Purchases Today

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I couldn't pass over this Nielsen rarity via eBay:

[PerfectWagnerite]

I was going to hold on purchasing anything at least for a month or two, but I saw these for good prices and given the rarity of them, I just couldn't resist any longer:



It was a rare thing to see Bernstein conduct Strauss as he didn't make it a habit, but it will be interesting to hear how he handles this music.

How are they rare? You can buy them used or even directly from Amazon Prime.

[Mirror Image]

How are they rare? You can buy them used or even directly from Amazon Prime.

The fact that you have to buy them used should speak of their rarity alone. Look at the prices of the ones that are actually new. These are OOP and, to my knowledge, haven't been reissued by Sony. A majority of these 'Royal Editions' are rare.

[Brian]

The fact that you have to buy them used should speak of their rarity alone. Look at the prices of the ones that are actually new. These are OOP and, to my knowledge, haven't been reissued by Sony. A majority of these 'Royal Editions' are rare.

*haven't been reissued aside from the big box set

[Mirror Image]

*haven't been reissued aside from the big box set

Thanks, Brian. Just as I thought.

[Ken B]

*haven't been reissued aside from the big box set

Moral: shoulda bought the box box set.

[not edward]

This new recording of Henze's 7th symphony arrived today, and I've had a chance to play it once before work:

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Based on Stenz's recording of the 8th symphony, I was expecting good things here, and I'm not disappointed. My benchmark for this work is the Janowski recording on Wergo, and on first listening this probably won't displace it (Janowski has for the most part slightly tighter ensemble playing and rhythmic control, which is critical in a dark, violent work that positions itself as a negation of Beethoven's 7th). However, Stenz is mightily impressive, particularly in the finale (an instrumental setting of Hölderlin's Hälfte des Lebens, where he brings out more of the Bergian lyricism of the first half than I've heard before, which just adds to the effectiveness of the second half's plunge into nihilism.

Added to this, we get about half an hour of previously unrecorded Henze (Sieben Boleros, L'heure bleue and his final work, Theatre Overture) as filler. Not major Henze, but enjoyable music, played with conviction.

[Karl Henning]

Seven veils for seven boléros?

[not edward]

I did wonder if there was meant to be some bilingual pun in there....

[aligreto]

Hope that you enjoy - my only complaints on that set are the discs short timings; also have the other recordings added above - love the Musica Pacifica one (which is mostly Mancini w/ one work each by Durante & D. Scarlatti).  Dave

Thank you Dave. Mancini is a relatively new discovery for me and I am certainly enjoying the odyssey so far. I will certainly look into that Musica Pacifica one 

[aligreto]

Some more Locatelli to add to my collection....

[Que]

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Q

[Parsifal]

Have ordered this to supplement the EMI Icon box from the same artist.

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[Harry]

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Q

I was none to happy about this recording, so I am curious after your impressions.

[Que]

I was none to happy about this recording, so I am curious after your impressions.

Good morning, Harry! 

It was an impulsive buy, I hadn't remembered that you didn't like it...

I might put it in later this morning.

Q

[Harry]

Good morning, Harry! 

It was an impulsive buy, I hadn't remembered that you didn't like it...

I might put it in later this morning.

Q

Good morning Que!
The Organs used are much to big for my taste, and his flamboyant playing did not much appeal to me,  but hey I might had a day in which nothing was good enough. So thats why I am curious.
Normally I would have bought it too. Your impression might turn the coin for me!

[Spineur]

A (last ?) bit a britsh music before brxit !!
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[Camphy]

These arrived today:

[HIPster]

These arrived today:

The Holmboe Four Symphonic Metamorphoses is outstanding!

The Danish String Quartet on ECM looks interesting.  I will look forward to reading your thoughts on each of these. 

Recent mp purchases ~

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[PerfectWagnerite]

One reviewer called Bernstein's Zarathustra slow, but that's okay, it's Bernstein, so it can't be that bad.

From the CBS days I agree almost everything Lenny touched turns to gold so to speak, with the exception of Brahms where he is strangely detached.  Tchaikovsky and Beethoven were not up to his high standards either but they had to do more with the really bad recorded sound and balance than with anything Lenny did.

His DG days had more than its share of stinkers...