What NEW discs/music are you adding to your collection?

Post by **Lance** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:49 am

I gave the whole disc a hearing tonight. I, too, love Herr Ries and it's high time some of his rarer material is coming around. I thought the Two-Horn Concerto was pretty fabulous along with the Violin Concerto. The horn is a tricky instrument—let alone two horns, simultaneously—and oftentimes in live concerts, we hear some really big "clams." But these horn players did a fine job. The opening movement was, particularly, interesting. It's a virtuoso work. The Violin Concerto ... it has its fine moments, too, but certainly doesn't compare with Ries's mentor, Beethoven. Nice to hear on occasion, nonetheless.

Chalkperson wrote:
Lance wrote:

Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838)
•Overture from "Die Räberbraut," Op. 156
•Concerto for Two Horns, WoO 19
•Overture from "Liska oder Die Hexe von Gyllensteen," Op. 164
•Violin Concerto, Op. 24
Teunis van der Zwart, horn
Erwin Wieringa, horn
Anton Steck, violin
Die Kölner Akademie
Michael Alexander Willens, conductor
(Recorded November-December 2007)
CPO, 777 353, 65:30, DDD
I found this to be a big disappointment, I like all the other Ries discs on CPO but this one was just average...

CharmNewton · Post by **CharmNewton** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 9:10 pm

J. S. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin
Uto Ughi, violin

RCA 09026-60971-2 (2 CDs)

Ughi isn't well known, but for a many years he was one of the finest violinists in the world and I believe he is still performing. These recordings are top tier, and as they are long OP on RCA (although they have been re-issued in Europe), I feel pretty lucky to have come across a copy. Ughi plays with a light and sweet sound, very different from a player like Gidon Kremer, for example. His intonation sounds perfect.

Ughi was a prodigy who also studied with Georges Enescu. Unlike Menuhin. Ughi has a very strong technical foundation.

John

Bösendorfer · Post by **Bösendorfer** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:25 am

Ken wrote:Could anyone help me jog my memory?

There's a music downloads website out there that has a sizeable Classical library; it allows registered users to either pay a small amount for each streaming listen to an album or to download the whole album for a fixed price. What is this service called, again?

I think I'd like to check it out, since there are plenty of discs that I'm curious about but I am not certain if they are solid buys or not. Shelling out a bit for each play would satisfy my desire to hear new music, save space in my CD cabinet, and probably cut down on long-term spending, too.

Since nobody else is answering...
I don't know since I don't use any such service, but from what I read here, maybe rhapsody?

Florian

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:03 am

^ Florian, thanks for the recommendation. I visited Rhapsody, but I'm not sure if it is the same site I remember. I seem to recall a vaster classical library at the website I was thinking about in my message; in fact, the website might've been devoted only to classical. Or perhaps my memory embellishes things!

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:10 pm

JSB Cantatas - Box No. 2 by Suzuki:

I have now heard enough to commit myself to the next box.

Bösendorfer · Post by **Bösendorfer** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:34 pm

Ken wrote:^ Florian, thanks for the recommendation. I visited Rhapsody, but I'm not sure if it is the same site I remember. I seem to recall a vaster classical library at the website I was thinking about in my message; in fact, the website might've been devoted only to classical. Or perhaps my memory embellishes things!

Let me know if you find out, Ken. It sounds like it could be useful!

Florian

Bösendorfer · Post by **Bösendorfer** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:36 pm

Fergus wrote:JSB Cantatas - Box No. 2 by Suzuki:

I have now heard enough to commit myself to the next box.

I'm glad you like it! I just ordered box 2 myself a few days ago (I only have volume 33 so far).

Florian

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:02 am

Lance wrote: Nice to hear on occasion, nonetheless.[/color]

Reis's scraps can be left untouched again, now, I think...

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:08 am

Bösendorfer wrote:
Ken wrote:^ Florian, thanks for the recommendation. I visited Rhapsody, but I'm not sure if it is the same site I remember. I seem to recall a vaster classical library at the website I was thinking about in my message; in fact, the website might've been devoted only to classical. Or perhaps my memory embellishes things!
Let me know if you find out, Ken. It sounds like it could be useful!

Florian

I think that I might have had the Classical Archives website in mind, though after another visit it didn't strike me as spectacular as I remembered.

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 3:33 pm

Bösendorfer wrote:
Fergus wrote:JSB Cantatas - Box No. 2 by Suzuki:

I have now heard enough to commit myself to the next box.
I'm glad you like it! I just ordered box 2 myself a few days ago (I only have volume 33 so far).

Florian

I also somehow doubt that I will be stopping at Box 2, Florian

nut-job · Post by **nut-job** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:51 pm

Fergus wrote:
Bösendorfer wrote:
Fergus wrote:JSB Cantatas - Box No. 2 by Suzuki:

I have now heard enough to commit myself to the next box.
I'm glad you like it! I just ordered box 2 myself a few days ago (I only have volume 33 so far).

Florian
I also somehow doubt that I will be stopping at Box 2, Florian

These editions were billed as 'limited editions.' I wonder how much time we have before they vanish?

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:18 pm

nut-job wrote:These editions were billed as 'limited editions.' I wonder how much time we have before they vanish?

The same thought crossed my mind: I am buying them from MDT in the UK and they always notify when offers are going to end and so far there is no indication of this yet.

nut-job · Post by **nut-job** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:28 pm

Fergus wrote:
nut-job wrote:These editions were billed as 'limited editions.' I wonder how much time we have before they vanish?
The same thought crossed my mind: I am buying them from MDT in the UK and they always notify when offers are going to end and so far there is no indication of this yet.

They don't notify when an item goes out of stock at the distributor, which is what will happen when the current production run is depleted. It is not clear how many BIS intends to make available.

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:35 pm

nut-job wrote:They don't notify when an item goes out of stock at the distributor, which is what will happen when the current production run is depleted....

That is very true indeed.

bombasticDarren · Post by **bombasticDarren** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:53 am

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 2:28 pm

bombasticDarren wrote:

I have that one as part of a two disc set and Pepe Romero's playing is really very good. The Fantasia para un gentilhombre is unfortunately often overlooked.

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 2:29 pm

Post by **Lance** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:47 pm

Opera Arias in English
Christine Brewer, soprano [Volume 2]
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Philharmonia Orchestra (Fidelio, The Sound of Music)
David Parry, conductor
Chandos 3159, 69:30, DDD

Arias from Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro; Gluck's Alceste, Wagner Tannhäuser and Lohengrin, Beethoven's Fidelio, Handel's Rodelinda, Menotti's The Consul, Korngold's The Dead City, Lehar's Land of Smiles, Rodger's The Sound of Music, and a gypsy song by Dvorak.

Following hard on the heels of Christine Brewer's first spectacular Opera Arias in English CD from Chandos [3127], comes Volume 2 from the smiley, big-voiced American soprano that captured my heart with her song "Mira" from Bob Merrill's Broadway show Carnival. Not everyone likes opera in English if it wasn't written that way to begin with, but when Brewer sings, it makes a decidely grand impression.

Post by **Lance** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:41 pm

I await a whole bunch of new stuff. I watch for the postman every day! It's become a disease, of sorts.

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:02 pm

Schumann – Symphonies 1 & 3 [Herreweghe]:

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:23 pm

Lance wrote:I await a whole bunch of new stuff. I watch for the postman every day! It's become a disease, of sorts.

The anticipation, the excitement, it's still there Lance, isn't it?

Post by **Lance** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:12 pm

Giuseppe Tartini
Five Concertos for Violin, Strings nad Basso Continuo
#1 in E, D68
#2 in G, D83
#3 in D, D30
#4 in A, D95
#5 in D, D24
André Gertler, violin
[Cadenzas by either Tartini or Gertler;
some cadenzas reworked by Gertler]
Zurich Chamber Orchestra
Edmondo de Stoutz, conductor
Hungaroton 31529, ADD,

Long an André Gertler fan, especially remembering well his wonderful recording on a Westminster LP of Grieg's Violin Sonata #3 - I was pleased to find this recording, originally issued in 1992. Gertler seems to have recorded more contemporary violin works than those of traditional classical composers so this was a nice find for me.

Post by **Lance** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:20 pm

Songs by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Szymanowski (piano solo)
-Chopin: 5 Songs
-Rachmaninoff: 5 songs
-Tchaikovsky: 3 songs
-Szymanowski: Masques, Op. 34 (for solo piano)
-Mussorgsky: Songs and Dances of Death
Ewa Podleś, contralto
Garrich Ohlssohn, piano
Wigmore Hall Live 0027, 78:47, DDD
Recorded Live, Wigmore Hall, London, January 23, 2008

I, of course, am well aware of the voice of Ewa Podleś, but it is always interesting for me to hear a fine concert pianist take on the role of an accompanist to a great singer. This is not new for Mr. Ohlsson; he's done it several times in the past as has pianist Ivan Davis.

Post by **Lance** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:28 pm

NICOLAI GEDDA, tenor (live)
Bach • Schubert • Fauré • Poulenc • Reutter • R. Strauss
•Bach: Arias from Cantatas Nos. 55 and 96
•Schubert: Lied des Florio; Der Schiffer; Du bist die Ruh; Wanderers Nachtlied; Die Allmacht
•Fauré: Nelll; Ici-bas
•Poulenc: Air grave from Air chantés; Air champêtre from Air chantes; A sa guitare; Voyage à Paris
•Reutter: Epitaph für einen Dichter
•R. Strauss: Liebeshymnus; Die Nacht; Freundliche Vision
Hermann Reutter, piano
Auréle Nicolet, flute

Recorded Live, Hannover NDR (Germany), March 19, 1964
Orfeo 508 011 B, Stereo, ADD

Post by **Lance** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:34 pm

MENDELSSOHN DISCOVERIES
•Symphony #3 in a, Op. 56 {"Scottish"} (London version, 1842, edited by Thomas Schmidt-Beste)
•Opening Sketch of "Scottish" Symphony (orchestrated by Christian Voss)
•Piano Concerto #3 in e (1842/44) (orchestrated/completed by Marcello Bufalini)*
•Overture "The Hebrides," Op. 26 {"Fingal's Dave"} (Rome, italy version, 1830, edited by Christopher Hogwood)
*Robert Prosseda, piano
Gewandhaus Orchestra, Leipzig
Ricardo Chailly, conductor
(Live Recordings)
Decca 478 1525, 69:41, DDD

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:18 pm

After deliberations with my Bach consultant, young Fergus, I bought this set:
Frans Brüggen's/Orchestra of the 18th Century rendition of the Matthäus Passion

I have been looking for this for several months now:

Maud Powell:

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 5:16 pm

Seán wrote:

Let us know how you get on with that one Seán.

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 5:23 pm

Fergus wrote:
Seán wrote:

Let us know how you get on with that one Seán.

I have listened to the first two CDs and I really like it.

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 5:27 pm

Quick work, my friend

MaestroDJS · Post by **MaestroDJS** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 5:33 pm

Some business travels for engineering projects last week helped me pillage and plunder CDs in some pretty cool 2nd-hand shops in Michigan and Illinois.

I. Encore Recordings, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 22 October 2009

Ernest Bloch (1880-1959), Switzerland / United States:

Violin Concerto; Baal Shem; Suite hebraïque. Zina Schiff, Violin. Royal Scottish National Orchestra / José Serebrier. Naxos 8.557757

Edward MacDowell (1860-1908), United States:

Piano Concerti: No. 1 in A Minor, No. 2 in D Minor. Witches' Dance. Romance for Cello and Orchestra. Stephen Prutsman, Piano; Aisling Drury Byrne, Cello. National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland / Arthur Fagen. Naxos 8.559049

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (1934- ), United Kingdom:

Ojai Festival Overture; Caroline Mathilde: Concert Suite from Act I of the Ballet; Threnody on a Plainsong for Michael Vyner; St. Thomas Wake. BBC Philharmonic / Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. Collins Classics 13082

Job. Valdine Anderson, Soprano; Linda Maguire, Mezzo-Soprano; Paul Moore, Tenor; Kevin McMillan, Baritone. Vancouver Bach Choir, CBC Vancouver Orchestra / Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. Collins Classics 15162

Piano Concerto. Kathryn Stott, Piano. Piccolo Concerto. Stewart McIlwham, Piccolo. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. Collins Classics 15202

Leo Ornstein (1893-2001), Ukraine / United States:

Complete Works for Cello and Piano. Six Preludes for Cello and Piano; Composition No. 1 for Cello and Piano; Sonata No. 1 for Cello and Piano. Two Pieces for Cello and Piano. Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano. Joshua Gordon, Cello; Randall Hodgkinson, Piano. New World Records 80655-2

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), France:

Orchestral Works. Boléro; Alborada del Gracioso; Rapsodie espagnole; La Valse; Ma Mère l'Oye; Pavane pour une infante défunte; Le Tombeau de Couperin; Valses nobles et sentimentales; Piano Concerto in G Major*; Menuet antique; Piano Concerto in D Major (Concerto pour la main gauche)*; Une barque sur l'océan; Daphnis et Chloé. *Pascal Rogé, Piano. Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal / Charles Dutoit. London 421 458-2 (4 CDs)

Wilhelm Stenhammar (1871-1927), Sweden:

Orchestral Music. Symphony No. 1 in F Major; Symphony No. 2 in G Minor; Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor; Piano Concerto No. 2 in D Minor; Serenade (including Reverenza movement); Lodolezzi Sings: suite; Midwinter; Florez och Blanzeflor: ballad for baritone and orchestra; Two Sentimental Romances for violin and orchestra; Excelsior! concert overture; Snöfrid; Peter Mattei, Baritone (Florez); Ulf Wallin, Violin (Romances); Love Derwinger, Piano (No. 1); Cristina Ortiz, Piano (No. 2); Ulrika Åhlén, Soprano, Gunvor Nilsson, Mezzo-Soprano, Gösta Zackrisson, Tenor; Per Enoksson,Violin; Gothenburg Concert Hall Choir / Ove Gotting (Snöfrid). Göteborgs Symfoniorkester / Neeme Järvi. Malmö Symphony Orchestra / Paavo Järvi. BIS-CD-714/716 (4 CDs)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), Russia:

Orchestral Suites: No. 1 in D Minor, No. 2 in C Major "Suite charactéristique", No. 3 in G Major, No. 4 in G Major "Mozartiana". Romeo and Juliet. Francesca da Rimini. Capriccio Italien. Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart (Suites); Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields / Neville Marriner. Phoenix Edition 412 (3 CDs)

Note: Yes, the dates for 19th-, 20th- and 21st-Century composer Leo Ornstein (1893-2001) are correct: he lived to be 107. His modernistic music was sensational in the early 20th Century. In recent years his son Severo has posted a vast amount of his music online, and here is a link to one of his more approachable works.

Leo Ornstein: Cello Sonata No. 2
Eric Wilson, Cello; Patricia Hoy, Piano
Part 1 -

Part 2 -

II. Priceless Books, Urbana, Illinois, 24 October 2009

William Alwyn (1905-1985), United Kingdom:

Symphonies No. 1 & 4. London Philharmonic Orchestra / William Alwyn. Lyrita 227

Ernest Bloch (1880-1959), Switzerland / United States:

America. Symphony of the Air / Leopold Stokowski. Vanguard Classics OVC 8014

Reinhold Glière (1875-1956), Russia / Soviet Union:

Symphony No. 3 in B Minor "Ilya Murometz". BBC Philharmonic / Edward Downes. Chandos 9041

Joseph Jongen (1873-1953), Belgium:

Symphonie concertante. Hubert Schoonbroodt, Organ; Orchestre Symphonique de Liège / Rene Defossez. Suite; Allegro appassionato. Thérèse-Marie Gilissen, Viola; Orchestre Symphonique de la R.T.B.F. / Brian Priestman. Koch Schwann CD 315 012 GI

Guillaume Lekeu (1870-1894), Belgium:

Andromède; Introduction aux "Burgraves". Dinah Bryant, Zeger Vandersteene, Philippe Huttenlocher, Jules Bastin; Chœur symphonique de Namur, Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège / Pierre Bartholomée. Ricercar RIS 099083

Nikolay Medtner (1880-1951), Russian / United Kingdom:

Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Minor; Piano Concerto No. 3 in E Minor, "Ballade". Konstantin Scherbakov, Piano; Moscow Symphony Orchestra / Vladimir Ziva. Naxos 8.553359

Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor. Konstantin Scherbakov, Piano; Moscow Symphony Orchestra / Igor Golovschin. Piano Quintet in C Major. Konstantin Scherbakov, Piano; Ewald Danel and Milan Tedla, Violins; Zuzana Bouřová,Viola; Jozef Podhoranský, Cello. Naxos 8.553390

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 7:16 pm

Seán wrote:Maud Powell:

You should check out Rachel Barton Pine's wonderful tribute album to Maud Powell if you have not already done so...

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/alb ... _id=169084

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 7:23 pm

Lance wrote:I, of course, am well aware of the voice of Ewa Podleś, but it is always interesting for me to hear a fine concert pianist take on the role of an accompanist to a great singer.

There is a another Recital on Dux of Garrick Ohlsson accompanying Ewa Podles, as I sit writing this I am listening to her latest recording, Opera Arias on Dux, conducted by Lukasz Borowicz...Dux is a great label BTW...

maestrob · Post by **maestrob** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:42 am

This is five-star Bruckner conducted by the fabulous Fabio Luisi (Staatskapelle Dresden). An outstanding disc in every respect.

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:03 pm

maestrob wrote:

This is five-star Bruckner conducted by the fabulous Fabio Luisi (Staatskapelle Dresden). An outstanding disc in every respect.

Interesting, I had read mixed reviews of his work, given your recommendation I shall give it a listen...

absinthe · Post by **absinthe** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:52 pm

.

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:54 pm

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:01 pm

Chalkperson wrote:
Seán wrote:Maud Powell:

You should check out Rachel Barton Pine's wonderful tribute album to Maud Powell if you have not already done so...

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/alb ... _id=169084

Thanks Chalkie, I will do that.

Post by **Lance** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:38 pm

The Long, Long Winter Night
Solo Piano Music of EdvardGrieg, Geirr Tveitt, David Monrad Johansen, Fartein Valen, and Harold Saeverud.

Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
EMI 72485, 68:10, DDD

Post by **Lance** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:44 pm

PIOTR ANDERSZEWSKI AT CARNEGIE HALL
•JS Bach: Partita No. 2 in c, BWV 826
• Schumann; Faschingsschwank aus Wien
•Janacek: In the Mists
•Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 31 in Alf-at, Op. 110
•(Encore) Bartok: Three Hungarian Folksongs from the Csik District

Piotr Anderszewski, Steinway piano
(Recorded Live, Carnegie Hall/Perelman Stage, New York, December 3, 2008)
Virgin Classics 267291, 2 CDs, 42:48, 41:40, DDD

Post by **Lance** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:52 pm

[Early 1990 Andsnes recordings]
Grieg: Piano Concerto in a, Op. 16*
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major*
Grieg: 6 Lyric Pieces from opp. 24, 33, 65
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
*Bergen Philhiarmonic Orchestra
*Dmitri Kitayenko, conductor

Virgin Classics 391369, 77:24, DDD

Notes & Reviews

The works on this CD have been around the block several times, separately or together, though none the worse for that. First released in 1991, then reissued at mid-price, it now reappears at bargain price. The matrix number suggests that the recording has been re-mastered. To complicate matters, this version of the Grieg Piano Concerto is also available at around the same price on HMV 5 86729 2, more appropriately coupled with Beecham’s excerpts from Peer Gynt, a CD available only in HMV stores or online, but well worth seeking out for Beecham’s contribution alone. There is also a 2-CD Virgin set with the Grieg Piano Concerto and solo piano pieces (5 61745 2). This version of the Grieg Concerto also appeared as part of a 2-CD anthology, ‘Leif Ove Andsnes – A Portrait’, in 2002, when it was adjudged “superb … not quite in the Kovacevich or Perahia class but very, very close” by John Phillips on this website.

The Grieg Concerto on all these CDs is not to be confused with Andsnes’ own later award-winning recording with the Berlin Phil under Jansons, more conventionally coupled with the Schumann Piano Concerto. To add to the confusion, this later recording is also about to be reissued, still at full price, coupling the Grieg Piano Concerto and some solo piano pieces, as ‘Ballad for Edvard Grieg’, EMI 3 94399 2.

The impulse-buyer, looking to purchase his or her first CD of these works, will find very little information in the minimalist booklet of notes. In fact, the statement there that “this youthful work [is] often compared to the concerto by Schumann” highlights one of the drawbacks: having listened to the excellent advocacy of the Grieg on this CD and wishing to investigate the link with Schumann, he will discover that nearly all the recommended versions of the latter are coupled with the Grieg.

The novice will also be misled by the statement in the booklet that Grieg composed six books of Lyric Pieces (actually ten), of which Op.65 is the fifth (actually the eighth). The five lines on the Liszt Concerto are even shorter. At least this is better than European-sourced Eloquence CDs but if Naxos, Regis, Australian Eloquence and Warner Apex can offer decent notes at this price, why cannot Virgin? Naxos even generously make their notes available online. Surely, too, having heard such fine advocacy of the Liszt Concerto, our novice will want to try Liszt’s other Piano Concerto, only to discover that nearly all the recordings couple the two Liszt Concertos, plus Totentanz or some solo piano music.

Such reservations apart, the reader who has picked his or her way through the above will already have assumed that I have a high regard for the performances. I have not heard Andsnes’ later version of the Grieg but it must be very good indeed if it is to be preferred. Though Andsnes was still (just) a teenager when this earlier version was made, his is a fresh and insightful performance and youthful insight is sometimes hard to excel or even match later. The teenage Yehudi Menuhin gave a performance of Elgar’s Violin Concerto, under the composer’s own direction, which he never surpassed or even equalled in his later recordings. There are also good reasons for preferring Nigel Kennedy’s first version of that same Elgar Concerto (on its own on CFP 5 75139 2 or coupled with the Introduction and Allegro on EMI 3 45792 2) to his later remake with Rattle, quite apart from the price differential. In fact, the later version is due for reissue in September, 2007, on EMI 5 03417 2, which will largely rule out the price differential.

When this Andsnes recording first appeared, the general consensus was that it offered fresh interpretations, though some felt that both concertos were a little slow and under-powered. Certainly the very opening of the Grieg begins in a grand manner, with no sense that either the soloist or the orchestra are holding back, but it soon becomes apparent that both Andsnes and Kitayenko lay stress on the lyrical rather than the barnstorming aspect of this work, though with plenty of power when it is called for. I, for one, found the overall effect very satisfying, though with the proviso that this might not be the only version I should wish to have. Only in the slow movement did I find the performance a little too dreamy and even here the hushed playing, very well captured by the engineers, was convincing in its own context. The Finale goes out in a blaze of glory.

The competition is fierce: excellent versions of this Concerto slip out of the catalogue almost unnoticed. Around the same time as the first appearance of this Andnes CD a fine version of the Grieg/Schumann coupling appeared on CFP at bargain price, Pascal Devoyon with the LPO under Jerzy Maksymiuk. Though it had a great deal going for it – would, indeed, still be very competitive with this Andsnes’ reissue, at much the same price – it seems to have been consigned to oblivion, despite being compared more than favourably with the Andsnes by the eminent critic who found the latter too languid. Paradoxically, to demonstrate how the judgement of tempo is a very subjective matter, all three movements in the Andsnes version are actually slightly faster overall than the Devoyon.

Amongst the great interpreters of the past, Rubinstein appears to be available only reissues of historical recordings or on a DVD collection (Chopin, Grieg and Saint-Saëns on DG Unitel 0734195). The Curzon/Fjeldstad version by which I came to know the Grieg Concerto, on a 10-inch stereo Decca LP, is currently available only in one of two multi-CD boxes. Perhaps Australian Eloquence would do us the favour of reissuing it on a single CD: the coupling with Franck and Schumann, as on its most recent Decca appearance, would be ideal. They already have one very good Grieg/Schumann coupling with Arrau and von Dohnanyi on 456 566 2 and there is a recommendable Anda/Kubelik version of the Grieg concerto coupled with Karajan’s Peer Gynt suites on European Eloquence 469 624 2.

The danger of having carried one version in one’s head, as it were, for 45 years, is that it comes to be regarded as the ideal to which all others must conform. In the case of the Grieg Concerto, however, there is little danger of this, since no two versions, even among the best I have heard, ever sound alike. Similar considerations apply to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: far from being ‘fixed’ on the first version which I heard, from Münchinger on Ace of Clubs, which would hardly pass muster today but seemed the bee’s knees then, I find it very difficult to recommend one version among the many fine but very different interpretations I have heard.

If pressed, I should have to recommend the Kovacevich/Davis version of the Grieg and Schumann Concertos as the best available: see Rob Barnett’s Musicweb review; since that review in 2001 this CD has undergone yet another transmogrification, still available on 464 702 2 and on an earlier Philips Solo version, 446 199 2, now also on Philips Originals, 475 7773 - the number listed in the Penguin Guide Yearbook appears to be incorrect. This version of the Grieg Concerto is also available on a 2-CD Philips Duo with the Peer Gynt suites, under Leppard (438 380 2).

This was a glorious period for the young Stephen Bishop, as he was then known, in partnership with Colin Davis: I have recently praised their Mozart Concertos from that period and their Bartók (Concertos 1-3 on Australian Eloquence 468 1882, also due for reissue rather more expensively on Philips Originals 475 8690) is equally fine.

The performance of the Liszt also makes it slightly less of a warhorse than usual. Again, I find the stress on the lyrical aspects of this work refreshing and there is no lack of power where it is required. I certainly do not find the lack of overall structure that some have complained of.

The Lyric Pieces are very well played – here, for once, in view of their title, Andsnes’ lyricism cannot be in doubt. The recording, both of the Concertos and these solo items, is very good, with the quiet moments especially effectively captured.

Our hypothetical beginner who might purchase this CD is unlikely to have any cause for dissatisfaction: he or she would be getting a far better bargain than my 10-inch version of the Grieg. The eighteen shillings which I paid for that LP would convert to more like £18 at today’s prices, whereas this CD, at around a third of that price, offers almost three times the music, thus leaving money in reserve for a good version of the Schumann. I am currently awaiting a review copy of the Schumann, in a version not coupled for once with the Grieg. Watch this space for further news.

—Brian Wilson, MusicWeb International

Chung · Post by **Chung** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 1:18 pm

Post by **Lance** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:49 pm

MANHATTAN (film soundtrack selections, film by Woody Allen)
Music of George Gershwin
•Rhapsody in Blue with Gary Graffman, pianist
•also includes Land of the Gay Caballero; Someone to Watch Over Me; I've Got a Crush on You; Do, Do, Do; Mine; He Loves and She Loves; Bronco Busters; Oh, Lady Be Good; S'Wonderful; Love is Here to Stay; Sweet and Low-Down; Blue, Blue, Blue; Embraceable You; He Loves and She Loves (again); Love is Sweeping the Country/Land of the Gay Caballero; Strike Up the Band; But Not for Me.

Orchestral works performed by the
New York Philharmonic; Zubin Metha, conductor
Music orchestrated and adapted by Tom Pierson.

CBS/Sony Classical MK-36020, AAD
(Original release on LP, CBS, 1979)

Note: in the Land of the Gay Caballero, the word "gay"
meant at that time, "happy." (For whatever this is worth.)

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:59 pm

Lance wrote:

MANHATTAN (film soundtrack selections, film by Woody Allen)
Music of George Gershwin
•Rhapsody in Blue with Gary Graffman, pianist
•also includes Land of the Gay Caballero; Someone to Watch Over Me; I've Got a Crush on You; Do, Do, Do; Mine; He Loves and She Loves; Bronco Busters; Oh, Lady Be Good; S'Wonderful; Love is Here to Stay; Sweet and Low-Down; Blue, Blue, Blue; Embraceable You; He Loves and She Loves (again); Love is Sweeping the Country/Land of the Gay Caballero; Strike Up the Band; But Not for Me.

Orchestral works performed by the
New York Philharmonic; Zubin Metha, conductor
Music orchestrated and adapted by Tom Pierson.

CBS/Sony Classical MK-36020, AAD
(Original release on LP, CBS, 1979)

Note: in the Land of the Gay Caballero, the word "gay"
meant at that time, "happy." (For whatever this is worth.)

Glad to see you got this CD, I used to play it a lot when it first came out, now you have to watch the movie...

thisolehouse · Post by **thisolehouse** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:05 pm

I got a Naxos CD today that contains the Op.49 and Op.77 cello concertos and the Symphonic Poem "Spring" by Kabalevsky with Alexander Rudin, cello, and The Moscow S.O. conducted by Igor Golovschin. The CD number is 8.553788.

Though the CD is not new it is new to me.

Bill

Post by **Lance** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:57 pm

You should have told me about MANHATTAN a few years ago. I could have been enjoying it all this time!

Chalkperson wrote:
Lance wrote:

MANHATTAN (film soundtrack selections, film by Woody Allen)
Music of George Gershwin
•Rhapsody in Blue with Gary Graffman, pianist
•also includes Land of the Gay Caballero; Someone to Watch Over Me; I've Got a Crush on You; Do, Do, Do; Mine; He Loves and She Loves; Bronco Busters; Oh, Lady Be Good; S'Wonderful; Love is Here to Stay; Sweet and Low-Down; Blue, Blue, Blue; Embraceable You; He Loves and She Loves (again); Love is Sweeping the Country/Land of the Gay Caballero; Strike Up the Band; But Not for Me.

Orchestral works performed by the
New York Philharmonic; Zubin Metha, conductor
Music orchestrated and adapted by Tom Pierson.

CBS/Sony Classical MK-36020, AAD
(Original release on LP, CBS, 1979)

Note: in the Land of the Gay Caballero, the word "gay"
meant at that time, "happy." (For whatever this is worth.)
Glad to see you got this CD, I used to play it a lot when it first came out, now you have to watch the movie...

Post by **Lance** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:21 pm

•Prokofiev: Violin Sonata #2*
•JS Bach: Sonata for Solo Violin #3 in C

Leonid Kogan, violin
*Ephraim Koenig, piano
(No dates or venues for these recordings)

Marquis 83119 (reissued from Orion), 46:08, ADD

bombasticDarren · Post by **bombasticDarren** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:19 am

Purchased these from my local Oxfam, who have lots of new classical stock in today

And via Amazon:-

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:34 am

bombasticDarren wrote:

Purchased these from my local Oxfam, who have lots of new classical stock in today

And via Amazon:-

Three lovely discs there Darren. I am familiar with the Harnoncourt/COE but unfortunately not with the other two. Happy listening.

Post by **Lance** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:09 pm

Decca 478 1521 [on sale from $25 for $17 from Amazon.com in the USA], post-free on orders of $25 or more.

Absolutely incredible album. I suspect this will be a top seller. If you buy, get the DELUXE edition; it's worth every penny, plus you get the Castrato Dictionary. Everything is in full color - two CDs.

See my comments on another post hereon.

bombasticDarren · Post by **bombasticDarren** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:17 pm

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