Now listening to CD 19 from "Benjamin Britten - The Collector's Edition" on EMI. The Little Sweep – Finchley Children's Music Group, Choral Scholars of King's College, Cambridge, The Medici Quartet, Philip Ledger A Boy was Born - London Sinfonietta Chorus, Choristers Of St Paul's Cathedral Choir, Terry Edwards A Shepard's Carol – London Sinfonietta Chorus, Terry Edwards
from the RCA Living Stereo Vol. 1: My first exposure to this piece was the Stokowski/Philadelphia Orchestra recording that I absolutely loved and was blown away on the first listen. This recording is very different from the Stokowski and it has been fun to compare the two. I prefer the orchestra in this recording and the vocals in the Stokowski
(LP Decca Dutch Press SXL 6996) 1982 .... recorded September 1977, Kingsway Hall Petersham and February 1980, St. George the Martyr .... Vladimir Ashkenazy finds his way to shine through this dark and moody music ....
(CD Sony Classical "Vivarte" Austrian Press SK 66251) 1994 .... recorded May 1994 at Raphael Kerk, Amsterdam .... stupendous performance of Bruckner`s nearly orchestral String Quintet (making you wonder why the composer didn`t write more chamber music) by dutch cellist Anner Bylsma`s "L`Archibudelli" .... unspectacularly spacious sound ....
I have maybe one whopping recording by Heifetz. The sound and the performance sounded a bit old fashioned and dated to me. Was I mistaken? For old-time violin greats, I only turn to Grumiaux, Szeryng and Milstein ...
It's available as a lossless download from a few classical sites. This is not from the majors so I highly doubt the files would be watermarked. Edit: I see scompton said that already. Last night listening was Scriabin's Preludes. Horowitz and Piers Lane. Jury is out on Piers Lane, some of them are very well played, others are just superficial interpretations with artificial depth
Now playing: Rolf Liebermann – Concerto for Jazz Band and Symphony Orchestra — Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra – Fritz Reiner Richard Strauss – Don Juan Op.20 — Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Fritz Reiner (RCA Victor Red Seal / Sony Classical) First stereo release on CD.
Now streaming - Edith Peinemann - Dvorak Violin Concerto. Now in her 80th year, Ms Peinemann has only made 7 or so recordings yet has been feted as one of the finest of her generation. The first movement contrasts a very taut orchestral backing against Peinemann’s most languid and sensual violin. I love this quote regarding her performance of the Dvorak in the US - "By the time Germany's Edith Peinemann, 24, had reached the end of the first movement, it was obvious that this serious musician had the situation well in hand. . . When Miss Peinemann had completed her evening's work, she was called back for six curtain calls . . some of the men in the audience, as impressed with her physical beauty as with her musical talent. . . The orchestra violinists raved about her playing in a manner not often heard here and swarmed around to congratulate her." I’d love to have a copy of the first pressing with its most beautiful photograph, but as you might expect, it isn’t cheap -
(CD Red Seal "Living Stereo" Hybrid SACD 82876 613892) 2004 .... obviously an approved classic in superb sound ....
When I was growing up my dad had Les Préludes on the following disc, also Karajan and Berlin Philharmonic but I think that was a digital re-recording from the 80s. Herbert von Karajan, Various - Herbert von Karajan Conducts Hungarian Rhapsody, Peer Gynt, Les Préludes, Beethovens 5th.
More piano as we move towards afternoon here on the left side of the North American continent. Some Chabrier from Mlle Meyer. The sound is remarkably good.
Just pulled the trigger since I do not have a single recording by this great Austrian pianist who was a student of Edwin Fischer ... @Soulpope, You should be quite familiar with him.
