Classical Corner Classical Music Corner

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

  1. Wes H

    Wes H Forum Resident

    Location:
    Virginia
    And speaking of Moravec...

    Years ago I came across this excellent 4-LP box set of Beethoven recordings he made in the '60s. It's all very familiar Beethoven, but sounds fresh in Moravec's hands. The set was issued for a record club, but the recordings were made by the small audiophile label, Connoisseur Society.

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    Pic of Moravec from the enclosed booklet:

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    I know you are not into vinyl, so I checked Amazon and found that the recordings in this set are available across these two CDs:

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    :targettiphat:
     
  2. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    Yes, his Beethoven is excellent. In fact, his Pathetique is bar far the best I have heard, having heard dozens.

    Over the years, I have been able to track down all of his CDs, including this one, which contains his only recording (and only CD release) of the Appassionata. Sadly, he did not re-record it, as I have read he was hoping to do. I can see why, as it is not among his best work.

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  3. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
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    Bach for more!
     
  4. Wes H

    Wes H Forum Resident

    Location:
    Virginia
    And speaking of Beethoven...

    On the turntable now is a somewhat forgotten performance of the Piano Concerto No.5 by Curzon/Szell.
    Recorded by Decca, September 12-13, 1949, in Kingsway Hall and released 1950, the (mono) sonics have a nice range with only a touch of that typical mid-range "peakiness" from this era, but I immediately adapt to it and settle in to enjoy this brilliant performance. The recording is well balanced--every part is easily heard and the dynamics are sensible.

    Nothing is sluggish, plodding, or pedestrian here -- Curzon's playing is dazzling, and he and Szell extract all the power and beauty this piece has to offer, raising the bar high for all the many recordings that followed.
    My copy is on the London label (below).

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  5. hvbias

    hvbias Midrange magic

    Location:
    Northeast
    @George P any thoughts on Marston's release of Vladimir de Pachman? I have heard some of his Chopin on an Opal disc and didn't think his playing was anything great.
     
  6. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    I feel much the same way.
     
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  7. drh

    drh Talking Machine

    I don't have the Marston set, but I do have a CD issue of Pachmann on Arbiter, and I remember being astonished at how much I enjoyed the work of a pianist whom I'd pretty much dismissed, on the strength of what I'd read, as one part genius to 9 parts quack. But that was a long time ago, and whether it was just that I was in a receptive mood that day (i.e., whether the experiment was repeatable) I wouldn't care to venture. I don't have enough of his original 78s to have formed much of an opinion from them.
     
  8. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    I do know that many of his recordings seem are plagued with some of the loudest/thickest surface noise I've ever heard. I have since upgraded most of my system, so I should try again.

    I love that he was dubbed the "Chopinzee" by one critic.
     
  9. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
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    Now listening to the fourth CD from the above 4CD box, containing the pianists latest recordings. All are of Chopin works. Although the notes report that his playing is better in his earlier recordings, I find much to enjoy in these performances.
     
    Matt Richardson likes this.
  10. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
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    Not the greatest sound here, but the performances, as is usually the case with this pianist, are deeply felt, exciting and tender.
     
    Matt Richardson likes this.
  11. hvbias

    hvbias Midrange magic

    Location:
    Northeast
    I've only read Marston's notes on his website after listening to him (generally do that if I'm just sampling music to avoid any bias, I will read trusted reviews/members if I am buying out right). IMHO I try and avoid Wikipedia as there is a lot of information that is uncited.

    The worst I have heard as far as surface noise is Marston's first volume of Leopard Godowsky, that sounds like an experimental noise band with a pianist playing very far away :)

    I generally consider myself very tolerant of surface noise with historical transfers (very picky with surface noise on LPs I own; always want the quietest copy as long as the mastering is good) and this was one of the very rare cases where it was too much for me.
     
  12. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
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    Now enjoying a CD-R I made last year, compiling a bunch of Richter's solo Brahms recordings from the above CD and a number of other sources. As with so many other composers, he truly had a special way with Brahms's works.
     
    Matt Richardson likes this.
  13. coopmv

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

    Location:
    CT, USA
    Lossless or MP3?
     
  14. coopmv

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

    Location:
    CT, USA
    I burned a few hundred CD's in the FLAC format to my desktop using the Windows 10 WMP that can rip CD in that format. I downloaded EAC a while back but never used it. Unfortunately, my vintage portable digital player cannot handle FLAC files ...

    My CDP may also be too old to handle FLAC files though my Yamaha universal player may be able to play FLAC.
     
  15. Matt Richardson

    Matt Richardson Forum Resident

    Location:
    Suburban Chicago
    Enjoying this classic 1956 recording of Idomeneo. (Richard Lewis, Siomoneau, Jurinac, etc. -What a cast!)

    [​IMG]best free image hosting
     
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  16. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    Great cover!

    I am a huge fan of Mozart's instrumental compositions, but not such a big fan of vocal works in general.
     
    Matt Richardson likes this.
  17. lwh1

    lwh1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Kent, England
    Playing now is Richard Strauss "Ein Heldenleben" - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan (1959)
    (coupled with Wagner "Siegfried Idyll (1977))
     
    crispi, Matt Richardson and George P like this.
  18. Matt Richardson

    Matt Richardson Forum Resident

    Location:
    Suburban Chicago
    First time I've heard this record (1961). Excellent performance in very good sound.

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  19. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    Havent heard that album either, but I adore the Shostakovich Symphonies (and the Quartets.)
     
    Matt Richardson likes this.
  20. Hedin

    Hedin Forum Resident

    Location:
    Norway
    This morning on my Turntable. Enjoying this 'Brandenburg' conducted by Karl Ristenpart.

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  21. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    I'm also enjoying some Bach:

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  22. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
     
    hvbias and Hedin like this.
  23. George P

    George P Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
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    Haven't heard this in awhile. The sound is worse than I recalled. Bass light but thankfully, no noise reduction, as can often be the case with Melodiya recordings.

    I try to grab live Gilels recordings when I can, for he was much more extroverted in front of an audience than in the studio.
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2018
    hvbias likes this.
  24. Hedin

    Hedin Forum Resident

    Location:
    Norway
    One can't go wrong with the Kapellmeister at the Court in Cothen :righton::nauga:
     
  25. Wes H

    Wes H Forum Resident

    Location:
    Virginia
    While preparing dinner tonight, listening to Murray Perahia play Chopin Sonatas 2 & 3. Very enjoyable!
    Columbia Masterworks LP, 1974.

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    Larry C. McGinnis III likes this.

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