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

Stu, this is a 1992 German pressing (512 201-1, Veritgo). I think I bought it around that time in Finland. The quality is not the best possible one but still OK and as you said the music is great. It's a pity I never had any chance to see them live.

I've had it since I was a kid. By the way that's not a lad, it's my wife. With all the Naim kit I've bought I can't afford to feed her anymore!

I have every Blue Horizon LP issued. It was a bit of a obsession of mine in the 80's/90s'. Worth a fortune now.

ATB

Steve

The boss is out dining with her girlfriends, there's just me, the dog (see avatar), a really good bottle of red wine (Ollieux Romanis pure Carignan Corbiere) and this playing on the Xerxes: 

Oh, and it's Friday night, with the whole weekend to look forward to, and it's not raining....

Honestly, how good does life get?

 A photo for, Kuma : )

This guy, Sviatoslav certainly knows his way around the keyboard!

The vinyl quality is okay but the recording leaves a lot to be desired...

Debs

The latest double EDEN CD by Everything But The Girl with extra stuff.

Stu.

Dear Debs,

In a couple of days you have posted about the "48" performances  [JS Bach for those not quite what the "48" are] in pianistic realisations on records. May I point you at the recordings done by Helmut Walcha on the intended harpsichord, set down in about 1960, and still available on EMI CDs. They are wonderfully recorded, and present a unparalleled realisation of the music, though the harpsichord brings a few surprises as one might expect the intended instrument to do in comparison with an anaochronistic instrument. Bach knew how to get a harpsichord to be a very expressive instrument. I know it is CD, but the original German HMV [and Odeon] LPs are not only very rare, but hundred's of pounds to buy.

You like me must watch the pennies, let alone the pounds, so please consider this quite budget priced 5 CD issue that also contains the Goldberg Variations and the Two and Three Part Inventions [Sinfonias].

Very best wishes from George

1st DVD Stu.

It's pretty good , I know very little about them . I'm amazed at how much "lead" the bass plays. I'm not a great fan of Roberts voice,I always preferred instrumentals anyway. 

Stu,

Any jarring sibilance on this release? There's some on an earlier copy - no bonus tracks - my brother has. I'll have to dig the vinyl out.

Cheers,

OW

"The twelve extended pieces which make up Albéniz’ Iberia are not only the composer’s greatest work, but also the greatest piano work to come out of Spain. Fired by his discovery of the music of Ravel and Debussy, Albéniz transformed his earlier salon style, which essentially produced charming but slight ‘picture postcards’ of Spain, into a language which was much more complex—harmonically, texturally and pianistically—and which created a series of tone poems which capture the spiritual essence of Spain. The superabundance of the writing also makes the cycle one of the supreme virtuoso challenges, so who better to realize the beauty beyond the notes than Marc-André Hamelin who reveals here that the previous virtual monopoly of this work by Spanish pianists may have done more harm than good." (HYPERION)

Cheers

Flettster

Dear George,

We’ve already had this conversation a 3 or 4 years ago  

when, on your good recommendation i acquired a 5cd set you speak of ~

It’s certainly very nice, the unfaltering Mr Rhythm on the harpsic,

but I’ve also progressed to Ahlgrimm these days,

far more volatile, dynamic, and interesting, and even more fun, imho.

I would say [imo] the Art of Fugue is far more suited to harpsichord than piano [discounting organ and all other ensembles just for the moment] ...perhaps because I believe the AoF benefits from the quaint old twangey stringed instrument by way of tone, to add sparkle to an otherwise onward variation of a tune.

But I find the wtc 1&2 to be altogether more forwardly stimulating in the composition, and would suggest either instrument capable of communicated it’s virtues.

I am very fortunate to have an Angela Hewitt box-set too, which is handy when in need to hear WTC played to my utter satisfaction, don‘t know if there is, or ever be, a better one on piano(?)

Your right about the pennies though, need to put the brakes on spending!

Hard times are a comin'...

we may all be singing the blues next year

Debs

On vinyl, during a break in Radio 4's dramatisation of James Joyce's Ulysses:

LFDH featuring Jason Mraz - A good songwriters show with great harmonies

http://www.livefromdarylshouse...rentep.html?ep_id=70 

Really looking forward to seeing Daryl next month @ Shepherds Bush. My last sighting of Daryl would have been with H&O, a long long time ago. This current band are as tight as Steely Dan in my opinion. It might be tough standing next to excitable women in the crowd and I hope they show me some respect

That building looks like St Georges Hall Liverpool

2009 Re-Master CD

Ryan Adams - 29

Sublime, beautiful, wonderful. I like it

On vinyl.

OnSilver

playing cd no.10 of 18 x cd box-set...

Eventyr (Once upon a time)

Halle Orchestra ~ Vernon Handley

Recorded September 1981 Free Trade Hall, Manchester

~<>~

Hassan - incidental music (Flecker)

Prelude & Five Acts

Martyn Hill - tenor

Brian Rayer Cook - baritone

Bournemouth Sinfonietta & Choir ~ Vernon Handley

Recorded Jan/Feb 1979 The Guild Hall, Southampton

~<>~