What are you listening to now?

[Que]

But have you heard the Mackerras or Ashkenazy? Both fine as well...

Nope...

[Mirror Image]

Now:



A new acquisition. Listening to Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 44. Sounds awesome so far. Great sonics, too.

[Mirror Image]

For years I only had the Gergiev version on Philips but a couple of years ago I bought the Previn version above and I must say that I prefer the Previn.

Same here. Gergiev, while a conductor I enjoy, just takes many of the tempi too fast (or at least the best I can remember). Previn's is definitely to be preferred here, but I really like Svetlanov's and Ozawa's.

[kishnevi]

From the SEON box, CDs 46/47


A stretch of eight CDs in which Leonhardt plays Bach: a double CD of organ works, and six CDs of harpsichord. These seem to be available as individual CDs on the Amazon Marketplace, but as far as I can tell, not in any of the various Leonhardt box sets.

If you don't have these CDs, you are missing out on some seriously good keyboard playing.

[Mirror Image]

I see Jeffrey is in the Christmas mood already.

Now:



Listening to Symphonic Dances, Op. 45. Outstanding work and performance.

[Wakefield]

From the SEON box, CDs 46/47


A stretch of eight CDs in which Leonhardt plays Bach: a double CD of organ works, and six CDs of harpsichord. These seem to be available as individual CDs on the Amazon Marketplace, but as far as I can tell, not in any of the various Leonhardt box sets.

If you don't have these CDs, you are missing out on some seriously good keyboard playing.

Probably too serious for some tastes. 

Not me, of course. Are you hearing, Que? 

[Wakefield]

Masaaki Suzuki Plays Bach Organ Works
playing the Schnitger/Hinz organ in the Martinikerk (Martin's Church), Groningen

Recording: July 2014 at the Martinikerk, Groningen, The Netherlands



First listen and I'm liking what I'm listening to.

After a slight revision of the booklet, the claim of Amazon about this disk as being a supposed "vol. 1" doesn't seem to have any support (except, I guess, its direct contact with labels): https://hec.su/b9H7

This selection includes the D minor Toccata and Fugue, the Partitas on O Gott, du frommer Gott, BWV 767, the Canonic Variations, BWV769, and the  Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV548.

The Schnitger/Hinz organ in the Martinikerk, Groningen

The organ in the Martinikerk (Martin's Church) in Groningen is one of the Nether- lands' most impressive and important organs. The organ history of this church dates back to the 14th century. In 1691 the famous German organ builder Arp Schnitger was asked to inspect the instrument then available in the Martinikerk. Among the consequences of this was the eventual enlargement of the organ with two majestic pedal towers. The Rückpositiv was added in 1728–30 by his son Franz Caspar Schnitger and (after his death in 1729) the latter's foreman Albertus Anthoni Hinz. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries the instrument was severely mutilated. In 1976–84, the German organ builder Jürgen Ahrend conducted extensive restoration work, through which the instrument was brought back to its former glory.[/quote]

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

I see Jeffrey is in the Christmas mood already.

Now:



Listening to Symphonic Dances, Op. 45. Outstanding work and performance.

Svetlanov the Slayer!

I'm so happy that you got his digital Rachmaninov box set.

When I got it (originally on Canyon Classics) I just played that Rachmaninov's Second over and over and OVER again.

I really can't exhaust superlatives.

His Tchaikovsky box set on Canyon is wide-open throttle as well- especially the way he does Francesca da Rimini and the last movement of the Fourth.

[SimonNZ]

Gaziza Zhubanova's Symphony No.2 "Island of Women" (1983) - Tolepbergen Abdrashev, cond.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTZUoDGa7Ys

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

Karajan's superb 1960 recording of Sibelius's 5th with the Philharmonia Orchestra in top form.

Right on.

For an 'overall' reading, the '60 Karajan/Philharmonia is unquestionably my favorite- which has an unrivaled thrilling magic in the build-up of the strings in the first movement as well as a beautifully conveyed feminine grace to the overall architechtonic- that is to say, 'feminine' but not 'effeminate'- which Karajan alone does so exceptionally well when he's on.

The only thing that I feel is missing from that otherwise stellar performance is a more pronounced brass climax in the first movement.  Here Karajan's reading is more 'beautiful' than 'majestic.'

At this point of the score (and only this point of the score), I turn to the Segerstam/Chandos performance, where the build-up and climax in the first movement outdoes any other performance I've heard in terms of power and majesty- with the sole exception being the early fifties Karajan/Philharmonia (which in fact cascades and waxes even more powerfully)- but of course the distorted EMI monaural sound is atrocious.

I just love luxuriating on that exquisite climax so much that I had to mention it.

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

Well I suppose we are now entering the silly season, so I can go back to CD10 in the Warner Schwarzkopf box. This was the original title for the gloriously over the top Christmas Album.

Silly season or not- a world without Liz- 'Duchess' not 'Taylor'- is simply not worth living in.

Thank goddess I have her recordings.

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

By the way, Blair, do you know Svetlanov's performances of Rach's The Bells and Symphony No. 2 on the ICA Classics label? Monkey Greg turned me onto these many nights ago when I saw him post about purchasing them. I, too, bought them and listened to some of The Bells via Spotify and OMG! Sizzling performance from what I could tell (haven't heard the whole performance yet).

John, I haven't heard the live ICA Svetlanov Rachmaninov Second- how is it?

I do however have Svetlanov's ICA Bells though, since a friend of mine made me a copy of it. It has its fierce, Svetlanov rhythmic vitality and good climaxes, certainly; but I vastly prefer the reading and engineered sound of the Ashkenazy/Concertgebouw.

[SimonNZ]

Thierry Pécou's"Symphony of the Jaguar" - François-Xavier Roth, cond.

[Que]

For years I only had the Gergiev version on Philips but a couple of years ago I bought the Previn version above and I must say that I prefer the Previn.

The Gergiev sounds if he is either nuts or on crack!  

Q

[Que]

Probably too serious for some tastes. 

Not me, of course. Are you hearing, Que? 

My mind always tells me Leonhardt's Bach harpsichord performances are performances of intelligence and integrity, but my heart has never really warmed up to them....

Q

[Que]

Music from a manuscript assembled by the Turin based cousin of François Couperin: Marc Roger Normand Couperin.

[asin]B000038I6E[/asin]
Q

[Que]

The performance was superb, but still couldn't sufficiently elevate what was, imo, light and forgettable repertoire.

Re: Epoca Barocca / Janitsch 

Thanks, when sampling I got the same impression.
I can recommend their two Schaffrath discs, the Heinichen and the Telemann as first priorities.

Q

[aligreto]

Same here. Gergiev, while a conductor I enjoy, just takes many of the tempi too fast (or at least the best I can remember). Previn's is definitely to be preferred here, but I really like Svetlanov's and Ozawa's.

Yes, the Previn made me realize that the Gergiev was just that little bit too fast. Previn lets the music breathe in his much more expansive version. The second reference to Svetlanov has been noted 

[aligreto]

The Gergiev sounds if he is either nuts or on crack!  

Q

[aligreto]

Onslow: Piano Trio Op. 26....