Tenors" (Irish version) but nothing like having regular concerts doing serious classical music.

Yes, unfortunately not a particularly vibrant climate. RTE Dublin, or if you feel like crossing borders, the Ulster Orchestra, are the primary choices.

Then there are groups like Ensemble eX, of course, which do really neat work...
http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/8170.html

The Bi-Irish "Camerata Ireland" is very fine, too... and the Galway Youth Orchestra need not be dismissed, on their very occasional outings.

[nesf]

Yes, unfortunately not a particularly vibrant climate. RTE Dublin, or if you feel like crossing borders, the Ulster Orchestra, are the primary choices.

Then there are groups like Ensemble eX, of course, which do really neat work...
http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/8170.html

The Bi-Irish "Camerata Ireland" is very fine, too... and the Galway Youth Orchestra need not be dismissed, on their very occasional outings.

Unfortunately getting to Galway is more awkward than getting to Dublin and train prices here are obscene (€70 for a 3 hour trip return). So that's €140 out of pocket for myself and the wife before considering concert ticket prices, accomdation, food etc. It would be cheaper for me to go to a concert in London! I could listen to the RTE National Orchestra on the radio if I wasn't already tied up visiting in-laws every Friday night. Belfast? Hah, stupidly expensive from Cork. In Ireland all travel assumes you start in Dublin or are arriving there!

I'll keep a keen eye out for local events, hopefully the college will host some string quartets again this year, but beyond one opera a season and maybe some chamber music there won't be much live stuff going on near me. Getting into opera is on my list of things to do but beyond a few casual listens to some Verdi I'm very much a novice in that area.

[jlaurson]

Unfortunately getting to Galway is more awkward than getting to Dublin and train prices here are obscene (€70 for a 3 hour trip return). So that's €140 out of pocket for myself and the wife before considering concert ticket prices, accomdation, food etc. It would be cheaper for me to go to a concert in London! I could listen to the RTE National Orchestra on the radio if I wasn't already tied up visiting in-laws every Friday night. Belfast? Hah, stupidly expensive from Cork. In Ireland all travel assumes you start in Dublin or are arriving there!

I'll keep a keen eye out for local events, hopefully the college will host some string quartets again this year, but beyond one opera a season and maybe some chamber music there won't be much live stuff going on near me. Getting into opera is on my list of things to do but beyond a few casual listens to some Verdi I'm very much a novice in that area.

Well, then perhaps a musical week in London will hit the spot. I do that every so often, seeing how much I can squeeze into a week. (Not necessarily recommended, because it can become tedious.) Definitely LPO, Philharmonia, and LSO (+ LSO @ Lukes series) and the occasional Southbank concert are events with a high chance of enjoyment. Ditto possibly either or both the Royal Opera and ENO...  Plus St.Martin in the Fields (which is really a superb orchestra, these days)... but not (not in my experience, at any rate) the Royal Phil., which I was shocked to find in a semi-amateurish state at Cadogan Hall. How did that orchestra ever get the fairly good reputation it has?

[nesf]

Well, then perhaps a musical week in London will hit the spot. I do that every so often, seeing how much I can squeeze into a week. (Not necessarily recommended, because it can become tedious.) Definitely LPO, Philharmonia, and LSO (+ LSO @ Lukes series) and the occasional Southbank concert are events with a high chance of enjoyment. Ditto possibly either or both the Royal Opera and ENO...  Plus St.Martin in the Fields (which is really a superb orchestra, these days)... but not (not in my experience, at any rate) the Royal Phil., which I was shocked to find in a semi-amateurish state at Cadogan Hall. How did that orchestra ever get the fairly good reputation it has?

Convincing my wife that we can take a week away from two young kids is unlikely to happen but it's always an option in a few years.

[DavidW]

I've been considering the Kubelik Mahler 3:

[asin]B0000649Q4[/asin]

Opinions?

[jlaurson]

I've been considering the Kubelik Mahler 3:



G. Mahler
Symphony No.3
Kubelik, M.Thomas, BRSO
Audite


Opinions?

Very nice. Not a revelation, perhaps, but very, very nice:

Kubelik's live recording from April 20th 1967 on Audite is a very moving
performance—the gingerly played high trumpet notes in the Wunderhorn-
referencing Scherzando of the third movement are just (barely, but still) on
the right side of dread and accuracy: Appropriate for the grotesquerie of a
bucolic postcard-version of nature and the mockery that the animals make
of it ("Oxen, taking each other by the hoofs, in a triumphal ring-a-ring-o'
roses" , Adorno).

[Gurn Blanston]

I'm thinking of giving this one a try;
[asin]B000YA536M[/asin]

I have Hogwood et al doing The Creation in English, but I wanted to try an alternative, plus I have nothing at all by McCreesh and would like to hear what his group sounds like in comparison to a recording that is a standard by now. Any other alternative English versions? (PS - I already have German versions out the old wazoo, just sayin'). 

[not edward]

Wondering if this might be an advance on the late-Soviet-era recordings I have of these two works:

[DavidW]

Very nice. Not a revelation, perhaps, but very, very nice:

Thanks Jens, that sounds like (including your quote) what I'm looking for.  Think I'll pick that up today along with Szell's Eroica.

[jlaurson]

I'm thinking of giving this one a try;



J. Haydn
The Creation
Archiv

It's the bee's knees. It's awesome. Best of 2008: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2008/12/best-recordings-of-2008.html

[SonicMan46]

I'm thinking of giving this one a try;

 

I have Hogwood et al doing The Creation in English, but I wanted to try an alternative, plus I have nothing at all by McCreesh and would like to hear what his group sounds like in comparison to a recording that is a standard by now. Any other alternative English versions? (PS - I already have German versions out the old wazoo, just sayin'). 

Gurn - same for me - just own one German version (Gardiner inserted above), so wanted one in English - purchased the McCreesh late last year after reading numerous excellent reviews, just one here on MusicWeb - you should be pleased w/ that choice, as I was - Dave

[Gurn Blanston]

It's the bee's knees. It's awesome. Best of 2008: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2008/12/best-recordings-of-2008.html

That's encouraging, Jens. One just doesn't see many English versions available, which is rather surprising given that it is every bit as authentic as the German one (Haydn even held up publication in German until the English was ready to go).  As much as anything, I want to hear McCreesh, who apparently doesn't venture this far forward in time very often...

Gurn - same for me - just own one German version (Gardiner inserted above), so wanted one in English - purchased the McCreesh late last year after reading numerous excellent reviews, just one here on MusicWeb - you should be pleased w/ that choice, as I was - Dave

Thanks, Dave. I didn't remember that you had that one. I do like the Hogwood, but always have to have an alternative to keep me happy. I like that Gardiner in German, BTW. Also like this one:

[asin]B0007XHKZI[/asin]

Wish Naxos would get PI performers of this caliber more often.

[Lisztianwagner]

If it depended on me, I would have no doubt about buying this set, but I'm afraid I'm not totally impartial about Herbert von Karajan, my absolute favourite conductor. What is this set like?
[asin]B0007P8H1W[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

I've heard positive and negative things about Markl's Debussy, but I want it any way...

[asin]B006O51CSY[/asin]

This is due out next month. Can't wait.

Here's more info on the box set:

http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.509002

[springrite]

I've heard positive and negative things about Markl's Debussy, but I want it any way...

[asin]B006O51CSY[/asin]

This is due out next month. Can't wait.

I have noticed that your "recordings you are considering" posts are exactly the same as your "recent purchases" posts, separately by a few days. I will make a note of it to read just one of them in order to save time.