Record Review: non-BaL discs reviewed, etc.

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  • ferneyhoughgeliebte
    Gone fishin'
    • Sep 2011
    • 30163

    Originally posted by Barbirollians View Post
    As a fan of Trifonov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini recording I was rather underwhelmed by the opening movement of the Second Piano Concerto recording played this morning . It was perfectly fine but nowhere near as exciting as the Rhapsody recording and lacking in the wow factor of the Richter/Wislocki for example which has an opening to pin you back by the ears .

    Liked the Blomstedt Mozart the reviewers seemed lukewarm on - thought the Chineke Sibelius 2 was OK but not worthy of the encomiums heaped upon it and as for the Rachmaninov 3 the pianist was indeed impressive but again it lacked excitement. Perhaps Argerich and Berman have spoiled me .
    Yes - difficult to make a proper judgement based on extracts overheard (rather than paying full attention) and on less-than-ideal equipment, but I won't let that stop me ...

    I was more impressed with the Rachmaninoff than you were, Barbs, and want to hear more of it. I was distinctly underwhelmed by Blomstedt's Mozza #40 (I prefer a "grainier", more urgent approach - but for those who prefer a smoother, more lyrical performance I can see that this would have its appeal), and was more involved in #42, though not to the extent that I would wish to buy the disc. (If I'd heard this in concert, I'd've thought it a very good performance, without getting anything particularly "special" from it.)

    Good to hear Chineke playing something more substantial than the "Classical Pops" I'd only heard them in before - I agree, a very good Sibelius #2, but not quite the overwhelming experience that Ms Molleson's enthusiasm led me to expect (perhaps the whole work creates more of an impact) - and I enjoyed the bit of the Rachmaninoff #3 we heard, without it matching memories of the best recordings, broadcasts, and performances I've experienced. I'd be keener to buy this disc than the Blomstedt, though.

    On the whole, I think I'll save my money for bringing my Gibbons collection up-to-date, and seeing what's on offer next week after the Purcell BaL.
    [FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]

    Comment

    • Alison
      Full Member
      • Nov 2010
      • 6455

      The Schubert symphonies from CBSO/Gardner sounded excellent and I have been streaming these today.

      Some of my favourite music in performances of distinction.

      The Mozart 40 from Manze was also arresting, sounding unusually G minor-ish.

      The historically informed approach on modern instruments is of course the unifying feature of these two releases.

      Anyone tempted by the Sibelius cycle from Paris?

      Comment

      • mathias broucek
        Full Member
        • Nov 2010
        • 1303

        Originally posted by Alison View Post
        Anyone tempted by the Sibelius cycle from Paris?
        No!!! I can't see it selling well outside France given the level of competition...

        Comment

        • visualnickmos
          Full Member
          • Nov 2010
          • 3610

          Originally posted by mathias broucek View Post
          No!!! I can't see it selling well outside France given the level of competition...
          Do you have more details about orchestra/conductor/label - just out of curiosity.

          Thanks.....

          Comment

          • ferneyhoughgeliebte
            Gone fishin'
            • Sep 2011
            • 30163

            Originally posted by visualnickmos View Post
            Do you have more details about orchestra/conductor/label - just out of curiosity.
            Thanks.....
            This one, I think:

            Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1-7. RCA: 19075924512. Buy download online. Orchestre de Paris, Paavo Järvi


            (difficult to tell from the RR website, but some vigorous digging underneath AMcG's photo eventually got me there).
            [FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]

            Comment

            • visualnickmos
              Full Member
              • Nov 2010
              • 3610

              Thanks, ferney. It does rather get my attention... I will have to try and hear samples....

              Something tells me by instinct, that it will be 'good'

              Comment

              • ferneyhoughgeliebte
                Gone fishin'
                • Sep 2011
                • 30163

                - I'm intrigued, too - just to hear how a French orchestra performs Sibelius: and how Sibelius sounds from a French orchestra.

                But not at that price! (Which might be part of what mathias was referring to.)
                [FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]

                Comment

                • Nick Armstrong
                  Host
                  • Nov 2010
                  • 26536

                  Originally posted by Alison View Post
                  Anyone tempted by the Sibelius cycle from Paris?
                  Yes!! Based on what I heard listening to the RR segment this morning, I want to hear more. A lot of the extracts were intriguing, beautifully played and detailed - perhaps most in the 'lesser known' symphonies: as William Mival said, the performers really seemed to 'get' No 3, and No 4 sounded more vivid than normal (it often seems to have a veiled, muted kind of power - this seemed different). No 6 which I love sounded equally vibrant. Wasn't so persuaded by the tempo changes in the extract from No 5 (the end of the second movement) but that's so difficult to judge out of context. Also wasn't sure I liked the sound picture, the acoustic, generally but again, I shall listen again on decent equipment.

                  Happily the set is streamable on Qobuz so just added it as a favourite and shall make my way through it.
                  "...the isle is full of noises,
                  Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
                  Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
                  Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

                  Comment

                  • HighlandDougie
                    Full Member
                    • Nov 2010
                    • 3091

                    Originally posted by visualnickmos View Post
                    Thanks, ferney. It does rather get my attention... I will have to try and hear samples....

                    Something tells me by instinct, that it will be 'good'
                    There is a thoughtful - and interesting - review on French Amazon at:



                    which might give some idea of what to expect

                    Comment

                    • visualnickmos
                      Full Member
                      • Nov 2010
                      • 3610

                      Originally posted by HighlandDougie View Post
                      There is a thoughtful - and interesting - review on French Amazon at:



                      which might give some idea of what to expect
                      Thank you. About to read it.......

                      Comment

                      • Alison
                        Full Member
                        • Nov 2010
                        • 6455

                        Originally posted by Caliban View Post
                        Yes!! Based on what I heard listening to the RR segment this morning, I want to hear more. A lot of the extracts were intriguing, beautifully played and detailed - perhaps most in the 'lesser known' symphonies: as William Mival said, the performers really seemed to 'get' No 3, and No 4 sounded more vivid than normal (it often seems to have a veiled, muted kind of power - this seemed different). No 6 which I love sounded equally vibrant. Wasn't so persuaded by the tempo changes in the extract from No 5 (the end of the second movement) but that's so difficult to judge out of context. Also wasn't sure I liked the sound picture, the acoustic, generally but again, I shall listen again on decent equipment.

                        Happily the set is streamable on Qobuz so just added it as a favourite and shall make my way through it.
                        Very much agree. The extracts played seemed unusually fresh and compelling: just a nagging doubt that snippets of Jarvi (P) can sound that way without then delivering in their entirety as I recall you once pointing out!

                        Comment

                        • Nick Armstrong
                          Host
                          • Nov 2010
                          • 26536

                          Originally posted by Alison View Post
                          Very much agree. The extracts played seemed unusually fresh and compelling: just a nagging doubt that snippets of Jarvi (P) can sound that way without then delivering in their entirety as I recall you once pointing out!
                          Well do you know, Alison, that rings a bell! Beethoven, wasn't it?
                          "...the isle is full of noises,
                          Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
                          Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
                          Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

                          Comment

                          • jayne lee wilson
                            Banned
                            • Jul 2011
                            • 10711

                            Full-page review in the latest Gramophone from all-around Scandinavian musicophile Andrew Mellor - very detailed and thoughtful and.... not terribly enthusiastic I'm afraid. I first heard of this via the Guardian's (equally underwhelmed) Andrew Clements some weeks back, but after listening to - or rather, dutifully sitting through - No.3, I didn't venture much further apart from some brief excerpts.


                            OK, it's not terrible; it isn't without interest given the source and the conductor (whose Frankfurt RSO Nielsen I much admire & prefer to his Dad's various attempts) but....what a shame this cycle wasn't made with the Estonian NSO, recalling their fire-and-ice Arvo Pärt 3rd at last year's Proms...
                            (BTW, Google via Firefox might allow you to view the Mellor review without a G-sub)....

                            Much more compelling single release, also on Qobuz, is this.....
                            Listen to Santtu-Matias Rouvali in unlimited streaming on Qobuz and buy the albums in Hi-Res 24-Bit for an unequalled sound quality. Subscription from $10.83/month


                            Not sure if I'd take this over another listen to Sanderling or the startling, stunning Vanska (Lahti SO or the startling Minnesota hi-res), but it is both fresh and very exciting. That sense of Nature, the phenomenal world is there, which is what seems absent from the Parisians, at least the little I've heard of them....
                            Last edited by jayne lee wilson; 26-02-19, 00:27.

                            Comment

                            • jayne lee wilson
                              Banned
                              • Jul 2011
                              • 10711

                              This might work....https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/...ies-j%C3%A4rvi

                              But in Firefox, not Safari etc... maybe others, dunno....

                              Comment

                              • Stanfordian
                                Full Member
                                • Dec 2010
                                • 9312

                                A few points on what I've just been hearing on Recorded Review with Andrew McGregor. I didn't hear 'Building a Library':

                                In the cello concerto by Esa‐Pekka Salonen I was struck by the similarity of the movement played to the late Rautavaara's Cantus Arcticus (Concerto for Birds & Orchestra). Of course they are both Finnish composers.

                                The Thomas Haigh Fantaisie played by Rebecca Maurer I couldn't take to the sound of her fortepiano. I'm generally keen to hear period performances but the fortepiano just doesn't do it for me.

                                Vladimir Jurowski conducting LPO in Rachmaninov's Symphony No.1 seemed lacking in the excitement I wanted, in what felt a very moderate performance. Strings lacking in richness.
                                Last edited by Stanfordian; 16-03-19, 11:14.

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