Listenin' to Classical Music and Conversation

Now on the turntable, "Beethoven - Symphonie No. 8" performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker led by Herbert Von Karajan on DG.

 

Now on the turntable, record 1 from "Mozart - The Symphonies Salzburg 1766-1772" performed by The Academy Of Ancient Music led by Jaap Schroder on L'Oiseau-Lyre.

• Symphonies K. 35, 38, 62a, 73, 74c, 75

 

Yeh, well, I'm usually a shy kind of guy when it comes to kissin', but I decided to just go for it ...............

 

On the TT.....

 

I first heard Boccherini's Minuet 13/5 on AM radio and it enchanted me enough to get a stereo recording with much greater frequency extremes! I just think we confuse what we'd prefer, the widest ranging stereo or multi-channel sound with what if it we were just the only means of hearing something would provide musical and emotional sustenance.

 

After a walk in the gusting winds time to turn the 'stereo' on:

Elgar Symphony No.1 London Philharmonic Cond. Vernon Handley 1980/1987 EMI Classics for pleasure CD CFP 9018 (CDB 7 62036 2)
It was a while before Handley's Elgar in its imperial glory made its way onto cd starting with Nigel Kennedy's account of the Violin Concerto the year before so for the period upto this coming out, I was still living with this on the UK dolbyized tape in the original sleeve with its L&B sponsorship rather than the boat on a river John Player Special cover on the cd which still hacks me off as it's nowhere near Edwardian enough.
Thankfully this is a great naturals sounding recording balanced by the notable Christopher Parker

 

CD 1. Symphony #1 and the Symphonic Dances. Sitting on my butt, drinking coffee.

 

Earlier today:

From the same Philips Original Jackets Collection set:

With a performance of the 6th symphony (also conducted by Frans Brüggen) as bonus material.

 

Now on to disc 26 of Mozart 225 The New Complete Edition. 2 string quartets and an oboe quartet.

Oboe Quartet in F K370

String Quartet in G K387

String Quartet in D minor K421

 

Edward Elgar: Symphony No. 2 in E-flat, Op. 63



Great piece to check the integration of a sub-woofer with your main speakers with its bass drum thwacks throughout. I think I've got it just about right now.

 

CD 8.

 

Is there a connection beyond the music here?
Anyway having survived a rather windy stroll after midday it's back to Elgar and the Second Symphony which again was originally a most fine dolbyized tape well reviewed by Angus McKenzie on one of UK hifi maazine probably Hifi News and Record Review for the quality of the pre-recorded tape that I lived with until 1988 when the cd version emeged on CD CFP 4544 with Yet Another Sleeve. Again just look at that picture and ask yourself if that sums up the era better than this:

That's too nineteenth century Victorian country romance to me not Imperial Britain, confident in ones Empire unaware of how after 1918 nothing could be the same.
This cycle was one of the very first classical cycles I collected albeit original on tape aided by being budget priced but every bit as good as anything on the main HMV catalogue of EMI never mind that of Decca or DG. I just pine for the original art on the cd versions I'm afraid.

 

Justin Connolly: Sonatina No. 2: Ennead, Op. 26 (2000)
Nicolas Hodges, piano

 

Sonata #32 from CD 9.

 

On the TT this lovely, crisp October morning

 

Trying to enjoy the time I have left with my Pilot 246 playing Luteness through some EPI 100's....And its a nice day to boot!

 

Those of you who like Ogdon should read Piano Man by Charles Beauclerk. It's a wrenching yet fascinating biography. Brenda Lucas also wrote a memoir about her husband titled Virtuoso.

 

J. S. Bach: Vereinigte Zwietracht der wechselnden Saiten, BWV 207

 

Up next: Joaquin Rodrigo’s “Invocación y Danza” and Manuel Ponce’s Sonatina Meridional from Manuel Barrueco’s:



Was playing: Schubert String Quartet nos. 1 & 2 from the Melos Quartett’s:



Was playing: Bach’s PFA from Julian Bream’s:

 

(If I may be off-topic for a sec: I am not a crackpot. In my post quoted above, I was responding to a post from Gary the Gort, which he has deleted since.)

This Sunday afternoon looks perfect for a "Pastorale" listening:



Beethoven's Symphony No. 6.

 

I have every version of the Beethoven 6th ever recorded by Karajan but keep hearing people knocking his conducting of this work. So I am not sure ...

 

Why are many of Vernon Handley recordings released by budget labels? I thought he was a decent conductor ...

It seems many of the recordings you play are not even available here in the US.

 

Heifetz LvB CD5 for last night's reading soundtrack