Constantin Silvestri

[Barbirollians]

Tonight enjoying disc 13 - including riveting performances of Les preludes and tasso - even caliban might be converted

A lovely performance of the Overture to Midsummer Night's Dream too.

[Barbirollians]

As I work my way slowly through this box - I have come across a truly extraordinary and vivid early stereo pairing of Manfred and Capriccio Espagnol . The latter terrific, colourful fun if a bit brash . The Manfred is absolutely thrilling from first bar to last. Magnificent .

[Ferretfancy]

As I work my way slowly through this box - I have come across a truly extraordinary and vivid early stereo pairing of Manfred and Capriccio Espagnol . The latter terrific, colourful fun if a bit brash . The Manfred is absolutely thrilling from first bar to last. Magnificent .

It's a great performance ! We can look forward to Manfred again at the Proms next Thursday with Xian Zhang conducting the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi,
now there's a name to conjure with !
The first half has an old time look, a selection of Verdi arias and preludes with Joseph Calleja, and the late Prom has Imogen Cooper and Paul Lewis playing Schubert,
what more could we wish ?

[Tony Halstead]

[QUOTE]Capriccio Espagnol . The latter terrific, colourful fun if a bit brash . /QUOTE]
I didn't know that Silvestri had recorded the Capriccio Espagnol... certainly he did the Tchaik Capriccio Italien - I know for sure, as it was the first ever 'commercial' recording that I ever took part in , in 1966.

[Nick Armstrong]

I didn't know that Silvestri had recorded the Capriccio Espagnol... certainly he did the Tchaik Capriccio Italien - I know for sure, as it was the first ever 'commercial' recording that I ever took part in , in 1966.

See disc 4 of this newish set :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Icon-Constantin-Silvestri/dp/B00BEE0VKK/ref=dm_cd_album_lnk_alt

Stunning value, at a whisker over a quid a disc to download, still less than 2 quid a pop for the silver discs.... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Constantin-S.../dp/B00ACHXHII !!

You're on there too

[Tony Halstead]

Thanks Caliban!
I just ordered it...
Cds not mp3s, free delivery too!

[Nick Armstrong]

Thanks Caliban!
I just ordered it...
Cds not mp3s, free delivery too!

Sorry I made it a more expensive Saturday than expected!



I learnt about it when they played the Dvorak Carnival Overture on R3, and I thought CS's performance galvanised that old warhorse - my impulse purchase was a little more restrained - I just downloaded that track for 89p !

[Barbirollians]

Finally , got a chance to listen to another disc from this box tonight . A visceral Night on the Bare Mountain and then an immensely characterful technicolor Scheherazade - enormous fun and a tonic to jaded ears .

[Barbirollians]

Another disc played yesterday - a performance of the New World that, although perhaps not the most Czech in feeling, is incredibly exciting in Paris in 1959 a real edge of your seat performance . He made some terrific records with he French national radio orchestra. This and the Manfred are both superb .

The coupling of the Eighth with the LPO seemed a little bit of a let down afterwards but I had recently played the magnificent Barbirolli record and after this New World anything might seem a bit muted .

[visualnickmos]

It's a fabulous New World - and the Manfred too.....

All in all, an excellent box set - I still haven't listened to the whole lot, but all my dips into it so far have been superb. Some quite idiosyncratic recordings in places but that's not a grumble; all part of the package.

[Barbirollians]

Actually , I think I was unfair to the Eighth listened to alone it is a splendid and exciting performance .The Seventh is very good too and a properly exuberant Carnival Overture.

On the mono New World disc, which although good hasn't quite the rush of the stereo account - there is an outstanding performance of the Sorceror's Apprentice which had my son acting out being a broom coming to life with a great deal of fervour.

[Barbirollians]

Now I have returned to the Tchaikovsky symphonies . I knew these as they reappeared on a cheap Disky or Royal Classics set . I am not sure whether they have been freshly remastered or whether it is just because I have a better stereo ! but they sound clearer in these manifestations.

Leaving aside the acute and unnecessary annoyance in a fifteen disc set of splitting No 5 over two sides - they strike me as quite wonderful despite the approachSilvestri seems to take when given con licenza . The Pathetique is outstanding - and once again I am struck with wonder at the sound of the mid 1950s Philharmonia especially as ever the woodwind playing and Dennis Brain in the slow movement of the Fifth.

[Barbirollians]

Only one or two CDs left to play and I have been enjoying the CD of Stravinsky's Symphony in Three Movements, Bartok's Divertimento and Hindemith's Mathis der Maler this evening.

Once again with the vintage Philharmonia from 1958 - the Stravinsky is a little less spiky than some , the Divertimento was a delight and I am finding this Mathis der maker exceptional . I have always struggled with Hindemith's music but this is gripping.

As a box of 15 CDs it is an extraordinary bargain. Every CD I play seems to make it more so .