What are you listening to? (Vol VII)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 29 December 2010
Vol VI - https://forums.naimaudio.com/ev...8019385/m/9042967727
Vol V - http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...385/m/9962941917/p/1
Vol IV - http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...8019385/m/1832985817
Vol III - http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...385/m/6192934617/p/1
Vol II - http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...8019385/m/3112927317
Vol I - http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...8019385/m/6532968996
AND - this might be of interest:
http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...962920617#1962920617
First spin of disc 1 of Chailly's new set of the Beethoven symphonies. Much too early to say anything about the artistic side - save that this first listen is very enjoyable so far. The (studio) recording is lifelike and natural. Chailly plays these works swiftly but with a big dynamic range, and both definition and volume are captured excellently.
Classy packaging, by the way.
Cheers,
EJ
Straight on to disc 2, with the Eroica and #4. I don't think I've ever heard a speedier, stricter Eroica. Chailly dispatches the funeral march in little over 12 minutes. It still sounds ominous and powerful - there is no sense of speed for the sake of speed (here or elsewhere so far), thanks to a clear vision, some very sharp orchestral playing, and the beautiful recording.
But this is far to good for some drive-by review based on first listening. I never expected to be so excited about the Beethoven symphonies again. Great stuff.
EJ
Disc 3, Symphonies #5 and #6. All four movements of #5 are brilliantly done - some conductors feel that they need to be really expressive (Bernstein!) or simply beat their way through the first movement, which usually makes the rest of the symphony sounds like a work that is less than the sum of its parts. Chailly is - relatively - slow (still fast) in I, which he allows to evolve into a natural tension span across the remaining movements. I've switched to listening on headphone, after complaints about volume which admittedly kept going up.
I'll leave the Pastorale for tomorrow. Still want to sample Queyras' new Vivaldi disc to close the day in style.
EJ
On to #6. First two movements are rhythmically taut, relatively fast but leaving sufficient room for some gorgeous legato (smooth transitions between notes) by the string sections. At the opening of III (allegro, after all), things speed up considerably. The thunderstorm movement is absolutely fantastic, played very fast and very loud and my only criticism is that it doesn't last very long at these speeds. V is relatively quiet again. The performance again evidences Chailly's clear vision and the orchestra's technical brilliance.
A picture is emerging: this set of symphonies is similar in scope and focus as, say, Annie Fischer's set of sonatas (although infinitely more polished). Exciting, bold, crisp, consistently illuminating certain sides of Beethoven. The softer, romantic side remains rather underdeveloped as a consequence, but I mean that in the good way: as a result of a clear interpretative vision, not because something is missing in these performances. If you appreciate Kovacevich, Pollini, Fischer, Gulda on the piano, you'll love these performances.
Cheers,
EJ
All discs include one or more of the overtures, and Disc #4 starts with a dramatic account of 'Egmont' that is a great showcase for the technical brilliance of these performances. A beautiful but robust performance of Symphony No.7 follows, with the same qualities as before.The huge dynamic range and the quicksilver ease with which dynamics are played out are the most obvious characteristics. As expected by now, Chailly does not wring the last ounce of sadness from the - fast - second movement but there is plenty to make up for that. IV is very impressively done, building the musical tension to the very last note.
EJ
On to the last leg, Symphonies #8 and #9, both played vigorously and with classical poise, sustained lines and unbelievable execution. After what went before, I was anxious to hear what Chailly 'd make of the massive Ninth. Almost predictably by now, he steers by dynamics and controlled - though fast - tempi. The soloists are all known from the international opera and Lieder stage and excellent, only lacking the individuality of the top tier (Jonas Kaufman, Rene Pape etc) but this is Chailly's show, after all. The chorus is massive and reasonably precise - uncharacteristically, Chailly slows down his base tempo before the end of the movement, letting the chorus rip at the same time before the soloists take over softly. The last bars are big and fast again, as they should be. The effect is marvelous, bringing Fidelio's last act to mind.
All in all, a spectacular recording of the Beethoven symphonies.
Cheers,
EJ
Heather Nova "Siren"
my thanks to George (GML) and anyone else posting this here,
enjoying this very much.
On Vinyl
2 x LP Album : )
Fascinating and gentle. Not jazz, not folk but, in a way, both.
Recommended.
steve
One of the 20th century's last piano lions, Cherkassky left us almost nothing but encores, trifles that are fun in concert but hardly worth having on disc. Fortunately, at old age he recorded Rubinstein's 4th concerto, and what a record that turned out to be! Highly recommended and worth hunting the 2nd hand bins for.
EJ
Fascinating and gentle. Not jazz, not folk but, in a way, both.
Recommended.
steve
Will check it out. I see it is on Edition Records who are building a good track record of recordings.
Vienna Teng "Dreaming Through The Noise"
On Vinyl
Big Harp "White Hat"
Vinyl: Kling Klang Produkt 1974 - Digital Master on LP © 2009 : )
Alanis Morissette "MTV Unplugged"
The Mountain Goats - Life of the World to Come
Grateful Dead - Road Trips, Vol1, No4.
Paul Hindemith (1885-1963)
Concert Music for piano, brass and harpes op.49
Concerto for Orchestra op.38
Ballet-Overture for Orchestra "Amor und Psyche"
Monique Haas piano
Berliner Philharmoniker ~ Paul Hindemith
~~<<>>~~
On Vinyl
