I enjoyed the music but there is a German (I think) spoken-word preface to each part of Totentanz which didn't do anything for me.
Now on the turntable, "Schubert - Symphonies Nos. 2 & 6" performed by the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields led by Neville Marriner on Philips.
From the RCA Living Stereo Collector's Edition: My favorite Shostakovich Symphony, very good recording
Not that I had anything to do with it... When the Great Performances ("Newspaper Cover") albums first appeared in the early '80s, I was somewhat taken aback by the simplistic design, too. The concept was to reissue 100 (numbered) LPs of Columbia's past glory--supposedly picked by a panel of experts--remastered and repackaged as a budget line of collectable albums. I don't mean to sound like I'm defending the series; just explaining it. As I recall, the emphasis was on budget and I don't remember reading any reviews at the time that extolled any sonic advantage of the "remastering." A record shop owner back in the day told me that CBS decided to print the covers in black & white (thus, the resemblance to a newspaper), eschewing the slick color photography that adorned the originals, to lower the list price and save costs. It also kept anyone from confusing the re-issued LPs from the originals. I don't know if CBS ever went beyond the original "100"... I didn't keep up with them as I had already collected most of what was being reissued. But I picked up a few. Here's an inner sleeve from one, advertising the series...
Benefit of working in a theater while it's being renovated: Free CDs! I actually took home quite a few LPs over summer, but never got around to listening to them. Brahms: The Complete Quintets, Berlin Philharmonic Octet, Werner Haas
Listening to a CD that I bought recently for 50 cents: Handel Suites for Keyboard by Keith Jarrett. Yes--that Keith Jarrett--the one who plays jazz. I didn't know what to expect, but he's doing a very fine job. My only nitpick is his heavy use of the piano's sustain pedal. Sonics are first rate! ECM records, 1995.
On many - if not all - of his jazz recordings Jarrett is infamous for his grunting/singing along with his playing. Any of that here?
Joseph Szigeti playing Prokofiev Violin Concerto No.1. This came in from my latest big classical order, nice performance and one I'll gladly add to the Prokofiev rotation.
This 2 disc set marks Kissin's return to DG after a long absence. All performances were recorded in concert at 6 different venues, so the sound varies quite a bit--from superb to not so great. The "Moonlight" has the worst sound, but it is still listenable. Kissin's playing is remarkable for its accuracy and power. Some might think he's a bit too aggressive at times, but I want people to play the piano like they mean it, and he certainly does!
Now on the turntable, "Mendelssohn/Tchaikovsky - Violin Concertos" performed by Isaac Stern with the Philadelphia Orchestra led by Eugene Ormandy on CBS Great Performances. (This internet pic shows the CD but the album cover is identical except for the upper right-hand corner.) These LP releases are when I began collecting and listening to classical music in earnest. I had no CM knowledge and figured these records could provide a guide to someone just starting out. Never collected all of them though. Sound quality is perfectly acceptable to pretty good.
Now on the turntable, "Chopin - Preludes Op. 28" performed by Alexander Brailowsky on RCA Legendary Performers. RCA matched the CBS Great Performances series with its Legendary Performers releases. There might have been 100 of these also; the back cover shows #70. While CBS released the albums on CD, I don't think RCA did likewise.
Now on the turntable, "Smetana - 4 Symphonic Poems" performed by the Symphonie-Orchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks led by Rafael Kubelik on DG. Richard III Wallensteins Lager Hakon Jarl Prager Karneval
Recorded in Kingsway Hall, 2/23-24/70. Producers: Tony D'Amato & Gavin Barrett. Engineer: Arthur Lilley. Issued 10/70. Despite the side length, the sound is pretty good.
Yeah The Planets is always difficult to split up on LP with Jupiter coming right in the middle. Herrmann's versions look particularly long, too.
