Western Classical Music

[vkalia]

true true true , I was going to say the same thing….have been tolerating melodiya since I was a kid but the music on it is amazing. Yes the Russians, oh the Russians, they just do it so well with their music ! This measured interpretation of Russian music thing of western orchestras and conductors becomes so boring at times I just switch off. These Russians have totally spoilt a few of us

Now to find the above Gayaneh on apple misic.

Yeah, i think you did a better job of describing it than me - I didn’t necessarily mean “all out, balls to the wall” rendition, as implied by my poor choice of phrasing above. I meant more that they convey the emotions of the music a lot better.

Tjeknovorian has a reasonably complete Gayaneh (about 70’) but Kakhidze is the only full version I have found (2 hours or so). If Apple does have another complete version, do let me know… I’ll definitely sign up for that, then.

The Jarvi Rimsky symphonies cycle on DG are particularly fine but your mention of Kitaenko is intriguing…I have recently acquired his Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich cycles and as is usual with him, he does not wear his heart on sleeve…a far cry from good old Svetlanov. Is the Kitaenko available on CD? As for Gayaneh…have not heard that in a while. Thanks for mentioning it. I do not even remember what version I have of the selections. Probably Loris T…let me check. Was it issued on ASV?

IP

The Kitajenko is indeed on a CD - the version i have is ripped off a 3-CD set.

 

[manek]

Yeah, i think you did a better job of describing it than me - I didn’t necessarily mean “all out, balls to the wall” rendition, as implied by my poor choice of phrasing above. I meant more that they convey the emotions of the music a lot better.

Tjeknovorian has a reasonably complete Gayaneh (about 70’) but Kakhidze is the only full version I have found (2 hours or so). If Apple does have another complete version, do let me know… I’ll definitely sign up for that, then.

The longest one I found was 10 tracks.

Yeah, i think you did a better job of describing it than me - I didn’t necessarily mean “all out, balls to the wall” rendition, as implied by my poor choice of phrasing above. I meant more that they convey the emotions of the music a lot better.

Tjeknovorian has a reasonably complete Gayaneh (about 70’) but Kakhidze is the only full version I have found (2 hours or so). If Apple does have another complete version, do let me know… I’ll definitely sign up for that, then.

On the hunt for Gayaneh, stumbled upon the spartacus Adagio after a long time on the same album.

 

[vkalia]

The longest one I found was 10 tracks.

The two circled albums are complete works - 2 hrs 23/27 min (and my bad - I forgot that I had recently purchased this full version by Tjeknavorian... the other one by him is shorter and contains only the highlights).

I have not found the Kakhidze online to purchase anywhere, but the full version by Tjeknavorian is available on Presto Music for $2.50 or so.

 

[manek]

Anyone a subscriber of David Hurwitz youtube channel ?
I find him pretty accurate at times and very entertaining…..

Here’s a glimpse

 

[square_wave]

Anyone a subscriber of David Hurwitz youtube channel ?
I find him pretty accurate at times and very entertaining…..

Here’s a glimpse

Thanks. Good insights into Mahler recordings and symphonies. Last week I had the opportunity to see the Scottish symphony orchestra doing the symphony no 3 at a really good hall. Really enjoyed it! I think I am slowly becoming a fan of Mahler.

Mahler's Third Symphony | Edinburgh International Festival

Thomas Søndegård conducts the RSNO, RSNO Youth Chorus and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus in Mahler's massive Third Symphony.

www.eif.co.uk

 

[manek]

Anybody heard the bernard haitink concertgebouw tchaikovsky sym no 5 ?

Amazing. And Bernard Haitink did surprise me here. There is a cycle too.

 

[pindranil]

Anyone a subscriber of David Hurwitz youtube channel ?
I find him pretty accurate at times and very entertaining…..

Here’s a glimpse

Yes yes…an early and loyal subscriber but I do not agree with everything he says. His gems are the unknown recordings especially on specialist small labels…the Supraphon label is a prime example. He is also rabidly anti-period instrument or HIP performance in 19th century repertoire. But always simulating and thought provoking…

Anybody heard the bernard haitink concertgebouw tchaikovsky sym no 5 ?

Amazing. And Bernard Haitink did surprise me here. There is a cycle too.

Which Tchaikovsky 5th? The one which is part of his Tchaikovsky cycle? Yes I have the cycle and as you said a big surprise…his Shostakovich cycle (distributed between the LPO and the Concertgebouw) is often revelatory as well but not as consistent…

 

[manek]

Yes yes…an early and loyal subscriber but I do not agree with everything he says. His gems are the unknown recordings especially on specialist small labels…the Supraphon label is a prime example. He is also rabidly anti-period instrument or HIP performance in 19th century repertoire. But always simulating and thought provoking…


Which Tchaikovsky 5th? The one which is part of his Tchaikovsky cycle? Yes I have the cycle and as you said a big surprise…his Shostakovich cycle (distributed between the LPO and the Concertgebouw) is often revelatory as well but not as consistent…

Yeah he does not like period instruments . More the modern day orchestra kind of guy.
His love for Charles Munch and Mackerras is well known. he makes no excuses about the fact that he is partial to them.

Yes the Tchaikovsky sym no 5 from the cycle with Concertgebouw. I got a reference from Hurwitz review actually. At first I thought he was just joking but he wasnt. What a glorious recording. Beautiful orchestra where every section can be heard with the right balance. Love that concert hall that they reside in. Another version of this symphony I adore is the Rudolf Kempe with Berlin Phil and the BSRO. Yummm. I heard this symphony live at the Tata Theater decades ago played by the Bolshoi Orchestra. Glorious !

Post hearing the above 5th I turned to the Tchaikovsky 2nd and that was let me say “nice” but not nice enough to touch the Svetlanov one or even the one by Temirkanov.

Oh well…..

 

[pindranil]

Yeah he does not like period instruments . More the modern day orchestra kind of guy.
His love for Charles Munch and Mackerras is well known. he makes no excuses about the fact that he is partial to them.

Yes the Tchaikovsky sym no 5 from the cycle with Concertgebouw. I got a reference from Hurwitz review actually. At first I thought he was just joking but he wasnt. What a glorious recording. Beautiful orchestra where every section can be heard with the right balance. Love that concert hall that they reside in. Another version of this symphony I adore is the Rudolf Kempe with Berlin Phil and the BSRO. Yummm. I heard this symphony live at the Tata Theater decades ago played by the Bolshoi Orchestra. Glorious !

Post hearing the above 5th I turned to the Tchaikovsky 2nd and that was let me say “nice” but not nice enough to touch the Svetlanov one or even the one by Temirkanov.

Oh well…..

Hmm that reminds me…have not heard the 2nd for ages…have to dig up my Andrew Litton cycle on Virgin…BTW Vladimir Jurowski with the LPO has a superb cycle…got it fairly cheap recently…as for the 5th Jansons in Oslo on Chandosis super…I have a fondness for that cycle…it was my first cycle on CD back in the 90s…also great is Muti..did he record the 5th twice? last month got Kitaenko …still sealed have not got around to opening that yet. Another cycle about which I have zero recollection is Mehta…so much to listen too…and now that you mention Temirkanov on RCA…yet another…one to avoid surely is Bychkov…

 

[manek]

Hmm that reminds me…have not heard the 2nd for ages…have to dig up my Andrew Litton cycle on Virgin…BTW Vladimir Jurowski with the LPO has a superb cycle…got it fairly cheap recently…as for the 5th Jansons in Oslo on Chandosis super…I have a fondness for that cycle…it was my first cycle on CD back in the 90s…also great is Muti..did he record the 5th twice? last month got Kitaenko …still sealed have not got around to opening that yet. Another cycle about which I have zero recollection is Mehta…so much to listen too…and now that you mention Temirkanov on RCA…yet another…one to avoid surely is Bychkov…

Have the Jurowski on my playlist on apple, nice one. Not sure about Muti but his recordings on the CSO label do lack the lustre that fine orchestra is known for. Mehta’s Tchaikovsky cycle is with los angeles philharmonic if I recollect correctly. Havent heard that in a while as my goto Mehta music has always been Mahler, Waltzes, Opera e.g. Turandot, Brahms and more. And with any luck not with the Israel Philharmonic. Apologise to the fans of this orchestra.

Coming back to Haitink I am listening to the Beethoven symphony cycle today with LSO on their LSO label. Again consistency is the issue to my mind here as well inspite of listening to only 3 symphonies upto now, though its one Orchestra through and through. Maybe recorded at different times of the year and venues who knows?

 

[pindranil]

Have the Jurowski on my playlist on apple, nice one. Not sure about Muti but his recordings on the CSO label do lack the lustre that fine orchestra is known for. Mehta’s Tchaikovsky cycle is with los angeles philharmonic if I recollect correctly. Havent heard that in a while as my goto Mehta music has always been Mahler, Waltzes, Opera e.g. Turandot, Brahms and more. And with any luck not with the Israel Philharmonic. Apologise to the fans of this orchestra.

Coming back to Haitink I am listening to the Beethoven symphony cycle today with LSO on their LSO label. Again consistency is the issue to my mind here as well inspite of listening to only 3 symphonies upto now, though its one Orchestra through and through. Maybe recorded at different times of the year and venues who knows?

I think the problem with Haitink is that he recorded mainstream repertoire so many times. So much of Mahler and Beethoven for example and now all the stuff being released by orchestra-owned labels. His Brahms in Boston was uniformly less good than his concertgebouw cycle. Most of his Mahler was the same, the Berlin and BRSO ones usually not as fresh as his Concertgebouw stuff (especially the Kirstmatinee or Christmas concert cycle-minus the 6th and the 8th if memory serves me correctl). His Bruckner was almost the same pattern except perhaps the 8th…although he was one of the great Brucknerians. BTW you must listen to Muti’s EMI Tchaikovsky cycle mostly with the Philharmonia and the last 2 duplicated in Philadelphia. Hot blooded but disciplined…just marvellous. His CSO stuff is rather tame. I have the Mehta cycle on LP and CD but have not heard them in years.

 

[manek]

Hmm that reminds me…have not heard the 2nd for ages…have to dig up my Andrew Litton cycle on Virgin…BTW Vladimir Jurowski with the LPO has a superb cycle…got it fairly cheap recently…as for the 5th Jansons in Oslo on Chandosis super…I have a fondness for that cycle…it was my first cycle on CD back in the 90s…also great is Muti..did he record the 5th twice? last month got Kitaenko …still sealed have not got around to opening that yet. Another cycle about which I have zero recollection is Mehta…so much to listen too…and now that you mention Temirkanov on RCA…yet another…one to avoid surely is Bychkov…

Have the Jurowski on my playlist on apple, nice one. Not sure about Muti but his recordings on tge CSO label do lack the lustre that fine orchestra is known for. Mehta’s Tchaikovsky cycle is with los angeles philharmonic if I recollect correctly. Havent heard that in a while. My goto Mehta recordings have always been Mahler,

I think the problem with Haitink is that he recorded mainstream repertoire so many times. So much of Mahler and Beethoven for example and now all the stuff being released by orchestra-owned labels. His Brahms in Boston was uniformly less good than his concertgebouw cycle. Most of his Mahler was the same, the Berlin and BRSO ones usually not as fresh as his Concertgebouw stuff (especially the Kirstmatinee or Christmas concert cycle-minus the 6th and the 8th if memory serves me correctl). His Bruckner was almost the same pattern except perhaps the 8th…although he was one of the great Brucknerians. BTW you must listen to Muti’s EMI Tchaikovsky cycle mostly with the Philharmonia and the last 2 duplicated in Philadelphia. Hot blooded but disciplined…just marvellous. His CSO stuff is rather tame. I have the Mehta cycle on LP and CD but have not heard them in years.

i finally switched off Haitink and Beethoven today and to make up for lost time switched to Wilhelm Kempff/Ferdinand Leitner with Berlin Phil on the Beethoven piano concerto cycle and am HAPPY .

Haitinks Brahms with Concertgebouw intiated me to brahms symphonies and I still hold that music very close to my heart.

Muti’s EMI cycle you say ? Worth a shot because its the Philharmonia Orchestra. How the hell is he still with CSO till date I dont know.

…..and slowly and steadily I am being mesmerised by Mr Kempff and Mr Leitner on the piano concerto no 3 , if you get my drift.

 

[pindranil]

Have the Jurowski on my playlist on apple, nice one. Not sure about Muti but his recordings on tge CSO label do lack the lustre that fine orchestra is known for. Mehta’s Tchaikovsky cycle is with los angeles philharmonic if I recollect correctly. Havent heard that in a while. My goto Mehta recordings have always been Mahler,

i finally switched off Haitink and Beethoven today and to make up for lost time switched to Wilhelm Kempff/Ferdinand Leitner with Berlin Phil on the Beethoven piano concerto cycle and am HAPPY .

Haitinks Brahms with Concertgebouw intiated me to brahms symphonies and I still hold that music very close to my heart.

Muti’s EMI cycle you say ? Worth a shot because its the Philharmonia Orchestra. How the hell is he still with CSO till date I dont know.

…..and slowly and steadily I am being mesmerised by Mr Kempff and Mr Leitner on the piano concerto no 3 , if you get my drift.

Indeed Kempff is a magician…love His Beethoven…

 

[manek]

Hmm that reminds me…have not heard the 2nd for ages…have to dig up my Andrew Litton cycle on Virgin…BTW Vladimir Jurowski with the LPO has a superb cycle…got it fairly cheap recently…as for the 5th Jansons in Oslo on Chandosis super…I have a fondness for that cycle…it was my first cycle on CD back in the 90s…also great is Muti..did he record the 5th twice? last month got Kitaenko …still sealed have not got around to opening that yet. Another cycle about which I have zero recollection is Mehta…so much to listen too…and now that you mention Temirkanov on RCA…yet another…one to avoid surely is Bychkov…

Have the Jurowski on my playlist on apple, nice one. Not sure about Muti but his recordings on tge CSO label do lack the lustre that fine orchestra is known for. Mehta’s Tchaikovsky cycle is with los angeles philharmonic if I recollect correctly. Havent heard that in a while. My goto Mehta recordings have always been Mahler,

I think the problem with Haitink is that he recorded mainstream repertoire so many times. So much of Mahler and Beethoven for example and now all the stuff being released by orchestra-owned labels. His Brahms in Boston was uniformly less good than his concertgebouw cycle. Most of his Mahler was the same, the Berlin and BRSO ones usually not as fresh as his Concertgebouw stuff (especially the Kirstmatinee or Christmas concert cycle-minus the 6th and the 8th if memory serves me correctl). His Bruckner was almost the same pattern except perhaps the 8th…although he was one of the great Brucknerians. BTW you must listen to Muti’s EMI Tchaikovsky cycle mostly with the Philharmonia and the last 2 duplicated in Philadelphia. Hot blooded but disciplined…just marvellous. His CSO stuff is rather tame. I have the Mehta cycle on LP and CD but have not heard them in years.

i finally switched off haitink and beethoven today and to make up for lost time switched to Wilhelm

Indeed Kempff is a magician…love His Beethoven…

i call him the Sorcerer….but in a good way

 

[manek]

Have the Jurowski on my playlist on apple, nice one. Not sure about Muti but his recordings on tge CSO label do lack the lustre that fine orchestra is known for. Mehta’s Tchaikovsky cycle is with los angeles philharmonic if I recollect correctly. Havent heard that in a while. My goto Mehta recordings have always been Mahler,

i finally switched off haitink and beethoven today and to make up for lost time switched to Wilhelm

i call him the Sorcerer….but in a good way

And his Schumann is quite exquisite too.

Another pianist(An Alice I wish I were living next door to ) that lives in Germany is Alice Sara Ott. She has the “Je ne sais quoi” quality and was the one who lead me to exploring Debussy’s music. More power to Alice.

 

[pindranil]

And his Schumann is quite exquisite too.

Another pianist(An Alice I wish I were living next door to ) that lives in Germany is Alice Sara Ott. She has the “Je ne sais quoi” quality and was the one who lead me to exploring Debussy’s music. More power to Alice.

Hmm I have never heard her playing…will have to remedy that ASAP

 

[manek]

Hmm I have never heard her playing…will have to remedy that ASAP

Pls do….you have the prescription already !

I stumbled upon Mrs Ott quite by chance. A few years ago late one night I was listening to Caterina Valente and Werner Muller Orchestra album which I have had since childhood. It was the best recorded LP I had. It was as thick as a dinner plate, fantastic sound and of course RCA.

This album is quite unique where the orchestra plays the choicest of them melodies from classical music on a track and the next track is when Madam Valente sings those tunes. So I was listening to her sing “My Reverie” on you tube and as luck would have it one of the recommendations below this video was Alice Sara Ott playing Reverie by Debussy. Until that time i had heard a few artists/versions of this piece but it was always a nice melody to me and nothing more. Clicked on that you tube recommendation and half way through I was hooked on the piece.

 

[pindranil]

Pls do….you have the prescription already !

I stumbled upon Mrs Ott quite by chance. A few years ago late one night I was listening to Caterina Valente and Werner Muller Orchestra album which I have had since childhood. It was the best recorded LP I had. It was as thick as a dinner plate, fantastic sound and of course RCA.

This album is quite unique where the orchestra plays the choicest of them melodies from classical music on a track and the next track is when Madam Valente sings those tunes. So I was listening to her sing “My Reverie” on you tube and as luck would have it one of the recommendations below this video was Alice Sara Ott playing Reverie by Debussy. Until that time i had heard a few artists/versions of this piece but it was always a nice melody to me and nothing more. Clicked on that you tube recommendation and half way through I was hooked on the piece.

Wonderful story…how we stumble upon treasures…I love Gieseking in Debussy of course and I have a soft spot for Fergus Thompson …as you know there are stretches when we get stuck into some particular repertoire for a while or some work to the exclusion of everything else. Of late that has been the incredible Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances. And one recording that really surprised me was Dutoit in Philadelphia coupled with a good Rach 3rd symphony. I have listened to it everyday this past week. Will need to temper my jump to Debussy…

 

[jls001]

As interpretations go, this one (Carmen Fantasy) is nothing less than bombastic:

 

[manek]

I like this one a lot