Recordings That You Are Considering

[Brian]

I agree about the Bruckner, but I really like his Brahms on Pentatone.

Yeah, his Brahms works quite well for me, though I never heard the First. None of his 2-3-4 are going to be my all-time favorites (how I feel about those symphonies today: Kubelik, Harnoncourt, Kleiber), but they're really solid and I enjoy them all.

[eyeresist]

So, for a first set of the Beethoven string quartets - Tokyo or Berg?

[The new erato]

So, for a first set of the Beethoven string quartets - Tokyo or Berg?

Neither. Takacs would be my call if price is not an issue, very fine performances (among the best) in SOTA sound. IMO that should be the first port of call, then one can branch out.

[eyeresist]

Price is an issue, hence the limited choice.

[jlaurson]

So, for a first set of the Beethoven string quartets - Tokyo or Berg?

Which Tokyo? Oh, price is an issue. The early recording. Tokyo, in that case. (In either case, actually.)

[eyeresist]

I listened to samples from Neumann's 10 CD box of Mozart choral works. Wow! This is a must buy. Even the Requiem, though much lighter than we would normally prefer, sounds like a performance of integrity. Fine sound, too.

I came upon it while looking for recordings of the great C minor. I have Colin Davis and Louis Langrée, and find them both too hard-bitten. The trad performances I sampled (Fricsay, Leppard) were too lumbering, while the HIPsters (Hogwood, Gardiner) were too brusque. Neumann sounds like a good compromise.

[Sammy]

I listened to samples from Neumann's 10 CD box of Mozart choral works. Wow! This is a must buy. Even the Requiem, though much lighter than we would normally prefer, sounds like a performance of integrity. Fine sound, too.

I came upon it while looking for recordings of the great C minor. I have Colin Davis and Louis Langrée, and find them both too hard-bitten. The trad performances I sampled (Fricsay, Leppard) were too lumbering, while the HIPsters (Hogwood, Gardiner) were too brusque. Neumann sounds like a good compromise.

Neumann's is a good version; I especially like the singing of Barbara Schlick, nobody does "vulnerable" and "miserable" better than Schlick.
Neumann can be a little slack at times, but you can't have everything.

[Que]

I listened to samples from Neumann's 10 CD box of Mozart choral works. Wow! This is a must buy. Even the Requiem, though much lighter than we would normally prefer, sounds like a performance of integrity. Fine sound, too.

I came upon it while looking for recordings of the great C minor. I have Colin Davis and Louis Langrée, and find them both too hard-bitten. The trad performances I sampled (Fricsay, Leppard) were too lumbering, while the HIPsters (Hogwood, Gardiner) were too brusque. Neumann sounds like a good compromise.

Absolutely! I got it (still) in the previous, less complete set, but it has always been a favourite. Like you, I was very (pleasantly) surprised, since these recordings have never caught much attention.
Even the Mass in C minor & the Requiem are in competitive performances, though ultimately leaving my favourites of Hogwood's C minor and Bruno Weil's Requiem (Sony), untouched.

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Q

[eyeresist]

Neumann's is a good version; I especially like the singing of Barbara Schlick, nobody does "vulnerable" and "miserable" better than Schlick.

Like you, I was very (pleasantly) surprised, since these recordings have never caught much attention.
Even the Mass in C minor & the Requiem are in competitive performances, though ultimately leaving my favourites of Hogwood's C minor and Bruno Weil's Requiem (Sony), untouched.

I'm afraid Weil is out of contention immediately, due to boy singers.  0:)

Neumann's on my to-buy list, along with the reissue of Muti's Tchaikovsky cycle. Boycott EMI? Not me!

[Scarpia]

Price is an issue, hence the limited choice.

My favorite set is quite inexpensive these days.  I got it when it was a full-price, deluxe box and it remains my favorite.

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[kishnevi]

I'm afraid Weil is out of contention immediately, due to boy singers.  0:)

Neumann's on my to-buy list, along with the reissue of Muti's Tchaikovsky cycle. Boycott EMI? Not me!

I see you and I have a similar problem with trebles (although the Harnoncourt Leonhardt Bach cycle is working better than I expected--but not better enough that it would ever be my go to version).

I have the Neumann box, but have yet to listen to it.  I got it as a bargain off of AmazonItaly, so check there before you order.  Although I have no idea what the current price there might be, and I don't know what their shipping charge to Down Under is.   To the US it's 14 Euros per order (which means go looking for several bargains that you can have shipped together).

[Que]

I'm afraid Weil is out of contention immediately, due to boy singers.  0:)

I see you and I have a similar problem with trebles (although the Harnoncourt Leonhardt Bach cycle is working better than I expected--but not better enough that it would ever be my go to version).

I see, that's a pity! But unlike the Harnoncourt/Leonhardt cycle, in Weil's recording of the Mozart Requiem it is only the choir that consists of boys, all the soloists are grown ups.

Q

[jlaurson]

I'm afraid Weil is out of contention immediately, due to boy singers.  0:)

I see, that's a pity! But unlike the Harnoncourt/Leonhardt cycle, in Weil's recording of the Mozart Requiem it is only the choir that consists of boys, all the soloists are grown ups.

Q is right -- that is a pity. A very good boys choir can be (and usually is) better (i.e. nicer sounding) than a regular choir (that's the point of having one in the first place, not only because they are cheaper and easier to store away). It's the soloists that make recordings with boys a no-go zone.

[kishnevi]

Then the Weil recording can go back into the list of possibilities---although in truth getting another recording of the Mozart is not high on my priorities. 

And despite my general aversion to treble soloists,  I have to point out that I must be one of the few people in the world who think that the boy soprano on Bernstein's DG recording of Mahler 4 actually produced an excellent result, technique flaws and all.

[Wakefield]

Does somebody know this interpretation of the Concerts royaux?

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Thanks in advance.

[Mandryka]

Feeling tempted to buy Schliessmann's Goldbergs. Because, I've started to really enjoy his Schumann, it's taken lots of repeated listenings for me to get into that style, but finally, I can like what he does, and I find it quite natural and expressive.

So I'm curious about this Bach , but it's quite an expensive purchace.

[Sammy]

Feeling tempted to buy Schliessmann's Goldbergs. Because, I've started to really enjoy his Schumann, it's taken lots of repeated listenings for me to get into that style, but finally, I can like what he does, and I find it quite natural and expressive.

So I'm curious about this Bach , but it's quite an expensive purchace.

I love Schliessmann's Schumann recordings.  I've had his Goldbergs for a couple of years but don't find it special (yet).

[Lilas Pastia]

The Bruckner of Janowski is fearfully dull, no question about it. His Brahms doesn't do anything for me... the Strauss is better, but easily bettered by others.
Yet his (recent and Ring) Wagner is already quite-to-very good (though devoid of interpretative signature), his Henze can be riveting, and his work accompanying this violinist (Karol Szymanowski,  Antonín Dvorák, and Béla Bartók) is quite excellent, actually.

A few years ago a GMG member posted a link of a mystery Eroica. No name, no clue. A sweeping, epic, dynamic account that did not let go until the last chord. it was later revealed that Marek Janowski and the Suisse Romande Orchestra were the artists. Ooohs and aaahs from the assembled GMGers. I promptly burned it to disc and it's one of my top LvB 3.

[Mandryka]

I love Schliessmann's Schumann recordings.  I've had his Goldbergs for a couple of years but don't find it special (yet).

I'll buy it if I can see it cheaply enough, but on CD ( as opposed to SACD) it has become very sought after. There's a little collection of reviews on bachcantatas.org which make it sound something to hear.

He's able to vary his style. The late Brahms seemed pretty different from the Kreileriana  in terms of approach,  more dry textured and analytic, more conventional rhythmically. I'm not sure I can follow him yet, but maybe eventually I'll learn to appreciate it.

[DavidRoss]

This:

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After acquiring and loving the "Rome" Beethoven cycle on DVD, I'm very tempted to finally break down and buy a blu ray player just for this.