On a violin concerto kick this morning Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 Yehudi Menuhin (violin) Wilhelm Furtwängler Lucerne Festival Orchestra 1953
NP: Silvestrov Symphony No. 4 for strings & brass The Ural Philharmonic Orchestra, Yekaterinenburg Andrej Borejko
The six-eye label is so cool-looking that I'm always let down if it's a later pressing, BUT I don't hear big differences with the two-eye & later albums. (Those 70s labels also have six "eyes", by the way.) I can't say that any Columbia LPs I've heard sound "3-D". I guess my assessment of the ones I've played so far ranges from "not bad" to "good enough" to "nice". It may be that some of the more recent CD reissues, which I haven't heard but have heard good things about, actually sound best.
Now playing: Arthur Honegger - String Quartets 1-3; Pâques à New York - Quatuor Ludwig - recorded 1991 CD 4 of this set:
I have the two single-issue LPs of these recordings that were released in the early '70s. Superb performances by Lewenthal.
I still struggle with a lot of more modern compositions, especially past the romantic era when things get a bit weird with tonality. There were some very enjoyable passages, but some of the more complex sections, which are no doubt technically impressive, don't do anything for me emotionally. Hindemith: Violin Concerto Isaac Stern (violin) Leonard Bernstein New York Philharmonic 1967
I felt the same when I listened to the Kirchner the other night, much the same as I do with the modern art at the gallery. But I persist. Outside of random CDs from boxes, I've built up a collection of 70-80 CDs of 'modern' music which I dip into from time to time as a change of pace. Hopefully one of these days I'll 'get' it
First listen to new arrival, "Couperin / LaLande - Lecons de Tenebres" performed by Emma Kirkby, Agnes Mellon, Charles Medlam and Terence Charlston on BIS.
I am revisiting a 10CD box set issued by Melodiya commemorating the brilliant Soviet pianist Maria Yudina who was a classmate of Shostakovich and Sofronitsky. Melodiya has done an excellent job restoring the older recordings which are part of the set. Scribendum has issued a larger box of her extent work as they have done with Sofronitsky, et al.
Peter Martins choreographed a ballet to Distant Light. I saw it in Boston, but it was also performed by New York City Ballet. (At the time, I wondered if he re-choreographed it.). I liked the music but not the dance.
CD2 from this set for a first listen: Debussy - Complete Works for Piano Volume 2 - Jean-Efflam Bavouzet It's one of those bits-and-pieces discs, and transcribing French isn't my strength, so I won't try and list all the works included - instead, here's the back cover of the original jewel case release:
I don’t really see this work being choreographed, but the work itself is what matters. For me, it's one of the great VCs of the post-WWII era.
NP this morning, this older, but still delightful, Bach harpsichord recital (compilation) from Trevor Pinnock. I believe this was released about 1990.
I will say this, Columbia pressings, even from the 70's, seem to be well pressed and preserve better than some, ie. they have low surface noise and if they look clean they are clean in my experience. And oftentimes even when they don't look clean (ie. surface marks), they still play clean.
NP: Myaskovsky Symphony No. 24 In F Minor, Op. 63, "To The Memory Of Vladimir Derzhanovsky” Russian Federation Academic SO Svetlanov
First listen to new arrival "Josquin - Missa "Ave maris stella" / Motets & Chansons" performed by the Taverner Consort & Choir directed by Andrew Parrott on EMI. Motet: Illibata Dei Virgo Nutrix Chansons: Adieu Mes Amours Plaine De Dueil Je N'ose Plus Que Vous Ma Dame In Te Domine Speravi Regretz Sans Fin Ave Maris Stella Missa "Ave Maris Stella" Kyrie Gloria Letabundus Credo Sanctus Benedictus Agnus Dei Motets: Gaude Virgo, Mater Christi Salve Regina 1993