Recordings That You Are Considering

[Madiel]

Buy now.  Think later.

It's basically down to this or making a second attempt at the Isaac Stern box (which is actually the cheaper option). Amazon has given me a refund.

[Todd]

It's basically down to this

That looks much better. 

There is a chance that an entire production run has the same problem you encountered. 

Tastes vary, of course, but among the modern (ie, digital) sets I've heard, Cerovsek/Jumppanen is easily my favorite, and the one I would put up against some of the great sets of yesteryear - Francescatti/Casadesus, Ferras/Barbizet, etc. 

[Madiel]

Yes, I'd actually spotted your praise for the Cerovsek/Jumppanen set while doing some browsing to see if there was a dedicated Beethoven violin sonatas thread. And yes, I'm not using it right now. 

Tastes may vary, but having listened to portions of about a dozen movements I'd say your taste in this case is pretty excellent. I've liked it all, and while it's true that I'm using my computer speakers right now and they're not my best equipment, the recording sounds very much in line with my preferences and the performances have got plenty of life in them.

[Todd]

the recording sounds very much in line with my preferences and the performances have got plenty of life in them.

Sound for the set is outstanding.  It is among the most dynamically wide-ranging recordings of chamber music I've heard.

All this back and forth about Cerovsek and Jumppanen has made me consider this:

[SonicMan46]

That looks much better. 

There is a chance that an entire production run has the same problem you encountered. 

Tastes vary, of course, but among the modern (ie, digital) sets I've heard, Cerovsek/Jumppanen is easily my favorite, and the one I would put up against some of the great sets of yesteryear - Francescatti/Casadesus, Ferras/Barbizet, etc.

Agree w/ the above in bold - have nearly a half dozen of the sets - a few more that I enjoy are shown below - the one w/ Wurtz has received some mixed reviews but my purchase was based on a 'must have' review by Jerry Dubins reprinted HERE - Dave

 

[jlaurson]

the one w/ Wurtz has received some mixed reviews but my purchase was based on a 'must have' review by Jerry Dubins reprinted HERE - Dave

 

Seconded. That one was also a surprise winner of the comparative listening I did, recently.

[Wanderer]

[asin]B000ZB2V42[/asin]

Buy now.  Think later.

Seconded.

The Cerovsek/Jumppanen and Kremer/Argerich are my top two favourite sets.

My favourite set:
[asin]B003XSXLP2[/asin]
It's really surprisingly good.

Indeed. Another favourite of mine.

Regarding the other options you mentioned, orfeo, I think Dumay/Pires is very good, I'm rather indifferent towards Perlman/Ashkenazy and I definitely don't like Faust/Melnikov.

[The new erato]

Suk/panenka anybody?

[Madiel]

Agree w/ the above in bold - have nearly a half dozen of the sets - a few more that I enjoy are shown below - the one w/ Wurtz has received some mixed reviews but my purchase was based on a 'must have' review by Jerry Dubins reprinted HERE - Dave

 

Sampling again. The Barati/Wurz is sounding rather good. Seems to favour being fast and lively, but they're pulling it off incredibly well - none of it sounds rushed because they're both very crisp and clean.

Suk/Panenka: not loving the acoustic balance, unfortunately. The violin and the piano sound like they are in 2 slightly different environments.

[Que]

Suk/panenka anybody?

Yep! 

But I have to admit that I haven't heard most of the mentioned newcomers. I guess I do not much feel the need to...
Though I would be in the market for one more really nice period cycle...

Q

[Mandryka]

Pierre Gallon, Fredddy Eichelberger and Thomas Dunford play Pierre Attaingnant

[prémont]

Pierre Gallon, Fredddy Eichelberger and Thomas Dunford play Pierre Attaingnant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfmmeDEzVOA

[ritter]

Is this indulging in nostalgia (of a bygone era, which ended before I was born), or can it be the chance to experience great music-making from the heady days of the Haydn-renaissance?

[asin]B00PCCX0NA[/asin]

[asin]B00OHEHFLC[/asin]

Reviews of both sets tend to be rather positive...

[Todd]

[asin]B00OHEHFLC[/asin]

The Schneider Quartet was headed by Alexander Schneider, the on-again, off-again second violinist of the Budapest Quartet, so I imagine the music making would be at least good.  I don't know anything about Goberman's music-making.  If the price of the string quartet box reaches an acceptable level, I may buy.

[ritter]

The Schneider Quartet was headed by Alexander Schneider, the on-again, off-again second violinist of the Budapest Quartet, so I imagine the music making would be at least good.  I don't know anything about Goberman's music-making.  If the price of the string quartet box reaches an acceptable level, I may buy.

Thanks for the comment, Todd. Yep, the price remains high (even if it's supposed to be "15 CDs for the price of 8"-- but certainly not 8 cheap CDs  ).

Goberman is a name I'm familar with, because my late sister (who was not really into classical) owned, some 35 years ago,  an Odyssey LP of him conducting Schubert's Unfinished and other works (well, there you go, the nostagia kicking in  )...

Cheers,

[Moonfish]

Ritter,

We had a number of posts about the Goberman Haydn set back in November! 

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,23654.msg847612.html#msg847612

[Beaumarchais]

For some time, I have had my eye on the Shostakovich No.7 by Bernstein and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
I agree with certain critical reservations about this work but with playing of this calibre it seems like a must have.

http://youtu.be/drhq4frGo60

[ritter]

Ritter,

We had a number of posts about the Goberman Haydn set back in November! 

Thanks, Moonfish!. Very helpful....but nobody seems to have actually bought the set as of yet...I saw it in a departement store here in Madrid today, and almost went for it.... I think I'll succumb. André's phrase "mix of snap and warmth" more or less describes the kind of Haydn perfromance a like....

[Ken B]

Thanks, Moonfish!. Very helpful....but nobody seems to have actually bought the set as of yet...I saw it in a departement store here in Madrid today, and almost went for it.... I think I'll succumb. André's phrase "mix of snap and warmth" more or less describes the kind of Haydn perfromance a like....

It has appeal to me too. I vaguely remember it from long ago. But on the other hand, Dorati seemed the clear first choice when it appeared, which suggests Goberman had problems ...
Decisions, decisions!
Let us know.

[marvinbrown]

  Oh I'm tempted:

  [asin]B004G7FFF8[/asin]

  Anybody own this? Are all those transcriptions worth a listen or should I be content with the dozen CDs I already own of Liszt's piano music. Any advice would be appreciated.

  marvin