What CD, book, DVD etc are you waiting for?

[Conchis]

Just ordered a s/h copy of the Ashkenazy/Previn Prokofiev Piano Concertos from the Air Ambulance Service, via Amazon. I already have 3 and 5 on a separate disc, which includes the Overture on Hebrew Themes and Autumn as extras - these aren't included on the double-CD set.

[HighlandDougie]

Other than the fact that I really like most of the performances in this earlier Abbado Mahler cycle (and almost wore out the LPs of the 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th), I'm not wholly sure where my obsessive desire to get hold of:

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Mahler-1860-1911_000000000019272/item_Complete-Symphonies-No-1-No-10-Adagio-Claudio-Abbado-Chicago-Symphony-Orchestra-Vienna-Philharmonic-Berlin-Philharmonic-14CD_5760429

has come from but, ever since reading some comments that these remastered recordings from Universal Korea were a great improvement over the original CD issues, I've been trying to get hold of this set. There was an earlier CD box where the symphonies were a bit crammed onto discs, à la the Sinopoli set, and which received some rude comments about the sound being at a fairly low level, requiring cranking up the volume. This Korean issue increases the number of CDs by two so (mostly) seems to avoid the cramming issue.

I thought that I was doomed to complete failure as it was shown as "no longer available" on a Korean website and I could not get Tower Records Japan (which claimed to be able to get hold of it with some delay) to make the link with Buyee. I then found it on HMV Japan on Sunday (it wasn't there before) and ordered it, with a supposed two month wait so I thought that it would be yet another, "sorry but it's not available". So, I was surprised and delighted to receive an e-mail earlier to say that it was on its way. Despatched via the dreaded EMS so I'll have to stump up French import duty, TVA and Chronopost's rip-off "handling fee" but I'm much looking forward to finally getting my hands on it.

In the postbox when I got back from HK yesterday. And no customs/TVA to pay (ditto with a delivery from CD Japan) - yay! The CDs are in little gatefold sleeves, each with an inner liner as if it were an LP. Good booklet, with a note from the obsessive Korean Abbado fan who was behind the issue. Well remastered, at least what I've heard so far. OK, not a bargain but £7.50 per CD isn't too bad.

[Beef Oven!]

Beefy the butch Brucknerian...
Did anyone ever tell you - you have a striking resemblance to.....

My Weitblick/Rogner/Live Bruckner (4-9) got here from Japan.. http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Bruck...eo-6CD_5703055. after days in customs, VAT and Parcelforce charges, a cab ride to the local post office....

I don't feel like playing it anymore now....

Its's really deflating when you get that card saying you gotta pay duty and rip-off parcel force charges. Takes the shine off it, know how you feel.

Give it a couple of days, banish the thoughts and play the discs. What would Bruckner have wanted?

[Stanley Stewart]

A welcome recent birthday CD selfie arrived this morning; Debussy, Images, Jeux & La plus que lente, San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas, who also contributes a four-page spread to the 36 page booklet. "...The titles of his pieces suggesting water, reflections, or clouds become launching points for his courageous explorations of the turnings of sensation and emotion within the human spirit..." Now scheduled for late evening listening after I revisit Debussy Remembered, Roger Nichols, (faber & faber, 1992)

[Bryn]

No longer waiting but delivered today, an embarrassment of riches:

Frans Brüggen - "The Mozart Recordings" (Glossa). [Surprised to see no mention of the completion authorship of the Requiem. It turns out to be the Süssmayr .]

Jaap van Zweden - Bruckner Symphonies 1-9 (Challenge Classics SACDs) These use Nowak editions, mostly second versions where they are available (Not the 1st though).

Andrew Parrott - Bach Mass in b minor (Virgin)

[only just noticed on the doormat, Various performers -Gavin Bryars "Hommages" CD (LTM)]

[Bryn]

I have all bar the Op.18s on CD, but this forthcoming box's content has been newly re-mastered and includes a DVD of Op. 59/1, Haydn's The Bird and Schubert's Death and the Maiden. There is also a Blu-ray of all the Beethovens in 48/24.

[teamsaint]

I' m thinking of saving up my cash for a little while, and going for the Bernstein DG Collections, maybe starting with Vol 2.

Do people have any thoughts on these, , apart from the daft LP sized box that I think they have ?

So I'm off topic really.....

[pastoralguy]

I' m thinking of saving up my cash for a little while, and going for the Bernstein DG Collections, maybe starting with Vol 2.

Do people have any thoughts on these, , apart from the daft LP sized box that I think they have ?

So I'm off topic really.....

Iirc, some of these recordings are from the later stages of Bernstein's career by which time he was tending towards slow tempi. I think a few are for Bernstein lovers only.

[cloughie]

I' m thinking of saving up my cash for a little while, and going for the Bernstein DG Collections, maybe starting with Vol 2.

Do people have any thoughts on these, , apart from the daft LP sized box that I think they have ?

So I'm off topic really.....

Looks a good one to go for. Excellent Mahler and a good range of other composers, and early gems from his Stadium SO recordings from the 50s. I have a number of these recordings in earlier boxes and individual discs.

[teamsaint]

Looks a good one to go for. Excellent Mahler and a good range of other composers, and early gems from his Stadium SO recordings from the 50s. I have a number of these recordings in earlier boxes and individual discs.

Yep, the Mahler in there is certainly a big part of the temptation ........

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Looks a good one to go for. Excellent Mahler and a good range of other composers, and early gems from his Stadium SO recordings from the 50s. I have a number of these recordings in earlier boxes and individual discs.

Are these in the DG boxes, cloughie? (I thought they were in the SONY/BMG/Wha'evva collections.)

[pastoralguy]

I'm looking forward to the new recording of the 'Goldberg' variations from Beartrice Rana which is released on Friday.

[Stanfordian]

Just arrived today on a pair of Blu-ray discs is Wagner's 'Meistersinger' in Stefan Herheim's production filmed live at 2013 Salzburg Festival conducted by Daniele Gatti with Michael Volle as Hans Sachs. This Herheim staging came highly recommended so I'm really looking forward to playing it this weekend.

[makropulos]

Are these in the DG boxes, cloughie? (I thought they were in the SONY/BMG/Wha'evva collections.)

They're in both. The earlier Sony ones are in the Sony box and the later DG ones in Vol 2 of the DG Bernstein Collection. (There's yet another Bernstein Mahler cycle made for video that's on DG DVDs - not in the DG Collection boxes). Other reasons to try Vol. 2: some terrific Mozart, Schubert and Schumann as well as the Chicago Shostakovich 1/7, glorious Sibelius (especially 1 and 5), some controversial Tchaikovsky, the Munich Tristan and so on (and on). I think it's terrific, though I should declare an interest as I wrote one of the booklet notes included in the set (and another for Vol. 1 - but if I were contemplating just one box, I'd go for Vol. 2).

[makropulos]

Just arrived today: Nelsons/BRSO Dvorak, Symphony No. 9 (very good - but not the reason I bought the disc) – and the reason I bought the disc: the Hero's Song Op. 111 which is really stunning here. It's a thrilling vindication of a work that still gets sniffy comments (not least in the Gramophone review of this very record when it came out). It's nice to wonder what the world premiere under Mahler sounded like, but back in the real world I cannot imagine it being done better than it is by Nelsons and the Bavarian Radio SO, in wonderfully clear, rich sound on BR Klassik 900116. I think it's vastly superior to most of the other versions I have (Klima, Gregor, Wit, Järvi) - far more intense, with every moment relished to the full.