The classical music thread

Hi Chris, yes, I often make my own hires discs by burning hires flacs to a DVD - my Accuphase plays these as CDs. But I wouldn’t bother with that if I didn’t have to.
EJ

1 Like

That’s OK with me, the CDS3 plays CDs just fine :slight_smile:

Claude

On regular CD - Osborne’s first Beethoven disc. He’s making his way through the sonatas slowly, but all discs so far have been stellar.

Cheers
EJ

6 Likes

Sometimes, I find myself wanting music simply to transport me away, particularly in the present pandemic. It doesn’t need to be especially profound, but I do want it to entertain and preferably move me. I recently came across the following album which did both:

It’s a collection of mandolin concertos and opera arias by baroque composers associated with Venice. Beautifully performed, it’s the next best thing to actually revisiting La Serenissima.

Roger

5 Likes

I don‘t like romantic songs …but this is by far the best sounding, realistic stage, 3D like album I have heard…try it loud!

1 Like

I’m back listening Mozart piano concertos. I have the Neville Marinner, Alfred Brendel box set.

Can listen all day. During work it gives me energy and in the evening it is not too complex.

I like the 13th piano concerto in particular. It shows the genius of Mozart and has the promise of what comes.

4 Likes


Recent purchase inspired by Radio3 podcast of building a library, Poulenc Concerto for 2 pianos. Lots of lovely stuff on these 4 discs, but the Poulenc is worth the £25 all on its own. Extraordinarily real recording and an inspired performance of a beautiful composition.

The only downside is the packaging. Very informative booklet, but how am I supposed to fit this on a CD shelf? :face_with_raised_eyebrow:

5 Likes

The packaging looks the same as the over-the-top type used by the Berlin Phil’s own label recordings. As you say, it just doesn’t fit properly on a shelf. The cynically minded may suggest this type of presentation is used by the issuer to help to justify the asking price - which of course it doesn’t!
There hasn’t been an ideal way of presenting CDs. The one thing I miss about LPs is the lovely packaging, and with opera sets the large booklet with the libretto. Try following the libretto on the mini-booklet enclosed in CD sets - if they’re issued, as sadly the trend is now towards online versions. These are no substitute for a hard copy.

Jean-Baptiste Lully - L’Orchestre Du Roi Soleil - Le Concert des Nations - Jordi Savall
1999 Alia Vox / Austria SACD / 9807

As championed by @Debs this is an excellent performance for the last hours of the day.

8 Likes

I love all of Jordi Savall’s recordings of Marin Marais’ works for Viola da Gamba. I have a 5-CD set of those and they are great. If you know the Gerard Depardieu movie, “Tous le matins du monde” it’s the same kind of music you hear in the soundtrack.

4 Likes

@JosquinDesPrez From the soundtrack thread.

1 Like

Lovely.

3 Likes

These are the recordings I mentioned above, of Savall playing Marais, as well as one of Sainte-Colombe who was Marais’ master (as the aforementioned film chronicles). I also have a vinyl version of one on top left – “Suitte d’un Goût Etranger” – from the old Astree label. It sounds wonderful. The second one – “Pieces de Viol des Cinq Livres” – is a five CD set. I believe it is now rather hard to get unless they did a repress. The other two are 2 CDs each.

7 Likes

Does anyone have the Sony Classics vinyl reissue box set (15 LPs) of Bernstein’s 1960’s Mahler cycle on Columbia. Any thoughts about it (remastering/pressing-wise?

Due in September, this is probably the last of Ivan Fischer’s Mahler recordings, as he’s said he isn’t going to do Symphony 8. Fischer’s Mahler with the Budapest Festival Orchestra has been of incredibly high quality. I look forward to this.

9 Likes

I love Brendels performance of Mozarts piano concertos. Is his take on Beethoven equally impressive?

5 Likes

Count me in, I’m a Jordi Savall fan too.

Claude

1 Like

Yes, and don’t miss his Schubert too, it is superb.

Claude

1 Like

I talked to Channel Classic several years ago about Mahler 8, and they said it’s just too damn expensive to mount a production of it to record, and sales don’t justify the expense.

Brendel’s recordings of Schubert from the the 70s on Philips are some of my favorite classical solo piano recordings.

6 Likes