Record Review: non-BaL discs reviewed, etc.

[Bryn]

Anyone got a confident recommendation for Ives Symphony #4?

I've had the Seika Ozawa Boston Symphony/Tanglewood Festival Chorus DG, since about 1992. It has never taken off for me. Is there better out there?

I am rather happy with the new Seattle/Morlot issue, which uses the critical edition of the score:



I expect the forthcoming Andrew Davis recording to be pretty good too.

[Beef Oven!]

Many thanks Bryn, I've ordered it - I know you know yer Ives!!!

[Nick Armstrong]

Listening to the Chesky recording of the Leibowitz Beethoven Symphonies 1 and 3 on Naxos Music Library (all of the Symphonies can be found there) as I wade through finance/tax household admin. As you say, they have energy, vigour, pulse and inflections. Delightful....

[Beef Oven!]

Many thanks Bryn, I've ordered it - I know you know yer Ives!!!

Edit: I couldn't wait - cancelled my order and bought a Hi-Res download from Qobuz. Will give it a serious listen after the football with a few beers.

[mahlerei]

Beefy

Agree with Bryn on that. In fact I'd say Morlot's two Ives collections are among the very best in the catalogue right now. And there's more to come...

Enjoy!

[Beef Oven!]

Beefy

Agree with Bryn on that. In fact I'd say Morlot's two Ives collections are among the very best in the catalogue right now. And there's more to come...

Enjoy!

Yes. Just listened to Symphony #4 and CPITD and Unanswered Q.

Head and shoulders above any Ives performances I've ever heard (and never heard of Morlot before Bryn's steer).

One of the best CDs (well, downloads) that I've bought in long while. I think I'm going to enjoy many listens over the coming weeks.

I am very happy with the Naxos recording of #3 that I have, so it will be interesting to hear what Morlot does with it (tomorrow!).

Many thanks Bryn, I owe you a beer!

P.S. The sound quality of this Hi-Res Qobuz download is astonishing!

P.P.S. What's the second set of Morlot's Ives that you refer to? Symphony #2, American in Paris & Carter?

[mahlerei]

Yes. Just listened to Symphony #4 and CPITD and Unanswered Q.

Head and shoulders above any Ives performances I've ever heard (and never heard of Morlot before Bryn's steer).

One of the best CDs (well, downloads) that I've bought in long while. I think I'm going to enjoy many listens over the coming weeks.

I am very happy with the Naxos recording of #3 that I have, so it will be interesting to hear what Morlot does with it (tomorrow!).

Many thanks Bryn, I owe you a beer!

P.S. The sound quality of this Hi-Res Qobuz download is astonishing!

P.P.S. What's the second set of Morlot's Ives that you refer to? Symphony #2, American in Paris & Carter?

It is indeed. Fillers not to be sneezed at either.

[teamsaint]

Yes. Just listened to Symphony #4 and CPITD and Unanswered Q.

Head and shoulders above any Ives performances I've ever heard (and never heard of Morlot before Bryn's steer).

One of the best CDs (well, downloads) that I've bought in long while. I think I'm going to enjoy many listens over the coming weeks.

I am very happy with the Naxos recording of #3 that I have, so it will be interesting to hear what Morlot does with it (tomorrow!).

Many thanks Bryn, I owe you a beer!

P.S. The sound quality of this Hi-Res Qobuz download is astonishing!

P.P.S. What's the second set of Morlot's Ives that you refer to? Symphony #2, American in Paris & Carter?

Those two Ives CDs are available in the Naxos Library.

[Bryn]

Yes. Just listened to Symphony #4 and CPITD and Unanswered Q.

Head and shoulders above any Ives performances I've ever heard (and never heard of Morlot before Bryn's steer).

One of the best CDs (well, downloads) that I've bought in long while. I think I'm going to enjoy many listens over the coming weeks.

I am very happy with the Naxos recording of #3 that I have, so it will be interesting to hear what Morlot does with it (tomorrow!).

Many thanks Bryn, I owe you a beer!

P.S. The sound quality of this Hi-Res Qobuz download is astonishing!

P.P.S. What's the second set of Morlot's Ives that you refer to? Symphony #2, American in Paris & Carter?

It's mahlerei who really deserves the thanks. It was he who put me on to the Morlot recording of the 4th, 3rd etc. As to the 2nd, I really like that up until the final chord, which Morlot and co. extend Bernstein style. That's not what Ives added as his afterthought. What le indicated was a brief outburst. I have thus used Sound Forge to make a crafty edit of that chord for future listening to the Morlot.

[Nick Armstrong]

never heard of Morlot before Bryn's steer

It was the R3 focus on Dutilleux which brought his work with the Seattle Symphony to my attention - been listening to his terrific recording of the Symphony No 2 "Le Double"

[Beef Oven!]

It's mahlerei who really deserves the thanks. It was he who put me on to the Morlot recording of the 4th, 3rd etc. As to the 2nd, I really like that up until the final chord, which Morlot and co. extend Bernstein style. That's not what Ives added as his afterthought. What le indicated was a brief outburst. I have thus used Sound Forge to make a crafty edit of that chord for future listening to the Morlot.

Ok, you get an assist. Half a pint each and a packet of crisps. :big grin:

Last chord a la Brynstein?

[Beef Oven!]

It was the R3 focus on Dutilleux which brought his work with the Seattle Symphony to my attention - been listening to his terrific recording of the Symphony No 2 "Le Double"

I was eying up the Dutilleux recordings on Qobuz when I downloaded the Ives. This could turn out to be expensive (going down the Hi-Res route).

[Nick Armstrong]

I was eying up the Dutilleux recordings on Qobuz when I downloaded the Ives. This could turn out to be expensive (going down the Hi-Res route).

Have a listen to Le Double first on iTunes Music. That's what I've been doing...

[Beef Oven!]

It is indeed. Fillers not to be sneezed at either.

Thanks Mahlerei, it's on my shopping list!

[Barbirollians]

Not wishing to overstate it, but the René Leibowitz Beethoven Symphonies covered on today's programme are proving a revelation to me.

I already had one Chesky issue on my shelf, which I saw the other day and couldn't recall for the life of me why I had it.

Now I know - and am listening to others via iTunes Music.

WHAT PERFORMANCES!!

I have to say that these 1961 recordings are far more up my street than the roughly contemporary (in fact a year or two earlier) Cluytens/Berlin recordings - similarly overlooked by the 'mainstream' perhaps, but raved about by fans... on the basis of which I acquired the set. It's never 'clicked' with me, I'm afraid - expecting a revelation, I was and remain disappointed by the Cluytens.

But the opposite is true of these Leibowitz recordings - RPO on prime form (just a month or so after Beecham's death) and knockout sound quality from ... Walthamstow Town Hall.

And I love the pulse, the inflections... (I could go on. But I'll just listen).

The extracts were impressive . I am sorry you did not get on with the Cluytens set - I think it is marvellous even if not horse scaring