That’s the CD to have 
Reading up on Karajan’s relationship with Strauss’ Don Quixote it appears it was a special and pivotal work for him. Listening to this 1965 recording with Pierre Fournier that is very apparent.
Another LP that the Utopik enhanced Klimax Radikal2 appears to have brought new life to.
Like an art restoration process, a simply amazing performance has been revealed!
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I hadn’t known that, but it makes sense. Karajan sounds like he was born to do Strauss. Strauss is so surface-forward, and Karajan’s style privileged that, polishing surfaces until they showed his reflection. He always just sounds great when performing that conductor.
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In the uncomfortably hot weather we’ve been suffering from recently, I’ve found weighty orchestral music didn’t quite match my mood. Better a bit of early classical chamber music. I’ve had this delightful disc in my collection for years and it seems just right for the heat. A glass of Prosecco rather than a heavy red?
Roger
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Totally agree, Roger. This has been in my collection for many years and is a real tonic, absolutely delightful. I must dig out and listen again to my copy!
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When my mood isn’t up to orchestral pieces, I usually listen to Mozart piano concertos. Brendel I’m afraid 
I prefer Brendel to Uchida.
I like the early Pires sonata set, now available on Brilliant classics, too. And I"m not a fan of her usually.
Also, the Brilliant classics sonata set by Klara Wirtz is really good.
For concertos, it must be Perahia.
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If you liked that, you’ll probably like this - it he also used the same theme in his 3rd Symphony, and this is a very fine performance -
Another excellent album - there is also a remastered version
For some more Americana -
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many thanks, will have a look very soon.
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Very good indeed - thank you for the heads up, I would have probably missed this given so many recent recordings of these works.
Thanks EJ
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This first recording of Giordano’s first opera, Marina, was recorded under studio conditions following the premiere in February this year. The performance is first class throughout, with one of today’s foremost Toscas in the title role, and the work fits right in with the likes of Fedora, Cavalleria and Tabarro. Recommended!
Cheers
EJ
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Agreed. This recording is exceptional. Excellent performances too. This version of Appalachian Spring is my go to digital recording of a favourite work and this Quiet City is a spine tingler too.
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Appalachian Spring is a favourite of mine and I have several recordings. Last year we spent a week in Bath and visited the American Museum and Gardens which has reconstructions of 19th century pioneer houses. Viewing the simple interiors was very evocative and brought Copland’s lovely score to mind.
Personally, I prefer the music played by a small chamber orchestra with the same scoring as in the original performance of the Martha Graham ballet. The version by the Orpheus Ensemble is perhaps my favourite:
I’m not sure if this is still available, but a more recent version is also very good:
Roger
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I heard the chamber orchestra version performed live in the late 1990s, by the Halle Orchestra and Kent Nagano in Halifax UK.
They played a short introductory overture piece of music, before the full orchestra disappeared off stage. And while there was much reorganisation of the stage layout, Kent Nagano returned to stage to explain why the orchestra has disappeared when the audience might have reasonably expected the full orchestral version of Appalachian Spring.
It was a superb performance (more intimate and detailed). Also, this was the first concert, where I experienced the conductor speaking to the audience. Something that is (thankfully) more common nowadays.
Prompted me to buy the Andrew Schenck leading the Atlantic Sinfonietta on Koch International Classics “Music for Martha Graham”.
The Orpheus version is very good too.
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A very very nice (superb at times) rendering of Rameau’s suites, making use of what the piano offers without being too pianistic as some can be. The recording is quite good from being from the early 50s. Highly recommended. I should add that Rameau’s deceptively simple but quite complex because of the rather unique mix of harmony and polyphony makes me think of the wonderful philosophical dialogue “Rameau’s nephew” by Diderot. Definitely worth a read if you are into Enlightenment philosophy.
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Saint-Saens’ music presents a conundrum for me.
I’ve tried repeatedly to ‘get’ his Concerto’s and Symphonies, but have always failed, finding them clumsy, repetitive, pedantic, even irritating. I’ve given up on all of them.
And yet I really enjoy almost all of his short form Orchestral pieces, such as these for instance:
This disc is clear evidence that he could orchestrate brilliantly and could be hugely original, judicious, subtle and expert in large scale orchestration. Not qualities I can find in any of his longer, more traditionally formatted efforts for orchestra. Did he just feel the weight of expectation in the latter and try too hard? Or am I just wrong about the Concerto’s and Symphonies? Answers on a postcard!
I’m happy that he penned the shorter works on this disc as well as works like Rhapsody d’Auvergene, Africa and of course, Carnival of the Animals. All immensely enjoyable and unique in style to him.
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Thanks for this steer Roger. I’ll definitely give the chamber orchestra version a listen.