Hi @crispi, Have you compared the sound of the common tracks from it (sadly, it omits Totentanz and Invitation to the Dance) to the original Living Stereo CD?
Earl Wild Medtner: Forgotten Melodies; the piano music of Nikolai Medtner. Ivory Classics, 2005 recorded 1988
I've heard that the Stokowski on London Phase 4 is the best, any opinions from this forum would be appreciated. The Kondrashin sounded great through cable/80's Denon receiver/Thiel 1.2s.
Having never heard of this work before, I came upon a cheap new copy last week in a used record store and decided to grab it, as I have loved all of my Munch recordings and I am trying to build my classical SACD collection a bit. This one sounds clear, dramatic and dynamic. Enjoying a first listen now.
Berlioz wrote it on a commission from Nicolo Paganini, who, in addition to being *the* virtuoso violinist and an accomplished guitarist, was also a fine violist. Paganini was not happy with the score, which was insufficiently flashy to suit him, and as far as I know never played it. Notwithstanding that lukewarm reception from its commissioner, the work is full of typically gorgeous Berlioz melodies and typically effective Berlioz orchestration. As to the recording, when it comes to viola, you just can't do better than Primrose.
The Brodsky Quartet have a set of the late quartets-starting at 11, interestingly enough-coming out on Chandos in January. I would assume they would do the other 10 but that's just an assumption.
Jonathan Plowright, piano Suk: Spring; Summer Impressions; Piano pieces, op. 7; Moods. Hyperion, 2018 Impressive playing and sound if you are interested in SUK.
I have an original Decca on vinyl, and it is indeed jaw dropping. I can hear so far into the hall. Just wonderful.
Pletnev Russian National Orchestra DGG, 1994 Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony; The Tempest. I enjoyed this, but wasn't fully convinced of Pletnev's final movement in the Manfred symphony.
Found this XRCD (sealed, new) in a used store last week but haven't had the time to play it until today. I have heard these performances before (I find his Chopin to be inconsistent, but the RCA performances tend to be a safe bet) and have always enjoyed them. Mono sound, with very clean transfers, enough tape hiss to confirm that no noise reduction was used. Much like my Richter XRCDs, the tonality favors the treble a bit over the other frequencies. This produces nice clarity, but I miss the weight on the bottom found in most good masterings of piano recordings. Horowitz extremely dynamic playing in the Scherzo 2 that opens the disc comes through splendidly. I know that Horowitz's Chopin isn't for everyone, but I enjoy his odd, energetic playing. It's certainly never boring.
In order to gain some shelf space, I let go of some Chopin Nocturne sets earlier this year and his (along with the late Abbey Simon, who died a few weeks ago), didn't make the cut. I still own these sets: Arrau (still my favorite) Rubinstein (all three sets, though I prefer the first one) Smeterlin Askenase Ciccolini Godowsky Francois Ciani Weissenberg Moravec Tipo
Up now: On the turntable. Brahms Violin Concerto in D major. Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Pierre Monteux. Leonid Kogan, Violin. Recorded January 11, 1958. New issue Melodiya LP as part of their Leonid Kogan series. It states that it is not for sale in the USA-probably due to copyright/licensing etc. I bought from internet seller in EU. Their new vinyl pressing is excellent by the way-flat and quiet.
Enjoying a first listen to this CD, which arrived from Music Direct last week (and now appears to be OOP.)
J&R - Wikipedia Not sure if you have seen this J&R wikipage. Much nostalgia here as I had been a customer since the mid 70's to the mid 2000's ...
I enjoyed this Bach set. I think it was Jed Distler who said in his review that it "encompasses some of the greatest and most fulfilling Bach pianism on record." Ewa Poblocka, piano Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier, book 1 2 CDs Frederick Chopin Institute, 2018 piano: Shigeru Kawai SK-EX
