Continue with another Melodia LP from my collection. Tschaikovsky - Capriccio Italien op. 45 - Overture Fantasia Romeo and Julia* Jevgeny Svetlanov USSR State Symphony Orchestra * Kyrill Kondrashin Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra Dutch release 1971
On the turntable: Still slowly going through my latest thrift store haul from last Sunday. First listen. So far, really enjoying this. I'm used to hearing Carnaval in a recording by Claudio Arrau that I've had for decades. This compares very favorably. Brisk, crisp, really alive. Schumann, Cecile Licad – Carnaval / Papillons / Toccata Sony Classical – SK 45742
Spinning in the CD player: Two-CD set for $1.50 at the thrift store. Vivaldi - Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante – L'Estro Armonico - 12 Concertos Op. 3 Virgin Veritas – 7243 5 45315 2 1
Tchaikovsky’s Serenade was the music for George Balanchine’s first ballet in the U.S. It remains one of the most popular of his works (second after Nutcracker?). Recently, I read Toni Bentley’s Serenade, a memoir tied together by a minute by minute description of performing the work. Interestingly, Balanchine moves the slow movement to the end, creating a enigmatic conclusion.
I have quite a few recordings of the Mozart Requiem but not this version. How do you like it? Here is my collection ... Requiem English Baroque Soloists/Monteverdi Choir/Gardiner Philips Requiem ASMIF/Marriner/McNair Philips Requiem Academy of Ancient Music/Hogwood DECCA Requiem The London Classical players/Norrington, Argenta EMI Requiem Berlin Philharmoniker/Karajan (SACD) DG Requiem Wiener Philharmoniker/Karajan DG Requiem Concentus Musicus/Harnoncourt (SACD) Harmonia Mundi Requiem Maurerische Trauermusik Le Concert Des Nations/Savall (SACD) Alia Vox Requiem Wiener Philharmonic/Bernstein DG Requiem Wiener Philharmonic/Solti/Auger DECCA Requiem BBC Symphony Orchestra/Davis Philips Requiem Bavarian Radio Symphony Orch/Davis RCA Red Seal
This 1954 LP is an example of Decca using their London label for an album issued in the U.K. The original was issued the same year in France on Ducretet-Thomson. Recorded 12/2-3 & 7/53, Salle Apollo, Paris. The U.S. issue was on Westminster in 1955.
If you like the Requiem to be powerful, solemn and weighty, then this is the one. Which are some favorites from your list?
Now playing: Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy - A Midsummer Night's Dream - LSO, André Previn - recorded 1976
Perhaps Karajan/Berlin and Marriner/ASMIF are my favorites ... I may need to source a copy of the Bohm version as I have no plan to get his big box as I already have many of his singles (CD and LP) and some smaller composer boxes ...
It is generally considered to be up there with the best performances, but some people think Böhm's tempi are too slow. I personally don't think so at all. It's a requiem after all, not an opera. I don't remember having heard the Marriner, but it gets very good reviews, so I'll be looking for it.
Now playing: Henryk Górecki - Concerto-Cantata; Little Requiem for a Certain Polka; Harpsichord (piano) Concerto; Three Dances - Warsaw PO, Antoni Wit - recorded 2011
I have the original Virgin release. I also have Szell's version. I believe he includes fewer excerpts. Originally an LP of course. And several other versions of the Italian Symphony.
Now playing: Charles Wuorinen - String Sextet; Second String Quartet; Divertimento; Piano Quintet - Chamber Music Society Of Lincoln Center, Tashi, Group For Contemporary Music - recorded 1992, 1994, 1998
Spinning now, CD 7 from the 27xCD 3xDVD Warner Mehta box which arrived yesterday: It's the first version of this symphony I have come across with the discarded second movement in sequence, but unfortunately the rest of the movements are the later versions. It would have been more interesting and authentic to use the originals, which I don't think I've heard. A decent performance of one of my favourites, but Leinsdorf (on Decca) and Giulini (on EMI) remain my current favourites.