SPOTLIGHT The classical music general discussion thread

[Lute]

Is that a shark's fin .... in the distance?

Here's a sneak preview of their next recording. Unfortunately one member is missing. LOL!

 

[4-earredwonder]

Here's a sneak preview of their next recording. LOL!

View attachment 37661

Looks like a promo for Guns 'n Roses: APPETITE for Destruction! LOL, Brett!

And of course, ONE member is MISSING:

I'll make a Man out of you, yet! I'll be Lois Lane to your Shark Kent!

 

[windhoek]

haha, generation selfie at its finest

 

[ubertrout]

Julia Fischer? I seem to recall her name appearing several times high up the list of recommended titles on the old sa-cd.net site; off I goes to look... yep, her name appears several times high up the list of recommended titles on the old sa-cd.net site, and this title, Piano Trios, scores as 71/72 recommended - now that's what I call a recommendation! I'll give it a listen when I get home from work tonight and see about getting myself a copy

Julia Fischer's recordings for Pentatone are some of the greatest made for the format - some of the few where they're not just audiophile favorites but among the top choices period. And the sound is fantastic - native DSD multichannel recordings. The surrounds aren't that active but that's fine - they produce an immersive soundfield. And there really aren't that many of them:
https://www.hraudio.net/showmusic.php?title=10033
https://www.hraudio.net/showmusic.php?title=4172
https://www.hraudio.net/showmusic.php?title=2370
https://www.hraudio.net/showmusic.php?title=3910
https://www.hraudio.net/showmusic.php?title=6964
https://www.hraudio.net/showmusic.php?title=4503
https://www.hraudio.net/showmusic.php?title=2966

 

[4-earredwonder]

haha, generation selfie at its finest

I wonder who's the TOP?

 

[Lute]

This one is especially immersive. I think there's more in the surrounds than upfront. And the music is good too.

wes10brass

I thought I'd join Oxenholme with another splendid recording by wes10brass. This one has a more orthodox selection of brass music from the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras. The surround mix is wonderfully deep and immersive.

Blech aus dem Westen, old friends - wes10brass​

​

 

[Lute]

Yes, both of those recordings by die 12 pianisten are definitely worth checking out.

Now spinning another excellent ARS disc of chamber music. This one is music from the Baroque era...

Handel / Fasch / Telemann - Ensemble l'Ornamento. The MC mix puts the listener right in the middle. Exquisitely performed!​

Now continuing with another delightful recording by Esemble L'Ornamento. This one is full of lively arrangements (for woodwinds, strings and harpsichord) of various pieces from Händel's operas and Vivaldi's concertos. As usual the surround mix from Ars Produktion is immersive.

Here's an in depth review for anyone interested... http://www.musica-dei-donum.org/cd_reviews/ArsProduktion_ARS38186.html

 

[windhoek]

I was getting close to pulling the trigger on this Kupfer/Barenboim DVD set* of Wagner's Ring cycle from 1991 but when I wasn't looking, the price jumped up from £22 to £35. No doubt it'll drop again in due course, so I'll hold off till it does. I guess this means I've got more time to explore the Ring in advance: I've never heard or seen the Ring cycle so I'm relying on what I see and hear in the production below to let me know whether I'm ready for the full epic - I think I am... I hope I am!

I also wouldn't mind hearing of any other DVD or blu ray set that's worth going for instead if there's a better alternative. The word on the web suggests this one is pretty good but the verdict isn't exactly unanimous, so any recommendations are welcome.

* Although it also comes as a blu ray set, the word on the web suggests it doesn't offer much more than the DVD set, which is understandable seeing as it was recorded way back in 1991.

 

[Lute]

?...but the verdict isn't exactly unanimous,

Good luck finding any kind of "unanimous" where Wagner is concerned. LOL!!! As far as performances, you'll have to go back to the older recordings of the 1950s and 60s. Hardcore fans seem to be more or less unanimously enthusiastic about the recordings by Keilberth, Krauss, Furtwangler, Solti, etc... But, the recordings from the 1950s have poor fidelity. As for video productions, Barenboim is fine. Other sets seem to be a
bit pricy but you might want to check out Levine's popular Ring cycle on bluray. I haven’t heard the bluray, but one of the reviews said it is an improvement. https://www.amazon.com/Wagner-Nibelungen-Blu-ray-Metropolitan-Opera/dp/B008ER9QLK#customerReviews

There's also Boulez's DVD. Not sure if it’s been released on bluray.

https://www.amazon.com/Wagner-Nibel...1&refRID=68MEM0C4W3CSFS4CHNMX#customerReviews

 

[Soundfield]

Good luck finding any kind of "unanimous" where Wagner is concerned. LOL!!! As far as performances, you'll have to go back to the older recordings of the 1950s and 60s. Hardcore fans seem to be more or less unanimously enthusiastic about the recordings by Keilberth, Krauss, Furtwangler, Solti, etc...

A lot of the ‘historic’ ring cycles have many merits of course, and yes, I frequently return to the Solti and Keilberth versions. But the one that has special place in my heart is the live English National Opera cycle under Reginald Goodall – particularly because I was in the audience in the London Coliseum in the 1970’s when they were recorded! Here is my set of the EMI SQ encoded LPs (actually, Siegfried was recorded first and was not released in quad unfortunately). The box set of Twilight Of the Gods was the first opera set I ever bought in quad and it cost an absolute fortune back in the day! -

The LPs are here accompanied by my ENO programmes from those very performances. The one from Siegfried is something that I especially treasure as I managed to get it signed by a radiant Alberto Remedios afterwards - he was a true heldentenor in every sense. Reginald Goodall’s tempi were notoriously slow but he nonetheless maintained a fabulous musical line and the understanding brought by the magical English translation by Andrew Porter has lived with me for decades.

 

[windhoek]

Good luck finding any kind of "unanimous" where Wagner is concerned. LOL!!! As far as performances, you'll have to go back to the older recordings of the 1950s and 60s. Hardcore fans seem to be more or less unanimously enthusiastic about the recordings by Keilberth, Krauss, Furtwangler, Solti, etc... But, the recordings from the 1950s have poor fidelity. As for video productions, Barenboim is fine. Other sets seem to be a
bit pricy but you might want to check out Levine's popular Ring cycle on bluray. I haven’t heard the bluray, but one of the reviews said it is an improvement. https://www.amazon.com/Wagner-Nibelungen-Blu-ray-Metropolitan-Opera/dp/B008ER9QLK#customerReviews

There's also Boulez's DVD. Not sure if it’s been released on bluray.

https://www.amazon.com/Wagner-Nibel...1&refRID=68MEM0C4W3CSFS4CHNMX#customerReviews

Wise words, Brett, wise words indeed!

I'm getting the vibe that Solti's Ring performance is pretty much a great version to have on CD and who knows, maybe I'll end up there if I fall truly, madly deeply in love with Wagner's Ring cycle. But first, I need to see it. I really should have snapped up the Berenboim set from 1991 on DVD when it was £22. Next time it's about that price, I'll bag it for sure.

 

[humprof]

Wise words, Brett, wise words indeed!

I'm getting the vibe that Solti's Ring performance is pretty much a great version to have on CD and who knows, maybe I'll end up there if I fall truly, madly deeply in love with Wagner's Ring cycle. But first, I need to see it. I really should have snapped up the Berenboim set from 1991 on DVD when it was £22. Next time it's about that price, I'll bag it for sure.

The Solti cycle on CD is $37.13 at Amazon US. (The description is wrong, obviously: it's 16 CDs, not 6.)

Unfortunately Universal seems to have let the 2015 Blu-Ray edition go out of print, as that one is available only from 3d-party sellers, starting at $79.74. (When I added it to my "Save for Later" queue three years ago, intending to replace the used LP box sets I acquired in college in the 80s, it was $55.) The same item is a bit cheaper--from the same US-based seller--at Amazon.de, and cheaper still at Amazon.fr, where I just ordered it!

 

[beerking]

I too find myself in a Classical music mind frame from time to time..
I don't have many recordings but one I play fairly regularly is :
LSO Beethoven
Symphonies Nos 1-9
This one https://www.discogs.com/Beethoven-B...-Orchestra-Symphonies-Nos-1-9/release/3374358

Is there one classical release above all others that makes full use of the surround experience?
Sorry if it's been discussed already.

 

[windhoek]

The Solti cycle on CD is $37.13 at Amazon US. (The description is wrong, obviously: it's 16 CDs, not 6.)

Unfortunately Universal seems to have let the 2015 Blu-Ray edition go out of print, as that one is available only from 3d-party sellers, starting at $79.74. (When I added it to my "Save for Later" queue three years ago, intending to replace the used LP box sets I acquired in college in the 80s, it was $55.) The same item is a bit cheaper--from the same US-based seller--at Amazon.de, and cheaper still at Amazon.fr, where I just ordered it!

I noticed there was an expensive edition of Solti's version, so that's the blu ray edition then. I doubt I'll ever pay that much for it but I guess I should never say never when it comes to the price we're prepared to pay for music because sometimes you just can't put a price on the things that bring real, endless joy.

 

[windhoek]

I too find myself in a Classical music mind frame from time to time..
I don't have many recordings but one I play fairly regularly is :
LSO Beethoven
Symphonies Nos 1-9
This one https://www.discogs.com/Beethoven-B...-Orchestra-Symphonies-Nos-1-9/release/3374358

Is there one classical release above all others that makes full use of the surround experience?
Sorry if it's been discussed already.

LSO Live do some great value box sets and hopefully yours is one of them. I don't know about Beethoven in surround sound, but hopefully, some of the other guys can chip in here

 

[beerking]

LSO Live do some great value box sets and hopefully yours is one of them. I don't know about Beethoven in surround sound, but hopefully, some of the other guys can chip in here

Thanks for your response Derek ..I was really thinking beyond Beethoven ..more along the lines of one main stream composer who is coming at me from 360 degrees

 

[windhoek]

Thanks for your response Derek ..I was really thinking beyond Beethoven ..more along the lines of one main stream composer who is coming at me from 360 degrees

I'm currently listening to Led Zeppelin III and all I can think about is Led Zepellin III lol - I'll have a look at my collection once the album's finished and see if I can remember which classical music I own comes with a decent mch option.

 

[beerking]

I'm currently listening to Led Zeppelin III and all I can think about is Led Zepellin III lol - I'll have a look at my collection once the album's finished and see if I can remember which classical music I own comes with a decent mch option.

Ooh don't rush on my behalf, as that is a fantastic record, which I bought way back in , blimey it will be 50 years old next year, 1970.
A big thanks though!!

 

[windhoek]

Bearing in mind that the sort of really dynamic mch mixes we get on pop/rock mch releases is rarely if ever matched by mch classical releases, these ones are certainly more dynamic than most mch classical releases:

Mahler's 8th Symphony - Wit

Stravinsky Petrouchka/Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances - Jansons-Concertgebouw

Holst's The Planets - Susskind (it's pricey though)

Mahler's 2nd Symphony - Zander

I've got a few Tomita SACDs and the re-works on them are fantastic. I wouldn't be surprised if you've got some yourself but if not they're worth exploring and buying if you like what you hear. I'm only a part-time classical music enthusiastic so I can't think of anything else that's as dynamic as you'd like - for better or worse, classical music is best consumed on the merits of the music and performance than on its mch merits - if it has any!

 

[beerking]

Bearing in mind that the sort of really dynamic mch mixes we get on pop/rock mch releases is rarely if ever matched by mch classical releases, these ones are certainly more dynamic than most mch classical releases:

Mahler's 8th Symphony - Wit

Stravinsky Petrouchka/Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances - Jansons-Concertgebouw

Holst's The Planets - Susskind (it's pricey though)

Mahler's 2nd Symphony - Zander

I've got a few Tomita SACDs and the re-works on them are fantastic. I wouldn't be surprised if you've got some yourself but if not they're worth exploring and buying if you like what you hear. I'm only a part-time classical music enthusiastic so I can't think of anything else that's as dynamic as you'd like - for better or worse, classical music is best consumed on the merits of the music and performance than on its mch merits - if it has any!

Bearing in mind that the sort of really dynamic mch mixes we get on pop/rock mch releases is rarely if ever matched by mch classical releases, these ones are certainly more dynamic than most mch classical releases:

Yes I have three Tomita's ..all brilliant.
And I agree with your closing sentiments.
All those Recommended have just been added to my Amazon wish list, UK and US version!!