An in-your-face, confrontational Winterreise by baritone Florian Boesch. Boesch employs a wide range of dynamics, from whisper to fff, and is not above crooning or exaggerated legato to make his point - but he uses these 'effects' in service to the music, and never comes across as self conscious. One of my favorite Winterreise cycles, but beware that this performance adds a biting edge to this already sombre music. 

EJ 

EJ,

I will try that just because of the album cover art work.

It looks interesting,

Hope the music is as good?

Stu.

Stu,

No unfortunately, the cafe is in New York - http://www.cybercafewest.com/music.aspx 

Its on order.

I cant say any more than that until i have listened to it.

Stu.

OK Nice one.

I cant keep up with your live gigs at times.

Stu.

Original Vinyl Material

I thought this album was an abomination! Neil Young has both written and performed some truly wonderful music during an auspicious career but this album I just don't get. Maybe he just wants to put his slant on the more familiar Americana repertoire. The closing track just has to be heard to be believed. Yes it made me want to stand up ... to walk over to the equipment rack to remove this dreadful disc from my CDS2.

From this: 

JS Bach, Ciacona in d minor, played in his own arrangement for guitar by Andres Segovia.

Not every arrangement of JS Bach is as enjoyable as the original, but this is a splendid stand alone piece played by a Master.

ATB from George

I'm listening to the 2006, 2007 CD (R2 101173).  The sound quality is very good to my ears; remixed with some added vocals and instrumental passages on the original 11 tracks.  Also has an additional 10 bonus tracks of alternate versions, mostly "Roadhouse Blues".  Definitely a good listen!

Mozart Symphony No.40 & 41: Harnoncourt/Royal Concertgebouw

Not sure if this is a HIP, but boy this is the fastest 40 I have heard.

One of the most beautiful 2nd movement for the No.41.

Dear Kuma,

You really need to have a listen to the early stereo recording of the Mozart G minor [40th.] Symphony by Klemperer and the Philharmonia [London] Orchestra to find a performance that finds immense depth of emotion and a phenomenal momentum and a true Allegro rather than the Presto that Harnoncourt [and Furtwangler] apply from outside the music, particularly in the first movement.

As for the Jupiter, no finer performance of the slow movement [beautiful as to timbre, but devastating as to impact on a hair raising level] has been set down than the Klemperer performance from the same sessions as the 40th, in 1955 or '56!

Strange thing is that whilst these venerable old performance do not pay obvious homage to HIP style, they remain models of HIP for all that, but the consideration is secondary to the emotional impact implied in the music.

Among the other priceless Mozart Symphonic performances from Klemperer [from the time] are the 39th in E Flat and the Linzer [36], but the whole series [which dates from 1955 to 1969] remains a benchmark. Not the only way with the music, but impossible to ignore once known.

Best wishes from George

Exploring a new composition ....

George,

Harnoncourt was recommended by some Japanese Music critic and I was curious what he was on about. ( Oddly, Klemperer's 40 was also recommended obviously for different reasons )

The first movement on the No.40, I agree, I am not keen on it as the tempo makes the tunes a tad trifle and rushed. I suppose nothing particularly wrong with this performance except it does not give me much to chew on afterwards or during particularly on the *cloudy* movements.

Unfortunately a poor Angel reissue, but I have Klemperer's No.40 with the Little G Minor. I recall I preferred his No.25 over 40 in general but I admired his beautifully flowing instrument layering and fluid, polished execution on the No.40's 3rd movement. It starts pretty slow but he builds up to the finale. I need to listen again. I am curious about his Jupiter, tho.

Two of my favourite 'Jupiter' so far is believe it or not Bersntein with Vienna Phil. ( so much better than his earlier set with NY Phil ) and Böhm's later set. Interestingly both recordings are with the Vienna Phil.

For No.39, I love Böhm's set again but with the earlier Berlin Phill ( 1960's ) Noone talks about him especially after he's dead but I am partial to his Mozart Symphonies I am finding out so far. Linzer is a weird one in a sense that it's all sunny and happy but Klemeperer might make this tune more interesting than it is.

Part of an excellent series of Haydn and Mozart symphonies with Harnoncourt and the the RCO. Halfway-HIP, as Harnoncourt brought much of his ideas to his conducting style. I have the disc with 38 and 39, and that one is generally excellent, too. His Haydn is even better.

Cheers,

EJ

Discovering forgotten composers .....

If you like dreamy synths...

Tycho - Dive

Tycho is the music project of San Francisco-based artist Scott Hansen. Also known as graphic artist ISO50. 

The full album can be heard here - http://tychomusic.com/ 

Purchase here - http://www.merchline.com/iso50...rydisplay.5340.c.htm 

Soundcloud -  http://soundcloud.com/tycho