Classical currently spinning thread

[Keith_W 1,137]

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Edited July 20, 2011 by Keith_W

[greggjones 2]

Great idea Keith, I will support this thread mate.

[Kevin 31]

We have been having the Easter music session. Tenebrae Responsoria from Victoria (Tallis Scholars Gimell) and Gesauldo (Hilliard Ensemble ECM). Allegri Miserere Tallis Scholars again and Kings College in 1963 Decca recording with Roy Goodman singing the solo role as a young boy apparently with dirty knees from the afternoon footy match. Pergolesi Stabat Mater and the Palestrina Stabat Mater.

McMillan Seven Last Words - have to be in the right mood but also Seven Last Words from Haydn with the Lindsey Quartet - beautiful.

I agree about a separate thread as classical does not seem to be a big interest. Good to see Hyperion releasing music again as they went through a financially ordinary time after a law suit - can't remember the details.

Is Tony Faulkner the engineer Keith as I find if he has been involved that it is a near certainty the recording will be good. I don't share your big interest in lieder but will look for one of these recordings.

Kevin

[Catostylus 611]

Firstly, thanks for starting this thread, I was beginning to despair of a place to discuss fine music in this forum.

Secondly, the comments regarding Tony Faulkner are spot on. I would vote for a recording of the Prokofiev Alexander Nevsky film score engineered by him I once borrowed as probably the best RBCD I have heard.

Oh yes. The engineer is well worth noting.

[Keith_W 1,137]

Catostylus are you talking about the Temirkanov / St Petersburg SO recording? This one:

I have 3 Alexander Nevsky's and none of them are recorded by Tony Faulkner. I just looked.

[wixy 18]

Keith, i'm interested to know where you order the Hyperion discs from?

Also intested to know of any other recommended classical rbcd's that offer excellent sonics. Wouldn't mind purchasing a few to give classical music a try.

[Catostylus 611]

Catostylus are you talking about the Temirkanov / St Petersburg SO recording? This one:

I have 3 Alexander Nevsky's and none of them are recorded by Tony Faulkner. I just looked.

The cover is different, but yes, it may be that one.

Mind you, I could be talking through my hat, 'twas many a moon ago.

[Catostylus 611]

Catostylus I will try to acquire one of those and i'll let you know what I think Although ... I do already have 3 Alexander Nevsky's ... a 4th won't hurt

The recordings you have are most likely the Alexander Nevsky Cantata which Prokofiev arranged from the film score. This recording is the complete film score. It may be worth getting for that reason alone.

Oh..and is that Kate Royal in the Schumann album cover photo?

I think I'm in love.......

[greggjones 2]

J. S. BACH,

3 Sonata and 3 Partite per violin solo, performed by Gidon Kremer.

24 bit format, a gift from a friend in Japan, released by Phillips #2CD-PHCP-24061/62

A most wonderful example of a fine violinist captured on 2 incredible discs.

..................mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Jonesy

[Catostylus 611]

Schoenberg - Verklaerte Nacht, in the original string sextet version by the Schoenberg Ensemble. Philips 416 306-2.

An amazing premonition of the amazing path taken by an amazing man.

[mondie 2,315]

Great idea for a thread Keith, l am always keen to try some classical but never seem to find anything l like. When Warwick was recently over he played a Classical LP which l quite liked, l took a pic of the cover, l will dig it out and post it up

Cheers Mondie

[Young Skywalker 131]

For Bach lovers you simply must get this on vinyl.....

http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=14235

Well worth the price of admission.

Aaron

[Kevin 31]

Hi Aaron,

I have the Cello Suites in a number of guises Casals in mono, Rostropovich, Ma and my favourite Pandolfo on the viola de gamba (Glossa) - all on cd. I see the Starker is available on hybrid sacd as well and assume it is the same recording - I have not been to the Acoustic Sounds site before. Have you struck any problems purchasing from them?

Kevin

[davidsss 844]

Aaron, I keep seeing that one at Quality Records. Alas I'm not sure if I want unaccompanied Cello, anyway there are too many other new records there that I want.

Now, back on to the topic:

I'm still going through this little box set:

Which I picked up recently for $10.

It contains:

DG 104 922-28

Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture :1966 B.P.O.

Tchaikovsky Capriccio italien :1966 B.P.O.

Tchaikovsky Marche slave :1966 B.P.O.

Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Ballet Suite :1966 B.P.O.

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No 1 :1962 V.S.O.

Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings :1966 B.P.O.

Tchaikovsky Symphony No 4 :1966 B.P.O.

Tchaikovsky Symphony No 5 :1965 B.P.O.

Tchaikovsky Symphony No 6 :1964 B.P.O.

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto :1965 B.P.O.

Information from: http://www.karajan.co.uk/vinyl2.html

Today it was the nutcracker. This is probably all the Tchaikovsky I need and I quite like most of it. I still haven't heard the Piano concerto but Richter is playing so it should be good and the 1812 I expect is probably the same version I have on another record (if it is, do you want the old record Keith?).

In between the popular music I sometimes add to the Currently Spinning thread, I often listen to classical which now goes here - good idea for a new thread Keith.

DS

Edit: Kevin I would think Aaron is referring to the vinyl release.

[Young Skywalker 131]

I see the Starker is available on hybrid sacd as well and assume it is the same recording - I have not been to the Acoustic Sounds site before. Have you struck any problems purchasing from them?

Hi Kevin,

I believe that the SACD was made from the same master as the vinyl reissue.

I have been buying CDs and vinyl from Acoustic Sounds for several years now without issue. Occasionally one gets a less than perfect pressing that sets off the perfectionist alarm but they have always been very accommodating regarding returns (at the buyer's cost unfortunately). Big group orders work out best on a per record basis for shipping. They do have a minimum order policy for customers outside the US as one would expect.

Aaron

[Jake 4,020]

Alas I'm not sure if I want unaccompanied Cello

David, are you kidding? There is nothing quite so beautiful as the sound of a cello, save perhaps that of two.

(actually, thats a bastardised quote from Andres Segovia talking about guitars, apologies el maestro)

But my point is, that solo cello is exquisite, why else would Bach dedicate so much time to it.

I will buy that record I think.

[Young Skywalker 131]

I haven't compared them Keith. To be honest I purchased that particular LP on the basis of sound quality alone and without being entirely familiar with all of the Bach solo cello suites, a process of musical discovery if you will. I don't know enough about the technical side of music to meaningfully critique a performance but I am sensitive to things like tempo, especially when it comes to Mahler, and I can spot a lackluster performance when I see/hear one. If I make an emotional connection with the music then I can only assume that the performance, recording and playback system are all on the money.

[Jake 4,020]

If I make an emotional connection with the music then I can only assume that the performance, recording and playback system are all on the money.

Too right. You dont have to be a classically trained musician to know when its right or wrong.

My old classical guitar teacher once said to me that timing is so critical. He said that my audience wont know why something sounds right when the timing is good, only that it will, and he was spot on.

And he learnt off Segovia....

[jaspert 193]

Shostakovitvh Symphony No.10

London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andrew Davis

1975 LP from Quality Records.

[Catostylus 611]

Shostakovitvh Symphony No.10

London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andrew Davis

1975 LP from Quality Records.

Hi Jasper! (Dammit, where's Breno's waving hand smilie?)

That first movement says all there is to say about Stalin's Soviet Union. Dark, mysterious, brooding, malevolent.

A supreme achievement.

[Kevin 31]

Keith, i'm interested to know where you order the Hyperion discs from?

Also intested to know of any other recommended classical rbcd's that offer excellent sonics. Wouldn't mind purchasing a few to give classical music a try.

There are many well recorded classical cds. If there is anything you would like to try I am sure someone here can offer a recommendation.

Classical is facing a bit of a crisis with the majors putting out very little new recordings – I think Lebrecht the British critic said about fifty? In the last year. However there have been a lot of reissues at mid price level of well remastered material. The Mercury and Rca are hybrid sacd but the cd layer has had the same remastering and are often very good.

http://www.deccaclassics.com/music/legends/index.asp

http://www.deccaclassics.com/music/philips50/article.html

http://www.deccaclassics.com/music/mercurylivingpresence/

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/albumList.jsp?label_id=1314&bcorder=6&LabelAll=1&gclid=CL69r9ODp5ICFQSRgwodyFF1Rg

Due to the expense of recording large orchestral works the most common way for a new release to occur is via an orchestras own recording arm of a live performance for instance the LSO

http://lso.co.uk/buyrecordings/

The smaller label soften have brilliant recordings secondary to being closer to their enthusiast roots. This is often smaller group chamber music or earlier music. I love this music but it may not necessarily appeal . Also it is often full price and worse.

http://www.ecmrecords.com/Startseite/startseite.php

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/

http://www.alia-vox.com/

http://www.glossamusic.com/news/

http://www.dorian.com/

http://www.referencerecordings.com/

http://www.bluegriffinrecording.com/index.php

http://www.marecordings.com/

There are many more - being smaller they have distribution difficulties but are usually able to be ordered .

I am no expert but I am sure between the interested people on the forum some sensible suggestions can be made.

Kevin

[Phil G 75]

Hi Keith

I have been spending quite a bit of time of late listenning to this recommendation of yours, actually I heard it at your place and I bought it. I love it a bit more each time I play it.

Does the CD you mentioned earlier have any similarities? I am a sucker for a well recorded female vocal and this soprano is brilliant.

I know very little about classical music but I welcome any further recommendations you or others may have.

[Catostylus 611]

I adore that woman's voice!!

I will have to track that down - SACD, too!

[Phil G 75]

I adore that woman's voice!!

I will have to track that down - SACD, too!

Cool, so can I claim this as my first ever classical recommendation to someone .

Her voice amazes me.

[jaspert 193]

Amazing female voice? I must track her CD down too. Thanks.