What are you listening to? (Vol VII)

 On Vinyl

Tori Amos "Scarlet's Walk"

The best Carmen on record. At the time this recording was made, Solti was one of the first who recorded the complete score in its original version - with spoken dialogues. Nowadays that is the usual way we hear Carmen so no longer a selling point, but the cast and performance is. This is a loud, sweeping performance, with Troyanos the best Carmen on record (she never sang it on stage) and Te Kanawa a sweet Micaela. Domingo and Van Dam, both in their prime, sound terrific and would repeat their performances for Abbado a year later.

The recording is a bit reverberant and suffers from a serious degree of loudness. My speakers welcome the opportunity and even at moderate volume I fear for the relationship with my neighbours.

Cheers,

EJ

Leonard Cohen "Live In London" disc 1

Jo Hamilton "Gown"

Jason Isbell "Sirens Of The Ditch"

On CD:-

Alexi Murdoch "Toward The Sun"

disc 2

Timeless

2011 has so far been an excellent year for Hyperion - hardly a month went by without a memorable release. Hamelin's performance of the Liszt sonata is highly recommended.

Cheers,

EJ

The Decemberists - The King Is Dead

A couple from earlier today, both on the black stuff. 

Björk - Biophilia

Songs for Drella 

 On Vinyl

teenage fanclub,first and possibly finest   a catholic education