Yeah, I’ve never understood the appeal of brainless repetition over true musical development. (I, too, generally exclude Adams from that style.)
NP: Honegger Symphony No. 2 for strings and trumpet Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich David Zinman It's hard to believe that David Zinman is 86 yrs. old. I'm not sure if he's still conducting, but it appears the last major title he had was with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and his tenure there was concluded in 2014.
That's a great release! I bought the CD first and then found a copy of the HDAD shortly after in my local record store. I was surprised at how much more refined and realistic the HDAD sounded (compared to the CD). This (HDAD) album provides a really concrete example of the step up in fidelity that Hi-Rez music can provide.
A double dose of Martha Argerich performing Ravel: Ravel Ma mère l'oye (version for two pianos) Argerich/Pletnev Piano Concerto in G major Argerich London Symphony Orchestra Abbado From this OOP set -
I finished listening to this excellent SACD set. It's my favorite digital recording of the works (despite being a little too reverberant for my taste). The Grumiaux recording is superb, too, and has great sound. It might be a bit more elegant, but the Fine Arts Quartet is a bit more assertive. I suppose it boils down to my mood...and whether or not I want flip sides!
Any EMI or Warner box of Furtwängler conducting the 9 Beethoven symphonies will have the 1954 version of the Fifth, with the Vienna Philharmonic. The latest such set is selling for under $20 on Amazon. The most recent mastering is in the 55-CD "complete" set, but that doesn't appear to have been released as a single disc.
I played the equivalent of CDs 6 and 7 this morning, featuring works from Suk and Foerster that I had never heard before. I really loved these two symphonies, and the choral tone poem is amazing, up their with the greats. Suk: Asrael Symphony in C Minor, Op. 27 Suk: The Ripening, Op. 34 Foerster: Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 54 Karel Ančerl Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Prague Philharmonic Choir [The Ripening, Op. 34] 1959-1968
Earlier: Sibelius, Walton: Violin Concertos Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Paavo Berglund Ida Haendel, violin EMI (Japanese SACD) A wonderful disc. One of my personal favorites as far as the Sibelius concerto goes. Currently, listening to the late Brahms works performed by Jonathan Plowright - shoutout to @Mirror Image for bringing this to my attention, the playing is really lovely. Always up for new versions of these works, and this did not disappoint. The works are spread across vols. 2-5 but I'm just going to link a single image. Brahms: Fantasies op.116; Intermezzi op.117; Piano Pieces opp. 118 & 119 Jonathan Plowright, piano BIS
Brahms: Piano Concertos & Academic Festival Overture. Barenboim, Barbirolli & Philharmonia/Weiner Philharmoniker. Warner Classics @ 192/24 via Qobuz. Excellent in every way.
@HiResGeek got me in the mood for some Sibelius, which doesn't take much convincing since he's one my 'Top 5' favorite composers. NP: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7 Tapiola, Op. 112 Finlandia, Op. 26 Bournemouth SO Berglund From this Japanese Tower Records/Warner Classics hybrid SACD set -
Listening to "La Barcha D'Amore (1563-1685)" performed by Montserrat Figueras with Hesperion XXI/Le Concert Des Nations led by Jordi Savall on AliaVox.
Another fantastic CD of Czech composers that I'd never listened to previously, featuring Jan Klusák and Vítězslav Novák. Klusák: Variations on a Theme by Gustav Mahler Novák: Autumn Symphony, Op. 62 Karel Ančerl Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Prague Philharmonic Choir
Since I just played the London Treasury LP with the Gershwin work taken from this album, I thought I would play the LP itself. I believe this is my only Decca Phase 4. Issued 11/73. Recorded 8/16-17/71, Decca West Hampstead Studio No. 3, London. Producer: Raymond Few. Engineer: Arthur Bannister. An interesting selection of "jazzy" works to compare and contrast.
Another disc from the Konwitschny Scribendum box. A 1951 mono recording of Bruckner 2. Berliner Rundfunk Sinfonie-Orchester. The sound is immediate, clear and well balanced. This is a live performance. This seems to be highly regarded out there on the web by commentators who are familiar with it( and other Bruckner 2s-of which I am not).
And now a 1952 mono recording of Bruckner 4, with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. DH says it is “boxy”, but it sounds good to me. Performance-wise? I am not in a position to comment as I have not really formed any real conclusions about Bruckner symphonies but I am enjoying the music.
