GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

09-12-2009

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	51
Post ID:	11719
Reply to:	8359

Maria Balint and Chausson’s Poeme/Paganini First

Bought the CD not become this recording that has became my performance of the week. I had and still have no idea who Maria Balint is. She played with Budapest Symphony Orchestra with György Lehel conducting. I bought this CD because the CD had the Gary Karr’s with London Symphony take on the “Introduction and Variations on Themes by Rossini”. The Karr’s Rossini was on boring side but the Chausson’s Poem on the same CD was surprisingly good, the Budapest Symphony was very good as well. The same CD has Balint/Budapest/Lehel take on Paganini’s First Violin Concerto – also very good.

The Balint started the Chausson’s Poem with many problems but she good better and better and in whole like it very much. Well, the Balint’s Chausson’s Poem is not Oistrakh with Munch and Boston and not Oleg Kogan with Russian Symphony from end 50s, not Ferras with National Orchestra of Belgiumfrom beginning of 50s, not the Kreisler with Philadelphia from 40s and not Francescatti with Ormandy and Philadelphia from 50s. Still it is WAY more sophisticated then just another violinist…. I wonder what happen with this girl and why she is no where…

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

09-15-2009

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	52
Post ID:	11749
Reply to:	8359

Grieg String Quartet in G minor, Op. 27

Meow, meow, meow!

I was today a good kitty and I have a wonderfully purring section today. The WHRB broadcasted today Grieg string quartet. I do not know what the bad was playing but here is what I did not record it but here is what I managed to catch from this web site:

Now Playing: String Quartet, Op. 27 by Siegerland, Sponberg, Tomter, Mork from Grieg: Mork, Cello Sonata, String Quartet (Virgin) spun by WHRB-Classical at 7:24pm on Evening Concert (Tue Sep 15th)

It was juts spectacular! I have really-really good time….

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

09-27-2009

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	54
Post ID:	11845
Reply to:	8359

The Vaughan Williams double piano concerto.

I never heard this work before but it is an interesting concerto. Reportedly it was composed in 20s as a regular Piano Concerto but was too difficult to play. So, Williams rearrange it for two pianos. The recording I heard as a live concert from European Broadcasting Union with Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra under Roger Norrington. The pianist were Yaara Tal and Andreas Groethuysen. I need to listen it again but my first reaction was very positive. I like the form of the Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra…

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

10-10-2009

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	55
Post ID:	11938
Reply to:	8359

I need to brash on Günter Wand

Playing the Günter Wands’ recordings of the last Bruckner Symphony with NDR (North German Radio Orchestra) from 1978-88 during Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. Another “amateur” conductor with phenomenal sound! I need a bigger place as I would like to play it VERY loud. The NDR Orchestra plays phenomenally!

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

10-11-2009

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Axel
South Africa
Posts 80
Joined on 07-18-2009

Post #:	56
Post ID:	11939
Reply to:	11938

“amateur” conductor? Günter Wand

Günter Wand:
born: 1912 in Elberfeld Germany, died 14th Feb. 2002 in Switzerland, age 90.
Was a German orchestra conductor and composer.

KölnerOper 1939
Intermezzo in Salzburg Austria, due to World War II issues
back in Köln in 1945, Generalmusikdirektor at the age of 34

Head of Gürzenich-Orchester see:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCrzenich_Orchestra

Disliked jet-setting, strictly limited guest performances and disliked publicity = ~ outsider to present day music scene

1974 leaving Gürzenich-Orchester working with Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra,
recorded all of Bruckner's and Schubert's symphonies with West Deutsches Rundfunk Orchester WDR since 1977 with sensational success.
1982 chief conductor of NDR Norddeutscher Rundfunk and recorded the complete Brahms and Beethoven symphonies.

In fact one of the most extraordinary conductors of his day.... as Wolf Eberhard von Lewinski once put it.

Approach: straight forward without vanity, in style comparable to Toscanini and Klemperer, adhering strictly to score without loosing sight of what lies behind the notes.
Penetrated deeper meaning, but appealed to the senses and emotions as well.

Hm, I think this hardly qualifies as "amateur" with or without inverted commas...

Greetings,
Axel

10-11-2009

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	57
Post ID:	11940
Reply to:	11939

The Seiji Ozawa’s pro sound vs. the “amateur” conductors…

Well, this was why I used the “amateur” in the quotes. Amateurism described as a pursuit to something without formal qualification or professional status. Surely Günter Wand was not a sub-qualified person and he was a professional conductor but as a professional conductor he was self-taught, the very much as Scherchen Hermann, Carlos Kleiber, Nocolay Golovanov, Asahina Takashi, Thomas Beecham and many others, including reportedly Gustav Mahler. I do not know way I say it but I very much like the status of “amateur conductor”. Perhaps I am still under the influence of that BBC program about Carlos Kleiber…

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

10-15-2009

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	58
Post ID:	11967
Reply to:	8359

Francis Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos.

It came back to me after a few years. I heard is before with Paris Conservatory and with all French pianists and conductor - it was very pleasant. Now it came back to me with young players from an Asia, most likely Korean CD, where I cannot read the manes.

It is a very nice light concerto with a few truly interesting moments. It looks like Poulen pulled the bits and paces from all imaginable composers but he did it tasteful and it works very nice. A good funny concerto.

The caT

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

11-17-2009

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	59
Post ID:	12295
Reply to:	8359

Martinu’s Fantaisies Symphoniques… in Stereo!

The Bohuslav Martinu’s last Symphony No. 6, or as it called "Fantaisies Symphoniques" that I feel is a better name (it does not sound to me as “Symphony”, too playful), is one of those secretive little treasures that no one plays, and it is a shame. I love the peaces a lot.

One might argue which conductor leads Czech Philharmonic with the most interesting interpretation of the celebrated Bohemia composer but in this case I always feel: screw the Czechs!!! Charles Munch with my town orchestra recorded Fantaisies Symphoniques in 1956 and BSO show off such a play that I for years had no desire to look for anything else.

Recently I was hunting in Japan the Munch’s recording of Menotti concerto with BSO and when I got it came with his Fantaisies Symphoniques. I played it and was stunned – the Japanese got stereo source for my favorite Martinu 6! And I have to say – what kind stereo – the phenomenal sound, as the most of the Japanese mastering!

In stereo BSO plays even more energetically and viciously. The Japanese loose neither tone nor satellites. I did not even know that “my” Martinu was recorded in stereo. Good discovery! When our idiots begin to make releases like this?

The caT

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

01-16-2010

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	60
Post ID:	12718
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Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 4

Eventually I heard today the Williams’ Symphony No. 4 that I like! Sir Colin Davis with BSO in 1973 – who would believe that Williams 4 could be so good!!!

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

02-01-2010

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	61
Post ID:	12838
Reply to:	8359

Could soprano duet be ever better?

Spinning tonight the record of Dvorak’s Moravian Duets, Monteverdi and Carissimi with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Irmgard Seefried, Gerald Moore plays piano. It is EMI 1956 recording, I guess mono. A wonderful singing, particularly Dvorak. Insanely beautiful women. If you can then find the BIS CD release of this record and see the cover image with young Schwarzkopf and Seefried with Cats make up. Out of this world sexy!

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

08-11-2010

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	62
Post ID:	14221
Reply to:	11938

Cool new upcoming Japanese Wand release

A new compete Set of Bruckner symphonies by Günter Wand with WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln will be released this fall:

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/3889437

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

11-07-2010

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unicon

Posts 74
Joined on 10-14-2009

Post #:	63
Post ID:	14880
Reply to:	14221

Dorati and LSO doing The Firebird

That was surprising to hear the Firebird complete Ballads in CD conducted by Dorati
I can be sure to say it was mastered perfectly and no compression ever used ...
If anyone is interested in Stravinsky Complete Firebird work should get this on LP or the CD :

http://www.amazon.com/Stravinsky-Firebird-Complete-Fireworks-Nightingale/dp/B0000057KU

unicon.

11-07-2010

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
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Post #:	64
Post ID:	14881
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Dorati is a fruit.

Great conductor but you never know what you get from him. I was listening tonight the FM recording from SymphonyShare of Dorati with CSO doing Mahler 6. Chicago Symphony play not well but whole together it is strangely powerful performance. As the performance of the weekend today CRB Broadcasted the Chicago under Yan Pascal Tortelier. The program was very cool Bruch’s first Violin Concerto by Joshua Bell and Saint-Saens’ Third Symphony. Joshua Bell “just for fun” played also Saint-Saens’ Rondo Capriccioso - what might be more fun?!

The Saint-Saens’ Third Symphony was the true celebration of my new midbass horn. It was not the Myung-Whun Chung’s Organ Symphony of cause but it still was entertaining in a way…

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

12-25-2010

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	65
Post ID:	15285
Reply to:	8359

Stravinsky as a great piano composer?

I am not so wild about Stravinsky as piano composer. His is OK, but no Liszt and no Rachmaninoff. His sonatas and etudes are not so exiting in my view, Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments is boring and his piano version of Petrushka is “not there”, I actually do not care too much about orchestral Petrushka as well.

Today I was cleaning my hard drives on my DAW – I had 120G of off air recordings that I did not listen and I come across a phenomenal work that I did not paid attantion before. It was sometime in 2009, Peter Serkin played it with BSO under button of Ludovic Morlot, the BSO assistant conductor at that time. The work was Stravinsky capriccio for piano & orchestra.

The work is kind of a bit jazzy to my taste but the way how Stravinsky orchestrated it is a pure brilliance. The way how pianos talks with other instruments and orchestral sections is insufferable beautiful. It is shame that Stravinsky did not write a full blown piano concerto.

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

01-03-2011

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	66
Post ID:	15369
Reply to:	8359

Another Wand’s Bruckner 8

I got today two new recordings, Bruckner 2 with Giulini and Wiener and Bruckner 8 with Gunter Wand. The Bruckner 2 was very much not what I expected, not to mention that sound on this Testament CD was horrible, but the Bruckner 8 was a truly something different. Gunter Wand recorded the Eighth for zillion times, I usually discard him with Asian orchestras. I have one preface with Munich Philharmonic from 2000 – very very very nice. But here it came even more interesting: the Wand’s with Berlin Philharmonic from 2001. It is live recording, Sounds is more or less OK (after Septa), too hard limited but what would one expect from those people. However, the Bruckner Sound that Gunter Wand creates in there is phenomenal.

With all “primitivism” of Bruckner lash thyme gliding very few orchestras and conductors keep the sanity of Bruckner presentation in sane scale. The Bruckner shall unfold majesticly and leisurely, the Bruckner culmination shall be executed with precision of brain surgery and the most important the Bruckner wade out from the culmination shall be cared without any sentimentalism and without losing the grace or even without self-gratifying happiness.

Gunter Wand with his Berlin Philharmonic has it all. Just beautiful owning of the Bruckner score, the beautiful playing, what else one can ask?

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

01-15-2011

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	67
Post ID:	15422
Reply to:	8359

Georg Tintner’s Bruckner Second.

I was listening today before MET broadcast the Tintner’s and Ireland National Symphony take on Bruckner Second. It is very nice, not to mention that Tintner plays Bruckner original version.

http://www.classicalnotes.net/columns/tintner.html

http://www.scena.org/lsm/sm5-7/tintner-en.htm

It is in away a shame that Georg Tintner did not record with greatest Germano-Austrian orchestras. Still, he does his best with Ireland National and it is a noble endeavor. The Tintner’s Bruckner 2 is not the best out there but it is very good Bruckner…

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

01-26-2011

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
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Post #:	68
Post ID:	15477
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Bruckner No.2 by Horst Stein

Eventually I have found the Bruckner Second symphony that is played how I feel it need to be played. The recording is from 1973: Horst Stein lead the mighty Wiener Philharmoniker. I got my CD on Decca Eloquence. This is unspeakably wonderful and I hear it 3 times today.

Somehow Stein was able to keep absolutely amassing balance between overly Vaselino- romantic presentation of Bruckner and some kind almost pop-presentation. Under Horst Stein Bruckner 2 does not sound like a Broadway musical but in a way it is it but not any musical. The Stein is entertaining Bruckner, but making it “entertaining” Stein doe not loose absolutely anything from Bruckner itself. The Vienna Philharmonic plays wonderfully and the whole experience from this CD is absolutely phenomenal.

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

02-01-2011

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	69
Post ID:	15529
Reply to:	8359

The Trout Quintet of the 21 century

Tonight I enjoy tremendously a vengeful recording on EMI Virgin of Schubert’s celebrated Quintet and Variations on "Trockne Blumen". The Schubert is played by French band of Frank Braley, Alois Posch, Renaud Capucon, Gerard Causse, Gautier Capucon. Kill me if I know who they are but I love what they do. It is not the Trout that we know from the mid of the 20 century played but great musician on great instrument. In this French version there is no sight of softness and delicacy. What it has however is very contemporary high-pressure, almost “compressed” interpretation of the Quintet, almost the “Quintet for sale”. However, it rendered so tastefully and so I would say professionally that it is a lot of fun to listen it. I would like more nuances and more shadow phasing but they do not play fragile Schubert but rather “Schubert’s in your face”. If to accept the premise, why not, then this French CD is truly wonderful. I would play /record double bass for ½ db softer but it is me…

Phenomenal music during the snow blizzard….
The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

02-28-2011

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	70
Post ID:	15666
Reply to:	8359

The phenomenal Brahms 4!

In my search for my own sound of Schubert 9 (BTW I did found what I was looking for) I was listening the Mengleberg’s play from 30. The record I have in a part of a 4 records album dedicated to 80 anniversary of Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. I did not practically was pleased with Mengleberg and then I discover that the album has Brahms Symphony No. 4 by Eduard van Beinum. I couldn’t recall that I heard this 1958 concert and I decided to listen it. That turned out to be truly supernatural Brahms.

The Beinum sucks in instantly and what is spectacular that he never lose you. The whole 4 movements, from the first bar to the last it is continue pressure building. The Concertgebouw is truly insane in there and I so much enjoyed it that I listed it twice right from the start to the end. To insult the injury it has absolutely stunning sound. Nope it you look for high-end audio style sound with distinct and separated instrument and section then it will be not it. It has my kind of type of sound when orchestra sound like a large could and you can’t sense if it mono, stereo, recording, live and at complete lost what is going on. You just sit in your chair and do not give shit about anything besides the swimming across the waves of Concertgebouw pressure, Brahms metaphors and Beinum expressions. Here is where the true high-end begins…

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

08-30-2011

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	72
Post ID:	16892
Reply to:	8359

Stanislav Skrowaczewski’s Bruckner

For the last couple weeks I have been enjoying the Stanislav Skrowaczewski’s Bruckner. I got a box set with all 11 symphonies with Deutsche Radio Philharmonic and it is very pliant. Now it is not the best Bruckner I heard and Saarbrücken Radio Philharmonic is not the best Bruckner orchestra I heard but as a box set it is extremely pleasant and it is in way different Bruckner I am accustom. Skrowaczewski play more like concert version of Bruckner, something that I would like do not do in Bruckner. Still, in what he does he does very well – a truly enjoyable box set.

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

10-24-2011

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mats
Chicago
Posts 85
Joined on 09-18-2005

Post #:	73
Post ID:	17213
Reply to:	16892

Hilary Hahn at Symphony Center

A lovely afternoon yesterday with Hilary Hahn in Chicago's Symphony Center.
Playing Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, with over a dozen of her new encore pieces interspersed,
Ms Hahn created a very enjoyable recital. I'll leave it to the experts to review, only to say here
that her perfect pitch on the Bach Sonata No. 1, coupled with her delightful consciousness was supremely charming.
Her tour continues to Atlanta, Davis CA, LA, and Ft. Lauderdale. Not to be missed IMHO.

http://theclassicalreview.com/2011/10/hilary-hahn-to-focus-on-small-things-with-encores-project/

Mats

10-31-2011

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	74
Post ID:	17263
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Bruckner by Volkmar Andreae

A local audio guy brought yesterday a box set with all Bruckner symphonies by Volkmar Andreae, all the 1953 broadcasts with Wiener sympony

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/SESSIONID/70bce9d83bda5c76444fda02d6ad605a/classic/detail/-/art/Anton%20Bruckner%20%20Symphonien%20Nr.%201-9/hnum/1057836

I enjoy them tremendously, what a beautiful thing! I feel like a Cat locked up in dairy store overnight….

The Cat

PS: Volkmar Andreae's recordings: http://www.fonoteca.ch/green/discographies/Phonographie_VAndreae_FN.pdf

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

11-19-2011

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,052
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	75
Post ID:	17390
Reply to:	8359

Morning Bruckner

One of the wonderful things about Bruckner that Morons do not buy Bruckner records. Last night I attended the “Hydra” concert and stop by in city record shop.

http://classical-scene.com/2011/11/11/sound-in-space-festival/comment-page-1

Here it was the brand new, still sealed, Bruckner No.9 by Hamburg Philharmonic under Joseph Keilberth from 1963 by Telefunken. Love this performance and love to get brand new record for $5. The Keilberth’s Bruckner is not evening Bruckner but rather morning Bruckner. It is Saturday 9 AM, guess what I am playing now…

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche