Recordings that live up to the hype
Posted by: Todd A on 13 May 2002
We've all seen the recent overrated and previous underrated threads, and while the threads are all entertaining, how about listing some recordings that are well received by critics, hyped by the industry (at some point in time), receive awards, and that you actually like. A lot. My focus is of course classical, but I'm sure that there are some works in every genre that fit these criteria.
First up, both Murray Perahia's recent and Glenn Gould's second recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations. Both are vastly different in style, but both are examplary.
Carlos Kleiber's recording of Brahms' Fourth Symphony. A spellbinder.
Maurizio Pollini's traversal of Beethoven's Late Piano Sonatas.
Richter's take on Liszt's
Piano Concertos, the Second in particular.
Otto Klemperer delivered a number of recordings that at least meet and often surpass the hype: Mahler's Second, Brahms' Deutsches Requiem, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.
Gieseking's Debussy most certainly fits in this category, too.
Looking beyond the stodgy world of classical, I have found that pretty much every recording from either John Coltrane or Thelonius Monk are worth the historical accolades, and then some. And of course Duke Ellington is simply beyond reproach. Were I more up to speed on jazz, I could probably cite more modern names (help, please?).
Others?
Posted on: 13 May 2002 by Cheese
quote:
Otto Klemperer delivered a number of recordings (...) Brahms' Deutsches Requiem...
How brilliant it is indeed, even Herreweghe's account has far less substance. Just listen to Fischer-Dieskau's "Herr, lehre doch mich..." ! It's one of these moments where artists come really close to just that thing that cannot be named.
To your list I would add Maria Callas, even though it has become fashionable to criticise her. She missed not many of her recordings, and I strongly think it's time to stop with the negative hype about her later recordings. Her voice was't so powerful anymore but she was still unique, and she even gained some smoothness and delicacy.
I'd have another thought about Emil Gilels who was gorgeous throughout his career, but not as good as Horowitz and Rubinstein in "building an aura". Richter was also quite good at this. Nonetheless all of them were enormous.
Carlos Kleiber - never knew why the **** he disappeared from the circuit, but I still hope he'll come back one day to take the place he deserves - in front of the Berlin Philharmonic. Sorry Sir Simon ;-)
And, of course, Miles Davis. Enormous hype, but absolute mastery of black music for 40 years. There is something to be said about some of his concerts, but that also applied to Richter or Michelangeli, didn't it ?
Cheese
Posted on: 13 May 2002 by John C
I dont think any jazz is hyped, but critically accalaimed, unless we are talking about Winnie or Diana Krall.
Louis Armstrong Complete Hot Fives and Hot Sevens-Can't inagine anyone living without this.
Ellington - as said above simply a body of work that defies description. The small groups recordings on Columbia are monumental
Charlie Parker Complete Savoy and Dial sessions-
Sun Ra- Jazz in Silhouette
Ornette Coleman- Beauty is a Rare Thing (Box Set of all the indispensible Atlantics !!)
Sonny Rollins- Night at the Village Vanguard
Charles Mingus- The Black saint and the Sinner lady
Cecil Taylor- Neffereti the Beautiful One Has Come
John Coltrane- Crescent-
Tony Oxley Quintet - The Baptised Traveller
(Evan Parker, Kenny Wheeler,Derek Bailey,Jeff cline, Tony Oxley) One of the great records at the beginning of British improvised music, hugely influential in the development of free improvisational music.
Horace Tapscott - The Dark Tree
John
Posted on: 13 May 2002 by Former member
Erich Kleiber, Beethoven Symphony 5, Concertgebouw Amsterdam Decca 1953
A stunning much acclaimed recording that really stood the test of critics, analysis and time. I simply love it (if not only for the energy of the Allegro)
Oscar Peterson, Night Train, Verve 1963
No record collection is complete without this record. A critics favorite that easily lives up to the hype IMO.
And if we swap genre a bit I cannot think of anything that fits the topic description better for me than
Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited Columbia 1965
Bob Dylan, Blond on Blond Columbia, 1966
Hyped and analyzed to death, songs and lyrics ripped to pieces and put together again, I mean anything you can do to songs and an artist have been done and yet I think they both are so very very good. Bob Dylan's creative peak from early 1965 to mid 1966 is something popular music never will experience again.
Cheers
Carl
BTW Todd, the Schnabel Brahms/Bach and Schubert disks arrived on the door mat last Friday. Haven't had the time to spin them yet though.
Posted on: 13 May 2002 by DJH
Verdi, Otello, with Domingo and Myung-Whun Chung ; a thrilling performance that is superbly recorded.
Janacek, Kata Kabanova & Vec Makropulos, Mackerras. IMHO, these deserve all the praise that they have received.
Britten, Peter Grimes & Billy Budd, with Pears / Britten. (Actually, my favourite is the "Serenade for horn and tenor".)
