New releases

[RichardB]

Excellent! Do let us know what you think of it.

I wasn't so taken with it at first "glance", but I will give it another try when I have the time.

[Petrushka]

Who's going to have deep enough pockets for this one?

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9414403--claudio-abbado-the-complete-recordings-on-deutsche-grammophon-decca

[Pulcinella]

Who's going to have deep enough pockets for this one?

https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...ammophon-decca

Curiously, the box doesn't look that big!

[Petrushka]

Curiously, the box doesn't look that big!

I thought that as well! At around £3 a disc it's pretty good value even taking into account likely duplications. There aren't as many of those as I'd thought in my case, though still a good number.

[gurnemanz]

Who's going to have deep enough pockets for this one?

https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...ammophon-decca

Apart from the pockets, life expectancy would be a factor in my case.

[Parry1912]

I still haven’t quite finished the Karajan box

[pastoralguy]

I still haven’t quite finished the Karajan box

Just the one?

[pastoralguy]

I thought that as well! At around £3 a disc it's pretty good value even taking into account likely duplications. There aren't as many of those as I'd thought in my case, though still a good number.

I was introduced to Mr. Abbado once but he spoke so quietly I couldn’t really hear what he said. I’ve always felt slightly ashamed that my reply was ‘Yes, I’d love to record the Beethoven violin concerto with you’ which caused him to look somewhat confused…

[HighlandDougie]

Curiously, the box doesn't look that big!

Hmm, don't know about that - it looks almost as big - and almost as unwieldy - as the HvK box. 2 rows of discs, possibly on both sides?? Not sure that I could do a Bryn and ruthlessly extract the CDs from the covetable big box and stuff them into something plastic and practical but ugly bought from Poundstretcher. I could be tempted even at the price (live on grass and dust for a month) but what would I do with the (many) Abbado DG/Decca discs I already have, both in boxes and as single CDs?

[Bryn]

Hmm, don't know about that - it looks almost as big - and almost as unwieldy - as the HvK box. 2 rows of discs, possibly on both sides?? Not sure that I could do a Bryn and ruthlessly extract the CDs from the covetable big box and stuff them into something plastic and practical but ugly bought from Poundstretcher. I could be tempted even at the price (live on grass and dust for a month) but what would I do with the (many) Abbado DG/Decca discs I already have, both in boxes and as single CDs?

Just to clarify, in general, I only rip my CDs of works taking more than one, such as operas, and some Mahler Symphonies, simply to make playback more convenient (fewer disc changes). Before the advent of USB inputs to various pieces of HiFi equipment, I would often burn the resulting files to an over-burn CD-R (or DVD-R using the now long-in-the-tooth "Audio DVD Creator"). Otherwise, I might occasionally rip a CD to listen to the content on a pocket device. These days, USB sticks, SD cards, portable hard drives or SSDs. However, the vast majority of music on such devices comes from downloads or personal recordings.

[cloughie]

I still haven’t quite finished the Karajan box

Nor have I, but if offered the Abbado box at the same price I succumbed to the Karajan box I would probably not resist - but as an Abbado buyer since SXL6270 I have more than a few duplications.

[Mandryka]

James Dillon Tanz Haus

https://www.delphianrecords.com/products/james-dillon-tanz-haus

[gurnemanz]

I've only just spotted the 20 CD BBC Legends Volume 3, issued last November. Having derived much pleasure from the previous two boxes, I have duly ordered.

Presto has details: https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...gends-volume-3

Amazon is a cheaper: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Keraulophone]

Nestling among this month's Editor's Choices in Gramophone is the final recording from Christopher Gray and Truro Cathedral Choir before he takes over at St John's College, Cambridge after Easter. With his predecessors now at St John the Divine, New York, Westminster Abbey and York Minster, it is clear that the music department of this cathedral, remote in the SW Approaches as it is, has enjoyed over thirty years of wonderful music-making within the liturgy, as well as occasional forays outside it.

'A powerful tribute both to Russell Pascoe’s work and to Christopher Gray’s leadership of Truro Cathedral’s music-making.' (Editor's Choice)

'There are 14 movements grouped into five stages of grief. From the stillness of Donne's 'No man is an island' through the Waltonesque, scurrying scherzo of Dylan Thomas's 'Do not go gentle', to the eloquence of 'The last rose of summer' and the elation of a transcendent life-affirming 'Accommodation', this is a major work, full of poignant radience. The emotional range is overwhelming at times. The recurring choral refrain, 'Peace my heart', lingers in the ear, while Catherine Wyn-Rogers brings some operatic heft to the brassy burlesque 'Cats and Cakes'. The rest of the album is of equally high standard... These are definitive performances from Truro Cathedral Choir and the BBC NOW, and a fine testament to the great achievements of Christopher Gray before his move to St John's College, Cambridge, later this year. This recording is an engineering triumph, too. Truro's warm and lofty acoustic has been perfectly captured by Gary Cole [and David Hinitt] and, aided by Jeremy Dibble's exemplary notes, this album should become an istant classic.' (Malcolm Riley, Gramophone, Jan 2023)



'The largest project ever undertaken by an English cathedral choir, the Choir of Truro Cathedral, under their director, Christopher Gray, joins with the full forces of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales to present the first recording of Cornish composer, Russell Pascoe’s monumental Secular Requiem.

This large-scale choral and orchestral work sets moving non-religious and philosophical texts by many authors from John Donne and Thomas Moore to Dylan Thomas and Walt Whitman, selected by Anthony Pinching who contributes the text to the final movement, Seasons. They cover the entire gamut of human emotions from death and desolation through hope and humour to consolation and peace.

Russell’s Pascoe’s imaginative and inventive score reveals a unique voice with a great melodic gift and an instinctive response to word-setting, together with a masterful command of orchestral sonorities. The work also includes two extensive vocal solos, sung by internationally-renowned artists, Catherine Wyn-Rogers and Julien Van Mellaerts.' (Gary Cole, Regent Records)

[cat]

I've never heard John Donne's Devotions described as "non-religious" before.