Definitive Recordings...

[Petrushka]

Caliban

I suspect from your reaction that you refer to Karajan's later recording which is very inferior even as sound to his fine earlier version.

I'd agree with this. I have both versions and the 1966 recording and performance is stunning. One of the finest DSCH 10ths ever recorded.

[cloughie]

The Berry's Kékszakállú with LSO/Kertesz

What the Chuck's that?

[Nick Armstrong]

What the Chuck's that?

You spoke my thought (with a slight change of consonant). It seems it is an abbreviation of the Hungarian title of this http://www.discogs.com/Béla-Bartók-B...elease/1895914 - clearly, the abbreviated version is the on-dit among hardcore Bartokians

[cloughie]

You spoke my thought (with a slight change of consonant). It seems it is an abbreviation of the Hungarian title of this http://www.discogs.com/Béla-Bartók-B...elease/1895914 - clearly, the abbreviated version is the on-dit among hardcore Bartokians

Cal, I prefer plain English too!

[Nick Armstrong]

Cal, I prefer plain English too!

Clo, ça va sans dire!

[Panjandrum]

Caliban

I suspect from your reaction that you refer to Karajan's later recording which is very inferior even as sound to his fine earlier version.

Ferret, you're right, it was the 1967 recording I had in mind; and which I thought would have come to most collectors' thoughts.

[Panjandrum]

Cal, I prefer plain English too!

Your magyar not up to snuff, Cloughie?

[Panjandrum]

While on the subject of Herbie I'll throw in his recordings of the 2nd Viennese School from the 70s, especially Pelleas und Melisande and Verklarte Nacht. No-one does/did late romanticism better, IMO.

[mathias broucek]

I'd agree with this. I have both versions and the 1966 recording and performance is stunning. One of the finest DSCH 10ths ever recorded.

In that case, you may want to investigate his live Moscow recording

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brandenburg-Concerto-Symphony-Karajan-Moscow/dp/B001HWW9XG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1331283198&sr=8-2

[mikealdren]

How about Oistrakh in the Shostakovich concerti and Prokofiev's 1st and a rarer choice, Tibor Varga in the Nielsen concerto, still not released on CD as far as I know.

Mike

[John Skelton]

You spoke my thought (with a slight change of consonant). It seems it is an abbreviation of the Hungarian title of this http://www.discogs.com/Béla-Bartók-B...elease/1895914 - clearly, the abbreviated version is the on-dit among hardcore Bartokians

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st3ZPicJVb4&feature=related

(Does there come a point where a 'definitive recording' is more 'definitive' than the music recorded?)

[BBMmk2]

Barbirolli's masterpirce of a recording of Elgar's Dreeam of Gerontius. hmm, i expect others may have theirs?

[cloughie]

Barbirolli's masterpirce of a recording of Elgar's Dreeam of Gerontius. hmm, i expect others may have theirs?

I think that the Mark Elder now eclipses this. The only downside of the Barbirolli is Kim Borg's accent!

[silvestrione]

I simply couldn't listen to them for more than a few minutes. Or anyone else. Not a good thing perhaps? .

I know the cure here: just put on the Pollini version of Schubert D 845, and the Schnabel or Curzon version of D 850 (just compare the delicacy and wit of these two in the last movement coda, where Richter is just too loud) !

By the way, this comes from someone who idolizes Richter, and has far too many recordings by him (including the one in question). But I just do not find him at his best here. Curious how we differ, isn't it?

[kirkandrews]

Regine Crespin's Ravel Scheherazade

Crespin's Berlioz Les Nuits d'ete is sublime.........and on the same cd!