What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XI)

Flagstadt singing some Wagner tunes.

Hans Knappertsbusch/VPO

I think, however, her voice was already starting to strain a bit by the time this was recorded.

Dear Kuma,

If that is a real stereo recording, then it is well to remember that Flagstaff had retired from the opera stage five years before the first stereo recordings were made and that she was nearer 60 than anything else by then!

I always think that it is amazing just how fresh her voice stayed even after that when she is not being asked to cope with the [in my humble opinion, nigh inhuman] demands of Richard Wagner's music, but rather singing the gentle music of her homeland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dqdRwX136c

Grieg: Last Spring

Best wishes from George

PS: This is equally amazing and recorded in 1929 in remarkably immediate quality, and so 28 years earlier, before she had become famous outside Norway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCTJBZ_zw6Q

Solveig's Song

Yes this album was recorded in the mid 50s so she was pushing 60s. 

So considering that.. it's an astonishing clarity from the voice of 60 years old Flagstadt. Still maintaining effortless and warm tone. There are a just few spots that her voice gets slightly flattened but does not take away from the overall effect and her amazing talent much. 

Bill Laswell: Sacred System Chapter Two 1997 Release.

What do you get when you cross between dubstep, funk, sitar and Miles Davis-like horn samples?

This music now sounds very dated. Very 90s' pot head music. 

Great album Tony

Infamous *fake* live Peggy Lee's 'Beauy and the Beat!'.

Wish Capitol would redo the studio version in vinyl.

Vivaldi on mandoline = great fun. Mahan Esfahani plays the keyboard in the trio sonata.

Cheers,

EJ

First spin - nice start of Easter Monday..

Streaming | Spotify Premium

Recorded to Hybrid SACD in 2012

Just the job for this fine morning.

First run, so far good...

He seems to be capable of playing anything, even the more common pieces of music like Mozart piano sonatas. While I do think Pires, Uchida and de Larochia are more sensitive even....

On vinyl - a box set of 10 7" singles. Pure funk for a BHM.

Streaming | CD FLAC rip

Tom Jones ~ Greatest Hits (2003)

Just on a whim as I wanted to hear him belting out some of his old classic hits while I do some bits around the house. This was released to coincide with his Lifetime Achievement award at the 2003 BRITS ceremony.

How's the latest Calexico? Mine has been on order for weeks. Will be seeing them at Shepherds Bush at the end of April.

I don't agree!

Not played this for a while. Very enjoyable on a lovely spring Easter evening.

G

   Seldom mentioned amongst the jazz A listers, but excellent nonetheless.

After a long day toiling in the garden... Reissue Vinyl.

Intense album during my workout, never a dull moment

Switched after that from trumpet to bass :-)