What Classical Music Are You Listening To?

[Peter Friedman]

[HutchFan]

More from this set:

Disc 4:
- Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3 - with Vladimir Ashkenazy
- Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini - with Van Cliburn
- Khachaturian: Dances

Rachmaninov and the Philadelphia Orchestra go together like cookies & milk.  A perfect pairing.

 

[mjzee]

3 hours ago, HutchFan said:

More from this set:

Disc 4:
- Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3 - with Vladimir Ashkenazy
- Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini - with Van Cliburn
- Khachaturian: Dances

Rachmaninov and the Philadelphia Orchestra go together like cookies & milk.  A perfect pairing.

 

What's your opinion of Ormandy (in general)?

The Decca Sound - The Piano Edition, disc 36.  Also includes Thirty-two Variations from this:

[soulpope]

6 hours ago, Peter Friedman said:

Excellent ....

[soulpope]

Lazar Berman plays Schumann Sonata 1 @ Moscow in October 1976 .... wonderful rendition ....

[soulpope]

Anatol Ugorski plays Chopin Sonata 3 "live" in 1993 ....

Edited December 27, 2023 by soulpope

[HutchFan]

9 hours ago, mjzee said:

What's your opinion of Ormandy (in general)?

Generally speaking, I think he was an outstanding conductor -- and I love the sound of the Philadelphia Orchestra.  It's so plush and velvety, almost voluptuous. 

I think Ormandy was especially good at Russian repertoire: Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Shostakovich.  His Sibelius is also outstanding.  

His interpretations are (usually) not the ultimate in terms of architecture or rhythm.  Like Stokowski, who preceded him in Philadelphia, Ormandy is much more interested in color and texture.  So I guess you could say that Ormandy was very good at some things, and not so good at other things.  But the good stuff is so good that I find myself returning to it often.

That's my take.     

 

[Ron S]

Mozart, Serenades Nos. 10 (Gran Partita), 11, and 12

Czech Philharmonic Wind Ensemble (Supraphon Japan)

[soulpope]

1 hour ago, Ron S said:

Mozart, Serenades Nos. 10 (Gran Partita), 11, and 12

Czech Philharmonic Wind Ensemble (Supraphon Japan)

The stupendous Czech Philharmonic woodwind players ....

[Ron S]

1 hour ago, soulpope said:

The stupendous Czech Philharmonic woodwind players ....

👍

[Chuck Nessa]

[mjzee]

13 hours ago, HutchFan said:

Generally speaking, I think he was an outstanding conductor -- and I love the sound of the Philadelphia Orchestra.  It's so plush and velvety, almost voluptuous. 

I think Ormandy was especially good at Russian repertoire: Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Shostakovich.  His Sibelius is also outstanding.  

His interpretations are (usually) not the ultimate in terms of architecture or rhythm.  Like Stokowski, who preceded him in Philadelphia, Ormandy is much more interested in color and texture.  So I guess you could say that Ormandy was very good at some things, and not so good at other things.  But the good stuff is so good that I find myself returning to it often.

That's my take.     

 

Thanks.  I've been eyeing the Ormandy mono box for some time.  I don't know if I need yet more versions of these symphonies, but it's gotten very good reviews, and will soon be unavailable.

 

Kurt Masur - The Complete Warner Classics Edition, disc 26.

[soulpope]

Alicia de Larrocha plays Granados "live" @ Concertgebouw Amsterdam in 1984 ....

[Referentzhunter]

thrift store find !!! 

Excellent performances and the box is pretty rare too (cheapest 35 euro used).  I love trift store hunting !

[soulpope]

Rosa Sabater plays Granados "live" @ Sala Fenix de Madrid on January 14th, 1974 ....

[Referentzhunter]

On 12/26/2023 at 4:57 PM, HutchFan said:

I love that music -- and that recording -- too.   

 

😏 It's a fantastic classic ! Glad you like it too !

I am really digging the Nuttcracker but i am not a fan of the Swan Lake (also a classic recording from Rohzdestvensky). What about you ... ?

 

[Referentzhunter]

 

What is it why i don't like Bernstein's Mahler unlike quite a few other Mahler enthusiasts ?!

It is not that i haven't tried ... it is what it is i guess.

Edited December 28, 2023 by Referentzhunter

[soulpope]

Earlier .... :

Edna Stern "Hélène de Montgeroult" (Orchid Classics) 2017  .....

[Peter Friedman]

Beethoven Piano Sonatas No.8,  No.3,  No.1

[HutchFan]

6 hours ago, Referentzhunter said:

What is it why i don't like Bernstein's Mahler unlike quite a few other Mahler enthusiasts ?!

It is not that i haven't tried ... it is what it is i guess.

Years ago, I was an active member of the Mahler Forum.  There have always been quite a few Mahler fans who are NOT fans of Lenny's way with Mahler.  They felt that his interpretations were exaggerated to the point of excess . . . going far past the what Mahler put down in the scores.   These critics also feel like Bernstein focused on moments to the detriment of the longer-line, the architecture.  Personally, I can understand these criticisms, and I think they're valid as such. 

So you're far from alone, @Referentzhunter.

All that said, I still enjoy Bernstein's Mahler.  Very much.  In fact, my gateway into the world of Mahler was Bernstein's recording of Mahler's Ninth with the Concertgebouw Orchestra (DG).  This is one of Bernstein's MOST exaggerated Mahler performances.  People tend to HATE it or LOVE it.  Obviously, I fall into the latter camp.  But I have no difficulty understanding why some listeners would find it distorted or distasteful.  

By way of contrast: Many, many people swear by Otto Klemperer's Mahler recordings.  I've never been able to find anything in them. To me, they seem earthbound and cold.  But this is one of the most enjoyable aspects of classical music.  You've got to discover which conductors/interpreters take YOU on a chariot ride to heaven -- because we all respond differently.

 

9 hours ago, Referentzhunter said:

I am really digging the Nuttcracker but i am not a fan of the Swan Lake (also a classic recording from Rohzdestvensky). What about you ... ?

I love Swan Lake too.

I'm not familiar with the Rozhdestvensky recording.  My preferred versions are Stokowski (Decca) or Karajan (DG).

 

Edited December 28, 2023 by HutchFan

[HutchFan]

First listen to this new-to-me LP:

Korngold: Symphony in F sharp, Op. 40 / Kempe, Munich PO (RCA, 1974)

Until today, I'd only heard Korngold's film scores.

 

[soulpope]

3 hours ago, Peter Friedman said:

Beethoven Piano Sonatas No.8,  No.3,  No.1

Superb ....

[Peter Friedman]

[soulpope]

8 hours ago, HutchFan said:

First listen to this new-to-me LP:

Korngold: Symphony in F sharp, Op. 40 / Kempe, Munich PO (RCA, 1974)

Until today, I'd only heard Korngold's film scores.

Excellent ....

[soulpope]

Sviatoslav Richter plays Chopin Etudes "live" @ Barbican Centre London on March 29th, 1989 .... wonderful ....