Recordings That You Are Considering

[SonicMan46]

I could definitely recommend the Kuhnau by Molardi: interesting music that is matched by superb playing, a perfect instrument and well recorded.

Que - thanks for the recommendation above - that set has been on my 'to buy' list also, and checking my database, I have NO music by this composer (Bach's predecessor in Leipzig to boot!) - added the other below for a more varied introduction to his works.  Dave

 

[Que]

Que - thanks for the recommendation above - that set has been on my 'to buy' list also, and checking my database, I have NO music by this composer (Bach's predecessor in Leipzig to boot!) - added the other below for a more varied introduction to his works.  Dave

You'e welcome. And that harpsichord disc by Jan Katzschke is awesome - good choice!

Q

[mc ukrneal]

I haven't listened to these recordings, but I saw they are available via Apple Music (so, I think, should be available through Spotify and other streaming services, too).

I also saw the complete set available at 7digital (320kbps MP3 + 320kbps M4A) for $9.99: https://hec.su/bR7P.

Just in case. 

Some of the discs can be found on youtube.

[aligreto]

I haven't listened to these recordings, but I saw they are available via Apple Music (so, I think, should be available through Spotify and other streaming services, too).

I also saw the complete set available at 7digital (320kbps MP3 + 320kbps M4A) for $9.99: https://hec.su/bR7P.

Just in case. 

Thank you 

[aligreto]

Some of the discs can be found on youtube.

Thank you for that 

[Jo498]

Is anyone familiar with different recordings of Nielsen's violin sonatas? jpc has the BIS recording (Demertzis) at a great price (EUR 7,99) and the main alternative (dacapo) is more than twice that. There is a dacapo chamber box that is not expensive per disc but I do not want to shell out 30 Euros for fairly obscure Nielsen chamber music if I only want the violin sonatas. Or should I want them at all? The wind quintet is great but what I remember from the string quartets (have the Naxos) is between worthwhile and juvenilia...

[Mirror Image]

Nielsen's violin sonatas aren't that special. They don't have that inventive touch found in say the Wind Quintet for example. I mean they're pleasant music, but, for me, nothing substantial.

[amw]

Is anyone familiar with different recordings of Nielsen's violin sonatas? jpc has the BIS recording (Demertzis) at a great price (EUR 7,99) and the main alternative (dacapo) is more than twice that. There is a dacapo chamber box that is not expensive per disc but I do not want to shell out 30 Euros for fairly obscure Nielsen chamber music if I only want the violin sonatas. Or should I want them at all? The wind quintet is great but what I remember from the string quartets (have the Naxos) is between worthwhile and juvenilia...

imo the Dacapo recording is better than the BIS one in a lot of respects, though there's nothing wrong with the latter (just a little bit low-energy). But Christian Tetzlaff's recording of the Sonata No. 2 is just as good as Jon Gjesme's and probably cheaper—No. 2 is the mature work and near the very highest level of Nielsen's composition—though he hasn't done any more Nielsen I don't think.

[Jo498]

Someone sent me a dub of Tetzlaff/Andsnes; unfortunately that Virgin CD is oop (same for a twofer re-issue) and very expensive (ca. 30 EUR, or >100 for the twofer, which are not realistic prices but show that these items are apparently very rare) used, to this is out of the question. It's a pity that the mature sonata is apparently so little known and hardly recorded on mixed discs like the Tetzlaff. I'll probably stick with the Tetzlaff for now until I can get it or the Dacapo at an acceptable price.

[amw]

Someone sent me a dub of Tetzlaff/Andsnes; unfortunately that Virgin CD is oop (same for a twofer re-issue) and very expensive (ca. 30 EUR, or >100 for the twofer, which are not realistic prices but show that these items are apparently very rare) used, to this is out of the question. It's a pity that the mature sonata is apparently so little known and hardly recorded on mixed discs like the Tetzlaff. I'll probably stick with the Tetzlaff for now until I can get it or the Dacapo at an acceptable price.

You can listen to the entire BIS and Dacapo recordings on Naxos Music Library, Spotify, and other streaming services if you want to do some comparisons of your own.

Disappointing about the Tetzlaff; I was sure it had been reissued (and indeed it was, as you say) but it seems like Warner doesn't care much for keeping its catalog in print...

edit update: you can get a FLAC download of the reissue 2-cd on Qobuz for €11.69 (the rest is all standard rep but Tetzlaff is a v reliable violinist), and of Jon Gjesme's Dacapo CD for €9.99, if that helps...

edit 2: regarding the string quartets, they occupy a transitional style somewhere between his semi Schumannesque student works and the Symphony No. 1. I like the F major (Op. 44) the best, though its late opus number is due to him holding it back for publication for over a decade due to being unsatisfied with it, so maybe my judgment's wrong lol. But for the String Quartets I actually prefer the Kontra Quartet on BIS to the Danish Quartet on Dacapo, although the latter is in 24/96 sound and better regarded critically, I think.

The box set comes with the piano music played by Herman D. Koppel who is too eccentric to be recommendable. Again I would recommend the BIS alternative for that (Elisabeth Westenholz) or Mina Miller on Danacord (my preference, but not as technically assured and worse sound quality). One can just go for the highlights w/John Ogdon or whoever, but unfortunately there is a major work, the Theme & Variations Op. 40, that cannot be found outside integrals, as far as I know.

[Camphy]

I'd recommend getting the DaCapo box, unless you've found better versions of the particular works you want. All of Nielsen's chamber music is worth exploring in my view.

[Jo498]

Thanks for your comments.

I have at least one of the Naxos discs with string quartets, maybe both. This is not music I am collecting several versions of, so with space and money somewhat tight, I will not get the Dacapo box, although it might well be the best deal per disc. As I said, I now have a (somewhat clicky) dub of the Tetzlaff which will serve for a while.

For piano music I was considering the Andsnes recital because this is available and not too expensive...

[amw]

Some people like Andsnes a lot—he's considered on a level with John Ogdon where it comes to Nielsen interpretation, apparently. I don't seem to have been that impressed with his Chaconne:

Leif Ove Andsnes turns in an interpretation that definitely attempts deep feeling. I'm somewhat doubtful how much he achieves. His playing doesn't have a lot of clarity (rhythmic/melodic) and in the end it just feels a bit insubstantial, particularly the big climax. I'm not sure whether his recording is highly viewed in piano circles.

but I'm not much of a Leif fan in the first place, and anyway the rest of the recital might be better, I don't think I tried listening to anything else from his cd.

The set I'm really interested in hearing is John McCabe's actually

[mc ukrneal]

I have a few baroque operas but have been thinking about something like this box:

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I have been happy with other Harmonia Mundi boxes and the performers are among my favorites.  42 discs for a little over $100 (3rd party seller) does not seem too exorbitant, either.

It will be cheaper at Amazon uk (and perhaps even more so at Italy or one of the other European sites). Price to US is about 58 pounds with delivery, so close to $90.

I only have the Purcell, which is excellent.

[Mookalafalas]

I have a few baroque operas but have been thinking about something like this box:

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I have been happy with other Harmonia Mundi boxes and the performers are among my favorites.  42 discs for a little over $100 (3rd party seller) does not seem too exorbitant, either.

The recording quality, and performances are very good.  There is also a lot of written material about the works (4 small books) and one opera performance on DVD.  The discs are in cases that are less plasticky than jewel boxes.  The box opens up in a kind of cool way, but the material isn't particularly rugged.  Personally, I think it would be a steal at twice that price (that said, I've seen it for even less- $80-something dollars, I think).

[king ubu]

discplus.ch is closing shops per end of November ... they still list it for price 40€ - but international shipping is extremely expensive and as they sent out a mail this morning and everything is 50% down (would be 80€ otherwise, quite a good price as well ... I paid around 50€ when I pre-ordered it from aUK, but I'm afraid it's still standing on the shelf unlistened)

[Mandryka]

Alexander Lonquich plays Schumann's Kreisleriana and Heinz Holliger's partita.

[amw]

One of my favourites.

Both works are interpreted in such a way as to harmonise with each other, which may be good or bad depending on one's perspective. Also, I found it for really cheap >.>

[mc ukrneal]

I was considering the Rheinberger Sacred Music box on Carus (10 cds). I have one of them and enjoy it, but I wasn't sure the others were as good. Anyone heard these?
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[The new erato]

Yes, I have heard 8 of them. Consistently good quality in variable genres.