Post by brenda July 30, 2006 (1 of 29)
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Starting a new thread for this, as suggested (by Peter, I think) - and if acceptable, will transfer "Some Recent listening" and "More recent listening" mini-reviews to here. That ok Stephen?
Anyway, some quick thoughts on twenty off the beaten track (and some not so off-track) SACDs, most of them un-reviewed on this site so far.
i) Saint Saens Christmas Oratorio and Mass op. 4 on Cantata - some may find the sound too reverberant and the Mass a little austere but the Oratorio is simply delicious music.
ii) Toch piano concerto and piano quintet - on Talent label - recorded by Polyhymnia in DSD, the sound in the concerto is excellent, some great bass and a fine piece a bit reminiscent of Shost/Ravel/Bartok/Prokofiev. The quintet sounds a bit denser but that's partly the writing.
iii) Goldberg Vtns on Caprice, for string trio. Sensational, clean sound, beautiful playing)
iv) Beethoven 7 & 8 on Tacet, agree with Terence that this sounds marvellous but am not too sure about orchestral quality. Also, the conductor confuses loudness and speed with dynamism and impetus/momentum. This means that the highly illuminating surround recording emphasises focus on detail rather than big picture. Still recommended, tho.
v) Absolutely recommended, the Haitink Beethoven 7 and Triple C, - marvellous performances and the best LSO Live sound yet
vi) Beethoven string quintets on Dynamic, - very nice, clean "present" sound that has immediacy but plenty of warmth too. The works aren't great Beet but are still lovely.
vii) Bruch symphonies set and violin ctos disc on ebs - lovely music of course, but I found the performances a bit underpowered compared to Masur on Philips (in the symphonies) and the sound a bit diffuse and ever so slightly muddy, but not awful.
viii) Buxtehude Last judgement - have only played once but really enjoyed despite some funny-voice acting here and there. Abysmal libretto though.
ix) Dvorak Saint Ludmilla - wonderful music, crap libretto. Singing and sound a bit patchy and distant, - but definitely better in surround than stereo.
x) Erskine - Fiddler Tam, on Linn - see reviews, - loved it
xi) Guerrero on Gimmel, - I know some haven’t liked the sound but I thought it was quite in keeping with the music and didn’t find it objectionable.
xii) Mozart Clemenza di Tito on HM, with Jacobs. I didn’t like the Figaro from last year but this is entirely different. A fine performance, with interesting and varied recitatives, good continuo, no melodramatic flourishes, lovely singing, beautiful wind but not over-prominent compared to the strings (which were miserably under-nourished in Figaro). Fine sound, though PCM.
xiii) M. Haydn Requiem on Capriccio. Marvellous, under-rated music in the best sound I've heard from Capriccio to date.
xiv) Lebrun Oboe Concertos - my partner cant stand Channel but this is lovely, - both ravishing music (very Hummelian) and very fine recording, not too close at all.
xv) Massoneau oboe quintets - a bit dull and very short measure.
xvi) Monteverdi vespers on hyperion. A TRIUMPH in surround. Just wonderful.
xvii) Piano Cto 21&Sonata - Kikuchi on Avex. Mixed feelings. She does some very fine things but takes a few risks in the cadenzas. I've grown to rally like them but they do sound a bit anachronistic (if clever) at first. I warm to it more each time, and the sound is lovely, spacious and bright.
xviii) Schmitt symphonies etc on Pentatone - delightful, - warm and bright, and that's just the music. Maybe not really the Dutch Haydn, as claimed for him, but a fine Mannheim-style composer. Very fine sound from Pentatone, clean and clear, immediate but not too close.
xix) Conspirare in Requiems by Pizetti and Howells. Five stars AND Rosette and a simple recommendation: BUY BUY BUY. This is simply wonderful choral music in very fine interpretations (challenging those on hyperion) and given lovely clear sound.
xx) Dvorak violin cto on Linn - haven’t been too impressed with other Svendsen discs on Linn, finding him too lightweight, both in Sibelius and as a violinist/conductor (weak Brahms and dull Mendelssohn) but this is MUCH better, - sprightly and lush, with a superfine recording from Linn, and the Czech suite is a treaure, too.
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Post by zeus July 30, 2006 (2 of 29)
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brenda said:
Starting a new thread for this, as suggested (by Peter, I think) - and if acceptable, will transfer "Some Recent listening" and "More recent listening" mini-reviews to here. That ok Stephen?
Why not link to the titles in question? The easiest way to do this is to simply include the URL instead of the disc name, namely:
/showtitle/nnnn
where nnnn is the title number in the database here. I've written logic to look for such URLs and replace them with a direct link to the page for that title. Just the title of the disc will display. Try it!
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Post by Peter July 30, 2006 (3 of 29)
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Thanks, Brenda. I was mulling over getting the Toch, now I will, and I've just ordered the Howells/Pizzetti.
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Post by brenda July 30, 2006 (4 of 29)
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Peter said:
Thanks, Brenda. I was mulling over getting the Toch, now I will, and I've just ordered the Howells/Pizzetti.
Peter, you won't regret it. B
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Post by brenda July 30, 2006 (5 of 29)
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zeus said:
Why not link to the titles in question? The easiest way to do this is to simply include the URL instead of the disc name, namely:
/showtitle/nnnn
where nnnn is the title number in the database here. I've written logic to look for such URLs and replace them with a direct link to the page for that title. Just the title of the disc will display. Try it!
stephen , - what and where is the title number. Serial # doesnt do it and neither does disc title spelt out. B
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Post by brenda July 30, 2006 (6 of 29)
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an earlier postintg by beagle, reproduced on this new thread page.
TABULA RASA / Fleck, Bhatt, Chen / Water Lily Acoustics
Nice stuff, but musically not as nice as the Bhatt+ Cooder 'Meeting by the River' CD which won a Grammy; Tabula Rasa was only nominated. I am waiting with keenest anticipation for the arrival of the very-hard-to-acquire Akbar Khan ARCHITEXTURE double-sacd, also from Water Lily Acoustics.
HAYDN, BACEWICZ, DVORAK: QUARTETS / Szymanowski Qtt / Avie
'O gawr, there he goes again on string-bloody-quartets!', you say? Sorry! But here is just the disc for those who remain quartetless, but are jaded enough to risk anything. Here in a single, sonorous disc is a great 3-century sampler, starting with Papa Joe, the father of foursomes and ending with that most American of Czechs, Dvorak the Danceable. The Bacewicz is indeed 20th century, but of the late-late-late romantic tuneful sort, and you get points for supporting a non-male Dead White European. Sonorous is the word: glue all the Hummel figures to the mantlepiece, and wait for the good vibrations....
SMETATA, SUK, FISER: CZECH PIANO TRIOS / Guarneri Trio Prague / Praga Digital
The musicianship of the Guarneri is not compromised by the sound here, as it is on their unfortunate Schubert disc, and the music is beautiful, rolling late romanticism, good music to cuddle up with by. And a nice expansion of the usual repertoire tunnel-vision.
SHOSTAKOVICH QUARTETS NOS 1, 2 & 4 / Mandelring Qtt / Audité
First audition, I was rubbed the wrong way by the sound -- but that seems to have been the product of a stressful day at work, since the 2nd hearing was very pleasing. I will make no hairsplitting comparisons with the Rosalyra/Artegra disc: both are ear-candy par excellence.
BORODIN: QUARTET NO. 1, QUINTET / Kocian / Praga Digital
Nice-nice. Sound is at a lower level than the Royal Phil/Membrane disc, so you have to walk across the room and tweak the volume up. General effect is delicate and airy. Great liner-notes, e.g. Borodin "providing food and board for a number of parasites, both family and close friends, as well as for several cats! This overload ... perhaps explains his sudden death at a fancy-dress ball at the Academy of Medicine [age 54]." Is the author an alurophobe?
BARTÓK: QUARTETS NOS 5 & 6 / Párkányí Qtt / Praga Digital
Any Bartók would be to-die-for, for us hardcore fans, but this disc is SUPER! Love it, love it love it! Bartók's 6 different pizzicati have never snapped more deliciously, and there is oodles of silent acoustic space around the sounds. This is a composer who is 'about sound', and here are the sounds, splendidly made and reproduced in the room with me. Pretty damned good sound for non-IsoMike! If you are not a convert yet, but are not immune to the temptation of the Rich and Strange... then take the leap and get a copy; then skip the first track for the moment (which is muscular, clamorous tutti playing) and jump to the second track which is... strange, hypnotic, unearthly waves of chords. A very good entry-point into a foreign world.
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Post by brenda July 30, 2006 (7 of 29)
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and some from peter:-
Yesterday, I had a little unwrapping ceremony on a couple of discs. Munch's LS recordings of Mendelssohn are nearly 50 years old and wear their age lightly. The Reformation gets a fine performance, the strings in the Italian are excellent (if a little too toppily recorded) but the rest of the orchestra seems balanced too far back and is overwhelmed by the strings. The Octet movement, in its arrangement for orchestra for the 1st symphony, appears on CD/SACD for the first time and demonstrates Munch's ability to produce filigree. This is perhaps a disc for Munch and/or LS fans.
The new recording of Mozart Trios on Praga is first-class - both performances and recording. No, it's not too close-up and fierce, though you will hear intakes of breath and the odd sniff, which some may not like. My dream quartet, consisting of Colin Davis, John Barbirolli and the tennis ace Williams sisters will produce far more in grunts and groans - imagine them as recorded by Tacet, vocalising round the room.
Another listen to Beethoven/Haitink on LSO Live today. Yes, it's quite close, but there is air round the sound, and another day's listening has cemented my impression that these are very fine performances indeed, red hot. I've decided to get the rest of the cycle as it's released. I think it's a pretty good recording; I've some more LSO Live on order (sale price!), including Haitink's Brahms and Davis's Sibelius. Perhaps my Linn equipment is kind to these recordings, or others have equipment which already produces a rather forward sound which exaggerates further what's on the LSO Live discs.
Finally, I had another listen to one of my favourite performances, Rachmaninov 1 on Hyperion. It's that use of portamento......wonderful stuff. There have been quite differing opinions about the sound of these discs; I do find that unless I get the right level (and remember I listen only in stereo) the players can sound quite distant with piano in the next block of flats. With the level up, the sound comes into focus, the piano sounds full-toned, and I'm in row 15. With the LSO Live Beethoven, I'm in row 6, and if that disc is played at too low a level, it loses its focus too.
I think Dave has already mentioned how some discs evince such different opinions about recording quality. Perhaps these are due to a mixture of equipment design, room conditions and listening level. Terence, you were disappointed by the Rachmaninov's sound; do give it another try at different volume settings. With any luck, things may snap into focus. If they don't, perhaps others have some suggestions.
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Post by brenda July 30, 2006 (8 of 29)
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more from Peter:-
Here are a few more ramblings about recent listening. Since single layer Sony SACDs are available much more cheaply from Amazon sellers, for instance, I thought I'd buy a few. I've always enjoyed Szell's performances of Wagner and Dvorak's Slavonic Dances, the latter in particular sounding disappointingly shrill and tiring on CD, spoiling such wonderful performances. I'm really impressed by Sony's remastering for these discs; the string tone is so much more faithful, and there is much more detail in the orchestration. Of course. neither disc could be mistaken for the best that could be produced today, but they're as good as could be expected from the masters, and much more easy to listen to than the CDs.
Another Sony SACD, this time not in my CD collection is Copland conducting his own works in London in the late '60s and 1970; well, what a joy! The LSO plays superbly and the recordings sound freshly minted, newer and better than the two above, most impressive. The orchestra sound as though they loved playing under the composer. This is a superb Paul Myers production.
I've had a chance to listen several times to Channel's Revueltas disc, kindly given by Edvin. Sensemaya sounds even more wicked in this version for small orchestra; I had not heard any of the other pieces on this disc before, but much enjoyed the homage to Lorca in particular. The performances show impeccable ensemble and were recorded at a single concert whose patrons were singularly well-behaved, and Channel's engineers have captured excellent sound.
Susskind's recording of Ma Vlast was also a joy to listen to; as PeteySB said "The music is played so lovingly and with attention to rhythm and inner harmonies." Exactly my feeling; Susskind, a Czech, will have had this music in his bones, and the St Louis Orchestra I'm sure realise all the details he wanted. I also have the feeling that I'm missing out with this disc by listening in stereo only, and it's one I'll take with me when I audition surround, together with Haitink's LSO Live Beethoven, an RCO Live, and some chamber music. The booklet notes for this release are detailed and excellent. Exemplary.
Alia Vox's tribute to Cervantes, Don Quijote de la Mancha - Savall, is another pleasant surprise. First of all, please do not be put off by the fact that excerpts from the book are read; they are short, add to the atmosphere and very well read, too. The "booklet" is a substantial hard-backed book with all the words in several languages. I had heard none of this music before; all I can say is disc 1 is so beautifully performed, nearly painfully, I left a few days before listening to the second disc. The recording quality is excellent, with plenty of ambience, though not too much. If you're hovering about getting this issue, go on, take the plunge.
Praga Digitals' Schubert Quintet issue which I mentioned elsewhere is also very fine; at first I thought the playing a little under-characterised, but repeated listening has underpinned my high opinion of this release (not MC).
Finally, I've heard Otto Olsson: Requiem - Ohlson, from Proprius. This is high quality music and a real discovery for me, thanks to Edvin's flagging it. Recorded over 10 years ago in a church it is richly resonant and again I feel I'd get a richer experience from a surround system. The booklet doesn't mention at what resolution the recording was made, but it's very good without being outstanding. Performance by orchestra and chorus is excellent; however, the soloists have operatic careers and it does show a little too much, though not enough to spoil the performance as a whole for me. It's good enough to stand alongside Durufle, Verdi and Faure in my collection. If you enjoy choral music, give this one a try, and it's mid-price, too!
One recording which I regret hasn't grown on me is the Lauridsen disc on Hyperion. I was much taken with this music when I first heard it on the radio and bought the disc as soon as it was issued. I have listened to it at regular intervals about a dozen times, each time feeling there is less to it than at first hearing, and I'm beginning to get the impression that it's thin in substance. It may grow on me eventually, so I'll keep it for now.
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Post by brenda July 30, 2006 (9 of 29)
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and a few earlier ones from me, too.
Not a review, but a quick note on some recent Praga releases that have been giving me much pleasure.
The Chopin/Grieg cello sonatas disc is very good. The Chopin is played particularly well. Never been a big fan of the Grieg, a little too much late romantic density, but it sounds better here than in other versions. Sound is very rich, - immediate but still with some (natural) reverberance through which the cello can growl.
The Brahms SQ#1 and clarinet quintet is simply marvellous. The clarinet Q5 in particular is given a light, non-rhetorical performance that makes you think of the recollection of summers rather than the wistfulness of autumn. It's more touched with a dash of Mendelssohn than any other performance I can think of and is a wonderfully fresh and "different" interpretation. The quartet is also given a very fine performance. Sound is exemplary. AT LEAST five stars.
The Brahms op. 67 SQ plus piano quintet is, as you might expect, a bigger boned interpretation and recording, perhaps needing just a bit more of the space and light given to the clarinet q5 (in sound as well). That said, it is impressively powerful.
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Post by Edvin July 30, 2006 (10 of 29)
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Loads of new sacd´s.
Ruud Langgaard´s opera Antikrist is a must. One of the strangest operas ever with some really great music. I have it on both dvd and sacd and sonce it is very imaginatively filmed in a super place don´t hesitate. Great dts sound. A review will follow.
Rued Langgaard: Antikrist - Dausgaard
I also must say that the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Jansons new Leningrad produces some of the most gorgeous playing I have ever heard.
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 - Jansons
I am getting on terms with the acoustics on the Monteverdi Vespers and it is a fantastic recording on all counts.
Monteverdi: Vespers, Magnificat - Robert King
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