Classical Corner Classical Music Corner

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by George P, May 29, 2015.

  1. J.A.W.

    J.A.W. Music Addict

    Haven't heard any. Read and heard (on Dutch public radio) quite a lot of reviews when the discs came out years ago, and they weren't very favourable; many reviewers thought the series was a hodgepodge, with "important pianists being left out" (can't remember any of the names that were mentioned) and arbitrary track choices. They also complained about various errors. The series was too expensive for me at the time to take the risk, and I had other priorities back then.
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2017
    geralmar likes this.
  2. [​IMG]
    My copy is an EMI disc before the title moved to Warner.
     
  3. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    I like them enough to have bought all of them. I have no idea how they decided who to included, but I wouldn't be surprised if some of the arbitrary track choices were due to licencing. For instance, the Glenn Gould set has not Bach and I wouldn't be surprised if that was because Sony didn't want to licence any of the Bach
     
    dale 88 likes this.
  4. dale 88

    dale 88 Errand Boy for Rhythm

    Location:
    west of sun valley
    I think I heard it once on the radio years ago. I knew it because my first piano teacher had me play it. But then she was Scandinavian like the composer.
    It's funny that it has not shown up in one of my compilation CDs. The only Sinding recording I have is his Symphony 1 & 2.
    Ari Rasilainen & the Norwegian Radio Orchestra on the Apex label from 1999.
    [​IMG]
     
  5. dale 88

    dale 88 Errand Boy for Rhythm

    Location:
    west of sun valley
    There are some fine things in the series. I don't own all of it, maybe around 60 %, because I bought from the used market later.
     
  6. Bachtoven

    Bachtoven Forum Resident

    Location:
    US
    [​IMG] This disc has stunning play and superb sound, but it's exhausting to listen in one sitting due to the nearly non-stop flying fingers!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    royzak2000 likes this.
  7. ToddBD

    ToddBD Forum Resident

    In the disc player...listening to the Peacock Variations (Dorati). Sure do wish there were more Dorati/CSO collaborations...he brought out the best in that orchestra, for sure.
    [​IMG]
     
    Mik, royzak2000, Eigenvector and 4 others like this.
  8. bigstar87

    bigstar87 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Milwaukee
    From the Decca Sound Analogue Years, incredible sound: [​IMG]
    I'm always blown away with how great the Decca engineers (and Mercury, RCA Living Stereo) were and how far ahead they were technologically compared to other music from the 50s and 60s
     
    Mik, NorthNY Mark, ToddBD and 6 others like this.
  9. dale 88

    dale 88 Errand Boy for Rhythm

    Location:
    west of sun valley
    This is an excellent program. Kavakos is a brilliant violinist.
    Leonidas Kavakos
    Virtuoso
    Decca, 2016
    [​IMG]
    01 - (2:51) Stravinsky: Danse Russe - Pétrouchka
    02 - (4:10) Stravinsky: Chanson Russe
    03 - (5:24) Sarasate: Caprice Basque
    04 - (5:03) Sarasate: Romanza Andaluza
    05 - (2:41) Tárrega: Recuerdos De La Alhambra
    06 - (2:36) Falla: Danza Del Molinero - El Sombrero De Tres Picos
    07 - (12:50) Paganini: Introduction and Variations on "Nel Cor Più Non Mi Sento"
    08 - (6:14) Wieniawski: Capriccio-Valse
    09 - (7:55) R. Strauss: Waltzes From Der Rosenkavalier
    10 - (6:01) Dohnányi: "Gypsy Andante" Ruralia Hungarica
    11 - (5:13) Britten: Reveille
    12 - (4:05) Elgar: La Capricieuse
    13 - (3:00) Tchaikovsky: Valse Sentimentale
    14 - (6:34) Paganini: Variations on "God Save the King"
    15 - (4:01) Dvorák: Humoresque
     
  10. royzak2000

    royzak2000 Senior Member

    Location:
    London,England
  11. Bachtoven

    Bachtoven Forum Resident

    Location:
    US
    Fabio is fabulous! Demonstration-quality sound, too.

    [​IMG]
     
    tomymontana likes this.
  12. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    Biondi's Vivadi is wonderful!
     
  13. Rose River Bear

    Rose River Bear Senior Member

    I have many of them and they are fantastic IMO. I have around thirty of them.
     
    George P likes this.
  14. coopmv

    coopmv Newton 1/30/2001 - 8/31/2011

    Location:
    CT, USA
    Strongly :agree:. I have about a dozen of CD's on various Vivaldi works by Biondi in my baroque collection. I attended a Mostly Mozart Festival all baroque concert (go figure!) performed by Biondi and his ensemble at Lincoln Center some 15 years ago. What a great concert!
     
  15. alankin1

    alankin1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Philly
    Thanks, Hans (and the others who responded). I saw some used copies at reasonable prices of some of the titles with lesser known pianists and was trying to decide whether I should pick them up.
     
  16. alankin1

    alankin1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Philly
    Now playing, CD 1:
    Edouard Lalo – Concerto for Cello in D minor
    Camille Saint-Saëns – Concerto for Cello No.1 in A minor Op.33
    Max Bruch – Kol Nidrei Op.47 adagio on Hebrew melodies for cello and orchestra
    – Lamoureux Concerts Association Orchestra – Jean Martinon

    Ernest Bloch – Schelomo Hebrew rhapsody for cello and orchestra
    – Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra – Alfred Wallenstein

    Pierre Fournier
    (cello) [Deutsche Grammophon]

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    Mik, vanhooserd, bigstar87 and 3 others like this.
  17. bruce2

    bruce2 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Connecticut, USA
    I decided I really want to hear this mono Mahler First so I ordered another copy. I posted how I ordered it once already but returned it as I received a cheap CD-R copy. I love this Symphony and currently own two recordings of it but after numerous listening and comparisons I am not really satisfied with either. One is the Solti from 1984. Overall this is pretty good but I find the sound a little too bright and with too much volume fluctuation. Some parts are so quiet as to be almost inaudible then it gets so loud in the final movement I literally have to lower the volume a couple notches or my ears hurt. The other version I have is Sir Adrian Boult from 1958 on the Everest label. Again I like the interpretation of this but not the sound. It is OK for the most part but for me it is ruined by loud and overpowering percussion! There are parts with drums and crash cymbals that are mixed way too loud and bright that they overpower the orchestra and are harsh on the ears. I think it is a weird mixing or balance choice. I'm hoping the Walter will be more to my tastes and become my favorite Mahler Symphony No. 1.
     
    geralmar likes this.
  18. Bachtoven

    Bachtoven Forum Resident

    Location:
    US
    These performances are technically very clean, but I don't detect a lot of personality in his playing, a common problem with many young musicians. Very well recorded--he's practically in my listening room!

    [​IMG]
     
  19. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    Sad to say, I feel that way about many modern classical performances. This is probably the biggest reason why I tend to listen to the older masters.
     
    drh likes this.
  20. TeacFan

    TeacFan Forum Resident In Memoriam

    Location:
    Arcadia, Ca.
    [​IMG]

    Forgot how amazing the sound & performance of this SACD
    Really shows off my meager system. The acoustics of Symphony Hall, Boston really shine. ​
     
    Mik, ToddBD, mdekoning and 3 others like this.
  21. ubertrout

    ubertrout Forum Resident

    Location:
    Washington, DC
    What you're hearing is dynamic range, and it's something that many other listeners demand in their recordings - it's part of the music. You should consider using equalization settings on your playback unit to lower the dynamic range.
     
  22. bruce2

    bruce2 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Connecticut, USA
    I am aware of dynamic range and appreciate it but in my opinion it can go too far. I don't like when I set my volume for an album to be able to clearly hear the soft parts and then it suddenly gets so loud that it actually causes discomfort to my ears. I own well over 1000 CDs and SACDs and I have only ever owned two where I felt the difference between the quiet and loud parts was too extreme. One is this Solti Mahler 1st and the other is the Dutoit recording of Holst Planets, which I know many people like. I think another problem with these discs is also that they are digital recordings on the bright side, so when the volume gets loud it is even more harsh on the ears. Again it is just my opinion and my system but I don't care for these two recordings so I won't listen to them. I prefer Ozawa for the Planets and will try Walter for Mahler, no big deal.
     
    Tom Campbell and crispi like this.
  23. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    I haven't seen the 1st symphony live, but when I saw the 2nd, the percussion was be pretty over powering during the crescendo in the final movement. I remember there was a 4 foot wooden box, like a huge cajon. The percussionist playing it a huge wooden mallet, over 1 foot in diameter. He was putting his whole body into hitting the box. Of course, every thing was extremely loud at that point. I was anticipating hearing the organ at the Kennedy Center for the first time. I couldn't pick it out with everything else going on.
     
  24. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    It should be mentioned that in the case of classical music, these dynamics are written into the music itself, printed right onto the score. And romantic music (like Mahler) has some of the widest dynamic range of any music. (You may know all of that, but I thought it was worth mentioning for others.)
     
    bigstar87, ubertrout and Byrdsmaniac like this.
  25. ubertrout

    ubertrout Forum Resident

    Location:
    Washington, DC
    Fair enough...the only point of doing any of this is the pleasure of experiencing music, and I won't tell you how you should enjoy it.

    I've recommended it before, but this release from last year is exemplary - I listened on Spotify after seeing nothing but raves, and on hearing it I understand why.
    [​IMG]
     
    ToddBD, mdekoning and Eigenvector like this.

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