CBS Masterworks M 39514, issued 1985. Recorded 5/1-4/84, Church of Notre-Dame du Liban, Paris. Producer: Georges Kadar. Engineer: Georges Kisselhoff. Digitally recorded on the Sony PCMF 1 and using the Sony DAE 1100 Digital Editor. Amazing virtuosity on this disc.
Checking out a few Tchaikovsky 4s on Qobuz following earlier discussions and I have to admit most so far sound pretty tame compared to Mravinsky and Solti.
Partita No.2, Sonata No.3, and Partita No.3. He plays the Gigue of Partita 2 and the Allegro of Sonata 3 at nearly twice the tempo of most violinists, which borders on the ridiculous, but it's a jaw-dropping display of virtuosity if nothing else!
Symphonies 1, 2, & 3 from this great set: Shostakovich: Symphonies. WDR Sinfonieorchester, Rudolf Barshai. Brilliant Classics
OK, the third time's the charm... I see it on my computer. If you good folks don't, it's an Esoteric SACD of Grimaux playing Mendelssohn, Saint-Saens, and Lalo on Decca.
I see it, but I haven't heard it, so I can't tell you whether or not to b̶l̶o̶w̶ spend $75 on an SACD.
I am listening to a historic performance of the Tchaikovsky 4th symphony. This one was recorded 1953 in mono sound by Alexander Gauk conducting the USSR Large Radio and TV Symphony Orchestra and is inckuded in Volume 2 of the Brilliant Box set featuring Gauk. The sound on this one can peel paint off the walls at times, but the delicate passages are wonderful-Gauk was a great conductor. He conducted that particular orchestra from 1953-1963. The orchestra was originally known as The Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra and was the main ensemble for the all-Union radio network in Soviet Times.
Now playing Strauss' Oboe Concerto in D, Op. 144 (Manfred Clement - oboe/Kempe/Staatskapelle) From this set: Lovely per usual. Gorgeous sound quality from this remastered hybrid SACD Japanese set.
CBS Masterworks IM 39557, issued 1985. Recorded 11/5-7/81, Studio 103, Maison de la Radio, Paris. Producer: Roy Emerson. Engineer: Frans Morre. Recorded digitally using the Soundstream system to Sony PCM 1610. (I'm not sure what that means.) Three essential, entertaining scores.
Several years ago from a Japanese seller on eBay. It's a nice looking set, but doesn't sound any better than my previous incarnation of this set:
NP: Debussy La Damoiselle élue Paula Rasmussen (mezzo-soprano), Dawn Upshaw (soprano), Paul Salamunovich (chorus master) Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Women Of The Los Angeles Master Chorale Esa-Pekka Salonen Simply ravishing. It's almost ancient and modern music happening simultaneously.
Thanks. I can buy the standard CD version for around $20--a used copy of the SACD one goes for about $260! EDIT: I just bought it from Amazon for $22!
I own several iterations of this set, but, yeah, go with the cheapest. You won't be sorry! One of the great Strauss orchestral sets. He rivals Karajan for me.
NP: Schoenberg Violin Concerto, Op. 36 Hilary Hahn, violin Swedish RSO Salonen Sensational! This is certainly a reference recording for the Schoenberg and Sibelius for me. I also love Haendel's performance of the Sibelius VC (w/ Berglund/Bournemouth on EMI).
Listening to CD 13 from the "Cafe Zimmermann" box set on Alpha. Dom Quichotte... Cantates & Concertos Comiques
Just watched this on DVD from the recently-arrived (via slow boat from Germany) SONY Complete Harnoncourt box: I picked this one because I know how everyone here loves Lang Lang It was an interesting documentary with obvious respect between conductor and soloist. The segments shown on the DVD sounded excellent, I'll play the CD either tonight or tomorrow.
Spinning now, quite enjoyable and sensitively played - the Vienna Philharmonic seem to be having a good time: Interesting that Lang Lang is the focus of the original release (which had some live solo performances on a second CD), while Harnoncourt gets the large font on this one. Well, it IS his boxed set
Listening to CD 3 from "Andreas Staier Edition" on DHM. Georg Philipp Telemann - Werke Mit Obligatem Cembalo Aus Den 'Essercizii Musici' performed by Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.
