@KJC, if you like Isabelle Faust’s work (not just the sound engineer ), you might enjoy this recording too:
It’s interesting to hear what Michael Korstick had to say when Sony BMG published without authorisation a bagatelle (a late Beethoven piece) on a CD entitled kuschel musik
We saw him at the little missenden music festival in the old church perform diabelli variations and the D935 impromptus.
Also at St. George’s old masonic hall in park street Bristol, well known for superb acoustics, performing the last 3 piano sonatas of Franz Schubert. Quite enjoyable performances
Also fortunate by chance to see them perform some Beethoven violin sonatas in an old church at a music festival in Alsace. Église Saint-Pierre-sur-l’Hâte, which is on the way when we go back to France.
A good way to find these concerts is to look at the announcements by Harmonia Mundi and ECM new series record labels. Also enjoyable settings to hear chamber music
These guys from Freiburg have been producing fabulous recordings in recent years, including Beethoven’s Triple Concerto. Tonight’s music diet — highly recommended. It would have been even better if I hadn’t already consumed all the wine we had from Glottertal just outside Freiburg.
Making the journey on the Eurostar to Amsterdam bearable — two fantastic soloists:
Great tip for the above release. It’s excellent. Thanks
Since @davidhendon mentioned Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs, specifically Im Abendrot, on the ‘Hauntingly Beautiful’ thread, I’ve been listening to several different versions (at least ten) of this work. All four songs are hauntingly beautiful, for sure, but the focus of my listening has been Beim Schlafengehen (Going to Sleep). Although I have long admired Jessye Norman’s version, my current favourite as a result of this extended listening session, is this one, by Soile Isokoski.
I had a quick look and I have only five versions on my Core, so I listened to Bein Schlafengehen on each of them. The Soile Isokoski you mention which I agree is very good, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf which is rooted in my own musical origins so is special to me, Jessie Norman, Lisa della Casa and Gundula Janowitz.
It’s very hard to pick a favourite as each one I listened to drew me into the song. As I’m only listening with one ear at the moment (which is another story) it’s hard for me to judge the sound quality, but the Stokowski sounds maybe the best? But I would take any of them for the singing.
Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs are sublime. If you don’t already know this, I would also warmly recommend Mahler’s Rückert Lieder. There are many superb versions including this version which I think is available with a number of different couplings.
I do have that same recording, although it’s a while since I listened to it.
Another wonderful Mahler cycle is Das Lied von der Erde and this recording of Christa Ludwig singing it is another LP from the beginnings of my personal musical journey.
And I used to listen to this LP a lot, although I find Des Knaben Wunderhorn a bit bombastic for my taste now. Elizabeth Schwarzkopf and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau sing wonderfully though.
Two albums that I’ve found I can just get lost in.
The first, Mari by Mari Samuelson. The first track didn’t really grab me but I was hooked from the second onwards. Amazing.
Next is Bach: Sonatas & Partitas by Augustin Hadelich. Love this whole album and is a great listen at home or even on a trail run. Popped it onto my Apple Watch with AirPods. Time just seems to stand still.
I haven’t listened carefully enough to this download I bought a few weeks ago. But I did this evening, with my one operational ear (temporarily one, I hope). It’s lovely.
For Das Lied von der Erde, I reckon Bruno Walter has a special place, particularly as he knew Mahler and conducted the first performance. And the famous recording with Kathleen Ferrier as contralto soloist is very special to me. Her singing in Der Abschied plumbs depths I’ve not heard from any other singer, many of whose performances I admire. The nobility and depth of emotion Ferrier finds is real sivers-down-the-spine stuff for me and her quiet singing of “Ewig” at the close leaves me speechless. The recording is mono and necessitates some tolerance from the listener, but the effort sure is worthwhile.
Roger
Great album!
The Villa-Lobos’ adadgio in collaboration with Sheku Kanneh-Mason is superb (track 6).
Highly recommended!
Favorite recording with my favorite violinist - Leonid Kogan. Max Bruch violin concerto. No one does it better imo.
And my favourite recording of the same Dvorak symphony (although this isn’t the original album artwork).
Who is the conductor (difficult to see). Istvan Kertesz? His recording is also outstanding