Classical recommendations for a heathen

Van the Man---I recently finished the recent Edmund Morris biography of Beethoven in the Eminent Artists series. It is short, concise, and breezily written, not requiring musical notastion knowledge, although it would help to be familiar with Beethoven's works. While the book has some annoying editing gaffs, I found it highly enjoyable and, for the most part, quite accurrate. It was written before the recent scientific findings suggesting Beethoven died from exposure to lead poisoning, but Morris' conclusions are quite accurate for the most part. I tend to agree with most of his musical conclusions too. A good quick read that gives most of the essential Beethoven information and pretty accurately describes his character (or lack thereof)......

quote:

Originally posted by Tam:
Erik,

I too am very fond of it's use in the Shawshank Redemption (one of my favourite films). I think the description fits so well about 'not knowing what the two ladies were singing about', indeed, when you find out it's rather disappointing!

Out of interest, was that the recent Glyndebourne on Tour production (I saw them do Figaro up here a few months back and it was indeed a rather fine production). I'm also told that the one currently running at the ROH is rather fine (though to these ears it didn't come across so well on the radio the week before last).

regards, Tam

Hi Tam,

Nope, it was way back - 97 I think or maybe 96. Everyone was buzzing, performers, conductor, orchestra and audience. Considering the ROH performance I had seen previously had an all star cast including Renee Fleming I think the GTO did a marvelous job.

I am sure I could hear the exact same recording of Sul aria used in shawshank but played on seriously good Hi-Fi and it would not sound as good as it does within the context of that film even if played on a cheap old telly through a steam driven video player. It's use in the film was a truly inspired decision.

Regards,

Erik

Erik,

Do you have the Giulini recording. It's the only one I've heard on disc that comes close.


regards, Tam

quote:

Originally posted by Tam:
Erik,

Do you have the Giulini recording. It's the only one I've heard on disc that comes close.


regards, Tam

Nope. What are the details?

It's on EMI. Guilini and the Philharmonia with and features Schwarzkopf, among others. Of the three recordings I have, it's by far and away my favourite (I spied it in HMV for under £20 the other day).

regards, Tam

Worth noting that according to ye olde internet, the recording used in the film is Bohm's, which I also have, but think is significantly less fine. And listening to that one again now, I have my doubts.... however, I don't have my copy of the film hereabouts to check it.

regards, Tam

quote:

Originally posted by Tam:
It's on EMI. Guilini and the Philharmonia with and features Schwarzkopf, among others. Of the three recordings I have, it's by far and away my favourite (I spied it in HMV for under £20 the other day).

regards, Tam

Many thanks Tam, I will check it out.

regards,

Erik

quote:

Originally posted by Van_The_Man:
Anyone reccomend a not too dry\heavy Beethoven Biography?

Maynard Solomon's book fits the bill, but I don't know if it's still in print. It's just called "Beethoven" if memory serves.

EW

.. yeah, I've just checked it out:



I remember reading the first edition years ago and very much enjoying it - think I'll buy one myself!

EW

From someone whos classical collection grew by 100% with the purchase of two cds, I can say that I happen to enjoy Saint-Saens 'Orgel-Symphonie' (Organ Symphonie?) & from the same guy (?) Saint-Saens Danse Macabre.

Both are big fun to listen to, and to get to know real easy! Especially when you realise what some of the parts are...

How much of a heathen am I?

My favourite version of moonlight sonata is by Marcus Miller (on bass guitar) and Roger Byam on tenor sax, with Patches Stewart on trumpet.

Dear Steve,

I think we need to discuss this at our next meeting! Fredrik

PS: Saint Seans is great fun, and certainly the Organ Symphony is a big noise, but it is more than just that. It is rather fine music, as is most of Saint Seans, I would have thought!

quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker:
The Brahms violin concerto has got many people into classical, and unlike many pieces, it has the scope and depth to stay with you for a lifetime. EW

I have maybe a dozen versions of the Brahms, and I agree, it has incredible staying power. My current favorite is Hilary Hahn's, which seems to find its way onto the CD tray at least once a week. The Stravinsky it is paired with is an unusual, though welcome match. It is always nice to support a living performer, as good as the other versions are historically.

Also worth checking the recommendations in the thread Aric started several months ago.

Norman

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmoliu:
I have maybe a dozen versions of the Brahms, and I agree, it has incredible staying power. My current favorite is Hilary Hahn's

Yes, I've accumulated rather a lot of Brahms D majors over the years. The Heifetz recording with Koussevitsky, BSO on Naxos Historical is enjoying quite a happy relationship with my CD player at the moment; granted there are other ways of playing the concerto, but WHAT playing! Of the modern recordings, I like Kremer with Harnoncourt; again, there are other ways of playing the concerto, but it has an intensity and sense of style that makes many modern recordings sound a bit tedious.

On the whole, I favour the classical approach.

EW

quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker:
The Heifetz recording with Koussevitsky, BSO on Naxos Historical is enjoying quite a happy relationship with my CD player at the moment; granted there are other ways of playing the concerto, but WHAT playing! EW

I am fortunate to own many Heifetz LPs that I acquired in my youth, when the man was my absolute hero. I never got to hear him in concert, but the experience of hearing David Oistrach play the Brahms with the Baltimore Symphony in the early 70s is indelibly etched in my psyche. He ended the second movement and then started the third movement on an up bow stroke! As he brought the bow around to its tip with a flourish, you got the sensation that he could lift the whole audience and hall with that very motion. Incredible moment. In fact, I dragged out my Oistrach/Brahms LP just the other night to compare it to HH's interpretation.

Norman

How on earth do you begin the finale of the Brahms with an upbow? I presume he dropped a cod?!

Oistrakh generally is pitifully underrepresented in my CD collection and I intend to put this right. As for the great Jascha Heifetz, the more time I spend with his recordings the more do I understand his art and realise that he was closer to the truth than pretty much anyone else. He was very much before his time in many respects. As for his detractors, as one reviewer of that Naxos Historical disc (which also contains a mind-blowing performance of the Beethoven) said, it is they who are in the gutter and Heifetz who is looking at the stars.

Quite.

EW

I've got the Oistrakh/Oborin Beethoven violin sonatas and they're rather fine.

regards, Tam

quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker:
How on earth do you begin the finale of the Brahms with an upbow? I presume he dropped a cod?!
EW

Indeed, he most certainly did. Don't know what dropping a cod is all about, but I presume that I did something very similar when I saw him do that.

I think I am up for a Heifetz night. Whenever I see a Toyota Prius these days, I think of him driving one of the first electric cars way back then.

Norman

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmoliu:
Don't know what dropping a cod is all about

It's a polite euphemism for f*cked up!

EW

quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker:

It's a polite euphemism for f*cked up!

EW

Hmm. How can I work that into my current vocabulary?

Norman

quote:

I like Kremer with Harnoncourt

Have you heard Kremer with Muti in the Sibelius?


P.S

Adam, Eureka!!!!!!!!

Somewhere amid all the re-installs, IE6 managed to lose its 128-bit cipher!

quote:

Originally posted by Basil:

quote:

I like Kremer with Harnoncourt

Have you heard Kremer with Muti in the Sibelius?

No, is it any good? I've got Mullova's recording with Ozawa, which is OK but I'm sure there's better out there. She tended to sound a bit artificial at that early stage in her career.

EW

By the way, I seem to recall someone somewhere asking about recodings of the Beethoven Quartets - UK members might be interested in the quite phenominal Takacs set of the late quartets which is currently on offer at HMV for £15.99:

http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ct...;-1;-1;-1&sku=342260

If anyone's after a set, these come very highly recommended.

EW

quote:

No, is it any good? I've got Mullova's recording with Ozawa, which is OK but I'm sure there's better out there. She tended to sound a bit artificial at that early stage in her career.

I think so, it stands up in comparison with the two recordings I have with Heifetz (Beecham and Hendl).