Can I blow your mind? Russian Spectacular: Singapore S.O. cond Lan Shui. Apr 2021 Bis 2412 stereo/multichannel sacd An overused title for a set of arresting works of the same era from Russian composers, this does tick the boxes for playing - this orchestra is actually really good - and the recording is is dynamic without being in any way manipulated sonic spectacular. If you need the Mussorgsky on sacd, this won't disappoint and being new isn't expensive - I paid £13.29 from the local division of the 'swan with a few others - unlike some older titles.
Seven done, three to go.. Beethoven: Violin Sonatas. Frank Peter Zimmermann (Pno) Martin Helmchen(Vln) Bis: BIS2527 stereo/multichannel sacd The follow up to Vol:1 of last year, this tackles the famous fifth and takes us up to the seventh. Don't ask when the final instalment is due but I'm looking forward to it. Great playing and the usual excellent BIS sound.
First listen to new arrival, CD 2 from "Paganini - 24 Caprices" performed by Alina Ibragimova on Hyperion.
Having been offline for a stretch, here are some recent listens over the past couple of days: Strauss: Don Quixote Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan Pierre Fournier, cello DG Mahler: Symphony No.9 Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra & Riccardo Chailly Decca
I cut my teeth on Chailly’s Mahler many years ago, so I quite like his interpretations in general since it was one of my first experiences with this composer. I’ve since listened to other cycles that I think are better overall, but nevertheless this is a very well-played and recorded cycle that I’m glad to have. Chailly is always interesting in this type of repertoire from my perspective.
I think the 3rd and 9th from Chailly’s cycle are outstanding, but the rest aren’t up to snuff. He is excellent in Germanic music --- I love his Zemlinsky, Schoenberg and Hindemith for example. I’d love to have heard him more in Berg’s music, though as I think he would do well here, but, to my knowledge, has only recorded the Seven Early Songs with soprano Barbara Bonney.
Nicola Fiorenza Recorder Concerto in C Minor IV. Allegro YouTubeMusicEdition This particular movement struck me as immensely charming. From the Italian Baroque box set I recently purchased - and take with me via YouTubeMusic.
I had to turn off the Rachmaninov as it wasn’t doing much for me... NP: Glazunov From the Middle Ages, Op. 79 USSR State SO Svetlanov
Speaking of Chailly, the SACD twofer below is among the very few of his recordings in my collection ...
First-Listen Tuesday and a new arrival... Zemlinsky Der Zwerg, Op. 17 Juanita Lascarro (soprano), Machiko Obata (soprano), Soile Isokoski (soprano), Natalie Karl (soprano), Martina Rüping (mezzo-soprano), Iride Martinez (soprano), Anne Schwanewilms (mezzo-soprano), Andrew Collis (bass), David Kuebler (vocals) Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, Frankfurter Kantorei James Conlon Absolutely exquisite and the presentation of this recording is first-rate. Love the Edmund Dulac artwork in all of these Zemlinsky Conlon EMI releases.
Now playing: Dmitri Shostakovich - 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87 - Konstantin Scherbakov - recorded 1999