Live music for us Friday and Saturday: Last night: The Curtis Institute of Music faculty recital. Chamber music just doesn't get any better than the Field Hall at the Curtis: perfectly sized for chamber music, with seating for 250 people, and lovely acoustics. Last night: Victor Danchenko, violin, with Micah Yui, piano performing exquisitely: JANÃCEK Sonata for Violin and Piano; SCHUMANN Fantasy in C major; DEBUSSY "En bateau" from Petite suite, La plus que lente, Claire de lune; FRANCK Sonata in A major. Followed by encore pieces by Paradis and Kreisler. Second row, center, 15' from the performers: it just doesn't get better that this. Tonight: Eschenbach/Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center - MAHLER Symphony No. 5; PINTSCHER Hérodiade Fragments. Haven't a clue which seats since we're aiming for "community rush" seats at $10 each. But what does it matter with this music and this orchestra? Philadelphia is such a great city for music! Photo of Curtis Institute's Field Hall:  . |
Mercury reissue of Dorati/Minneapolis "Seven Studies On Themes Of Paul Klee Slipknot, what an outstanding record! The music is amazing, the performance is great, and the recording is one of the best. Is this now available individually from Speakers Corner (versus only as part the 3LP set), or is this an odd copy Rick had? If these are now available individually, folks who passed this by initially because of the cost of the set should really consider getting this LP (SR 90282, very accessible and coupled with Fetler's "Contrast for Orchestra" - a very nice piece). . |
Tonight...
Bach organ preludes played by Karl Richter on a lovely Arp Schnitger organ from North Germany, Telefunken
Bartok, Music for Strings, Percussion & Celeste, Reiner/CSO, RCA LSC 2374 (Classic Records reissue - powerful sonics)
Mozart, Divertimentos, Marriner/ASMF, Argo ZRG 705
Mozart Horn Concertos, McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra with Lowell Greer playing natural horn (everyone knows how HARD this is to play a valveless baroque horn, right?), Harmonia Mundi HMU 7012 (another outstanding recording by Peter McGrath)
. |
Tonight...
Bartok - various compositions based on the folk tunes he collected, all on Hungaraton LPs from the 1970s. Hungaraton did a full series of all of Bartok's music and these are largely wonderful performances and recordings. Tonight's are all orchestral with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra with either Korodi or Erdelyi conducting:
...Four Old Hungarian Folk Songs
...Four Slovak Folk Songs
...Hungarian Folk Songs
...Slovak Folk Songs
...Rumanian Dance 1 - Orch Version
...Wooden Prince Suite
...Vn Conc 1 (1908)
And continuing this evening of Bartok into chamber music:
...44 Duos for Two Violins, performed by the legendary Wanda Wilkomirska (love her playing)
...Seven Pieces from Mikrokosmos, for two pianos
. |
Bach: Mass in b minor, Gardiner/EngBarSol, MonteverdiChoir, Archiv R225 064
William Walton: String Quartet in a minor,
Elizabeth Maconchy, String Quartet No. 5
.....Allegri Str Qt, Argo ZRG 5329
Mendelssohn, Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano
R.Strauss, Sonata in F for Cello and Piano
.....Piatigorsky -vc, Pennario -pf, RCA LSC 3021
It's been a nice evening for music...
. |
Sbank, for a good Schubert Trout Quintet on LP, consider either: - Clifford Curzon and Members of the Vienna Octet, Decca SXL 2110 (Speakers Corner reissue) (my preferred performance and recording); or
- The Festival Quartet, RCA LSC 2147 (Classic Records reissue)
These were among some recordings I recommended recently on an "introduction to classical music" thread for someone looking for CDs. CD or LP, these are superb performances. And, thanks for your comments; while I do listen to a lot of classical music, and I've collected quite a few recordings which I enjoy, I still defer to others on this forum who are more knowledgable about the music than I. And, as Texasdave points out to me regularly, I'm not familiar with many great recordings that are available only on CD. . |
Cheryl Wheeler: "Cheryl Wheeler" Northstar W0001
Paul Simon: "There Goes Rhymin' Simon" Columbia 25589
Sonny Boy Williamson: "Keep It To Ourselves" Alligator AL 4787
Just to confuse all of you who think I listen only to classical. ;-)
. |
Last night...
The Academy of St. Martin in the Field in Concert: Music of Albinoni, Bach, Beethoven, Handel, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Pachabel (Marriner/ASMF, Brown -vn, EMI ASD 3017)
Rimsky-Korsakov: Overture from May Night; Christmas Eve Suite; The Tale of the Tsar Saltan Suite (Jarvi/SNO, Chandos DBRD 3004)
Piano Works of Milton Babbit (Taub -pf, Harmonia Mundi HMC 5160)
Tonight... Just back from live chamber music at the Curtis Institute of Music: student recitals with music of Dohnanyi, Chopin, Bruch, de Falla. They may be students, but they are world class performers. The Dohnanyi "Serenade for Vn, Va & Vc" was stunning, and the performance of the Bruch "Scottish Fantasy" (arr: piano and violin) matched the best of the performances in my record collection, and in far better sound because it was live, second row center.
. |
Spencer, I was thinking of playing part of this recording on the 15th for folks. It is a neat piece with really interesting counterplay among the instruments, and with lots of sly humor. Rushton, think I'd like to hear the "Age of Gold" sometime. It sure is advertised a bunch lately. . |
An evening of Debussy so far tonight:
Images I and II for Piano, Michelangeli -pf, DGG 2530 196
Preludes, Book I, Michelangeli -pf, DGG 2531 200
Estampes, Jacobs -pf, Nonesuch H 71365
Images II for Piano, Jacobs -pf, Nonesuch H 71365
La Boite a Joujoux
Printemps (Symphonic Suite)
..... Ansermet/OSR, Decca SXL 2136 (Speakers Corner reissue)
Coming up:
Images pour orchestra (Complete), Argenta/OSR, London CS 6013 (Speakers Corner reissue)
Danses sacree et profane for harp & strings, Slatkin/StLouisSO, Telarc 10071
. |
Spencer - glad you liked the Tarantule; all of the recordings by Paniagua and the Atrium Musicum Madrid are worth acquiring if you enjoy early music. They are all exceptional performances of interesting music superbly recorded. Here are a few to watch for:
Musique Arabo-Andalouse (Music of Arabic-Spain of the 9th-13th Centuries), Harmonia Mundi HM 389
La Folia (collection og Spanish Renaissance Dances, with some fun with chain saws and a Land Rover thrown in), Harmonia Mundi HM 1050
La Spagna (Music of Spain from the 15th-17th Centuries), BIS LP 163/164
Villancicos (collection of rural Spanish songs, 15th-16th Centuries), Harmonia Mundi HM 1025
Tarantella (collection of Italian ancient dances), Harmonia Mundi HM 379 - the recording you listed above.
. |
Bax, Symphony No. 1, Fredman/LPO, Lyrita SRCS 53
Stravinsky, Pulcinella,
Stravinsky, Appolon Musagate,
.....Marriner/ASMF, Argo ZRG 575
Stravinsky, Suite Italienne for Cello & Piano, Piatigorsky -vc, Foss -pf, RCA LM 2293
Stravinsky, Dumbarton Oaks, Davis/ECO, L'Oiseau Lyre SOL 60050
. |
Tonight...
Shostakovich: Age of Gold Ballet Suite
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1
.....Martinon/LSO, RCA LSC 2322-45 (Classic Records reissue) (Another J. Kenneth Wilkinson masterpeice of a recording. Simply superb. Almost as good in the 33 rpm pressing.)
Malcolm Arnold: Eight English Dances, Lyrita SRCS 109
....(Also recorded by Wilkinson)
Quantz: Flute Concerto in G
Stamitz: Flute Concerto in G
....Stoutz/ZurichChmO, Graf -fl, Claves P 808
Beethoven: Symphony No. 1
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6
.....Norrington/London Classical Players, EMI EL 749746
. |
Larry, nice to see someone else posting some classical. Enjoyed reading your list - looks like it's been a nice day of great music for you! (Including the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac)
. |
Tonight...
Handel: Concerti a due cori, Numbers 2 & 3
...Gardiner/English Baroque Soloists, Philips 411 122
...Hogwood/Academy of Ancient Music, Decca 6.43008 (a beautifully engineered recording by John Dunkerley, marred by early digital sound)
Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks
...Gardiner/English Baroque Soloists, Philips 411 122
Rutter: Gloria, Rutter/CambridgeSingers, Collegium COL 100
...a lovely performance of this work that continues to be my favorite performance, but I'm also a sucker for that English choral sound. The early digital edge on this recording is neatly ameliorated, and the LP made eminently listenable, by the addition of just a touch of tonearm damping.
The Sound of King's, Willcocks/Choir of King's College (Cambridge), EMI SEOM 5 - absolutely marvelous choral singing. What else would you expect with Willcocks and King's College? Beautiful 1968 EMI recording that well captures the acoustic of King's College Chapel.
Last night...
"Porgy and Bess" (scenes from) with Leontyne Price, Paul Warfield, McHenry Boatwright and John Bubbles - was there ever a greater Sportin' Life than John Bubbles? RCA LSC 2679.
Bruckner, Symphony No. 6, Stein/VPO, London CS 6880 -- the luscious horns of the Vienna Philharmonic make this a special recording.
. |
Sbank, agree with you about the Gary Karr - Adagio d'Albinoni on vinyl; that King SuperAnalogue pressing is awfully good. The double bass is alternately massively overwhelming, and then very delicate and subtle.
So, what did you think of "Smile" after all the Fremer-hype?
Tonight...
Deep-diving into the past with the Dave Grusin d-to-d Sheffield LP "Discovered Again", Sheffield LAB 5. Obsessively multi-miked, but with incredible detail. I just can't get into the music.
Albert Fuller playing some of Rameau's harpsichord music on Reference Recordings RR 27. You'd never hear this sound live because you're listening from practically inside the harpsichord, but this recording captures exceedingly well the tonality and texture of a superb sounding harpsichord. If you still don't care for the sound of a harpsichord after listening to this LP, then bless you and move on to something else.
Allison Kinnaird, "The Harp Key", Temple 001, traditional Scottish music for harp at its best, played by the great traditional music harpist, teacher and scholar. Kinnaird is considered one of the leading scholars of traditional Scottish/Celtic music today, and has been instrumental in rediscovering the Scottish music tradition and the Scottish harp and wire strung clarsach (which of course preceded anything going on in Ireland ;-) ).
. |
I like the Solti performance, but the most accessible recording of the Mahler #1 that I have is the Jascha Horenstein performance with the London Symphony Orchestra, on Unicorn RHS 301. Solti captures the drive and the energy (as only Sir Georg can do), but Horenstein captures the lilting grace and humor and more of the subtlety, while still keeping this a brisk affair. Mahler "Symphony No. 1" Solti/London SO (London CS 6401)
Those who are afraid to explore Mahler may want to start out with this one. I am not a big fan of Mahler, but I find this Symphony very approachable.
(Slipknot1, above) . |
Jazz tonight...
Jazz at the Pawnshop, the ATR Audio Trade German reissue (so, I'm not a purist - I like this album when I'm in the mood, and I like Lars Estrand and Arne Domnerus. And I like the sound of this single-LP 1980 reissue.)
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, Impulse GR-157 Speakers Corner reissue. Hartman is simply incredible.
Antiphone Blues, Arne Domnerus playing his saxophone in a large stone church with organ accompaniment. It's an atmospheric sound in all respects. Proprius 7744.
. |
Zaikesman, I loved your musings about Smile and the Beach Boys sound. Thanks for that.
As to harpsichords... I find many people are just not fond of that hard edged transient that comes from the plucked string of the harpsichord. Even people who like and play a harp (also plucked) often don't care for the harder edged transients produced by harpsichords. And, since harpsichords are challenging to play with a good sense of dynamic shifts, many performances end up with a less flexible sound than gets pedantic. This is compounded by so many recordings that are bright and edgy to begin with, and systems that are not able to recreate the full harmonic envelope, and that's the way most people have experienced a harpsichord: in recordings and not live. My wife plays harp, but just doesn't care for harpsichord. It's taken a number of encounters with lovely sounding instruments played live to get her to at least appreciate the possibilities.
Editing these posts... We seem to have lost the "edit my post" capability on threads that are now being spread across multiple pages, like this one. It's still working on threads that fit within a single page. I've emailed Audiogon customer service about this, and the response is that they will have the programmers look at it.
. |
Q: "... before I find myself saying 'well that was fun. What's next?' "
A: The answer is Mahler, Joe. M A H L E R
;-)
. |
Tonight...
Holst: Savitri, a Chamber opera in one act
Holst: Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda
...Imogen Holst conducting the English Chamber Orchestra and Purcell Singers, with Janet Baker, Thomas Hemsley, Robert Tear. Argo ZNF 6, recorded 1965. I've owned this record for 25 years and enjoy it immensely. Harry Pearson had this on his list for many years for the Choral Hymns. They're nice, the Purcell Singers and harp accompaniment are excellently rendered, but it's the Savitri for which you need to get this record. This recording is one of the clearest examples in my collection of soundstage width, depth and layering - and it's great example of when excellent reproduction of soundstaging can really add to the realism of a recording because the three vocalists move up, down and across the stage during the course of the performance.
Copy number 2 of the above. Yep, its a duplicate and I need to decide to keep one and find a home for the others. So far, it's been a toss-up between identical pressings. Copy 3 is an older pressing, but I'll have to get to it later.
Piano Works of Debussy and Ravel, Ivan Moravec, Connossieur Society CS2010 (Athena reissue ALSY 10002). If you don't know these recordings Moravec made in the 1960s for the Connoisseur Society label, you really need to check them out if you have any love for piano, Debussy, Ravel or Chopin. The series includes some of the most intelligent piano playing of this (or the last) century by one of the greatest pianists, and they have some of the best and most natural recorded piano sound available. Moravec is certainly my favorite pianist.
. |
Ella Fitzgerald, "Ella in Berlin", Verve 9008, just released Japanese reissue in a superb remastering from the original analog tapes. As Red Trumpet quotes on its web site: Her live performances are legendary and "Ella in Berlin" captures one of the greatest displays of jazz vocal improvisation in concert. Including her amazing rendition of "Mack the Knife", this recording showcases the virtuosity of Ella at the peak of her performing prowess. Believe every word of the above. If you like Ella, this is a must have LP and this is the reissue to have. Slipknot, glad you've had time to listen to the Mahler! Ah, and the Holst, as well. Has to be a good evening at your place. :-) . |
Tonight...
"Church Choral Music", Stockholm Motet Choir, BIS LP 14 - a very early BIS recording of an amateur choir in Stockholm. The recording is the typical great engineering job on gets from von Bahr, but the choir is certainly lacking in ability, if not in enthusiasm. How many times can one be so off key and not stop??? Ouch.
Brahms: Hungarian Dances, Dorati/LSO, Mercury SRI 75024. Very nice performance of the Dances, full of verve and character. Both copies of this SRI sound pretty nice: quiet surfaces, tonally accurate, good bass, but just very slightly veiled and very slightly rolled off in the highs. Still, a keeper for the performance and the great Mercury engineering job that still comes through the Dutch remastering in decent sound quality.
Adam: Giselle, Martinon/Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, London STS 15010. A great performance of this work by Jean Martinon in a superbly engineered 1958 recording by Kenneth Wilkinson in minimally miked early Decca sound. The STS reissue sounds better than an earlier CS issue I once had: cleaner and more articulate, a better mastering. The now oop Speakers Corner reissue of this is better, but not by a great amount.
Sibelius: Finlandia, Mackerras/LondonPromsO, RCA LSC 2336, (45 rpm Classic Records reissue). One word: Wow! Another word: Superb! A great performance, another outstanding recording by the great Kenneth Wilkinson.
. |
Back to jazz, then on to classical...
Sonny Rollins: "The Bridge" - Classic Records reissue
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1, Martinon/LSO, RCA LSC 2322-45 Classic Records 45 rpm reissue - a great performance in great sonics. This LP includes Shostakovich's "The Age of Gold Ballet Suite" on the reverse side.
Gary Karr: "Adagio d'Albinoni" and other works by Bach Beethoven and Franck played on double bass, with organ. King SuperAnalogue 9125
. |
I've also got another one of Karr's solo recordings: "Basso Cantabile - Operatic Operas" King SuperAnalogue 9113.
. |
Tonnesen, Christopher Hogwood's performance with Monica Huggett and the Academy of Ancient Music is a very nice performance and very well recorded. Huggett is superb as the violin soloist. As originally issued on L'Oiseau Lyre in a 3 LP set, the LP version has exceptionally good sound quality. I've not heard the CD reissue that I've linked above. . |
Too little credit was given to the Chesky LP reissues, imo. I've always found many of them to be excellent. The "Lieutenant Kije/Song of the Nightingale" reissue you mention is a good example of a really nice remastering job that captures a lot of excellent instrumental delicacy and timbre. The Classic Records reissue of this LP is very good, capturing other characteristics of the recording in a good way. I keep both in my collection for their respective virtues. One of the GREAT LP reissues, and one of the GREAT ORCHESTRAL recordings ever is a Chesky reissue from the Readers Digest series. That LP is Stravinsky's "Petroushka" performed by Danon and the Royal Philharmonic, Chesky CR42, in a marvelous 1962 recording by the great Kenneth Wilkinson of Decca fame. Arthur Salvatore has been the only reviewer to include this on any recommended LP list I've seen, and he recognizes it as "The Finest Full Orchestra LP" on his list. As so often is the case, I agree with Arthur and think he has this very much right. . |
Nothing on the turntable, resorted to the Philadelphia Orchestra, with Christoph Eschenbach conducting, live at the Kimmel Center:
Smetana: Dances from the Bartered Bride
Grieg: Five Orchestral Songs (with Barbara Bonney, soprano)
Dvorak: Symphony No. 7
Well played tonight! Some of the best music making we've yet heard Eschenbach and the Orchestra make together since his arrival as music director. (OK, the Mahler 9th a few weeks ago was pretty good, too.) Barbara Bonney was in great voice on the Grieg songs. One of those concerts you just don't want to end...
And the Curtis Institute of Music students return from spring break next week with a full slate of free evening recitals - oh, that music lovers can be so lucky!
. |
Yep, Esoxhntr, these bad habits are hard to kick. ;-)
And my turntable complains for lack of exercise on these nights. Cheers! |
Zaikesman, as always, I'm continuing to enjoy your posts with such great background information on the music and artists. Thank you!
. |
"Gershwin- An American in Paris..Leonard Slatkin" Marvelous recording! Another great example of the exceptional work done by the Aubort/Nickrenz team for Vanguard and Nonesuch. These Vanguard recordings that were reissued by Reference Recordings are well worth seeking out. Agree with Ken completely.
. |
If you enjoy Delmoni's playing, you may also enjoy his recording on Waterlily 05 performing works of Bach, Ysaye and Kreisler (wonderful sonics, too); his recording of the Franck and Faure Sonatas Violin and Piano on Northstar DS0015; and his collaboration with Nathaniel Rosen on "Glass Bead Game" (John Marks 15, CD only unfortunately).
And, if you like Delmoni's playing style, you may also enjoy the cello playing of Nathaniel Rosen (who partners with Delmoni on Glass Bead Game). A recording of Rosen's that is well worth looking for is "Oriental - Various Short Works for Cello" (NorthStar NS 0027).
. |
Ralph, I love your eclectic tastes! To move from Gorilla to Palestrina to Bola reflects broad horizons. Thanks for the lift! |
Musicdoc, nice to see your additions to this thread! I need to get back to adding to this, too. |
Slipknot, I have two recordings of the Ives "Unanswered Question" that are both pretty good. I don't know what might be a better version. The two I have are:
Gould/ChicagoSO, LSC 2893
Kitayenko/MoscowPO, Sheffield TLP 27
The Sheffield recording comes from the venture Sheffield made to record in Moscow some years ago with an American conductor doing the Russian music a Russian conductor (Kitanyenko) doing the American music. To my ear, the Kitanynko got the better performances out of the orchestra.
On a side note, I assume you have a copy of Ives' "Three Places in New England" somewhere in your collection? If not, it's well worth seeking out. The Howard Hanson / EastmanRochesterSO performance on Mercury continues as my favorite performance and recording. Don't know if Speakers Corner will reissue this, but my SRI copy sounds just fine.
. |
Tonight:
Grieg, Sym in C minor, Kamu/GothenburgSO, BIS LP200 (wonderful music by Grieg at the age of 21, before he found his grounding in Norwegian folk meolodies but showing the skillful orchestration that imbues his later music)
Grieg, Music from Peer Gynt, Beecham/RPO, EMI SXLP 30423 (a nice selection of the music from the complete work, with chorus and soloist)
Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass, "Speak Love" Pablo D2310888 (from 1983, Ella in great voice still, with a wonderful rendition of "Georgia on my mind" among others)
Shostakovich, Sym 2, Blashkov/LeningradSO, EMI ASD 2747
. |
Tonight so far:
Shostakovich, Music from the Bolt Ballet
Wagner, Orchestral Selections "Klemperer Conducts Wagner," Klemperer/PO, EMI SLS 5075
Music for Trumpet and Organ, selection of baroque works performed by Maurice Andre (trumpet) and Marie-Claire Alain (Organ), Musical Heritage Society, MHS 1176 (Erato)
. |
Beethoven, String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2, Brandis Quartet, Harmonia Mundi
Beatles, Abbey Road
Blood, Sweat and Tears (1st album)
Wild Child Butler, Analogue Productions APO-004, direct-to-disk
Bothy Band, Old Hag You Have Killed Me, Green Linnett SIF 3005
. |
Tonight:
Shostakovich, String Quartets 7, 13 and 14, The Fitzwilliam Quartet, L'Oiuseau Lyre DSLO 9 (astoundingly great music in classic performances by The Fitzwilliam Qt - a marvelous LP in every way)
Raff, Symphony No. 3, Kapp/WestphalianSO, Candide CE 31063 (if you're not familiar with the music of Joachim Raff, and you enjoy the music of Brahms, Carl Nielsen, Edvard Grieg, you owe it to yourself to at least explore Raff's music. Recommended starting point: his delightful Symphony No. 5 for which I'd recommend the performance by Herrmann/LPO on Nonesuch H 71287.)
. |
Tonight we're playing:
Britten, Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, F.Slatkin/ConcertArtsSO, Capitol (Cisco reissue - very fine!)
Dohnanyi, Variations on a Nursery Song, (flip side of above LP)
Britten, Cantata Academica, Malcolm/LSP, L'Oiseau Lyre SOL 60037 (wonderful work for soloists, chorus and orchestra, with Jennifer Vyvyan, Helen Watts, and Peter Pears)
Keb Mo, "Keb Mo," Okeh label
. |
Barber, Symphony No. 1, Hanson/EME, Mercury (mono)
Hanson, Symphony No. 5, Hanson/EME, Mercury (mono)
Tracy Chapman, Talkin' About a Revolution, Elektra
Vaughan Williams, Sancta Civitas, Willcocks/LSO, EMI
Vaughan Williams, Benedicite, Willcocks/LSO, EMI
Britten, Young Person's Guide to the Orch, F.Slatkin/ConcertArtsSO, Capitol (Cisco reissue)
. |
Leroy Jodie Pierson, Direct-to-Disc from Analogue Productions (The man can play the blues, and the d-to-d is mighty fine, but something's just not right in the miking of Pierson's voice on this LP.)
Roy Orbison, "Pretty Woman" single, 33rpm/45rpm, Classic Records (the 45rpm being clearly superior)
Handel, Anthem for the Foundling Hospital, Preston/AAM/Kirkby/Nelson (Emma and Judith sounding ravishing, as only they can), L'Oiseau Lyre
. |
Tchaikovsky, Capriccio Italien, Kondrashin, RCA reissue by Classic Records - a great performance and a clear example of early poor mastering effort by Classic Records. This LP demonstrates why so many got turned off by the Classic efforts early on. Contrast with...
Royal Ballet Gala Performances, Ansermet, RCA reissue by Classic Records - excellent performances with exceptional recording engineering by the great Kenneth Wilkinson (a Decca recording under contract wih RCA, as are most of the great "RCA" recordings). This LP demonstrates how EXCELLENT some Classic Records later mastering efforts are, simply superb sound quality. (Yes, I know there are "collectors" who disagree, but this LP is so true to the sound/timbre of instruments I hear live that I'll just have to differ.)
Janet Baker, Berlioz/Les Nuits d'Ete - why is the artist listed first and not the composer? If you know the incomparable voice and singing of Janet Baker, you will understand.
Vivaldi/Bach, Concerti, Schroeder/Ritchie/Fuller, Reference Recordings RR23. Truly fine period instruments performances captured in the recording as only Keith Johnson can - sound is a bit dry as most Reference Recordings tend to be, but the timbre of the instruments and soundstaging are spot on.
. |
By the way... I'm back to this thread after a long period of the system being down for an amp upgrade and some remodeling work in the listening room. The amps are back and beginning to break in (about 150 hours now) and everything is sounding very promising. Just a few hundred hours more to go before they are fully broken in, but we're beyond the "only for background music" playing stage, and that makes for plenty of listening opportunity with lots of vinyl accumulated.
. |
Bach's Suites for Solo Cello, Starker, Mercury (Speakers Corner reissue)
Bloch, Concerto Grosso No. 2, Hanson/EastmanRochesterSO, Mercury SRI 75017
Nina Simone ...And Piano, RCA LSP-4102 (Speakers Corner reissue)
Greg Brown, The Poet Game, Red House Records ARHR 68 (thanks for the recommendation, Tom!)
. |
Albeniz, Suite Espanola, De Burgos/NewPhilO, King SuperAnalogue reissue of Decca.
Britten, Simple Symphony, Britten/ECO, King SuperAnalogue reissue of London CS 6618.
Elgar, Introduction and Allegro for Strings, Britten/ECO, King SuperAnalogue reissue of London CS 6618.
Wonderful music performances and sonics...
. |
Dave Brubeck, Time Out, Columbia CS 8192 (45 rpm Classic Records reissue) - Wow!
Crosby, Stills & Nash, CS&N, Atlantic (45 rpm Classic Records reissue) - yep, it sure out-distances my early pressing original Atlantic pressing.
Doc Watson, Home Again!, Vanguard 79239 (Cisco reissue)
. |
Listening with a friend this afternoon, always the best way...
Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition, Reiner/CSO, RCA 45rpm reissue from Classic Records
Crosby, Stills & Nash, CSN, 45rpm reissue from Classic Records (very nice)
Creedence Clearwater Revival Box Set 45rpm reissue from Analogue Productions (just a sampling)
Sonny Rollins, The Bridge, Speakers Corner reissue
Eva Cassidy, Songbird, S&P Records
Supertramp, Crime of the Century, Speakers Corner reissue
. |
Played hooky again tonight and went to the the Curtis Institute's faculty concert instead: Arnold Steinhardt (first violin of the Guarneri String Quartet) and Anna Polonsky, piano, playing Beethoven, Janacek and R.Strauss. Outstanding!
. |
R_f_sayles, yep! The audio system is for the dry spells. Right now we are in the height of the classical music live performance season: orchestra concerts on Saturdays and Curtis Institute of Music recitals on weeknights whenever the students and my schedule coincide! For us, it just doesn't get any better that sitting in a wonderful chamber music venue 15' from world class performers; or sitting in the concert hall in 1st Tier Box seats at the same height as the recording mikes with 105 (+/-) of the best orchestral players in the world arrayed in front of you.
. |
