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SONNET CLV

I'd been down in the listenin' room for so long (all those big box sets to get through) that I didn't know anything was going on until I came up for some air and was told to go back down into the listenin' room till the air cleared again. Could be a while. But there's all those big box sets. I guess...

SONNET CLV

I'd been down in the listenin' room for so long (all those big box sets to get through) that I didn't know anything was going on until I came up for some air and was told to go back down into the listenin' room till the air cleared again. Could be a while. But there's all those big box sets. I guess...

SONNET CLV

I'm old enough to have LPs of Dvorak's Fifth Symphony which is actually the Ninth Symphony. Don't sell us old-timers short, but … if an orchestra were to advertise a performance of the Dvorak Fifth, perhaps a few folks will show up expecting to hear the "From the New World". Not me, of course, but p...

SONNET CLV

"Knussen was born in Glasgow and grew up near London. He began composing at the age of six and wrote his first symphony at the age of 15. He went on to conduct its premiere with the London Symphony Orchestra, where his father was principal double bass." I recall listening to an American NPR broadcas...

SONNET CLV

The next time I listen to the Bach B Minor Mass, if it finishes early and there's some time left, I'll put on the Bernstein Mass and give it a listen, to see what all this hubbub is about. I've had a copy of this in my disc collection for years and never opened it. I guess I've been too busy listeni...

SONNET CLV

Intriguing post, all round.
This will give me a new appreciation of my Adele records. Love the way she howls those vowels.

SONNET CLV

Upon hearing of Maestro Skrowaczewski's death, I went to my music shelves to find something by the man. Quite accidentally I noticed I had the large 28CD box set from OEHMS, unopened. I had forgotten I'd purchased this some months earlier. And so it was the perfect tribute for the conductor/composer...

SONNET CLV

Megaboxes. I did pick up both of the Bernstein SONY boxes, and have been seriously eyeing the DG box sets ... which I haven't leaped into yet.... Forgive me, but I would advise you against the Bernstein DGG box: the musical quality is not at all what he was able to accomplish in NY, with a few exce...

SONNET CLV

Why do we like sad music?
Sadly, I don't know. Except to say, maybe it makes us ... happy?

SONNET CLV

For some reason, these two symphonies (of Kalinnikov) rank among the first symphonies I had opportunity to hear many years ago. The two Melodiya Angel LPs with Kondrashin/Moscow in No. 1 and Svetlanov/U.S.S.R. SO in No. 2 (both covers feature horses! -- Is that why I bought the albums?) have been in...

SONNET CLV

I certainly notice a lot of "white hair" at the Pittsburgh Symphony concerts, but the PSO concerts are not exactly avant-garde contemporary either. But the concert hall is generally filled to capacity, and the Sunday afternoon concerts seem to have more of a family type crowd. Still, if Sleater-Kinn...

SONNET CLV

Megaboxes. Which explain why space in my listening room is now coffin sized. Still ... I've been told that my body will shrink more and more so as I age, so .... There should be room to keep adding. I did pick up both of the Bernstein SONY boxes, and have been seriously eyeing the DG box sets ... wh...

SONNET CLV

Interesting read, the above referenced article. I will offer this: We are stuck with never knowing how the great keyboard artists performed their own music. We are left with the fact that the music itself generally suggests its range of correct interpretation, and with the much more worrisome fact t...

SONNET CLV

Though I've cut down considerably in purchasing CDs (I have too many purchased in the past that I have not yet listened to as well as quite a few unheard in the big box sets I've bought -- including several entire big box sets I have not yet even opened!), I still do buy select discs, especially tho...

SONNET CLV

Recently received Windows 10 from Microsoft. It's sitting on my computer unused because I read somewhere that it doesn't come with a media player for CDs, only for DVDs. I listen to CDs while I'm on the computer, so Windows 10, by definition, is so far useless to me. Has anyone out there solved thi...

SONNET CLV

Interesting post. Interesting opera!

I can already anticipate that riots will break out following the premier. And well they should!

SONNET CLV

One of my favorite 20th century symphonies (works! -- Heck, take out "20th century"!) is Gunther Schuller's Symphony 1965 , which I first heard on a Turnabout LP as performed by Donald Johanos conducting the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. A "Programme Note" by the Composer here: http://www.musicsalescla...

SONNET CLV

This is the set that features the haunting portrait photographs by Steve McCurry as cover photos for each of the discs. The original price of the set is well worth it for those photos alone ... and you get Bach's glorious music as a side benefit. And -- if the price has dropped! You've got two great...

SONNET CLV

Ordered mine. Looks like a good deal.
I've been immersing myself in 21st century music (from some recent releases I acquired) in recent weeks, so it will be good to get back to "the roots", so to speak.

SONNET CLV

I don't know if I'm an "advanced listener" or not (I'm certainly not an advanced music scholar or musician), but I landed 15 of 20, though I'm most embarrassed to admit I erred on the first item, which is unconscionable and should have me disbarred from the Pachelbel Canon International Fan Club. (T...

SONNET CLV

I've had that Minkowski ARCHIV disc in my collection since its initial release, at least 10 years now I think. It is indeed a finely recorded and interesting collection of Rameau "tunes". (I'm playing it right now.) It reminds me that I picked up this disc when I was preparing a musical version of m...

SONNET CLV

Thanks for posting that. Interesting.

SONNET CLV

Isn't there a fellow named Gesualdo who sports a rather intriguing biography?

SONNET CLV

Of course, it depends upon the piece -- and a lot of other dynamics. Such as ... whether it is a piece new to me, or an old favorite on an old and familiar recording or an old favorite in a new and previously unheard interpretation .... Genre matters. I tend to approach a symphony with a different e...

SONNET CLV

My God! How did I miss that Roberto Carlos record? What's the title? Canta para a juventude? Gotta get over to Discogs, fast.

PS -- I do think Zero Freitas could do with a better turntable rig than the one shown in the video.

SONNET CLV

I just tried to say that word, John ... (several times in a row). First I broke it up as MIX-EN_SIX-EN-STIX-EN-DI-SIX, but it seemed easier to say it as follows. MIXEN-SIXEN-STIXEN-DISIX. But ... aint there an "R" in that there Frenchy word? Mxnxst r xndxsx Mixen-exst r ixen-dix-six Heck. I'm still...

SONNET CLV

What? Heifetz is God's fiddler? I always thought God's fiddler was that boy Johnny in the Charlie Daniels Band's song "The Devil Went Down To Georgia". The Devil went down to Georgia. He was lookin' for a soul to steal. He was in a bind 'cause he was way behind. He was willing to make a deal When he...

SONNET CLV

I received the set, which I ordered on the strength of the box claiming to be "complete". I have a bit of the "standard classics" of Scriabin in my collection, and a couple versions of the piano sonatas which I tend to enjoy, but there seems to be music here worth exploring further, if only on days ...

SONNET CLV

Whatever her politics, perhaps Valentina Lisitsa deserves a more flattering photo than the one posted at the start of this thread.

SONNET CLV

While we're on the topic of Lefthanders, perhaps we can have a hardy (or is it a "rowdy") Bronx Cheer for Charles Ives's Study No. 21 subtitled "Some Southpaw Pitching" (c1918-19). For those of you who don't have time for a full Shchedrin opera, know that the Ives is rather brief. https://youtu.be/x...

SONNET CLV

Raymond Deane does some fine work. Well worth a listen to on a day like March 17th ... or any other day for that matter!

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Sad news. http://i2.liverpoolecho.co.uk/incoming/article8642884.ece/alternates/s615b/JS56792149.jpg McCabe's Haydn sonatas have proved a worthy addition to my Haydn collection since it was reissued in a box format sometime in the mid '90s. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BMeoZavlL.jpg A pers...

SONNET CLV

Eleanor Sokoloff is 100 years old and still teaching at the Curtis Institute!!!!! Her list of students in Philadelphia is profound. It seems everyone except Ben Franklin studied with her. And because of her age, it's almost believable that Ben might have. I hope to hear she's still at Curtis when s...

SONNET CLV

The program? BACH: No.2 in D minor for solo violin, BWV: 1004 DEBUSSY: Sonata in G minor PROKOFIEV: Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 80 Jill Levy, Violin Margaret Kampmeier, Piano $15 students; $18 seniors; $20 adults That looks like a great program to have heard. Sorry you missed it. One question: I s...

SONNET CLV

Got mine. It makes a great companion to the Symphony Box.
Now, as long I can squeeze in enough time to hear all this stuff.

SONNET CLV

GENEVA — The Israeli conductor Israel Yinon collapsed during a youth concert at a Swiss university on Thursday evening and died, a member of the university staff reported. Mr. Yinon, 59, was conducting the Junge Philharmonie Zentralschweiz orchestra in a performance of “An Alpine Symphony” by Richa...

SONNET CLV

I have enjoyed Beethoven for well over a century. I have also often broken my vows over Beethoven. How many times have I sworn never to buy another "Complete Set of Symphonies" by the guy. Yet, this morning's mail delivered to me my umpteenth set, purchased from Berkshire: the COL LEGNO recordings o...

SONNET CLV

I opened this thread in shock thinking this was a post about the James Brown song "Please, Please, Please". Alas, it was about the Forum slipping even lower than I expected.

SONNET CLV

I, too, just received my copy of this mega-box, and I started with Disc 1, the Haydn "Surprise" Symphony conducted by Monteux. What immediately struck me was the quality of this 1959 stereo recording. Beautiful, full sound. What I pondered afterwards was this particular conductor doing Haydn. I know...

SONNET CLV

And just when I decided to exert more discipline to my CD purchasing ... these big boxes come along. Alas. I must admit that a week or so ago I picked up the Wagner set, which seemed a "steal" of a price. I have Bernstein's big Symphony box, so this new Bernstein set would prove a great companion. W...

SONNET CLV

I never tire of this quartet. In fact, it's probably the string quartet to which I've listened to more times than any other work in the form. A "desert island" piece for me, certainly.

SONNET CLV

Re: Speaking of boy sopranos

jbuck919 wrote:I don't wish to appear to be obsessed by this topic ...

Obsessions with boy sopranos have landed folks in jail. Be careful out there.

SONNET CLV

Yes. On occasion. But then, nearly everything I do anymore is "on occasion". My old Jeep is still set up to play cassettes, and I carry a shoe box full in the vehicle. Can't always find a classical or jazz station. It seems that Christian broadcasting, right wing ranting, and country music prolifera...

SONNET CLV

If my family ever needs proof of my insanity in an effort to have me committed, they can offer my collection of 50 recordings of Vier letzte lieder as Exhibit A. Don't ask about why I have this obsession; I don't understand it myself, but I certainly enjoy it. Here goes: Auger - Previn - Telarc et ...

SONNET CLV

Upon reading this thread, I spent part of my Saturday evening listening session with Enescu and Bach (Sonata No. 1) on the Classica D'Oro CDO 2014.

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Not many Texas musicians like Van Cliburn any more. They tend towards redneck music rather than longhair music nowadays. Alas ....

SONNET CLV

Great information. Both Otello vids opened for me, but the "linked" one took over my Forum page; I should have opened it in a new window. (Is there a way to command this? -- to open in a separate window?) The embedded video, of course, opened right there. I like that. However, try as I might, I coul...

SONNET CLV

Massenet remains a composer of whose music I have much left to discover, but I did a while back purchase the Decca Massenet Edition Box set (23 discs including the major operas, songs, and orchestral works), and I have not been disappointed those times I've dipped into the man's music. Massenet surp...

SONNET CLV

I just finished listening to one of Brüggen's recordings, and enjoyed it immensely. The man may no longer be with us, but his work, thankfully, survives. That's both sad and inspiring, I suppose.

SONNET CLV

By "new" music, I'd think most people would mean music composed much more recently than 1920! That's nearly a century ago. At least since we were born, then, whenever that was. In my case, "Peter Grimes" was premiered very early in my life and that could serve as a dividing line, though personally ...

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