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

How is it Debs? I never realized this recording is already fifteen years old!

EJ

Joining you on this one. I love it!

If you love this then you'll love this too

EJ.

Now you've got me inspired to listen to this.

This is actually the first time I am listening to this score.

I'm amased this London record actually sounds good. ( I still don't *get* Opera part. )

Do you know any cast of characters on this record?

Kuma,

It's a classic recording. Cesare Siepi was the greatest bass to tackle the Don - ever - and the rest of the cast reads like a who's who from opera in the 50s and 60s. Fernando Corena, Suzanne Danco, Anton Dermota, Lisa della Casa, Hilde Güden, Walter Berry and Kurt Böhme each were stars, although in this case perhaps not the best team or well suited to their roles. Krips was a good Mozart conductor, he also recorded with the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and overall this is a good Don Giovanni (essential if you like Siepi). If you're into vintage classics, also try to get hold of Carlo Maria Giulini's EMI recording, with Eberhard Wächter and, again, Fernando Corena to hear how two better-matched singers have a dramatic effect on intensity and effectiveness of this opera. It has never been done better since.

Cheers,

EJ

Today, I simply wanted a straight forward, emotionless reading of WTC Book 1:

Some highly charged Beethoven in the typical Pollini crystalline fashion: 

Beethoven Piano Concerto No.1: Gieseking

He's a complete opposite from Pollini style of playing. More intuitive and spontaneous.

A wonderful cover design by Alex Steinweiss, too.

EJ,

Thanks for your reply.

I enjoyed the tunes earlier but then I've nothing to compare it with! I did like Della Casa's voice. She's got a really nice warm voice.

Unlike the Magic Flute, there weren't many catchy tunes in this set.

I reckon the voice is a sort of an instrument and I'm sure there are different ways singing the tunes by different singers.

But man.. Opera is a hard thing to like. A friend asked me to go to the opera house. Not sure if I can sit through the whole thing. :x

Thanks for Giulini's reco. I think I am going to try his. I generally like his style of conducting from the 50-60s.

Kuma,

Don Giovanni is a good place to start with 'serious' opera (i.e. where people do die at the end, preferably under tragic circumstances). If you like it, you have the key to the most diverse area of classical music. BTW the Giulini is not with Panerai but with Giuseppe Taddei. 

Cheers,

EJ

Hi EJ,

An agreeably relaxed tempo, warm and soothingly structured...

and so nobly textured with period accompaniment...

it very easily passed my bubble-bath test : )

This is my very first encounter with Hille Perl,

and can now understand why Haim likes her so much!

Debs

Pink Floyd - Animals 2011 Remaster from the discovery box set. Once again the best I have heard this on CD. Really glad I have this box set it's like listening to them for the first time so much more to hear and the depth of the recordings is superb.

On vinyl, must remember it's a 45 RPM version:-

Another collection of NC happy songs, not.

Pink Floyd - Meddle 2011 Remaster. When I first heard that Pink Floyd were having all their back catalogue remastered I like many people said here we go again more money for the same thing how many more remasters of the same thing are they expecting us to buy. 

I have several copies of these albums already so I'm not doing it again. Well Christmas came and santa left me the discovery box set. These are the only versions I will now be playing they are absolutely stunning. Remastered by someone who must like the Floyd and has taken his time over the whole process. Just goes to show that if you do it right CD does still have a lot to offer and that is from someone who likes his vinyl.

Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon 2011 Remaster CD

Think you get the picture......won't go on

2011 Remaster CD. A marvellous Pink Floyd day. I am on that boat

A Winged Victory for the Sullen

An absolutely gorgeous piece of ambient/modern classical music.

Keep a look out for those Ducks of War.

Thanks for posting this one. I've seen the cover in a few places, and have been meaning to try out some more Erased Tapes releases after loving the two Nils Frahm albums I picked up last year.

I had thought about getting Oliveray's Wonders (Nils and Peter Broderick's just-released collaboration) but just ordered A Winged Victory...