I would like to start a thread, similar to Orpheus’ jazz site, for lovers of classical music. I will list some of my favorite recordings, CDs as well as LP’s. While good sound is not a prime requisite, it will be a consideration. Classical music lovers please feel free to add to my lists. Discussion of musical and recording issues will be welcome.
I’ll start with a list of CDs. Records to follow in a later post.
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique. Chesky — Royal Phil. Orch. Freccia, conductor. Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Vanguard Classics — Vienna Festival Orch. Prohaska, conductor. Prokofiev: Scythian Suite et. al. DG — Chicago Symphony Abbado, conductor. Brahms: Symphony #1. Chesky — London Symph. Orch. Horenstein, conductor. Stravinsky: L’Histoire du Soldat. HDTT — Ars Nova. Mandell, conductor. Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances. Analogue Productions. — Dallas Symph Orch. Johanos, cond. Respighi: Roman Festivals et. al. Chesky — Royal Phil. Orch. Freccia, conductor.
All of the above happen to be great sounding recordings, but, as I said, sonics is not a prerequisite.
Ashokan is a reservoir in upstate New York, not a lake.
The "Ashokan" in Ashokan Farewell refers not to a body of water but to a nearby camp.
Its composition had nothing to do with the Civil War.
It is not classical music. If "White Christmas" were played by the Vienna Philharmonic, that would not make it classical music.
Ashokan Farewell is a folk tune composed by a folk fiddler, Jay Ungar, celebrating the camp experience. His inspiration was Celtic fiddle tunes of a similar nature.
As for the Civil War connection, it was adopted, many years after its composition, for the Ken Burns PBS documentary series on the Civil War. It was played during the entire series and was not focused upon New York soldiers.
I don’t know which experts think it is the "one of the best pieces written in America." That would seem to bypass a great many American classical composers, not to mention Jazz and "American Song Book" composers. It is a good tune, no doubt. I knew Ungar and am confident that’s what he thinks.
This is the internet and people just dump their notions here. Be careful what you read.
Glad you enjoyed it, rvpiano. Fantastic score by one of the great American composers. Recorded at NYC’s “Manhattan Center”. NY Philharmonic/ Gustavo Dudamel cond. Please forgive a bit of self promotion; the saxophone solos are by yours truly.
Chopin’s last piano gets its 19th-century features back
By Associated Press
Dec. 9, 2021
Texas-born expert on historic pianos, Paul McNulty, renovates the last piano that Frederic Chopin played and composed on, at the Chopin museum in Warsaw, Poland, today. The 1848 Pleyel piano was offered to Chopin’s family after his 1849 death by Scottish pianist Jane Stirling, and survived two world wars in Warsaw, but had modern strings put in in the mid-20th century, that destroyed the tone. McNulty aims at bringing it back to its original characteristics.
WARSAW, Poland >> The last piano on which Frederic Chopin played and composed in Paris is being renovated by a U.S. expert who is giving it back its original mid-19th century characteristics.
Paul McNulty is spending days at the Frederic Chopin Museum in Warsaw filling in some cracks in the soundboard and putting in wire strings like the ones used by Paris piano manufacturer Camille Pleyel — Chopin’s favorite — in 1848.
“We’re very, very close to the character and the identity of this instrument when we put the correct strings on, everything else being in very good condition,” McNulty told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Pleyel made the instrument, with serial number 14810, available to Chopin, already seriously ailing at the time, in the fall of 1848. After Chopin’s death in October 1849, the piano was bought by his Scottish student and friend, Jane Stirling, who then offered it to Chopin’s eldest sister, Ludwika Jedrzejewiczowa.
The piano arrived in Warsaw in 1850 — it still bears the red customs seal of Russia that ruled Warsaw at the time. It survived two world wars, including the destruction of the 1944 Warsaw Rising.
Given the provenance and the good condition of the instrument, McNulty said it is “priceless.”
Texas-born McNulty says this is the “best preserved Pleyel piano in the world,” despite having quite a dramatic history. It was played, but treated well by Chopin’s family and was not used for concert performances, also because of a failed renovation attempt.
It had most of its iron wire strings changed for much stronger and tighter modern ones during renovation in the late 1950s that destroyed its tone and put strain on the whole structure.
McNulty and museum authorities believe the current work will bring it as close as possible to the sound that Chopin heard.
“We hope it will sing for us again,” said Aleksander Laskowski, spokesman for The Frederic Chopin Institute that houses the museum.
“So an opportunity to hear the sound of Chopin’s piano as he heard it when he composed is quite likely,” Laskowski said.
McNulty, who has restored and built replicas of hundreds of historical pianos in the past 35 years , says the new sound “will be within the confines, the expectations of the builder.”
The instrument will serve as a resource for research and maybe as a model for a replica, but is not intended for performances.
Among the copies McNulty has made is the 1749 Silberman piano that Johann Sebastian Bach improvised on.
Chopin, Poland’s best known and beloved classical music composer and pianist, was born in 1810 in Zelazowa Wola near Warsaw to a Polish mother and a French father. He left Poland at 19 to broaden his musical education in Vienna and then in Paris, where he settled, composing, giving concerts and teaching the piano.
He died on Oct. 17, 1849, in Paris and is buried at the Pere Lachaise cemetery. His sister Ludwika brought his heart to Warsaw where it is in one of the pillars at the Holy Cross Church.
Karajan at his finest! Got this a few weeks ago with a few other outstanding performances I'll post as I listen. Late to the party here and wish I found this thread years ago! Love it !
I just picked up DGs 1988 issue of Messiaen's quartet (Barenboim, et. al.) and it's incredible. Any other recommended recordings of this piece? I need a couple of more interpretations!
I understand that some of the Best Art and Music are the Yang to the Yin of Death and Misery but couid we concentrate on the Art and Music here...? Just because I like sausage does not mean I want to see how it was made.
IMO one of the greatest chamber pieces of the last century both in life and death.
What a discovery for me, and thank you.
I have one album from Messiaen that I never could approach since it was contemporary (I'm more a fan of classical(-baroque/+romantic)). But this piece is phenomenal for what it conveys from its backstory. You can sense the sadness, despair, and fear of death underneath - but what’s up front is the hope and devotion to faith, which underlines all of human nature. Thanks again - I’m looking for another album now...
If it "turns you off" sitting in the comfort of your home listing to your million dollar stereo system, try to imagine what it was for the kidnapped children undergoing sexual abuse and torture. I bet they thought it was a real 'turn off' also.
Just finished listening to an Idagio stream of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Pittsburgh Symphony conducted by William Steinberg. Recorded who knows when, sometime in the 1950s or early 1960s. Anyway, a compelling, full-blooded performance that satisfies on all levels.
Interestingly, it seems the producers/engineers had to move their mike positioning for the fourth movement to make room for the chorus and vocal soloists. Sound quality took an unmistakable hit. What was previously spacious and lovely was now a bit flat and buzzy. Dynamics went south, as well. Still, a performance eminently worth visiting.
Does anyone know any interesting concert venues in upstate NY around Albany NY area? I am aware of SPAC in saratoga where philadelphia orchestra plays one week every august. I’m looking for smaller music halls in the area that host world class soloists. Is there such a place within 100 miles of albany NY?
Currently enjoying the heck out of "Il delirio della passione," an album of Monteverdi songs sung by Anna Lucia Richter. I found it featured on the home page of my Idagio feed. Great imaging. Great tonal quality. Performed with lots of drama and beauty.
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