BaL 9.09.23 - Building an essential library of great recordings

[Bryn]

Not everyone is a slave to fashion.
If no recordings were sold, there’d probably be very few made, so streaming would then rely on back catalogue only.

That rather depends upon the way in which steaming facilities are paid for. Since members of this Forum, like most of those interested in 'classical' music, are likely to be interested on audio quality, I will not consider the streaming of mp3s, here. I currently pay an annual fee of £129.99 to QOBUZ for unlimited streaming at data rates of up to 192kHz sampling and 24-bit quantization. For a further My understanding is that QOBUZ pays a more equitable rate to the providers of the streamed material than some of the other streaming providers. When it comes to downloading, Bandcamp have a very good reputation for the level of payment to those who sell their recordings via its service. Though not used by the major recording companies, smaller recording companies such as New World records in the USA, also sell both downloads and CDs via Bandcamp. There are musicians on this very forum who sell recordings of their work via Bandcamp. It would be interesting to hear their views on the subject. At least, with streaming providers, the owners of the copyright of the recordings they make available, are rewarded on the basis of how many tines their work is streamed, With the companies who specialise in CDs and Vinyl, the musicians are all too often paid a one-off fee, regardless of how many copies of their CDs or Vinyl discs are sold. Rather than seeing the move from physical products such as CDs to downloading and streaming as a "fashion" some are "slave" to. One might look at it as a case of those opposed to downloading and streaming being physical media fetishists.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Rather than seeing the move from physical products such as CDs to downloading and streaming as a "fashion" some are "slave" to. one might look at it as a case of those opposed to downloading and streaming being physical media fetishists.

Ouch!

I would suggest there's a difference between downloading and streaming in the distribution of royalties, etc. My concern is that the Big Boys in the streaming world are often the ones who pay out the lowest rates.

[richardfinegold]

Wasn't the discussion more about why you'd want to build a library these days with so many streaming options available rather than what might end up in your favourites list?

One could easily bring up dozens of options with a few strokes or swipes, but this show is useful as a guide to which versions one might choose to prioritize

[Mandryka]

I think streaming makes the experience of listening at home more like a concert experience -- you listen to a performance of something, and then you just move on to the next one. It's ephemeral. There isn't a thing sitting on the shelf demanding to be heard again -- a commodity there to be turned into a fetish. Personally I find this liberating and exciting.

[Bryn]

Ouch!

I would suggest there's a difference between downloading and streaming in the distribution of royalties, etc. My concern is that the Big Boys in the streaming world are often the ones who pay out the lowest rates.

That's one reason I avoid such providers, not that the "Big Boys" in the CD industry are always that much better, as in the case of a one-off fee with no further royalties paid. A good friend was caught by this and the recordings concerned have since been reissued in different formats and with different artwork, more than once, with no further payment.

[Darloboy]

It would be more interesting if they made a programme called "Building an Essential Library of Great Recordings that are never included in Building a Library". There's actually a lot of great music which never gets covered by the programme - for instance, all of Schubert's and Schumann's lieder which aren't in song-cycles, Mozart's and Verdi's less well-known operas etc...

[mikealdren]

It would be more interesting if they made a programme called "Building an Essential Library of Great Recordings that are never included in Building a Library". There's actually a lot of great music which never gets covered by the programme - for instance, all of Schubert's and Schumann's lieder which aren't in song-cycles, Mozart's and Verdi's less well-known operas etc...

And Ysaye's solo sonatas which have received so many marvellous recent recordings, most of which have been covered on RR. A comparison would be fascinating although I suspect the new version from Hilary Hahn would now make it a one horse race.

[Nick Armstrong]

It's only the presence of our own makropulos that might, just might, redeem this.

I see there has been silence here during and since broadcast!

Well, I’ve just listened to the first 45 minutes or so, and his contributions were certainly worth hearing, Joanna McGregor’s too.

It’s not a “Four Seasons / Nimrod / Lark Ascending” type operation… The emphasis is very much on discussing interesting recordings of a good and eclectic range of works, so far at least.

I’ll be listening to the whole thing.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I see there has been silence here during and since broadcast!

Well, I’ve just listened to the first 45 minutes or so, and his contributions were certainly worth hearing, Joanna McGregor’s too.

It’s not a “Four Seasons / Nimrod / Lark Ascending” type operation… The emphasis is very much on discussing interesting recordings of a good and eclectic range of works, so far at least.

I’ll be listening to the whole thing.

I listened to the whole thing and thought it excellent. I had heard or have copies of many of the recommendations so I guess I’m biased. When the Kempe Ariadne came up I almost punched the air in acknowledgement.

[Ssm]

Hello, is there a compressive list somewhere of recordings suggested this summer in the Building An Essential Library section? (Rather than having to scroll through all the. BAL episodes.)

Many thanks.

[gurnemanz]

It would be more interesting if they made a programme called "Building an Essential Library of Great Recordings that are never included in Building a Library".

Or in a similar vein .... they could do recommendable inessential recordings for those who have already built a fairly comprehensive library of great essentials.

Eg I've just acquired via Oxfam a 3 CD set of Hans Gál Complete Solo Piano Music played by Leon McCawley in Avie. Probably inessential and certainly recommendable.

[Cockney Sparrow]

The recordings selected yesterday are listed on the BBC Sounds page for the Programme. (It shows up as long as you don't press the "Listen Now" button. )

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001q712

[Pulcinella]

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  
  
  Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K.478
  
  Performer: Alfred Brendel. Performer: Thomas Zehetmair. Performer: Tabea Zimmermann. Performer: Richard Duven.
  • SCHUBERT: FORELLENQUINTETT / MOZART: PIANO QUARTET IN G MINOR.
  • DECCA MUSIC GROUP LTD..
  • 8.
• Igor Stravinsky
  
  
  The Rite of Spring, Pt. 1: The Adoration of the Earth: Games of the Rival Tribes
  
  Orchestra: Junge Deutsche Philharmonie. Conductor: Péter Eötvös.
  • EÖTVÖS CONDUCTS STRAVINSKY.
  • BMC RECORDS.
  • 5.
• Igor Stravinsky
  
  
  The Rite of Spring, Pt. 1: The Adoration of the Earth: Procession of the Wise El
  
  Orchestra: Junge Deutsche Philharmonie. Conductor: Péter Eötvös.
  • EÖTVÖS CONDUCTS STRAVINSKY.
  • BMC RECORDS.
  • 6.
• Igor Stravinsky
  
  
  The Rite of Spring, Pt. 1: The Adoration of the Earth: Adoration of the Earth
  
  Orchestra: Junge Deutsche Philharmonie. Conductor: Péter Eötvös.
  • EÖTVÖS CONDUCTS STRAVINSKY.
  • BMC RECORDS.
  • 7.
• Igor Stravinsky
  
  
  The Rite of Spring, Pt. 1: The Adoration of the Earth: Dance of the Earth
  
  Orchestra: Junge Deutsche Philharmonie. Conductor: Péter Eötvös.
  • EÖTVÖS CONDUCTS STRAVINSKY.
  • BMC RECORDS.
  • 8.
• Claude Debussy
  
  
  Ariettes oubliées, L. 63b: i) C'est l'extase langoureuse
  
  Performer: Michel Béroff. Singer: Barbara Hendricks.
  • DEBUSSY: MELODIES.
  • WARNER CLASSICS.
  • 1.
• Claude Debussy
  
  
  Ariettes oubliées, L. 63b: ii) Il pleure dans mon coeur
  
  Performer: Michel Béroff. Singer: Barbara Hendricks.
  • DEBUSSY: MELODIES.
  • WARNER CLASSICS.
  • 2.
• Edward Elgar
  
  
  Symphony No. 1 in a Flat Major, Op. 55 iv) Lento
  
  Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Adrian Boult.
  • ICA CLASSICS.
• John Dowland
  
  
  Lachrimae Antiquae
  
  Performer: Elizabeth Kenny. Ensemble: Phantasm.
  • LINN.
• Franz Schubert
  
  
  String Quartet No. 15 in G Major, Op. 161 i) Allegro molto moderat
  
  Ensemble: Juilliard String Quartet.
  • SCHUBERT: STRING QUARTET NO. 15 IN G MAJOR, OP. 161 ((REMASTERED)).
  • SONY CLASSICAL.
  • 1.
• Gustav Mahler
  
  
  Symphony No. 1 in D
  
  Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
  • MAHLER: THE SYMPHONIES.
  • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON (DG).
  • 3.
• Antonín Dvořák
  
  
  Piano Trio No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 90, B. 166 "Dumky": iv) Andante moderato - Alle
  
  Ensemble: Beaux Arts Trio.
  • DVOŘÁK: PIANO TRIO NO. 4 "DUMKY" - MENDELSSOHN: PIANO TRIO NO. 1.
  • WARNER CLASSICS INTERNATIONAL.
  • 8.
• Antonín Dvořák
  
  
  Piano Trio No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 90, B. 166 "Dumky": v) Allegro - Meno mosso
  
  Ensemble: Beaux Arts Trio.
  • DVOŘÁK: PIANO TRIO NO. 4 "DUMKY" - MENDELSSOHN: PIANO TRIO NO. 1.
  • WARNER CLASSICS INTERNATIONAL.
  • 9.
• Leos Janáček
  
  
  Glagolitic Mass iv) Credo
  
  Performer: Jan Hora. Singer: Elisabeth Söderströmová. Singer: Drahomira Drobkova. Singer: František Livora. Singer: Richard Novák. Choir: Pražský filharmonický sbor. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
  • SUPRAPHON.
• Johann Sebastian Bach
  
  
  Partita II in D Minor, BWV 1004: i) Allemanda
  
  Performer: James Ehnes.
  • J.S. BACH: THE SIX SONATAS & PARTITAS FOR SOLO VIOLIN (REMASTERED).
  • GROUPE ANALEKTA, INC.
  • 17.
• Ludwig van Beethoven
  
  
  Symphony no.3 in E flat major, Op.55 'Eroica' (4th mvt)
  
  Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
  • BEETHOVEN: SYMPHONIES NOS. 1 - 9.
  • WARNER CLASSICS INTERNATIONAL.
  • 8.
• Richard Strauss
  
  
  Ariadne auf Naxos, Op. 60, Opera: "Ein Schönes war, hieß Theseus-Ariadne" (Ariad
  
  Lyricist: Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Orchestra: Staatskapelle Dresden. Conductor: Rudolf Kempe.
  • R. STRAUSS: ARIADNE AUF NAXOS.
  • WARNER CLASSICS.
  • 4.
• Frédéric Chopin
  
  
  Mazurkas, Op. 56: Mazurka No. 35 in C Minor, Op. 56, No. 3
  
  Performer: Arthur Rubinstein.
  • CHOPIN: MAZURKAS (RUBINSTEIN) (1938-1939).
  • NAXOS.
  • 3.
• Jean Sibelius
  
  
  Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47 i) Allegro moderato
  
  Performer: Hilary Hahn. Conductor: Esa‐Pekka Salonen. Orchestra: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
  • SCHOENBERG: VIOLIN CONCERTO / SIBELIUS: VIOLIN CONCERTO OP.47.
  • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON (DG).
  • 4.
• Gustav Mahler
  
  
  Symphony no.5 in C sharp minor (4th mvt)
  
  Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.

[Pulcinella]

Copied and pasted: I tried to edit without much success!

[makropulos]

I listened to the whole thing and thought it excellent. I had heard or have copies of many of the recommendations so I guess I’m biased. When the Kempe Ariadne came up I almost punched the air in acknowledgement.

Thanks for sticking with the whole show – I didn't realise we were going to be at it for 2.5 hours, but it was very enjoyable to do. And yes, when I was first asked to pick five recordings months ago, the Kempe Ariadne was just about the first one I reached for. In spite of stiff competition (especially that late live Böhm performance on Orfeo), I still think Kempe's is in a class apart. Sad to see that it doesn't seem to be available at the moment except as a download.