What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol.VIII)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 29 December 2011
With 2012 almost upon us, it's time to start a fresh thread. I've gone back to an earlier thread title because often the "why" is the most interesting part of the post.
Anyway, links:
Volume VII: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...6878604287751/page/1
Volume VI: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878604097229
Volume V: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878605140495
Volume IV: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878605795042
Volume III: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878607309474
Volume II: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878606245043
Volume I: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878607464290
The Kills (please do not confuse with middle of the road bands)- Blood Pressures
Some more local music today (joining Chatham County Line and Midtown Dickens) -
Lost In The Trees - All Alone In An Empty House
The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
on CD : )
Cheers
Flettster
Cheers
Flettster
Symphony #4, Haitink's first recording with the RCO. A much darker, brooding reading than most others. The orchestra's simmering cello section is irresistible.
Cheers,
EJ
Symphony #5, which I'd rank with #8 and #9 as Bruckner's greatest symphonies. Only one conductor had the key to this symphony for me: Sinopoli - his recording for DG is still available, get it while you can. However, there are many valid alternatives that stop just short of that benchmark: Thielemann's recent one from München is good, as are Wand/Berlin and this one, from Haitink's complete set. The fifth receives a solid performance but Haitink doesn't quite make the stop-and-go nature of I. work as well as Sinopoli, and the sad, second subject of II, one of the most beautiful melodies Bruckner composed, isn't carved out as sharply (but it's close!). But there are compensations: Philips' recording as well as the playing by the orchestra here are even superior to Dresden.
EJ
Dear EJ,
Please try to get Klemperer's 1968 live Vienna Phil recording of the Fifth {Bruckner] Symphony, if you do not have it already. If you do then sorry, but for me not only is the Fifth his"Meisterwerk" but this is the performance from Elysium.
Two choices: Testament [UK] or Music and Arts [USA]. Testament is better for quality transfer, but tied to about ten other CDs for a considerable price, whilst M&A is a single disc and still quite respectable sonically.
Even Furtwangler sounds arthritic in the music after Klemperer's virile, lucid account/ of the music, which could be transcribed accurately from this performance, and the spirit of wildness emerges as if a it were a first performence.
Please answer this post if you have any doubts.
ATB from George
Like their second album "For the Good Times," so just picked this up. First listen.
Emmylou Harris - Blue Kentucky Girl
mine is on its way!
Separated at Birth?
Separated at Birth?
Spooky........... I guess Jean-Guihen would be pleased 
Cheers
Flettster
Cheers
Flettster
mine is on its way!
me three !!
While I wait, I'll listen to my Philips recordings made from 1951 to 1960, the year of her death. I bought this in either 1994 or 1995 and it was very expensive at that time. I wanted this badly and remember saving for probably six months before I could get it. Now you can get the 17CD Decca Clara Haskil Edition for about one-quarter the price. I imagine there is quite a bit of duplication but it will give me some of the early recordings so will eventually get that too.
It is interesting how Schumann's Variations on the Name ABEGG on the Audite recording made in 1953 or 54 is one second faster than her 1951 Philips recording. These pieces were core repertoire for her and she obviously had them pretty set how she played them.
Cheers
Flettster
mine is on its way!
me three !!
While I wait, I'll listen to my Philips recordings made from 1951 to 1960, the year of her death. I bought this in either 1994 or 1995 and it was very expensive at that time. I wanted this badly and remember saving for probably six months before I could get it. Now you can get the 17CD Decca Clara Haskil Edition for about one-quarter the price. I imagine there is quite a bit of duplication but it will give me some of the early recordings so will eventually get that too.
It is interesting how Schumann's Variations on the Name ABEGG on the Audite recording made in 1953 or 54 is one second faster than her 1951 Philips recording. These pieces were core repertoire for her and she obviously had them pretty set how she played them.
Doug
It is said that Clara Haskil was never really satisfied about the Philips recording and longed to play with other conductors and with the Columbia Records company.
From the recording outside the Philips contract there are now several CD's available.
I find this Audite recording very good. Audite does some great things with historical records.
Other labels that offer non-Philips Haskil recording are:
- Music and Arts Programs of America: http://musicandarts.com/search-results.html?q=haskil
A must have should also be this one from Tahra:
Tah 736 - Clara Haskil and Rafael Kubelik
ROBERT SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto in A minor - Danish Radio Orchestra - 17.II.1955 - Previously Unissued Recording FREDERIC CHOPIN : Piano Concerto No. 2 en F minor - Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire - Live Recording - 31.I.1960
The contract which bound Clara Haskil to Philips prevented her from recording with some of her preferred conductors, i.e. Rafael Kubelik among others. By chance, this gap in her discography has been partially filled thanks to live recordings of public concerts. The magnificent Schumann concerto is a special bonus. It was broadcasted in February 1955 in Copenhagen, and is issued here for the first time. The perfect understanding between these two artists comes here fully to light
-
Aleg
Holst - The Planets [Vinyl]
Alt J - An Awesome Wave
Cheers
Flettster
Symphony #4, Haitink's first recording with the RCO. A much darker, brooding reading than most others. The orchestra's simmering cello section is irresistible.
Cheers,
EJ
Symphony #5, which I'd rank with #8 and #9 as Bruckner's greatest symphonies. Only one conductor had the key to this symphony for me: Sinopoli - his recording for DG is still available, get it while you can. However, there are many valid alternatives that stop just short of that benchmark: Thielemann's recent one from München is good, as are Wand/Berlin and this one, from Haitink's complete set. The fifth receives a solid performance but Haitink doesn't quite make the stop-and-go nature of I. work as well as Sinopoli, and the sad, second subject of II, one of the most beautiful melodies Bruckner composed, isn't carved out as sharply (but it's close!). But there are compensations: Philips' recording as well as the playing by the orchestra here are even superior to Dresden.
EJ
Dear EJ,
Please try to get Klemperer's 1968 live Vienna Phil recording of the Fifth {Bruckner] Symphony, if you do not have it already. If you do then sorry, but for me not only is the Fifth his"Meisterwerk" but this is the performance from Elysium.
Two choices: Testament [UK] or Music and Arts [USA]. Testament is better for quality transfer, but tied to about ten other CDs for a considerable price, whilst M&A is a single disc and still quite respectable sonically.
Even Furtwangler sounds arthritic in the music after Klemperer's virile, lucid account/ of the music, which could be transcribed accurately from this performance, and the spirit of wildness emerges as if a it were a first performence.
Please answer this post if you have any doubts.
ATB from George
Hi George,
This one, right? Haven't heard this particular performance - it's currently quite pricy on the used market, a bit too much so to buy blind but I've been lucky with other rare releases lately - it's on the shortlist and we'll see what happens.
Based on the old man's official recordings for EMI, I hadn't pegged him as a Bruckner man.
Thanks for the heads up!
EJ