What are you listening to now - I ?

[Roehre]

R Strauss Songs -Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Gerald Moore. Many quite new to me.

Have you listened to Krämerspiegel op.66 already?

[gurnemanz]

Have you listened to Krämerspiegel op.66 already?

Not yet. They're on CD5. I'll try and remember to report back.

[BBMmk2]

'A Vierne Collection'. Truro Cathedral Choir, Robert Sharpe.

[pastoralguy]

Recently:

Haitink - the Philips years - via Spotify

Schubert
Symphony 9 in C

The box set is sitting next to me in its plastic wrap and this will be first on the turntable! (Or in the tray...)

[BBMmk2]

Vierne, Widor & Dupre. Westminster Cathedral Choir, James O'Donnell.

[Petrushka]

Mahler: Symphony No 8

Christine Brewer, Camilla Nylund, Maria Espada (sopranos)
Stephanie Blythe (mezzo-soprano), Mihoko Fujiruma (alto)
Robert Dean Smith (tenor), Tommy Hakala (baritone), Stefan Kocan (bass)

Netherlands Radio Choir, State Choir 'Latvija', Bavarian Radio Choir
National Boys Choir, National Childrens Choir

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Mariss Jansons

A notable addition to the Mahler 8 discography but I rather wish I'd watched the DVD that comes with this set first because I miss a sense of epic scale on the CD. The volume was turned up pretty loud but I found the soloists voices fuzzy and too backwardly placed, Oddly, the large choir only felt like a large choir when singing quietly. At full tilt, I found a lack of definition. Generally underwhelmed, I'm afraid.

No, the big, bold sound with soloists well forward and the choir sounding a thousand strong is what is missing here. Solti and Sinopoli win hands down.

[DublinJimbo]

No, the big, bold sound with soloists well forward and the choir sounding a thousand strong is what is missing here. Solti and Sinopoli win hands down.

Oh dear! I'm expecting delivery tomorrow from Presto Classical. I 'd hoped to buy it in the Concertgebouw last week after a concert with the Netherlands Youth Orchestra, but no CDs were on sale.

[Petrushka]

Oh dear! I'm expecting delivery tomorrow from Presto Classical. I 'd hoped to buy it in the Concertgebouw last week after a concert with the Netherlands Youth Orchestra, but no CDs were on sale.

I shouldn't worry too much. You'll probably feel differently and in any case there's still plenty to enjoy. I so strongly prefer the big, massive sound in this of all symphonies that any deviation is bound to be a let down. I rather think the DVD performance will come across much better but haven't heard/seen that yet.

Do let me know what you think!

[Roehre]

Today:

Xenakis:
Ikhoor (1978)
Tetras (1983)

Nancarrow:
String Quartet No.1 (1945)
String Quartet No.3 (1987)
Study No.31 (arr.Asscher)
Study No.33 (arr.Asscher)

De Carbezon (1510-1566):
Tres sobre la Alta (Spagna)
Tiento IX Quinto tono
Tiento XIII Fuga a cuatro
Tiento VIII
Tiento VII Cuarto tono
Tiento III Primer tono
Tiento II Cuarto tono
Himno XIX Pange lingua IV
Pavana con su glosa
Para quien crié cabellos (Folia)
Fabordones del sexto tono
Diferencias sobre Las Vacas
Diferencias sobre la pavana italiana
Diferencias sobre La Dame le demanda
Quien llamo al partir, partir?

[Roehre]

I shouldn't worry too much. You'll probably feel differently and in any case there's still plenty to enjoy. I so strongly prefer the big, massive sound in this of all symphonies that any deviation is bound to be a let down. I rather think the DVD performance will come across much better but haven't heard/seen that yet.

Do let me know what you think!

For me Jansons' equals my favourite Mahler 8 (Kubelik's) and surpasses easily the IMO overheated and neurotic Solti.

[Petrushka]

For me Jansons' equals my favourite Mahler 8 (Kubelik's) and surpasses easily the IMO overheated and neurotic Solti.

It's fascinating how we all hear the same music so differently! I learnt the Mahler 8 from the Solti discs back in 1973 so that makes me biased I suppose but for me 40 years on it still conveys what I want most from this symphony and which none but Sinopoli gets anywhere near. I have both Kubelik accounts (but haven't heard them for ages) and will give the live one a spin tomorrow to see how it compares with the Jansons.

[Bryn]

Is the Jansons recording being discussed here, the one in this set?



If so, I must get round to watching/listening to it.

[Stanfordian]

Brahms:
Serenade No. 1 in D major, Op. 11;
Serenade No. 2 in A major, Op. 16;
Berliner Philharmoniker/Claudio Abbado
Recorded 1981 Jesus Christ Church & 1967 Ufa Studio, Berlin
Deutsche Grammophon

Schubert:
Piano Sonatas: D157, 557, 664, 784, 845, 958, 959, 960; 2 Scherzos D593, 6 Moments musicaux D780;
Radu Lupu (piano)
Recorded 1971/79 London, 1981 Hamburg & 1991 Switzerland
Decca

Sidney Bechet with Sammy Price & his Bluesicians:
(1956)
Sam Price and his Kay Cee Stompers:
‘Barrelhouse, Boogie Woogie and the Blues’
(1955)

[Roehre]

Is the Jansons recording being discussed here, the one in this set?



If so, I must get round to watching/listening to it.

That's the one, Bryn.

[Roehre]

It's fascinating how we all hear the same music so differently! I learnt the Mahler 8 from the Solti discs back in 1973 so that makes me biased I suppose but for me 40 years on it still conveys what I want most from this symphony .....

Fascinating indeed, and for me it's the Kubelik DGG which I cherish since I heard it for the first time in 1974.
As you say, Petrushka, you and I are likely biased for life by this experience 40 years ago