I just could not resist buying another major shipment of heavily discounted CDs from Berkshire. This time around I procured a 14 CD box-set from of Artur Schnabel playing a wide array of Beethoven’s piano music. These are the much vaunted HMV recordings from the 30’s. In addition to the complete sonatas, the complete piano concertos with Malcolm Sargent – as well as an additional 1947 version with the Philharmonia – are included. So, too, are the Diabelli Variations, the Eroica Variations, the Op 34 Variations, and the Op 33 and 126 Bagatelles. I’ve listened to a few of the sonatas so far and they are tremendous. (Of course, I’ve had the privilege of hearing a number of the recordings before, so I already knew that.) And the transfers are truly outstanding. Dante have managed to capture that most elusive mixture of superior tonal reproduction with wondrous noise reduction (at least in some cases). All for $28. Yep, $2 a pop. Can’t wait to listen to them all.
But that’s not all. I also picked up a close-out of Sony’s Original Jacket Collection survey of Stravinsky’s orchestral music with the composer himself wielding the baton. The nine CDs are all LP length, but who cares. The sound of the discs I have heard is splendid, and the performances, as one would expect, are among the finest available. A little less of a bargain at $44 for the box, but a bargain all the same. Hey, for you fans of Glenn Gould, Berkshire still had (when last I checked) the 12 CD Original Jacket Collection of his Bach recordings at $60.
I also decided to pursue a little more Bruckner conducted by Furtwangler. I opted for the 1951 Salzburg Festival recording of the 5th on EMI and the March 14th, 1949 recording of the 8th on Lys. I shall be busy listening to new CDs for a while. Oh whoa is me.
Posted on: 08 October 2001 by John C
Today, yes, today, I continued my journey of discovery, my trip into the music that ees Cecil Taylor. Where to start with the maestro I hear you ask, where?, indeed. Now lets be clear, $50 bucks a shot is not, what we're after, no, we're not, ten bob more like and thats where the problem arises. Seecill (as we say) is dear. But the music ...well Lets start with the bluenote reissue series "In transition" ..Formidable this was, 1957, where was Joe McCarthy? Anyway I digress, Unit Structures "Dancing protoplasm absorbs" nuff said. CTU, eponymous Unit "Dark unto themselves" Da phallic Mystere, C taylor/buell neidlinger NY city R&B mighty early, groove . Silent tongues solo extraordinary.
John
