I was only telling Stu about this album on Tuesday Wat.

In the Court of the Crimson King         

Selling England By The Pound          

The Dark Side Of The Moon         

Original vinyl...

Frank Zappa - BABY SNAKES  -  import cd of live stuff from the mid-late '70's. If you're looking for a deeper meaning to it - Frank demystifies the artist/music/performance.

Little Feat Representing The Mambo - Vinyl

Stravinsjy's Pulcinelle Suite from Klemperer, Just finished ...

There is far more to this performance than great ensemble and playing, It manages that with ease, but there is a genuine affection for the music here that will invite even non-appreciators of Stravensjy. Now playing is the Symphony In Three Movements, which performance is as angular and almost unappealing as might be expected, and yet has a warmth that invites. A Titan of a recording...

ATB from George

An occasional listening of Copland is good for the soul to restore faith in humanity.

I love Bernstein's Copland. Look at his face and you are practically looking at the face of the good 'ol U.S.A.

No finer match with Copland than Bernstein ...

ATB from George

My favourite Pulcinelle is the one Stravinsky himself conducting. Come to think of it, I like most of his conducting. Very frills but I like his direct and straight way of communication.

Dear Kuma,

Stravinsky had a quite good compliment for Klemperer. They were long time collaborators and more or less friends. Klemperer commissioned the Suite for Orchestra from the Threpenny Opera ...

"He is droll, but most of his drollery is accidental!"

Mostly Stravinsky actually completely disliked those who played his own music or those who played music he loved like Mozart. His comments on Karajan are mostly unprintable on a polite Forum!

I listened to the Threepenny Opera Suite after the earlier auditions ...

ATB from George

I could see Karajan is a misfit for Stravinsky's work.

His Le Sacre du Printemps sucked all percussiveness out of the tune.

Without much of rhythmic integrity the tunes are not as interesting and drags on a bit and not particularly well organised. It's a better fit as the soundtrack for the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. 

 I have to check out Klemperer's Stravinsky work. I didn't think he ever did them.

Dear Kuma,

Klemperer's problem was that the record companies promoted him as a Beethovian. His wisdom was almost Universal in music terms, though he avoided Elgar and Walton, but was a passionate Sibelian for example.

And Sibelius was an admirer of Klemperer's clear cut ideas on his music ... No recordings exist ...But on Sibelius's seventieth birthday the NYPO played the Second Symphony under Klemperer on broadcasts all over the World. Boult played the same Symphony with the VPO the same night ... [source: Michael Kennedy, Boult - a biography]

Strange history really!

ATB from George

For why Stravinsjy admired Klemperer. Because he got Mozart!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6_qBMpIXdM

Anyone who make Mozart that clear at that speed and still passionate has the skill to bring Stravinsky to life!

ATB from George

Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte on WCPE Thursday night opera. 

First time I have heard this. 

Synopsis from site: 

The flute-playing Tamino (Schreier) falls in love with Pamina (M. Price). Daughter of the Queen of the Night (Serra), Pamina has been abducted by Sarastro (Moll). The simple bird catcher Papageno (Melbye) wants only food and drink—and Papagena (Venuti).

 Wholy shite George! 

Not sure if I like it but I see why Stravinsky did!

That's faster than Toscanini! I rejected his becuae it started to sound like Rossini version.

This is about when Maestro was 80 years old.

Ella at her very best.

Which is really excellent considering she's never not very, very good!

A Hard Road on a original UK mono Decca.

Solti/CSO's 9th from the 70s.

Startling dynamics and low distortion. Probably the best sounding 9th on record I have heard so far.

But his performance always leaves me cold. The best part on this set is the Chicago Chorus where the orchestra takes backseats. The power of chorus, even my system will never be able to duplicate the real time dynamics, is overwhelmingly beautiful.

On CD:-

Asia - Alpha