1592 replies to this topic

[sligoriverblues]

Some lenten music...

J. S. Bach - St Matthew Passion (P. Herreweghe 1998) Harmonia Mundi CD

[Shmonk]

I don't usually buy compilations but this one is for a good cause.

http://www.eclassica...-for-japan.html

[Catostylus]

Since it's Suzuki and the Bach Collegium Japan I'd just buy it anyway.

[mickj1]

Hi
We went along to hear Beethoven's Violin Concerto played by Isabelle Faust w the TSO/Marko Letonja the other night. It was a wonderful performance, and I've been reliving the music through a couple of versions I have here - one by Richard Tognetti and the ACO on ABC classics, and one by Anne-Sophie Mutter and the NY Philharmonic/Kurt Masur on DG SACD. I like them both, but the timbre and intonation of Mutter wins it for me - helped along immeasurably by the much better recording quality.

Which other versions are worthwhile to chase up out there?

Cheers
Mick

[Dismord]

Hi
We went along to hear Beethoven's Violin Concerto played by Isabelle Faust w the TSO/Marko Letonja the other night. It was a wonderful performance, and I've been reliving the music through a couple of versions I have here - one by Richard Tognetti and the ACO on ABC classics, and one by Anne-Sophie Mutter and the NY Philharmonic/Kurt Masur on DG SACD. I like them both, but the timbre and intonation of Mutter wins it for me - helped along immeasurably by the much better recording quality.

Which other versions are worthwhile to chase up out there?

Cheers
Mick

I was also blown away by the Faust/ Letonja performance of the Beethoven violin concerto as I was by the Mozart Prague and Shultz's 'Endling' on the same program. My only criticism is a very mild one. Although Albert Hall, Launceston is acoustically a great venue it does increase the volume of the first violin section. I noticed Letonja signalling the first violins to reduce their volume at times, especially during the Mozart Symphony. The acoustic is otherwise almost as clear as some of the great European venues. So much so that the tone of Faust's 1704 'Sleeping Beauty' Stradivarius was utterly seductive.
Rumour has it that Isobel Faust will record the Beethoven concerto with Letonja and the TSO. Let's hope it's true.
The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra has developed into a world class body of musicians that in my un-humble opinion often puts the Sydney and Melbourne symphony orchestras in the shade. And no, I'm not a native Tasmanian.

[Catostylus]

You realise she's already recorded the Beethoven?

http://www.guardian....do-faust-review

[mickj1]

You realise she's already recorded the Beethoven?

http://www.guardian....do-faust-review

Yes she's apparently recorded it twice. I was going to pick up one or other of those,as they both have had excellent reviews.

I was wondering if SNAers thought there were other must-have interpretations.

Cheers
Mick

[LHC]

Hi
We went along to hear Beethoven's Violin Concerto played by Isabelle Faust w the TSO/Marko Letonja the other night. It was a wonderful performance, and I've been reliving the music through a couple of versions I have here - one by Richard Tognetti and the ACO on ABC classics, and one by Anne-Sophie Mutter and the NY Philharmonic/Kurt Masur on DG SACD. I like them both, but the timbre and intonation of Mutter wins it for me - helped along immeasurably by the much better recording quality.

Which other versions are worthwhile to chase up out there?

Cheers
Mick

Lucky you. Is Isabelle Faust performing only in Tas? For me, I am looking forward to Anne Sophie Mutter play the Beethoven concerto next week with the Sydney Symphony.

As for recordings I would like to hear the opinion of musios like Orpheus and Audiobugged. From a casual listener prespective, I like Milstein with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra / Steinberg on EMI Classics. I also enjoyed Schneiderhan with BPO / Jochum (DG Originals) and the Australian Christian Tetzlaff with Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich / Zinman (Arte Nova). The one I would like to get next is Zehetmair with the Orchestra of the 18th Century / Bruggen (Philips/Decca).

Edited by LHC, 21 March 2012 - 07:54 PM.

[mickj1]

Lucky you. Is Isabelle Faust performing only in Tas? For me, I am looking forward to Anne Sophie Mutter play the Beethoven concerto next week with the Sydney Symphony.

As for recordings I would like to hear the opinion of musios like Orpheus and Audiobugged. From a casual listener prespective, I like Milstein with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra / Steinberg on EMI Classics. I also enjoyed Schneiderhan with BPO / Jochum (DG Originals) and the Australian Christian Tetzlaff with Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich / Zinman (Arte Nova). The one I would like to get next is Zehetmair with the Orchestra of the 18th Century / Bruggen (Philips/Decca).

A quick scan of the web only came up with the Tas concerts w the TSO.

Thanks for the recording recommendations - Lucky you on the Mutter concert, Unfortunately I can't quite see us getting to Sydney for that.

cheers
Mick

[Dismord]

You realise she's already recorded the Beethoven?

http://www.guardian....do-faust-review

Yes, but I'd really like to have her with the TSO under Letonja if it's not just a rumour.

[jimdgoulding]

Don't know if you chaps are famaliar with American composer Howard Hanson. I recently acquired his Sym no. 2 and Lament or Beowolf on a Mercury Golden Imports lp and it's moving, big time, particularly (for me) the Beowolf. Fine recording of orchestra and large chorus. I think I found it on Amazon, but can't be sure. Howard Hanson conducting. Very fetching it is.
__________________
Hear your music, not your speakers

[heman_]

Been listening to this non stop. Its fantastic. I wasnt familiar with Delius before this, but now I will hunt some stuff down.



Also managed to pick up a rare one today- Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn, featuring Janet Baker, promo only copy on LP.

Edited by heman_, 24 March 2012 - 03:25 PM.

[Dismord]

Been listening to this non stop. Its fantastic. I wasnt familiar with Delius before this, but now I will hunt some stuff down.

Also managed to pick up a rare one today- Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn, featuring Janet Baker, promo only copy on LP.

Yes, the Baker recording is a great performance but to my ears the best recording of all time is the London Symphony Orchestra under George Szell with Elizabeth Schwarzkopf and Deitrich Fisher-Deiskau - LP ASD 1000981. Re-released on CD some years ago but the mastering wasn't to my liking.
When you say of the Baker LP 'Promo only copy' do you mean one meant for a reviewer with 'NOT FOR SALE' stamped on the label? If so these are oftens very early pressings made before the masters started to wear out and are sometimes collectors items.

[hired goon]

G'day,



Nikolai Demidenko - Live At Wigmore Hall -- a 2CD live piano recital, featuring works by the usual suspects (Haydn, Scarlatti, Liszt, Buxtehude, Ludwig van, etc). Quite a thrilling performance, IMHO.

--Geoff

[Catostylus]

I had no idea Kyle Sandilands played the piano.

[Vladimir Freddie]

 handel_fleming_4656186.jpg   18.79KB   0 downloads

Renee Flemings Handel SACD.

Simply brilliant and beautiful - my most played 5.1 SACD

Edited by Vladimir Freddie, 29 March 2012 - 06:52 PM.

[LHC]

A quick scan of the web only came up with the Tas concerts w the TSO.

Thanks for the recording recommendations - Lucky you on the Mutter concert, Unfortunately I can't quite see us getting to Sydney for that.

cheers
Mick

Yes, just lucky enough to secure some C reserves tickets to the Saturday concert. ASM was what I had expected from her, absolute control and mastery of the music. Thrilling. Would be most interesting to compare with Faust's rendetion of the concerto.

The SSO also put out a breathtaking performance of the Shostakovich 5th Symphony. Ashkenazy has taken them to another level. He also did something I never saw before in a concert: during the applause he point the audience to the music score, i.e. he want us to recognise the composer as well in our appreciation. That was one classy act.

Edit: some photos here

Edited by LHC, 02 April 2012 - 11:02 PM.

[mickj1]

Yes, just lucky enough to secure some C reserves tickets to the Saturday concert. ASM was what I had expected from her, absolute control and mastery of the music. Thrilling. Would be most interesting to compare with Faust's rendetion of the concerto.

The SSO also put out a breathtaking performance of the Shostakovich 5th Symphony. Ashkenazy has taken them to another level. He also did something I never saw before in a concert: during the applause he point the audience to the music score, i.e. he want us to recognise the composer as well in our appreciation. That was one classy act.

Wish we'd been there!

[bruce108]

I have three versions of the Brahms Violin Sonatas (including one by Anne-Sophie Mutter and Alexis Weisman) but my favourite is Krysia Osotowicz/Susan Tomes, re-issued on Helios. True chamber-music playing, not chamber music for the concert hall, nothing for effect, nothing either over- or under-stated. Just the music, as we say - but how rare that really is.

Edited by bruce108, 02 April 2012 - 01:40 PM.

[LHC]

Wish we'd been there!

Its a pity she can't find the time to tour the rest of the country. But she did say in the latest interview that her son may be coming here next year to do his gap year, and she joked that she is using this visit to check us out. So, who knows, maybe she might return again next year?

[LHC]

Hi Mickj

Came across some videos of the ASM concert rehearsal and interview at the Australian Stage
and the Opera House websites. Note the beautifully played cadenza of the first movement.

Edited by LHC, 07 April 2012 - 04:27 AM.

[THOMO]

Picked up from a second hand shop for $2 each in near mint condition-some legendary vinyl.

Luadate II -Baroque Music from the Duben Collection-Proprius 7860......ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.

Cantate Domino-Proprius 7862

I had Contate Domino on CD but on vinyl it is even better.

Is there a one stop shop for Proprius recordings?

Edited by THOMO, 07 April 2012 - 08:53 PM.

[Vladimir Freddie]

Hi
We went along to hear Beethoven's Violin Concerto played by Isabelle Faust w the TSO/Marko Letonja the other night. It was a wonderful performance, and I've been reliving the music through a couple of versions I have here - one by Richard Tognetti and the ACO on ABC classics, and one by Anne-Sophie Mutter and the NY Philharmonic/Kurt Masur on DG SACD. I like them both, but the timbre and intonation of Mutter wins it for me - helped along immeasurably by the much better recording quality.

Which other versions are worthwhile to chase up out there?

Cheers
Mick

I have the Grumiaux version on SACD & Schneiderhans on DG

 schne.jpg   149.4KB   1 downloads  grumi.jpg   10.96KB   1 downloads

Couldn't get two more different interpretations Like them both but prefer Schneiderhans.

Both worth checking out.

[Catostylus]

Haven't heard the Schneiderhan in ages. From memory he plays his own cadenzas?

[mickj1]

Hi
Thanks for the feed back LHC and VF - I'm currently in Greece starting a 7 week European holiday - so I'll have to wait a while to chase up your recommendations.

Cheers
Mick

[Boots-n-All]

Hi We went along to hear Beethoven's Violin Concerto played by Isabelle Faust w the TSO/Marko Letonja the other night. It was a wonderful performance, and I've been reliving the music through a couple of versions I have here - one by Richard Tognetti and the ACO on ABC classics, and one by Anne-Sophie Mutter and the NY Philharmonic/Kurt Masur on DG SACD. I like them both, but the timbre and intonation of Mutter wins it for me - helped along immeasurably by the much better recording quality. Which other versions are worthwhile to chase up out there? Cheers Mick

Hi there,

I was also at that concert - Faust was very good - not so sure about Marko though - personally I thought his Russian music was better.

Guess time will tell & we'll get used to him - I've heard that the orchestra like him so far - that can lead to some good outcomes -
nothing worse than having the orchestra & conductor fight each other (which has happened in the past)

Boots

[Boots-n-All]

I have the Grumiaux version on SACD & Schneiderhans on DG  schne.jpg   149.4KB   1 downloads  grumi.jpg   10.96KB   1 downloads Couldn't get two more different interpretations Like them both but prefer Schneiderhans. Both worth checking out.

Hi there,

That Grumiaux recording is my favourite - was also my 1st ever SACD - had it playing one day in the shop and, despite being on a "boom box" a customer
recognised the playing style, asked if it was actually Grumiaux & proceeded to tell me that Grumiaux had been his teacher years ago.

Boots.

[djb]

on day of record shops had a win
do charity shops count as record shops?
they make up 75% of my purchases

opened a battered old broken red boxed set thats been in back corner at XXX thrift shop for a year or so
looks like those old boxed 78s
Nah not heavy enough so might be mono lps
no paper work
record labels in french 'Quarturos a Cordes'ah string quartets my favourite flavour!
tiny font Beethoven
tinier font Fine Arts Quartet
Concert Hall label
yes! stereo
SO I BOUGHT THEM
6 records
now with records at $1 each or 5 for four dollars and a dollar discount for broken box [since repaired] cost was $4 yeah i know the sums say $5 but iwas aked for and paid $4!!< maths never my thing was $4 correct price?

washed and dried i have Quartets 1-11- several records never played

i am enjoying a lazy afternoon with middle or Rozuminski quartets

Edited by djb, 21 April 2012 - 07:15 PM.

[Dismord]

on day of record shops had a win
do charity shops count as record shops?
they make up 75% of my purchases

opened a battered old broken red boxed set thats been in back corner at XXX thrift shop for a year or so
looks like those old boxed 78s
no paper work
record labels in french 'Quarturos a Cordes'ah string quartets my favourite flavour!
tiny font Beethoven
tinier font Fine Arts Quartet
Concert Hall label
SO I BOUGHT THEM
6 records
now with records at $1 each or 5 for four dollars and a dollar discount for broken box [since repaired] cost was $4 yeah i know the sums say $5 but iwas aked for and paid $4!!< maths never my thing was $4 correct price?

washed and dried i have Quartets 1-11- several records never played

i am enjoying a lazy afternoon with middle or Rozuminski quartets

Are they 78's or 33's ? Either way the Fine Arts Beethoven are in my un-humble opinion, amongst the greatest performances ever recorded.
I have their late Beethoven quartets on CD. Not a bad re-mastering but not as harmonically rich as the original LP's which I had stolen some years ago.
I'm still hunting for those.
Anyhow, DJB, congratulations.

[djb]

33's
will correct OP nice win that makes u smile as it unfolds and i worked out what i had AND that id pushed crappy 78s away several times
must admit to som bigotry here
really only want to buy stereo
i have good gear but can NOT read music
so see no real need for historical comparisons of orchestras or voices
would have a dozen pieces of vinyl that ive bought by accident and a few by design that r mono
i see no need to break this rule
willing to under go reeducation

Edited by djb, 21 April 2012 - 07:18 PM.

[Krispy Audio]

Apologies if this has already been posted, but this album simply must be heard if you enjoy your classical.



You can check out the details here, but it's available as a 24-bit flac download when you subscribe to the B&W Society of Sound.

If you are wanting to sample just one track, let it be his rendition of Alleluia. Mesmerising.

[hired goon]

G'day,

I heard the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform this morning, and one of the numbers was from Durufle's Requiem, so now of course I gotta spin the whole thing:



--Geoff

[LHC]

A haul from MDT came in today. Packing box a bit damaged, but CDs ok.

Listening to Rachmaninov Symphony 2 now. The Adagio movement is absolutely gorgeous.

 Rach Sym 2.jpg   4.57KB   0 downloads

Have to listen to Hough play his concertos next up.

[djb]

CP ,goon
dont know either will watch out for both
thanks

[Shmonk]

Fodor, Schmitt, Wilms
Concertos hollandais pour piano

Dutch composers of the classical era played on period instruments: tangent piano and fortepiano

Edited by Shmonk, 12 May 2012 - 04:49 PM.

[uHenry]

Scored this one this afternoon at Salvos.
The SQ of this recording is astonishing...dynamic range and presence like I've never experienced. Does anyone else have or know of other Bishop/Parker/KEF collaborations?
I want the whole catalogue.

 IMG_0731.JPG   2.21MB   1 downloads

[Catostylus]

Sad news over the weekend. We have lost one of the truly greats.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...t-arts-18118722

[Dismord]

Sad news over the weekend. We have lost one of the truly greats.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...t-arts-18118722

His departure struck me in a surprisingly heavy way. I suppose that's because I was introduced to lieder at an early age with his fabulous performances.
I still however don't get his approach to the Brahms songs - too histrionic.

[Metrik]

That's very sad. Tonight, I will listen to the Winterreise (with Gerald Moore, 1972).

[Dismord]

Now that I think about it he's probably the last of that era of exceptionally great singers to leave the planet. Unless my memory's gone, none are left.

[bruce108]

Sad to reflect that Robin Gibb's death makes the national news in prime time and F-Ds not a mention. I don't mean to disparage him in any way, but it says something grim about the current status of classical music.

[MusicOne]

Sad to reflect that Robin Gibb's death makes the national news in prime time and F-Ds not a mention. I don't mean to disparage him in any way, but it says something grim about the current status of classical music.

A sad reflection, indeed. The status of classical music is a great concern to me, as well. The teaching of music appreciation has been all but excluded from our modern school system...I think I detect some social engineering here....in some quarters, classical music is seen as elitist!!!

[Dismord]

A sad reflection, indeed. The status of classical music is a great concern to me, as well. The teaching of music appreciation has been all but excluded from our modern school system...I think I detect some social engineering here....in some quarters, classical music is seen as elitist!!!

That's an interesting theory that has some validity but I suspect there's more at work. If you speak to any teacher whose been in the game for 40 or so years they'll tell you the attention span of children these days has shrunk to at most 5 mins long. Some educational theorists now even suggest inserting 'add breaks' into lessons. The implications are frightening for classical music if we think about it. But hey, the implications for all music are staggering. Ask any teenager if they've ever sat still and listened to a work such as Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' from beginning to end.
Think I'll just mope off and listen to Kathleen Ferrier's unsurpassed recording of Mahler's 'Das Lied von der Erde' and get thoroughly depressed.

Edited by Dismord, 24 May 2012 - 10:17 AM.

[Dismord]

Duplicate post deleted.

Edited by Dismord, 24 May 2012 - 10:16 AM.

[Catostylus]

Think I'll just mope off and listen to Kathleen Ferrier's unsurpassed recording of Mahler's 'Das Lied von der Erde' and get thoroughly depressed.

Can't believe I still don't own a copy of that. Think I'll order it today.

RIP, Klever Kaff.