I have Kempff / Beethoven piano sonatas, recorded in 1965 stereo, and complete on 8 CDs. It has been said that a previous mono set is better than this. Is anyone familiar with both sets, and do you have an opinion either way?
Out of the fabulous Box of Ataulfo Argenta on alto: Preludios E Intermedios Orquestra Nacional De Espana Ataulfo Argenta https://www.discogs.com/de/release/6907806-Ataulfo-Argenta-Orquesta-Nacional-De-España-Preludios-E-Intermedios
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 (unabridged version) Andrej Hoteev Tchaikovsky Chamber Orchestra Vladimir Fedoseyev Hoteev sirved through the archives for this great box in search of the original scores. The extensive booklet refers to the many changes that third parties did not incorporate in the sense of Tchaikovsky in terms of tempos and cuts and revises them. This starts very interestingly in the 1st and I'm curious to see what happens next. The sound also knows how to please. Well audible with a brilliant piano and dynamic orchestra. The box is available at jpc for 9.99€! https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/de...he-werke-fuer-klavier-orchester/hnum/10469838
Listening to "Pierre De La Rue - Missa De Feria / Missa Sancta Dei genitrix" performed by Gothic Voices directed by Christopher Page on Helios.
Issued 1972. Producer: Patti Laursen, a rare female producer. Engineer: Carson Taylor, who beginning in the 50s was one of Capitol's most prominent engineers for classical sessions. Scranton pressing. This label was in use 1/70 to 7/72. Parkening is a devout Christian and this album was reissued in the mid-80s on the Word label out of Waco, TX.
Columbia Masterworks ML 4775, blue label. I don't have the year of issue, but this is an early LP. The recordings were made by EMI in Kingsway Hall, London on 5/21/47 (Horn) & 9/23/47 (Oboe). Goossens was a younger brother of conductor Eugene Goossens.
Back at work today after a public holiday off on Thursday for ANZAC Day. Around a third of our staff have taken the Friday off to get a 4-day weekend, so it is very quiet. Debussy: Children's corner, L. 113 Debussy: Douze Etudes, Book 1, L. 136 Debussy: Etude Retrouvée, CD. 143a Aldo Ciccolini (piano) 1991
I have a handful of pieces by Khachaturian, including some of his concertos, but I feel I should get more as I loved this symphony! Khachaturian: Symphony No. 1 in E minor Glinka: "Memory of Friendship", Themes & Variations on Nocturne of Hummel Glinka: Patriotic Song Alexander Gauk USSR State Radio & TV Symphony Orchestra Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra USSR State Symphony Orchestra 1950-58
It's been almost 3 years since I last listened to this performance from Cluytens, which is a real shame because this is a wonderful cycle with the Berlin Phil. Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B Flat Major, Op. 60 Beethoven: Coriolan Overture, Op. 62 André Cluytens Berliner Philharmoniker 1959
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: String Quartets Nos. 3 & 5, Andante & Scherzo Op. 81, by Zemlinsky Quartet
I listened to the LP many times and now own the CD. The CD adds 6 non-Bach tracks, which are fine in and of themselves but ruin the flow of the album. So my ripped disc version swaps them for several Bach tracks from an earlier Parkening album.
Philharmonia Orchestra - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Flute Concerto No. 2 in D Major, K. 314, by Philharmonia Orchestra
I wasn't too impressed with this performance of Brahms' 1st, but the Tragic Overture was great. Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 Brahms: Tragic Overture, Op. 81 Kurt Masur New York Philharmonic 1995
Rather puzzling that the album cover omits the name of the soloist. I even visited the link and could not find it there. Did they just employ the resident first chair flutist of the Philharmonia Orchestra? Even so, I feel he/she should have been acknowledged.
PP Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 'Pathétique' & Serenade for Strings Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniele Gatti Move over Jurowski and Honeck, I've got a new favorite! This is a fast, thrilling performance (44:42). I don't belive I ever loved the 2nd movement as much. The Serenade, however, really couldn't keep up with the main course. They're hard to find apparently (3 discs, symphonies 4-5-6 on Harmonia Mundi, initially on SACD), but they are fairly available on download sites like 7digital. Also, they couldn't get him to pose for a good picture? They even reused that terrible, blurry cutout for all 3 discs! NP Ligeti, disc 1 (concertos) Ensemble Intercontemporain, Pierre Bleuse More approachable than I expected, yet still very Modern compositions. I doubt I would revisit often, but nice to hear once in a while
Wow. This Parkening album of Bach seems to be something of a rite of passage for classical guitar enthusiasts of a certain age... me included. My brother gave me a copy (picture below) for Christmas, 1978. I played it frequently the first few years; less so now, but it's still a gem. The jacket is still in pretty good shape (minimal "ring wear") considering its age and it has never had a plastic outer sleeve. As you can see from the label, it's a later repress.
Listening to "A Song for Francesca - Music In Italy 1330-1430" performed by Gothic Voices directed by Christopher Page on Hyperion. Featuring: Margaret Philpot (contralto) Caroline Trevor (alto) Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor) John Mark Ainsly (tenor) Leigh Nixon (tenor) 1987
He's a phenomenal player (and a new name to me), but I question his decision, according to the liner notes, to tune down to A 426 "in order to reduce the natural overtones of the guitar and to make it sound more like a ‘chamber’ instrument, and more intimate." Most guitarists want more resonance/overtones!
