Classical Corner Classical Music Corner (thread #16)

I saw her live a few years ago and she played a couple of Bach solo pieces for the encore. My jaw dropped. What a monster player.

 

Got this today:

$2.49 from Amazon Warehouse. Can't wait to listen.

 

Good day to you all. NP (recent buy):

 

I've been trying to keep a fairly tight lid on new record purchases, as I have too much that I have never played already, but during a thrift store visit today I came across a few things that looked up at me with such pleading, sad little eyes that I just couldn't resist.

The Klemperer set runs to 20 records(!) and set me back $7. I wish the Mozart trios by Kraus and co. didn't have water damage to the box, but at least the records look fine. Otherwise, what I bought was largely in the "off the beaten track repertoire" category. I've never heard of pianist Berenice Lipson-Gruzen; anybody hear know anything about her?

Not pictured are a record of French Renaissance music directed by Nadia Boulanger (and issued by the American Decca educational dept.)

I should note that the price markings, while annoying, are in grease pencil and will come off with a plastic eraser. You do have to wonder about these people, though; elsewhere in the same store was a photographic lens that had been marked right on the front glass element.

 

Here are the contents of the Klemperer set:

 

Now playing my favorite Beethoven String Quartet - Op. 132

 

10 years after her last Bach recording with Jeffrey Kahane and the LACO?

 

I am beginning to wonder whether this should be my third set of Beethoven String Quartet?

 

What are your other two?

 

Some nice finds, there. Some of the price marks can detract and some cases I find can permanently alter the future value of a collectable. I have not heard of the Desto pianist.

 

Anyone have these?
Your thoughts of em?
My person I have been buying from has these on hold for me.
Used Like New...

Elgar-The Dream of Gerontius - 2 CD Set - $17
Handel - Chandos Anthems - 4 CD Set - $16

Chandos Anthems - Amazon user review rates it at 7 PPl at 5 stars
The Dream of Gerontius - Amazon user review rates it at 1 person 5 Stars

-

 

Don't have them, sorry!

 

Now if Coop says that I think I'll faint!
Not much that Guy don't have....MAN what a Collection!!

 

That's the stereo symphony cycle, right?

I used to own it on Angel LPs. Recently repurchased it, packaged together with the Barenboim Concertos on CD and discovered I still loved it (the symphonies, but not the concertos).

I also have the Missa Solemnis (my only recording) which is marvelous.
I mean, doesn't Klemperer mean Solemn in German?

 

I think these solo works are 13 years old, or so. Still, for me it's "relatively recent".

 

You should check out the Tackas Quartet on Decca. Great SQ of a group that produces symphonic realizations of the scores. Much better SQ than the two sets you have now.

 

I honestly think the problem in Hilary Hahn's Bach Violin Concerti is coming from the conductor. Actively dislike the Hilary Hahn recording of the VCs, hope she gets a remake with a group more in tune with her style.

 

That's the one. As far as I can tell, this set compiles all his stereo Beethoven recordings for EMI into one big box. Aside from one side of the 9th sym., which has a few marks that are most likely harmless, the records look pristine. Exploration will be something of an adventure for me; I've never been that big a Klemperer fan (I favor brisker tempos than what I've heard of his), but then, I've never given him a really comprehensive chance to convince me. Well, here it is. Especially at the price, I figured these classic accounts belonged in my library even if they don't end up as favorites.

[Afterthought] Actually, I can think of one Klemperer recording that veers the other way. I used to have a recording he did of the Mendelssohn Italian Sym. on mono Vox; the final mvt. was not just fast, but so frantic it just about fell apart. Not much caring for it, I sold the record not long after buying it--just another example of "I never yet disposed of a record that I didn't end up regretting it."

 

These are my favorite SQs.

 

I still have a few blue-label Angels laying around. They're a bit too grim for me, though his Missa Solemnis is worthy. The Pastorale, well—"You vill get uuuuuuuuused to it", the earlier, mono, Philharmonia 3, 5 & 7 are more animated and better played, the later Eroica has a unique Brucknerian grandeur.

 

This set has the kind of focus the Smetana Quartet brought to these pieces. But the Smetana Quartet project the music on a chamber scale while the Tackas Quartet sound Big and very dynamic. Great interpretations as well as great sound.

 

Those sets retail in the $30 range for some inexplicable reason. I wish they would do a budget release of the whole cycle instead of having early, middle, and late sets.

 

They're doing a series of 3 Schubert concerts in NYC this season. The first is on October 16. Really looking forward to it.

But Robin might feel differently as they are performing with Jeffrey Kahane.

 

Yourmusic has the late quartets for $21. They used to have the earlier sets of $7 per disc.