Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[DavidRoss]

is this one supposed to be better than the old new box or just the old old box?

Confusing, isn't it? Near as I can tell, it's supposed to be the same remasterings as in the old new box ("Carnegie"), but with Janet Baker's Dead Children Songs instead of the Israeli Song of the Earth.

[Mirror Image]

I do admit to having this set, and after a couple of listenings finding the music rather bland,

You and I normally don't see eye-to-eye on music or recordings, so I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I've heard several works via YouTube and enjoyed what I heard.

[The new erato]

You and I normally don't see eye-to-eye on music or recordings, so I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I've heard several works via YouTube and enjoyed what I heard.

well, 80 % of the composers under your avatar are among my favorites, and I've been listening regularly to most of them since the mid 70-ies....... (I had 20 Martinu LPs around 1980, and am currently around 100 discs.....)....so when it comes to us disagreeing about music I'm not quite sure you're right, as to recordings that may be another matter.

But regular classical listening for all these years has taught me that there is plenty of gold out here, but also quite some dreck, and some things are unknown for a reason. Not saying that Tcherepnin is all bad, but the music on that set didn't appeal to me much, despite loving Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Ravel, Sibelius and Nielsen (we diverge there), as well as lesser lights like Rubbra, Honegger (and I think you are pretty wrong about his oratories), Weinberg, Martin and so on.....

Where we really disagree is about Beethoven, Bach etc, and if my love for those guys makes my opinions on Tcherepnin suspect, so be it. I know which of these I could do without.

There's very little you listen to I don't like (though I don't share your gushing enthusiasm for all of it - which isn't the same as disliking it); the other way around however.......In short I don't think you can find me generally being very sceptical of your likes. Your dislikes however; some of those are seriously wrong in a really big way!

I do admire your enthusiasm, but I think you need some more listening years under your collar, and some more perspective, to be so - how shall I put it  - absolute in your views. And I well remember my younger days, I were pretty much like you, gushing over with every new discovery. Time has taught me however, that some things wear well, some things don't. The real value needs time and maturity to shine through, and while there are many reasons very fine music isn't heard, there are also valid reasons some music sinks below the horizon. There's no accident Mozart and Beethoven are still played.

So this isn't meant disrespectfully, just as some friendly advice.

[Mirror Image]

well, 80 % of the composers under your avatar are among my favorites, and I've been listening regularly to most of them since the mid 70-ies....... (I had 20 Martinu LPs around 1980, and am currently around 100 discs.....)....so when it comes to us disagreeing about music I'm not quite sure you're right, as to recordings that may be another matter.

But regular classical listening for all these years has taught me that there is plenty of gold out here, but also quite some dreck, and some things are unknown for a reason. Not saying that Tcherepnin is all bad, but the music on that set didn't appeal to me much, despite loving Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Ravel, Sibelius and Nielsen (we diverge there), as well as lesser lights like Rubbra, Honegger (and I think you are pretty wrong about his oratories), Weinberg, Martin and so on.....

Where we really disagree is about Beethoven, Bach etc, and if my love for those guys makes my opinions on Tcherepnin suspect, so be it. I know which of these I could do without.

There's very little you listen to I don't like (though I don't share your gushing enthusiasm for all of it - which isn't the same as disliking it); the other way around however.......In short I don't think you can find me generally being very sceptical of your likes. Your dislikes however; some of those are seriously wrong in a really big way!

I do admire your enthusiasm, but I think you need some more listening years under your collar, and some more perspective, to be so - how shall I put it  - absolute in your views. And I well remember my younger days, I were pretty much like you, gushing over with every new discovery. Time has taught me however, that some things wear well, some things don't. The real value needs time and maturity to shine through, and while there are many reasons very fine music isn't heard, there are also valid reasons some music sinks below the horizon. There's no accident Mozart and Beethoven are still played.

So this isn't meant disrespectfully, just as some friendly advice.

I agree with almost everything you wrote. I realize that I'm 'new on the scene,' but I should say that I've been exposed to classical music since I was a child. Growing up, my Dad introduced me to all kinds of music: classical, jazz, and rock. It seemed that in the beginning, though, I didn't pay much attention to or even enjoy classical music. This came with time. I don't think me liking Beethoven or Mozart is a terrible thing as my Dad doesn't like them nor does my 93 year old Grandfather who is a huge Romantic period fanatic. These two composers may be played more often than any of the composers I admire combined, but this doesn't make them worthy of my time if I feel that their music does nothing for me. In truth, I would take Beethoven over Mozart in a heartbeat because I relate more to the aggression in Beethoven's music. Anyway, it's just the way I feel and if people want tell me I need to get my ears cleaned out, then so be it. I like what I like and the late 19th Century and the 20th Century are the periods I love most. Apart of what I love about this music is the fact that once I find a composer I haven't heard of, there's another one waiting to be discovered next. Yes, there is some music that isn't well-known for a reason, but I have found that there's a lot of music that is better than what are the alleged "masterpieces." Anyway, like I said, I may have not been listening to classical music as long as you have, but I have been told numerous times by several different people that what I've learned in such a short time was impressive. I even had an 81 year old retired Korean physics professor who has been a lifelong lover of classical music tell me that he's never been more impressed with an American classical listener in all his life and he's lived in the US since the early '50s.

In closing, my friend, I have a long way to go, but there are some people who have an even longer way to go and these are the people who are hung up on the same composers they've been listening to for 30 years. I have my favorites but I always thirst for more. That's just the way I am.

[The new erato]

In closing, my friend, I have a long way to go,

The road is what matters.  Still, there are things I never tire of, like some of Beethoven's works, and it's only the last 5 years I've discovered that Mozart really is such a great composer as they say (even though I still like Haydn better).

[Mirror Image]

The road is what matters.  Still, there are things I never tire of, like some of Beethoven's works, and it's only the last 5 years I've discovered that Mozart really is such a great composer as they say (even though I still like Haydn better).

For the record, I like Haydn more than Beethoven or Mozart.

[springrite]

In closing, my friend, I have a long way to go

That is true for all of us, and aren't we luck that it is so?

I don't look forward to the day when I have to day "I am just about there", or "the doctor told me I have roughly a week or so to go..."

[Mirror Image]

That is true for all of us, and aren't we luck that it is so?

I don't look forward to the day when I have to day "I am just about there", or "the doctor told me I have roughly a week or so to go..."

Yes, and I'm again reminded of the quote by Rachmaninov when he said "Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music."

[Sadko]

About maturing - I remember, in my teens, I had yet a lot to discover, but sometimes I had a feeling and said to myself: "You don't like it now, but it somehow sounds 'good', you might understand it better later and appreciate it then." (e. g. Prokofiev, Wagner, even Schumann)

[DavidRoss]

"Dear Sir: Thank you for taking the time to offer such kind and tactfully worded advice based on your considerable experience and acumen. However, let me assure you that I know better. I'm special. And let me also assure you that if you think you might open my mind and make it possible for me to learn something, then you are wrong, wrong, wrong." 

So far, by virtue of copious sweat, prayer, and sheer force of will, I have avoided purchasing even a single disc today ... so far ... and it's not even noon yet!

However, there are several CDs waiting in my carts at Amazon and Presto that keep singing to me like the Sirens of Greek legend. 

[Daverz]

Dead Children Songs.

As I learned it from M*A*S*H, it's the Dead Children's Glee Club.

[Conor71]

Just bought this set:

[Mirror Image]

Looks like you waited until the end to get his most famous, and (imo) best, works.  The Harpsichord Concerto is one of the best works of the 20th C.  I was listening to it recently and thinking how much I enjoy it.

No, I have multiple performances of all his major works including the Harpsichord Concerto. I just waited to the end to get this specific 2-CD set. I've heard almost all of Falla's output.

[Bogey]

So far, by virtue of copious sweat, prayer, and sheer force of will, I have avoided purchasing even a single disc today ... so far ... and it's not even noon yet!

However, there are several CDs waiting in my carts at Amazon and Presto that keep singing to me like the Sirens of Greek legend. 

How'd that work out, David?  (Now, do not use my economic plan of passing on a disc today and then doubling up tomorrow.)

[marvinbrown]

  Pulled the trigger on these:

  [asin]B0000ARNET[/asin]

  and

  [asin]B00009LW4Y[/asin]


  Totally unfamiliar with Kubelik's take on these mature Wagnerian music dramas, but with such stellar reviews I just couldn't say NO! Like I could ever say NO! to more Wagner  !!!

 
  marvin

[DavidRoss]

How'd that work out, David?  (Now, do not use my economic plan of passing on a disc today and then doubling up tomorrow.)

I fear your plan and mine are often the same, Bill! But after buying new carpet for the guest room yesterday, I managed to get through the rest of the day without buying a single thing!

[Coopmv]

  Pulled the trigger on these:

  [asin]B0000ARNET[/asin]

  and

  [asin]B00009LW4Y[/asin]


  Totally unfamiliar with Kubelik's take on these mature Wagnerian music dramas, but with such stellar reviews I just couldn't say NO! Like I could ever say NO! to more Wagner  !!!

 
  marvin

I have owned the Parsifal for a number of years.  It is excellent, though not necessarily better than Karajan's.  The Meistersinger by Karajan also is quite good ...

[Coopmv]

Placed orders on the following CD's this weekend ...

[Sergeant Rock]

Arrived this morning, Lenny's 1958 New York Phil Sacre. Currently out of print but I found a "like new" used copy from an Amazon seller that didn't break the bank.




Sarge

[Daverz]

Arrived this morning, Lenny's 1958 New York Phil Sacre.

Arkiv sells this on one of their overpriced CDRs.  This performance is also in the Original Jacket Collection.  I don't understand why Sony keeps reissuing Bernstein's London recording in preference to this one.