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December 31, 2007
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The enemy of excellence is greatness? True, generally – but not when it comes to Bach’s Mass in B-minor which would still be a masterpiece in the least of performances and is a gift to humanity when performed as well as I’ve now had the pleasure of experiencing trice in short succession. First ... more |
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October 10, 2007
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Valery Gergiev continues with his cycle of Shostakovich's "War Symphonies," a concept that he stretches to include Symphonies No. 4 through 9. The idea of a new, even if truncated, DSCH cycle from a Russian conductor and outfit is an exciting one, given the allure that the Mravinsky cycle (Melodiya) ... more |
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October 10, 2007
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Following his release of the 2nd symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas's Mahler cycle continues to take shape with this 9th on the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra's own label. The predecessor did not disappoint and neither does this issue.
Just as the last time I reviewed a new MTT Mahler release, I ... more |
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October 10, 2007
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It may be coincidence that my Mahler collection contains more Mahler 2nd symphonies than any other. It may also be coincidence that that symphony seems to have been particularly well served by the recording industry, but its popularity is certainly no coincidence. It combines all the elements that ... more |
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October 10, 2007
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The “garishly divine” Eighth Symphony is the oddest beast of Mahler’s, by far. Not because it is difficult to come to terms with (although it can be that, too – though I think the Third and Seventh, in particular, raise more questions) or difficult to enjoy. In fact, given the right amount of ... more |
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December 22, 2007
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| can't say that the results match the effort. SQ4t 4 is kind-of suited to this treatment (mvt. 1 esp. so) ... but #2 less so. Sound just about as stunning as the Walton - but to what musical avail? Pretty ain't always enough in some of the DSCH Quartets. ... more |
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October 28, 2007
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| This is a little arrogant, to say the least. Or perhaps ignorant - I don't quite know which one.
Ingo's answer perfectly addresses the questions posed -- but neither the answer nor Ingo ex- or im-plicitly suggests that therefore you must like it.
To hear clicking and hissing noises in a concert is only normal - although not necessarily in a ... more |
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October 27, 2007
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| Speaking of Naxos SACDs (I think the Craft re-makes of Strav. not quite hot, btw.), the Scherbakov/Yablonsky recording of Rachmaninov 2 & 3 is just about the best sounding (interpretation and audio quality) disc I've heard - not only from Naxos but in general.
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=83444 ... more |
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October 26, 2007
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| With all due respect... the idea of cables... well, never mind. "There's nothing either good nor bad, but imagining makes it so.
(To me, it is a hoax)."
I hope you appreciate the sense of classicism that I bring to my mockery. :-)
best,
jfl ... more |
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October 25, 2007
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| Nothing that I am aware of. I just said that Temirkanov would not likely be recording with the RNO. I wish that Fischer's colleague Arabella Steinbacher would be recorded on SACD by Orfeo -- they had the same teacher and are, dramatic differences in their style of playing notwithstanding, really qualitatively equivalent. Has anyone listened to the ... more |
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