Just get yourself the early sixties recording by Karel Ančerl & the Czech Philharmonic and donate me those useless LP's...
I was so convinced of the cheap Klemperer(Beethoven)/Kempe(Brahms) set - - that I decided to get "deeper" into Kempe: a somewhat majestetic (anti-neurotic) beginning (Poco sostenuto/Vivace) of the Seventh:
Now listening to CD 28 from "Georges Cziffra - Ses Enregistrements Studio 1956 - 1986" on EMI. Ferruccio Busoni Praeludium & Fuge, transcription for piano in D major (after J. S. Bach, BWV 532), KiV B20 Ferruccio Busoni Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, transcription for piano (after J. S. Bach, BWV 645; Ten Chorale Preludes No. 2), KiV B27/2 Ferruccio Busoni In dir ist Freude, transcription for piano (after J. S. Bach, BWV 615; Ten Chorale Preludes No. 9), KiV B27/9 Ferruccio Busoni Erschienen ist der herrliche Tag, chorale after Bach (BWV 629) César Franck Prélude, choral, et fugue, for piano, M. 21 Mily Balakirev Islamey, Oriental fantasy for piano Claude Debussy La plus que lente, waltz for piano (or orchestra), L. 121 Claude Debussy Clair de lune, for piano (Suite Bergamasque No. 3), L. 75/3 Maurice Ravel Jeux d'eau, for piano Maurice Ravel Sonatine for piano in F sharp minor Maurice Ravel Le tombeau de Couperin, for piano
I am in the midst of discovering Stravinsky's "The Rake's Progress" ('64 version on CBS, conducted by the composer), and I have a simple question about the story or libretto... What's the deal with that "bearded lady" the central character decides to marry at one point? No accounting for taste, I know, but strictly within the logic of the story... Is this lady an allegory, a symbol or something? The rest is realistic...
I compared three recordings made recently of the Debussy and Ravel String Quartets. Cuarteto Casals - 2004 & 2006 Quatuor Ebene - 2008 Arcanto Quartett - 2010 Of these three, the Arcanto Quartett gets my recommendation. Beautiful, sophisticated, sensitive playing. To my ears it also has the best sound, full range and you can hear more of the individual artists. This is the one that I want to return to. ArcantoQuartett Debussy, Dutillieux, Ravel: Quatuors a cordes. Harmonia Mundi, 2010
I have that too, and soundwise it's certainly fine. I've bought it due to the Dutilleux. Great musicianship, like-minded artists, as they say. But somehow I've hesitated with their Debussy/Ravel, don't know why - just like with the Borodin Quartet. Impossible to pinpoint any issue, it just won't kick me, even though I've liked their (in a lack of better expression) 'non-romanticism', that reminds me of the great LaSalle Quartet. Perhaps I should listen them as 'expressionists', or somesuch? Cuarteto Casals has been (one of) my 21st century favourite(s) - they've made great comparisons in their selections.
Now playing: Dmitri Shostakovich – Symphony No.11 in G minor Op.103 "The Year 1905" — WDR Sinfonieorchester – Rudolf Barshai (Brilliant Classics)
