T.D.

One of my best acquisitions of 2025. (I'm a few decades behind the times 🤪) As stated somewhere else on the forum, I never connected with the Bartok SQs until I heard this set.

That is a really neat interview. Pity it ended so early (in his life) / abruptly.

Is that the original release? I have the original (on 2 CD). It's excellent, but I couldn't bring myself to pay for the expanded (7 CD worth) reissue.

Japanese CD twofer (UCCD-9687/8) of Grumiaux and Haskil playing Mozart violin sonatas K.378, K.304, K.376, K.301, K.454 and K.526 I can't find an image. It seems to be a combination of 2 previously released single discs. I bought this because (at the time) it was the easiest way to get the K.454 and K.526. I already had (still do) this recording of the other 4:

My CD copy lacks the "VOL. 8" on the cover art (just black space), which is a funny blooper.

Good list. I'll definitely try to hear more Kissin. I've listened to his Bach-Busoni Chaconne on youtube a few times and think it's the best I've heard. When I lived in/near NYC and attended a lot of concerts, Kissin was one of the biggest star soloists at Carnegie Hall.

Peter, I also prefer Bach on piano. I do own a handful of harpsichord recordings, incl. Hantai's Goldberg Variations and Suzuki's Kunst der Fuge (the latter of which I really enjoy). Don't have any Bach by Kempff, but his Beethoven sonata cycle is my favorite. I have a bunch of Bach piano recordings. Listen to Sergey Schepkin the most. Other pianists include Feltsman, Schiff, Feinberg, Gould, Tipo and Martins, the latter two of whom are known for idiosyncratic interpretations (maybe Gould is in that category too, but he's much more respected 🙂).

Indicative of my bad taste (Bach purists would recoil in horror - for instance https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-11709/ )

I guess I can deal with the 1 track with Hod's wife on vocals.

One of my best recording buys of 2025

I am a fan of Grumiaux, and he's especially good in Mozart.

Thanks, that's good to know. I saw him live once in a relatively small club (circa 2017 iirc) and he seemed like an extremely nice guy.

The Takayanagi trio/duo disc on No Business (w. Kikuchi on the trios and Ino throughout) is something I've considered buying, but so far have just listened on the bandcamp site. Hoping that Lonely Woman turns out to be one of those recordings that belatedly clicks.

Looking at the album art on discogs, it seems to be a pendant on a necklace.