New releases

[LHC]

Re the Haitink set. All outlets I've checked are now agreed on March 10 so...

I've never known so many postponements of a release date before (eight, I think) and it's been incredibly frustrating. Presto had the best price I could find and a small voucher decreased it a bit more. I ordered it in October and Presto took the money then so when it finally arrives it will feel like I've had it for nothing.

With the Abbado set coming out so closely I'm rather glad that Presto did take the money as it helps the cash flow.

I received an email today from Presto confirming that (at long last) the Haitink box has been packaged and will be dispatched tomorrow!

[Petrushka]

I received an email today from Presto confirming that (at long last) the Haitink box has been packaged and will be dispatched tomorrow!

Not had an e-mail from Presto yet but hopefully soon. I ordered mine on October 28 and I'll let out a loud Hallelujah when it finally arrives.

[pastoralguy]

.

Robert Levin and the AAM 'resume' their survey of the Mozart piano concertos. After a twenty year gap ...

https://aam.co.uk/product/mozart-pia...s-levin-vol-9/

"This release marks the renewal of a landmark project begun in 1993 on the Decca label to record Mozart’s entire works for keyboard. It will be followed by the four final albums of the series later in 2023 and 2024"

.

I picked up their cd of Mozart’s piano concertos 5, 14 & 16 today in Glasgow for a single pound today. On my pile to listen to tonite.

[jayne lee wilson]

Skalkottians rejoice!



Skalkottas: Two Concertos
George Zacharias, Alexandros Koustas, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Martyn Brabbins

• Released on 03/03/2023 by BIS
• SACD//24/96

[Mandryka]

The Ébène quartet Mozart quintets is out - a couple of quintets. Listened last night but wasn’t in the mood.

Bobby Mitchell has released a Naxos CD of piano pieces by Rzewski. I haven’t heard it yet but the performances of his on YouTube are rather good I think.

[Jonathan]

Heartened to discover that the ongoing Naxos Liszt series is continuing with another CD by the phenomenally talented pianist Goran Filipec - this time playing Schubert transcriptions (not sure which ones, that information wasn't yet available). Hopefully it will be out soon!

[Pulcinella]

...
I felt a bit similarly about the Isabelle Faust Stravinsky Violin Concerto. I'm sure I've never heard a better recording of this piece, which isn't as well known as I think it ought to be.. Also, it's nice to have another recording of the Three Pieces for string quartet and the other little pieces on the CD. But one movement from Apollo to open the programme? Especially when the whole disc is only 44 minutes long - why not the whole ballet?

Edward Seckerson in April's Gramophone would agree.
The opening sentence in his review is:
So this is the Stravinsky Violin Concerto I have so often seen on the page but rarely heard in performance.

I wish I could wholeheartedly agree, but I have one minor niggle.
The solo trumpet in the first movement (figure 21 in the score) sounds to me more like it's escaped from Scènes de ballet (The Pas de deux) than playing with the bright clean detached sound I crave. The passage is admittedly marked cant. espress., but these few bars just don't sound right to me.

[silvestrione]

Heartened to discover that the ongoing Naxos Liszt series is continuing with another CD by the phenomenally talented pianist Goran Filipec - this time playing Schubert transcriptions (not sure which ones, that information wasn't yet available). Hopefully it will be out soon!

Tracks listed here now: https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=8.574095

[RichardB]

The solo trumpet in the first movement (figure 21 in the score) sounds to me more like it's escaped from Scènes de ballet (The Pas de deux) than playing with the bright clean detached sound I crave. The passage is admittedly marked cant. espress., but these few bars just don't sound right to me.

I know how these little details can cast a shadow over a whole recorded performance! - although this particular moment as performed doesn't disturb me, I think it adds a different perspective on the music.

[Jonathan]

Tracks listed here now: https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=8.574095

Many thanks for that!

[Bryn]

I'd suggest using the Co-Ax output from the player into a box like that below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Converter-EKLEVOR-Aluminum-Digital-Support/dp/B08M9L7J3L/ref=sr_1_9?adgrpid=51279331097&gclid=Cj0KCQiAveebBhD_ARIsAFaAvrFHijbdvw3LQakN5s1d6EnAm-kKcT-r-1RjYFPcIX8tEeBM5StEhlwaAtohEALw_wcB&hvadid=259100076208&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9046984&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=2366743662331309819&hvtargid=kwd-308961850698&hydadcr=28180_1821132&keywords=coaxial+to+rca+converter&qid=1668978093&sr=8-9

and then straightforward RCA interconnects (L/R) from this kind of converter into the back of your amp. I rather regret this kind of lash-up (which I use between my laptop and the pre-amp) but, as connectivity becomes ever more out of synch as we all get older, it's difficult to avoid. Anyway, it works for me.

I have no direct experience of this but an alterative approach might be this sort of HDMI to analogue converter: https://www.amazon.co.uk/BSWL-Conver...s%2C251&sr=8-4

[Bryn]

. . . I felt a bit similarly about the Isabelle Faust Stravinsky Violin Concerto. I'm sure I've never heard a better recording of this piece, which isn't as well known as I think it ought to be.. Also, it's nice to have another recording of the Three Pieces for string quartet and the other little pieces on the CD. But one movement from Apollo to open the programme? Especially when the whole disc is only 44 minutes long - why not the whole ballet?

Streamed, the paucity of duration of the CD version becomes irrelevant.

[MickyD]

This is due out soon and promises to be thrilling stuff - extracts from Telemann orchestral suites with an Eastern European flavour as well as traditional dances from old manuscripts. A cymbalum is also in the mix of the players.

[vinteuil]

.

... the final instalment of the London Haydn Quartet's magnificent traversal -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BS456YT6

but cheaper from presto -

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9436376--haydn-string-quartets-op-42-77-seven-last-words

available 7 April

.

[MickyD]

Thanks for that, Vints... great to know the series has finally been completed!