T.D.

A "postwar" composer I've always liked is Bernd Alois Zimmermann. For one CD, I'd recommend Requiem für eine jungen Dichter, a massive and overpowering (though kinda depressing) vocal/tape collage piece covering 20th century history (well, through about 1970). I have a Sony recording with Gielen conducting, but I think there's at least one other. Because the tape is prominent, I wouldn't expect much difference between recordings (I saw a live performance once, and it sounded almost identical to the CD). A Luigi Nono piece I really like (despite his Commie agitprop sensibilities ) is Como una ola de fuerza y luz, which is a totally fiery and intense piano/vocal/orchestral/tape work. I have an old Berlin Classics CD, but I'm sure the DG (and possibly others) are OK. Warning: both of the above employ 12-tone "idiom" in places (and the composers' overall works are generally serial), if that's a no-no for you. Big fan of Morton Feldman, though he's likely too far out for many (sparsity, silences, low volume). The works that usually get recommended to "novices" are Rothko Chapel and Coptic Light for orchestra. I personally prefer solo piano pieces like Triadic Memories, Palais de Mari or For Bunita Marcus.

Anecdote: When I lived near NYC, I went to quite a few (free) concerts at Manhattan School of Music, just north of Columbia University. I noticed that a very high percentage of the student body was Asian, but was not surprised. I see where the article is coming from...Will it be enough to "save" classical music? I doubt it, in the sense that I believe big-city orchestras will continue to shave costs and occasionally close down.

Maia Chiburdanidze June Lockhart Bille August

Tea Leoni?

Sir Thomas Beecham supposedly once said to a female cellist: Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands, and all you can do is scratch it!

Thanks! That looks like a better idea. I went ahead and bought this: 10 discs for under $30 - not exactly sure of the contents ( ) but seems hard to go wrong. I once thought Liszt was bombastic and vacuous, but have come to enjoy his music, though it's definitely "high calorie", so to speak...

I thought this (4 discs, $15+S/H) looked interesting, but then saw this (9 discs, $36+S/H). I'm more interested in the piano music, and the 34-CD DG box is more than I'd ever listen to. And the Leslie Howard mega piano box is just too much...

John Coltrane, The Heavyweight Champion, complete Atlantic recordings (Rhino). Discs 1-6 over the weekend.

Years ago, I occasionally leafed through Stereophile magazine. Then I read a whole bunch of crap about "Shun Mook Resonators" and gave up.

+1 on the Booker Ervin dates. That rhythm section is killer.

Charles Mingus, Passions of a Man box (Atlantic) Recent purchase.

Box arrived Friday(!). Very fast, immaculate condition. Thanks!

I read pretty much all of Michael Lewis's books - met him back when we worked at the same company (think Liar's Poker days). Read Moneyball some years ago, and the film is high up in my Netflix queue.

PM sent on 38. Charles Mingus: The Complete Atlantic Recordings 1956-61. Each disc played once. $45.

Recently got the Art Pepper Complete Village Vanguard Sessions box and have been listening heavily. Before that, Herbie Nichols Complete Blue Note Recordings and Denny Zeitlin Mosaic Select.

Box set arrived, many thanks! Careful packaging much appreciated.

I went ahead and ordered this. Loved the clips I listened to, the Mosaiques have a great reputation, and only the Beethoven on this set is a duplication for me (but I don't yet have any HIP versions).

Doesn't qualify as mega-bargain, but I've been getting into HIP string playing and am seriously tempted by this 5-CD set at around $25 + S/H. Track listing hard to find on US sites, but is given here.

And now, the Hygiene Defense!

OK, John! PM sent on Art Pepper - Complete Village Vanguard Sessions (Contemporary) $25 (sticker on top left corner, tear on top of box)

I once attended a live performance of Sequenza V for trombone (which I liked very much). This piece is highly theatrical, and I got the impression that a CD (non-visual) recording would be pointless. Rightly or wrongly, I then abandoned the idea of pursuing Sequenza CDs, as I figured I'd be missing the stage elements. [Further disclosure: many "modern music" solo performances (in Larry's above pejorative sense) don't really turn me on for various reasons.]

Totally clueless, but was invited by GA (thank you!), so... Winnipeg 80

I've heard a lot of Kremer over the years, but not in these works. I know he's an excellent musician, but I find his tone a little "wiry", not fully to my taste (though I don't claim it's anything more than personal taste). I prefer Kremer in contemporary repertory, where his tone seems less jarring to me, even apropos in things like Nono's La lontananza nostalgica utopica futura.

Sigiswald Kuijken is not Dutch, he's from Belgium (Flanders, to be exact). BTW, Kuijken has since (2009) recorded the suites on "shoulder cello." Haven't heard the recording...

Thinking of getting another versions of the Cello Suites (currently have Gendron and Bylsma I). My preference is for recent releases (hey, want to support "the industry") and HIP (which is kind of under-represented in my CD collection). HIP not absolutely required if performance is sufficiently kick-ass. The three recordings below have caught my eye. Any feedback (or other recommendations) appreciated. a) Queyras on Harmonia Mundi: great reviews, clips sound excellent (playing and sound quality), negative is that the set is pricey and Q. plays a period cello with modern bow/strings; b) Gailliard on APARTE(?): seems to be HIP, samples good, fewer reviews than Queyras; c) Anne Gastinel on Naive: got my attention for some reason, but don't know much about it and samples are limited.