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

In the late '90s, RCA released a series of recordings with the amazing mezzo Vesselina Kasarova and tenor Ramon Vargas in the lead roles. This recording appeared around the same time as the rival EMI issue with Alagna and Gheorghiu, both issues deserve their place among the top recordings of Massenet's Werther - a relatively faithful adaptation of Goethe's story and Massenet's most accessible opera. Vargas is the star here as our self-centered emotional blackmailer; Kasarova is good and has the perfect voice, but just misses out on the mysterious attraction that made Von Stade and also Gheorghiu unforgettable in the part. Jurowski's conducting is excellent, as well.

EJ

BTO. Not Fragile. On the original vinyl from 1974. Hard driving guitars and rock solid rock music from start to finish. A true classic among classic rock albums.

Molly Hatchet. Flirtin' With Disaster. On vinyl from 1979. More hard driving rock but with a Southern flavor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrLm7j2i92I

The Outlaws. Outlaws. On vinyl from 1975. Southern rock? Country rock? This is about as far into country as I wander, but "Green Grass And High Tides" is a classic in whichever genre you want to put it.

Kempff's stereo Appassionata from 1964.

There's alway a lyrical flowing feel to Kempff's piano playing. Bold and strong even at 69.

He starts off with a well controlled but passionate and articulate presentation. 

However he gets slightly exasperated than Richter. ( I am certain this is intentional )

Kempff builds the progression on a mental state of someone one from angry, angier to angriest!

Not as well-known as Richer or Gilels, another Russian pianist Lazar Berman is quite capable. 

His presenece is felt a minute from the first key casting a large burly projection. Excellent clarity and determination with warm fleshed out notes.

This White Label Promo Columbia release is the very first American recording he made in Columbia studio in NYC in 1976 but it sounds exceptionally dynamic and clear. Certainly sounds much better than reissue of his Melodiya reissues.

His warm and dark tone blazes through like an elephant stampede or huge tsunami coming on. One of the most masculine breathtaking rendition of Appassionata but not the most soul searching.

Streaming | 16/44.1 Download | Bandcamp

Perge ~ Attalus (2013)

As one commenter said, this is almost like finding and listening to something that Edgar Froese might have had in his musical archive of TD outtakes.

Thanks, I missed the first recommendation, we need Edgar back (in his prime of course).

PS: just spotted the album "Green Dessert", I like an acknowledged influence!

Two masterworks from the Takacs with, in op.44, support from Hamelin. At this juncture, the alignment between pianist and quartet was still work in progress to my ears, but this doesn't hurt the quintet. The Takacs are fine in both works, however, I can't say this is a favorite - too plush and generic for my taste. 

EJ

I'm not a huge Yes fan Clive, but I agree,  this is very good - on triple vinyl (BTW, I think the SQ is better than that found on Yessongs):

CD rip AIFF :-

Clannad - Lore.

I thought I'd start with some laid back Celtic sounds.

Why is it that one can almost understand this without a word of the language?

Another twofer CD from the glorious Masterworks box set. There is a fabulous muscularity and joie de vivre about Billy May's arrangements on these two albums:

G

Corking album T - years ahead of its time in most respects.

Kompendium - Elements. 2 Disc Limited Edition. Ripped to FLAC

"Over 2 hours of music including unreleased tracks, original demos,alternate versions and a complete instrumental mix of the original album"

Arrived (and ripped) this morning. First listen but so far sounds good.

followed by ...

Steven Wilson - HAND.CANNOT. ERASE. 24bit 96kHz finally found out how to get the hi resolution from the BD. A bit of a faff but got there in the end. Almost finished copying to the NAS then I'll index in Minim and finally start listening. 

It's a filty cold day so let's warm things up a bit.

This is on vinyl, and it's rather growing on me.

CD rips:-

Eagles - Greatest Hits and Hotel California.

Steve Earle and Dukes and The Duchesses - Low Highway