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09-22-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,156
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 1
Post ID: 8359
Reply to: 8359
Performance of a week.
In thin thread I will be posted commercially available recordings that RECENTLY impressed me. Feel free to do the same if you would like to. Please restrict you postings to classical repertoire only.

Rgs,
Romy 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
09-22-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,156
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 2
Post ID: 8360
Reply to: 8359
Arleen Augér – the Haydn’s soprano as it meant to be.
The Haydn’s Arias & Cantatas by Arleen Augér. The Handel & Haydn Society of Boston lead by Christopher Hogwood. (Avie 2066)
  • Berenice, che fai, H 24a no 10: Excerpt(s)
  • Circe ossia L'isola incantata: Son pietosa, H 32 no 1b
  • Arianna a Naxos, H 26b no 2: Excerpt(s)  
  • Solo e pensoso, H 24b no 20  
  • Miseri noi, misera patria...Funesto orror, H 24a no 7  
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
09-25-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
JANDL100


Forest of Dean, UK
Posts 71
Joined on 09-27-2007
Post #: 3
Post ID: 8376
Reply to: 8359
Pergolesi Stabat Mater
A thread for recent personal discoveries of any recording, or just recent recordings? ....

Anyway, this counts as both .... well, 1998, so not that old!.... Pergolesi Stabat Mater conducted by Rinaldo Alessandrini on the Naive label - Naive OP30441.

I always knew this music was beautiful and moving, but this recording is quite amazing - heartbreakingly beautiful.

Jerry
09-25-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,156
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 4
Post ID: 8378
Reply to: 8376
A fanatic Bruckner V – even better then BPO/Zander last year.

I did mean the recent recordings but rather the personal “recording of the week”, the personal recent discoveries.  BTW, I never heard the Pergolesi Stabat Mater before. I will look the Alessandrini’s one….

Here is one wonderful recent discovery: The 1961 performance of the Bruckner Fifth’s (original version) by Franz Konwitschny and Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Since I heard this play I so loved it, that being a stupid compulsive Moron, I bought a compilation of 22 Konwitschny’s CDs. Well, it was NOT a lot of good there but the Bruckner Fifth is stay very high. It is so god that I even bought a very expansive set of 1974 pressing on Eterna LP with this Konwitschny/Bruckner Fifth.

The Cat

PS: The play is more interesting then Boston Philharmonic with Zander last year (the best fifth I ever heard) by Boston Philharmonic was live and out of studio. The Bruckner Fifth must be played wide open– it is not the studio-type of recording. From this perspective the “Live” play of Zander kind of does more to me…

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
09-25-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
clarkjohnsen
Boston, MA, US
Posts 298
Joined on 06-02-2004
Post #: 5
Post ID: 8380
Reply to: 8378
Live vs. recorded
I know exactly what you mean. There's more excitement and looser rhythms (that's good!) in the live variety. That said, the Konwitschny has been on my Best List for decades. Celibidache ain't bad either, and always there's the G-L Jochum.

clark
09-28-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
JANDL100


Forest of Dean, UK
Posts 71
Joined on 09-27-2007
Post #: 6
Post ID: 8395
Reply to: 8380
Herman D Koppel
Symphonies 1 to 4 by Herman Koppel have come my way over the last week or so .... 20th C Scandinavian.   Kind of a cross between Sibelius, Vaughan Williams & Hindemith .... with a touch of minimalism way ahead of its time.   So quite a few influences, but definitely a strong voice of his own, to my ears anyway.  Excellent orchestration and enjoyable use of brass and a lot of interesting ideas.  Well worth exploring.   I'd suggest starting with 1 & 2.   He wrote 7 - so I'll definitely be looking out for the others.  CDs are on the Da Capo label.

The Koppels were and are a strong musical dynasty in Denmark, so perhaps it would be worthwhile exploring the music of other members of the family, too.

.... there's so much excellent music out there that is barely known ....   :-)

Jerry
09-28-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
op.9
Planet Earth
Posts 68
Joined on 01-26-2007
Post #: 7
Post ID: 8396
Reply to: 8395
Early Beethoven - total inspiration
Beethoven: Sonatas for Piano & Cello Op. 5, Nos. 1 & 2
Patrick Cohen, Christophe Coin
Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ASIN: B0000007NA

This is intensely moving. Both players are consistently inspired from beginning to end. This is real chamber music – where individual personalities are not subsumed into a pretty compromise.

Absolutely wonderful sound. Close, real, and not glossy.
Here we have a ‘lost instrument’. Cello with gut strings! Is it one of the most beautiful sounds of all? Modern metal strings just drain all the character out of an instrument, and cellists are generally the worst addicts of the monotonous steely and unyielding sound they produce. It takes a real radical to come to terms with the possibilities of gut – Coin shows us the way!


Tears of joy, and gratitude!



everybody used to call me James in my past other-worldly life.
09-28-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,156
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 8
Post ID: 8401
Reply to: 8359
John Williams’ Violin Concerto
John Williams, the celebrated film/pop composer it turned out composed a dozen or so concertos. I heard today his Concerto for Violin and Orchestra performed here in Boston by BSO under baton of Mr. Williams himself. The Violin is played by Gil Shaham… I heard it today at our local WGBH program:”BSO on Record” and I kind of discarded it initial and went to do something else, letting the music to play. While the concerto was progressing I kind of developed taste to it and the fine bars I was right there with the performance. I would not call it great Concerto but I like how the music forced me to come back – it usually a good sign. I need to hear it again as I fell that there is something in this composition. The announcer said that the performance was released commercially…

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
09-29-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Lbjefferies7
Southern California
Posts 49
Joined on 01-11-2008
Post #: 9
Post ID: 8405
Reply to: 8401
Wilhelm Kempff-Best Performance of the Week

Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53, Waldstein

A very nice performance of the begining of Beethoven's "heroic" phase (1803-1812).  Wilhelm Kempff's genius pianissimo (perhaps the best of any pianist I have heard) made the dolce in the first movement truely breathtaking.  Kempff's style of playing was so impressive...Where Horowitz injected such genius passion, and Gould such a obsessive 'perfection,' Kempff, like Rostropovich, injected a properness to music.  His astonishing rhythm, lyricism, and ability to present music as if HE were hearing it for the first time is so very special and very unique.

LBJ

I'm not interested in having an orchestra sound like itself. I want it to sound like the composer. Leonard Bernstein
10-03-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,156
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 10
Post ID: 8433
Reply to: 8359
The Konwitschny’s Der Fliegende Holländer.

With my resent discovery of Wagner:

http://www.romythecat.com/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?postID=8393#8393

…..I am listening some Wagner lately and I discovered a truly gem. In 1960 Frantz Konwitschny led Berlin’s Staatskapelle and State Opera Chorus with production of The Flying Dutchman. I was initial was attracted by Fischer-Dieskau and my beloved Rudolf Schock as the Konwitschny’ troops but then listening it twice I realize that it is very-very good Dutchman altogether with excellent sound as a compliment. It is available on “Berlin Classics” and on “EDEL Classics”

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
10-03-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
yoshi
Jefferson (MA), United States
Posts 69
Joined on 05-04-2005
Post #: 11
Post ID: 8437
Reply to: 8433
Bruckner 5th Gunter Wand/NDR (DVD)
From the beginning, I was drawn into the almost haunted look of 86 years old conductor.  His facial expressions and body movements communicate the meaning of the music as much as the performance of the orchestra itself.  You can also see the musicians putting all their heart into the music this great conductor is trying to create.  Everything is laid out in crystal-clear harmonic structure.

When I hear or see this kind of seriously great music making, I truly regret I didn't get into classical music until recently.  If Wand is still arrive, I'll pay $1000 for a seat or fly anywhere in the world to hear him live.

BTW, I love the lead horn lady of NDR!

Yoshi
10-13-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,156
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 12
Post ID: 8498
Reply to: 8359
The best set of ALL Beethoven Pianos Concertos?

I mean who recorded ALL of them at the SAME level of performing quality?  A used set that I fished recently suggest that I might found a noble contestant.

It is box set of 3 CD  (DG 435 744 -2) that has all 5 concertos performed by Wilhelm Kempff accompanied by Berliner Philharmoniker under Paul Van Kempen. The recording is 1952 and 1955, mono and the play is as beautiful as it could be.  Where this box set was hiding before? I need to get them on LP...

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
10-21-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,156
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 13
Post ID: 8591
Reply to: 8359
Edmund Rubbra: Sinfonia Concertante
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What in interesting work, sort of piano concerto but so much different…. and so much fascinating!!! It is played by Howard Shelley and BBC National Wales Orchestra under Richard Hickox…

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
10-22-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
JANDL100


Forest of Dean, UK
Posts 71
Joined on 09-27-2007
Post #: 14
Post ID: 8595
Reply to: 8591
Rubbra: Sinfonia Concertante
fiogf49gjkf0d
 Romy the Cat wrote:
What in interesting work, sort of piano concerto but so much different…. and so much fascinating!!! It is played by Howard Shelley and BBC National Wales Orchestra under Richard Hickox…

The Cat


I've not heard that - I didn't even know it existed!  I have all Rubbra's (11) symphonies, his violin and viola concertos, 4 string quartets and various other chamber pieces.  Mostly very good, some of the symphonies are excellent.   I shall look out for the Sinfonia Concertante.

Jerry
10-31-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,156
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 15
Post ID: 8671
Reply to: 8359
The ‘Le Chausseur Maudit’ by BSO
fiogf49gjkf0d
What an amusing little peace! I had it for a while along with the rest of my Munch recordings but I never paid attention to this César Franck’s work until recently heard it on radio. It is 1962 recording and Boston lead by Charles Munch. It was 3 years after Munch recorded his celebrated Saint-Saëns’s Symphony #3 and at the same year as he did his Symphonie Fantastique. I think 1962 was the last year BSO was recorded with RCA, Anyhow, the BSO play in there is fantastic and the music is so interesting that Richard Strauss would envy… I think I need to look closer to César Franck…

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
11-06-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,156
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 16
Post ID: 8749
Reply to: 8359
Bellini’s “I Puritani” with Beverly Sills.
fiogf49gjkf0d
I picked recently a newly-premastered version of “I Puritani” from 1973 (Universal MCAD3-80356) . Julius Rudel leads London Philharmonic with Ambrosian Opera Chorus. The lead singers are, Ricardo Cassinelli, Nicolai Gedda and of course Beverly Sills. This is one of those with “Latest Digital Technologies” label – usually crap – but this one turned out to be very nice. The performance is extremely pleasurable. I am one of those freaks who need Callas in any “I Puritani”, in most of the operas at this mater but Beverly Sills shines here in own right and the entire play feels like very nicely balanced and performed. Very very pleasant experience with Rudel’s “I Puritani”.

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
11-12-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
mats
Chicago
Posts 85
Joined on 09-18-2005
Post #: 17
Post ID: 8839
Reply to: 8749
Alfred Cortot EMI ICON
fiogf49gjkf0d
Stumbled across this at Borders yesterday.  Wow! What a beautiful set.  Incredible solo playing by Cortot, and lots of Casals and Thibaud collaborations.  Mostly from the 20 's and 30's, but also Chopin Preludes Op.28 from 1949.  I am amazed how good the sound is.  7CD  EMI box 50999 2 17304 2 9.

Mats
11-16-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,156
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 18
Post ID: 8874
Reply to: 8359
I am not a huge fun of Sibelius’s Symphonies…
fiogf49gjkf0d
I know well and like the Koussevitzky’s Sibelius’ small pieces but I never was attracted to Sibelius’s Symphonies. But here it was a totally other story. The Firth and Seventh Symphony plated by Boston Symphony in 1975 under no other then Colin Davis, with Firth probably be more interesting then Seventh. You do not need to go down to 1949 when BSO played well last time. It looks as they did OK even during the Seiji Ozawa’s slavery. And to the Sibelius - what am interesting and very different then I heard before induction of his music!

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
12-16-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Lbjefferies7
Southern California
Posts 49
Joined on 01-11-2008
Post #: 19
Post ID: 9173
Reply to: 8874
Rainy today...
fiogf49gjkf0d
So I played Bach.  Right now I am playing the very respectable Richter performances of The Well Tempered Clavier Book 1 with a cup of very nice Earl Gray.  Life is good...now.  I played earlier the disgusting Zenph "re-performance" of Gould's Goldberg Variations.  This, by the way was the worst performance of the week!  Where is the music?!?  Why did they do it?

I'm not interested in having an orchestra sound like itself. I want it to sound like the composer. Leonard Bernstein
12-16-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
JANDL100


Forest of Dean, UK
Posts 71
Joined on 09-27-2007
Post #: 20
Post ID: 9176
Reply to: 9173
Ah, yes, Gould's 1955 Goldbergs ...
fiogf49gjkf0d
 Lbjefferies7 wrote:
I played earlier the disgusting Zenph "re-performance" of Gould's Goldberg Variations.  This, by the way was the worst performance of the week!  Where is the music?!?  Why did they do it?


It's years since I heard this on an early CBS CD (it's still on my shelves, I'll have another listen later today) but it always struck me then as a disjointed, mechanical run-through.   The later 1981 recording is something else though! - I really like that.

Is it the performance that you don't like, Lbj, or what Zenph have done with it?

Jerry
12-16-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
JANDL100


Forest of Dean, UK
Posts 71
Joined on 09-27-2007
Post #: 21
Post ID: 9177
Reply to: 8874
Sibelius symphony recordings ....
fiogf49gjkf0d
 Romy the Cat wrote:
.... but I never was attracted to Sibelius’s Symphonies. But here it was a totally other story. The Firth and Seventh ISymphony plated by Boston Symphony in 1975 under no other then Colin Davis, with Firth probably be more interesting then Seventh.
The Cat


I love all the Sibelius symphonies (although the 7th is quite hard to penetrate) - but the 5th is probably my least favorite.   The only recording I have heard that really works for me is on the budget Naxos label - Petri Sakari and the Iceland SO. With Sakari it's not just a series of nice melodies and rythmic ideas, but a coherent symphonic whole.  At least, that's the way it seems to me.

My fave Sibelius symphonies are the 6th (conductor Saraste with the Finnish RSO on BMG is wonderful) and the 4th.  Mysterious, atmospheric, sparsely-orchestrated and chilling.  Yummy!

Jerry
12-16-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,156
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 22
Post ID: 9180
Reply to: 8359
Faure, Ozawa and Boston
fiogf49gjkf0d

A rare wonderful recording form the mid of Ozawa–inspired Bostonian symphonic nuclear winter. I do not need more justification do not like Ozawa. Last Saturday he led MET with “Queen of Spade” it was beyond being bad – it was hardly recognizable. And then something like this!

It was recorded in 1987 and the CD has all Faure program: Pelléas et Mélisande, Après un rêve, Elégie, Pavane… It is truly the BSO at its best with Ozawa, and it is kind of the Ozawa-like repertoire… Truly wonderful play. Listening now the Pavane with Tanglewood Festival chorus – very impressive, in fact geniusly impressive! I need to fine if it is available on LP. The CD has very pleasant artwork, BTW…

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
12-16-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
tuga


Posts 174
Joined on 12-26-2007
Post #: 23
Post ID: 9181
Reply to: 9180
I have that recording, I think.
fiogf49gjkf0d
It was recommended by a (singer and choir director) friend of mine. A moving performance.

But my copy was recorded in 1994 and 1995 and produced in 1997... Romy, is it possible that your data is incorrect?

Regards,
Tuga

"Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira Pascoaes
12-16-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Lbjefferies7
Southern California
Posts 49
Joined on 01-11-2008
Post #: 24
Post ID: 9182
Reply to: 9176
Gould and Zemph
fiogf49gjkf0d
 JANDL100 wrote:
 Lbjefferies7 wrote:
I played earlier the disgusting Zenph "re-performance" of Gould's Goldberg Variations.  This, by the way was the worst performance of the week!  Where is the music?!?  Why did they do it?


It's years since I heard this on an early CBS CD (it's still on my shelves, I'll have another listen later today) but it always struck me then as a disjointed, mechanical run-through.   The later 1981 recording is something else though! - I really like that.

Is it the performance that you don't like, Lbj, or what Zenph have done with it?


Yes, I too prefer the 1981 performance, though the piano did not seem as quite as capable. 

The problem with Zenph is that they convert (kind-of) the audio signal into a high-def MIDI format and then play it back on a Disklaver player piano.  It takes a lot of manipulation to get the transfers to playback decently.  This is the first place they get into trouble. Second, they play it back on, naturally, a Yamaha piano, very nicely made, but second class sound. The recording was quite bad...Strike three.

I've heard just parts of it on a Live Performance LX player system in a ridiculously wonderful piano.  It wasn't a waste (the LX is the only interesting player out there, save for the reliability-challenged Bosendorfer Ceus), but Gould should never have been mentioned...they just use him as a marketing slogan.  Very sad.

Regards,
LBJ

I'm not interested in having an orchestra sound like itself. I want it to sound like the composer. Leonard Bernstein
12-16-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,156
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 25
Post ID: 9186
Reply to: 9181
Ozawa's Faure and BSO
fiogf49gjkf0d
 tuga wrote:
It was recommended by a (singer and choir director) friend of mine. A moving performance. But my copy was recorded in 1994 and 1995 and produced in 1997... Romy, is it possible that your data is incorrect? Regards, Tuga
The 1987 is written on the CD box. I do not know if we refer to the same recording. Your isRCA, mine is DG: Deutsche Grammophon CD 423 089-2. Here is the how the box looks like:



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