I dont know if someone exist who cannot be impressed by that version of Sibelius... You are perfectly well and right ... 😊
Classical Music for Aficionados
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.
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.
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Is anyone familiar with this LP? Sibelius: Violin Concerto / David Oistrakh / Ehrling / Stockholm Festival Orch. 1954 on Angel Just listened to it on YouTube and was very impressed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n-QHS888r4 What are some other notable recordings of this Sibelius work? |
@jim204, "Although not my favourite pianist by any means Mr Goulds 1955 Goldbergs given the Zenph treatment are now very enjoyable indeed and if I want to listen to Gould's account then that is the one I pick up." I feel exactly the same. I do listen to the others, though the original quirky1955 took a bit of getting used to as I had heard the 1981 first, but this is the one that demonstrates the advances in recording technology between 1955 analogue (or even 1981 early digital) and 2007. As for Rachmaninov, yes I wouldn't have minded hearing Zenph's re-recording of Ashkenazi's PC2. Or even Perahia's first try at Mozart's PC21. The originals are still marvelous though. "We did a sales call at Sony, and met with the president of Sony Music," says Zenph president John Q. Walker, recalling a meeting with Sony Classical, which owns the masters for the original 1955 recording. "He took our demo CD, listened to it for three minutes, and said "Let's do albums." Some more background here. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10439850 |
@cd318 Although not my favourite pianist by any means Mr Goulds 1955 Goldbergs given the Zenph treatment are now very enjoyable indeed and if I want to listen to Gould's account then that is the one I pick up. I am really saddened that Mr Zenph's wizardry was assasinated by big record companies never to return. Shame on them can you imagine that Zenph could have brought Rachmaninov and Hoffman and possibly all the Golden Age pianists back to life but no, big business had to crush it till another centenary would come up and they would reissue hiss ridden reissues again and again. Just imagine a little collaboration and we could have been listening to musicians recorded from 60 years and more sounding as if they were in your home. No big business won't let the little man win. Signing off now in case I blow a gasket. |
"Greenland, with a population of only just over 56,000, and most of that contained in a few of the largest cities, you could immunize half of the population in a good solid 8 hour shift." I'm guessing you mean vaccinate rather than immunise. The best case scenarios indicate 90% immunisation ( but only after the second dose in the recommended timescale). No such figure is being offered for the worst case. Anyway, how do people feel about the various Zenph re-recordings out there? I feel that the 1955 Goldberg's by Gould were pretty good tonally. Very listenable indeed. |
@rvpiano Rv Thanks for that , it's not always one is allowed to play what one likes when you also have to earn living. I love the Well tempered Clavier there is so much to learn from them. I remember a saying by Busoni that was, Bach is the Old Testament and Beethoven The New and together they make Liszt possible. (Yes maybe !!!!). |
Angela Hewitt has a new Fazioli piano to replace the one that movers dropped. But the new one has only 3 pedals, whereas the old one had 4.You can't always get what you want. https://www.facebook.com/Angela-Hewitt-201013549988366/videos/angelas-new-fazioli/311645020196585/ |
Think you could knock this out, rv? Wish I could , at a concert in Glasgow University . Tomorrow ! https://youtu.be/IhYPBRedFnI?t=1 |
For those who think of all the Violin Concertos , like me, is the Brahms,. here is a great one . I heard it yesterday at a friends house and just bought it at Amazon . Has excellent Double Con. as well. Not a few think that the Gewandhaus under Chailly was as good as any band in the world . https://youtu.be/_10S9WBoSMc?t=2 |
@jcazador Jeremy I remember in the eighties my friend and I travelled up to Glasgow to catch a concert with Fou-Ts'ong playing Tchaikovsky' 1st Piano concerto. When the piece stared he launched into the the opening with the wrong chord sequence and continued playing wrong chords until the main piece was established. My pal and I were horrified and wondered why they didn't stop and start the piece again. At the end of the piece we all gave him a huge ovation and we could see a look of massive relief on his face. he made a little speech after that and said how he loved the Scottish people and would try to do more concerts up here and then he treated us to three beautiful Chopin pieces. |
A great Organ piece of "Wachet Auf" The problem with Bach's words in his greatest Cantata is that words , in any tongue , only get in the way with a choir . https://youtu.be/Cas1jTPU7Cw?t=1 wa |
Jim Mustonen is scheduled to play in London in March. https://de.schott-music.com/shop/autoren/olli-mustonen/ |
Hi Jeremy , I have been listening to that recording for many many years , Alkan certainly knew how to stress out a pianist. I don't see his name anywhere for live concerts and he doesn't seem to be producing any recordings either .Maybe he is now teaching somewhere and prefers that. It's a pity because he is a lovely player with a great technique as that Alkan and Shostakovich shows. Jeremy you have a lovely New Year and keep away from that virus. Jim. |
jim love that mustonen recording, both the alkan and the shostakovich https://www.allmusic.com/album/shostakovich-preludes-op-34-alkan-preludes-op-31-mw0001840990 2leftears love that Alkan's Grande Sonate "Les Quatre Ages pianist is Hamelin, awesome |
@schubert Len I have never heard the Yales doing LvB lates , my go to was always the Alban Bergs whos full set I had and a good job they were on CD as if vinyl I would have been replacing them every month. Alas Len I never had the time to learn the Gaelic but my granny was from Islay and when she watched us sometimes when we were kids she would nurse us and sing Gaelic lullabies to us. Lovely times with her and I would love to meet her again. Jim. |
@twoleftears Have you tried Olli Mustonen playing Alkan's 25 preludes Op.25. Beautiful little character pieces and as an added bonus on the original CD you were also treated to the Shostakovitch 24 Preludes Op.34 as well . I have the digital downloads now archived on my SSD and still listen to it often. |
Thank you so much jcazador ! Think I will jump into the water. To me , this is the Greatest piece of Music Ever Written .https://youtu.be/__lCZeePG48?t=1 |