Bargains

[NLK1971]

Any Martinu lovers? This set is currently £12.07...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Symphonies-GRAMOPHONE-AWARD-WINNER/dp/B004Y9DFN2/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1350571475&sr=1-2

[amateur51]

Any Martinu lovers? This set is currently £12.07...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Symp...0571475&sr=1-2

The late Chris Newman was an enthusiastic advocate of this set - and this a bargain price without doubt Many thanks NLK1971

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The late Chris Newman was an enthusiastic advocate of this set

Yes; I was reminded of Chris when I saw this set - thoroughly recommended to Martinu lovers and to anyone new to the composer: this was the set that convinced me (after decades of failed attempts!) of the power, joy and radiance in these symphonies. Thanks for the nudge, NLK1971

[Parry1912]

I see that these are live recordings - is the applause retained?

[Petrushka]

The cheapest Ring I've ever seen here but what's the perceived wisdom on the Furtwangler and is this the same Keilberth that was re-released by Testament a few years ago. If so I've got that and it cost me an arm and a leg!

The clue is in the dates. The Keilberth Ring on Testament (for which I also paid an arm and a leg) is from 1955 so, no, it isn't this one. The Furtwangler Walkure from 1954 is most likely the EMI issue and very fine it is too.

Collectors are really going to have to be on their guard during the upcoming Wagner bi-centenary for issues that are not sufficiently clarifying their provenance. Watch for the dates of recording is my advice.

[Parry1912]

I see that these are live recordings - is the applause retained?

Anyone? am? fhg? NLK1971?

[Ferretfancy]

BBC MM cover disc

I've just received and sampled this Christmas offering of Messiaen's La Nativite di Seigneur played on the organ of La trinite Paris by Naji Hakim. The CD includes Hakim's Le Tombeau d'Olivier Messiaen.Hakim was Messiaen's successor at La Trinite.
I'm not a huge Messiaen enthusiast, and have only heard extracts from this work at a Prom a couple of years ago, but this should be a must for anyone who admires the music more than I do, and the recording is spectacularly good. It was made on 10th December 1998, the 90th Anniversary of the composer's birth, and is a real bargain.

[PJPJ]

I see that these are live recordings - is the applause retained?

Martinu Symphonies - no applause after any of the symphonies.

[amateur51]

Anyone? am? fhg? NLK1971?

My copy has literally just arrived & I've put on the first CD to check, Parry1912 - no applause at the end of either symphony

[hafod]

Any Martinu lovers? This set is currently £12.07...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Symp...0571475&sr=1-2

Thanks for this - a potential snip.

Being a Barbican live recording I looked for comments on the sound quality - as usual some divergence e.g.

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2011/Oct11/Martinu_symphonies_onyx4061.htm

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=594779

Plus of course the reviews on Amazon in the original link.

These two fail to mention sound quality so for them it is presumably neither an issue nor outstanding:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/martin%C5%AF-symphonies-nos-1-6

http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_cd_review.php?id=9411

Would anyone on these boards who has actually heard the set care to offer an opinion on sound quality please?

[gurnemanz]

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/martin%C5%AF-symphonies-nos-1-6

I have had the Neeme Järvi versions on Brilliant for a while now and found them to be excellent, but I don't have other recordings (and don't feel I need one) so cannot compare. In the above crit Mr Cowan refers to "Järvi and the Bamberg Symphony a credible budget option". "Credible" seems an odd choice of word to me and linked to "budget option" certainly amounts to faint praise. This acclaimed DDD set from 1987-8 licensed from BIS is certainly cheap but would be recommendable regardless of asking price.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0017HFRFI/musicwebuk

[Parry1912]

Thanks for answering my question - I've now ordered the set!

[PJPJ]

Thanks for this - a potential snip.

Being a Barbican live recording I looked for comments on the sound quality - as usual some divergence e.g.

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2011/Oct11/Martinu_symphonies_onyx4061.htm

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=594779

Plus of course the reviews on Amazon in the original link.

These two fail to mention sound quality so for them it is presumably neither an issue nor outstanding:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/martin%C5%AF-symphonies-nos-1-6

http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_cd_review.php?id=9411

Would anyone on these boards who has actually heard the set care to offer an opinion on sound quality please?

Yes, I find they sound surprisingly very good. As for performances, David Hurwitz sums it up very well for me [see archiv.com link].

[hafod]

I have had the Neeme Järvi versions on Brilliant for a while now and found them to be excellent, but I don't have other recordings (and don't feel I need one) so cannot compare. In the above crit Mr Cowan refers to "Järvi and the Bamberg Symphony a credible budget option". "Credible" seems an odd choice of word to me and linked to "budget option" certainly amounts to faint praise. This acclaimed DDD set from 1987-8 licensed from BIS is certainly cheap but would be recommendable regardless of asking price.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...RFI/musicwebuk

I quite agree about the Jarvi set which I bought when it was first licensed to Brilliant Classics. However, I am looking for other interpretive takes on this imaginative and under-rated composer prompted by a couple of old Supraphon LPs I have of Ancerl conducting symphonies 5 & 6 but in rather constrictive sound. The recording quality of the Jarvi adds so much to the enjoyment of this music so the reputation of the Barbican accoustic if manifest on this new Onyx set could make this a 'no' for me.

[hafod]

Yes, I find they sound surprisingly very good. As for performances, David Hurwitz sums it up very well for me [see archiv.com link].

Thank you PJPJ. I feel an order coming on.