mickj1 Posted July 19, 2008 Posted July 19, 2008 Hi Just been listening to Pable Casals playing the Bach Cello Suites 1-6 on the Naxos historical series. The sound quality is very good considering that they've been restored from old 78s recorded between 1927 and 1939. An initial sense of history and wonder was soon replaced by the enjoyment of just listening to a master of his instrument. Cheers Mick
Super Mustud Posted July 19, 2008 Posted July 19, 2008 HiJust been listening to Pable Casals playing the Bach Cello Suites 1-6 on the Naxos historical series. The sound quality is very good considering that they've been restored from old 78s recorded between 1927 and 1939. An initial sense of history and wonder was soon replaced by the enjoyment of just listening to a master of his instrument. Cheers Mick Mick, how would you compare it to other recordings (apart from the historical sq aspect)?
mickj1 Posted July 19, 2008 Posted July 19, 2008 Mick, how would you compare it to other recordings (apart from the historical sq aspect)? Hi Mustud Sorry, I don't have any other recordings of the Bach to compare it to - and I haven't had it long enough to make a serious comparison of his playing versus Rostrapovich or more recent cellists - but I'm finding I love the timbre of the instrument itself when it's well played - whoever the composer. Cheers mick
Keith_W Posted July 19, 2008 Author Posted July 19, 2008 mustud52 I have both the Casals and the Rostropovich playing the Bach Cello Suites. I will have to dig them out and have another listen, and i'll report back
Kevin Posted July 19, 2008 Posted July 19, 2008 Hi Mustud 52, I have just been scanning recording reviews and have found little in the way of agreement regarding these recordings. I feel quite happy then about inflicting you with my ill educated opinion Personal favourite is the "incorrect" viol de gamba played by Pandolfo (Glossa). Exquisite recording and an interpretation that dances. The field is dominated by Casals and Rostropovich.Essential recordings with the Rostropovich (EMI) having a more lyrical approach than the Casals (Naxos). We also have the Ma which sits on the shelf - I like Ma's playing but this interpretation is flat. Starker is an interesting contrast where the form and architecture of the suites is more obvious than the other interpretations we have. He recorded the suites several times. Our copy is at my sister in law's place and I can't recall which one it is - Mercury I think. Kevin
Super Mustud Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 Hi Mustud 52,I have just been scanning recording reviews and have found little in the way of agreement regarding these recordings. I feel quite happy then about inflicting you with my ill educated opinion Personal favourite is the "incorrect" viol de gamba played by Pandolfo (Glossa). Exquisite recording and an interpretation that dances. The field is dominated by Casals and Rostropovich.Essential recordings with the Rostropovich (EMI) having a more lyrical approach than the Casals (Naxos). We also have the Ma which sits on the shelf - I like Ma's playing but this interpretation is flat. Starker is an interesting contrast where the form and architecture of the suites is more obvious than the other interpretations we have. He recorded the suites several times. Our copy is at my sister in law's place and I can't recall which one it is - Mercury I think. Kevin Ah, something for me to explore. Thanks. Also, Keith, I would very much appreciate your feedback.
Super Mustud Posted July 22, 2008 Posted July 22, 2008 Listening to an lp of Abbado's 1982 La Scala recording of Aida. Must have been one of the very last lps I ever bought. This particular lp has lot of pops and cracks, perhaps needs a good cleanup, however notwithstanding that, the recording sounds lovely. Nice emotional balance, no outstanding voice IMO (not even Domingo's), however exactly what attracted me to opera in the first place.
Nostro Posted July 27, 2008 Posted July 27, 2008 Making a minestrone soup now - have just done all the cutting & listening to Rostropovich; this particular compilation. Mstislav Rostropovich Master Cellist Legendary Recordings 1956-78 (Dbl cd)
Geoffwiggle Posted July 30, 2008 Posted July 30, 2008 Having recently added a phono stage to my system, I've spent the last few nights exploring some of my dad's vinyl collection that he no longer listens to:). Last night I listened to a terrific early mono recording of Jorge Bolet playing Liszt's Piano Sonata in B minor. The recording is old, but in pretty good nick, and Bolet's performance is just amazing. With all those cascades of notes, he still manages to keep it lean and mean and brimful of energy. Later I put on Bolet's recoding of Rachmaninov's 3rd piano concerto (not really my cup of tea, but I wanted to hear more of Bolet), and lo and behold, the record sleeve was autographed by Bolet in Perth on 29 July 1985, 23 years to the day before I was listening to it:eek:. I'm putting it down to the magic of vinyl.
Audiobugged Posted July 30, 2008 Posted July 30, 2008 For all you classical lovers and those wanting to know more - the Sydney International Piano Competition is right into its final round and is being telecast live on ABC FM. Last night's performances of the mozart piano concertos were very good, with the Ran Dank rendition of the d minor (no. 20) being the stand out for me. 3 more nights of glorious music - mozart concertos, followed by 19th and 20th century concertos by the 6 finalists over Friday and Saturday equates to sublime enjoyment. And for all those squeezebox owners - you can tune into abc classic fm via the internet radio function if you do not use with a dedicated FM tuner... Very Highly Recommended - the level of musicianship in this competition has been exemplary. http://www.abc.net.au/classic/sipca/ AB
davidsss Posted July 31, 2008 Posted July 31, 2008 Still churning through all the records I have bought recently: Played this one: Really enjoyed this. The record has a little inscription written on the inside of the cover, it says "Happy Christmas, from Daddy 1960". Wow, 48 years old, really quiet record with maybe one large pop on the whole record after a good clean. That record is older than me, can anyone say "perfect sound forever" DS
hired goon Posted July 31, 2008 Posted July 31, 2008 G'day, I lurve the Bach Violin concertos, especially the A minor, and its andante (although the allegro is forever tainted by the ubiquitous Sidchrome ads during the cricket many summers ago...) Currently spinning some Mozart piano sonatas: --Geoff
Audiobugged Posted August 1, 2008 Posted August 1, 2008 Absolutely had to get up and find solace in my favourite forum... Virtually unlistenable listening to 17yr old Kitamura butcher Beethoven's 4th - which has a treasured place for me as my favourite piano concerto. After about 10 WTF! moments in the 1st movement, I've just about had enough. Placed him 5th out of the 6 finalists after the mozart concertos but the way he's playing, one of the others needs to have a heart attack on the keyboard for this young dude to not finish last. How this dude made the final over some of the other pianists is one of the great mysteries for me... For the first time I'm glad I'm not sitting at the opera house tonight... i'd be wondering whether i could get a refund... AB
Keith_W Posted August 3, 2008 Author Posted August 3, 2008 What did Kitamura do to the Beethoven 4th that you found so objectionable?
Audiobugged Posted August 3, 2008 Posted August 3, 2008 Well, As an update, both Kitamura and Takashi were very disappointing for different reasons - Kitamura for providing a mediocre performance of one of my favourite piano concertos (trying to tone down my language now...) Takashi actually more so as I really wanted him to win and he had played a superb Mozart that was surely in the top 2 Mozart concerto performances. Kitamura's performance was mediocre not because it was boring but on the contrary it was too surprising, and in the worst possible sense. Most of the following critique applies especially to the first movement as from around the middle of the 2nd movement he had settled down, but I had lost interest in the rest. Many smaller things that I found objectionable, but the biggest sin to me was to do with tempi - his first movement had many sections where it was almost mozartian (delicate, clear running notes without pedal), and even traces of "gouldian" bach (purposely detached notes). Might have worked if he had kept it consistent (numerous irritating slips aside). However he chose to insert many many "unusual" tempi changes, rubato to the extreme and what he must have intended to be dramatic sudden pauses... These certainly did not work - eg. the cadenza in the first movement was like something from a liszt / schumann concerto, and even then a reading with more extreme/liberal tempi swings - certainly not one from Beethoven's middle period. This must certainly have contributed to his not playing "at one" with the orchestra on many occasions i found these sins unforgiveable. The guest commentator at the end suggested that kitamura was nervous and unsettled in the first 2 movements, and also that he did not manage to have much if any eye contact with the conductor - reinforces the fact that it was a very misguided performance that imho was not really worthy of a final. Apologies if he reads this... Takashi was my biggest disappointment. When the going got tough he fell at the final hurdle. I would actually have thought that he could have got a shot at 2nd if his Emperor was as good as his mozart. Even from my armchair, I could only feel his nervousness which never completely settled. Intended dramatic opening which sounded forced (very unlike all his previous performances where it was always beautifully refined). Many many slips that upset the flow (though not as badly as Kitamura's). Parts of his performance that should have shown brilliant virtuosity instead came out as forced with me just holding my breath awaiting the next slip. Not sure how other observers feel, but my belief is that when the performer is nervous and tense, his notes come out "thin" As an aside, the fact that his performance sounded thin may not conclusively be because of nerves as he was the lone finalist on the Kawai, compared to steinway for everyone else... (no yamaha's were chosen by the finalists, underlining my WTF moment many months back when I learnt Yamaha was a key sponsor and I jumped to the incorrect conclusion that everyone would be forced to use Yamaha ) The other surprise was Tatiana - did not expect her to do well. Passable Mozart (I put her at around 4 after the mozart round), and a likeable Saint Saens which I did not feel was that special (The saint saens is not a technically difficult concerto) No issues with the winner Konstantine - superb all round (though I had hoped takashi would somehow cause an upset). Exceptional performance of the prokofiev - that superb performance would have been a worthy live reading for most classical collections (amazing confidence and control and no concessions towards playing it safe under what must have been stressful competition conditions) AB
Keith_W Posted August 3, 2008 Author Posted August 3, 2008 Thanks Audiobugged, I am starting to wish that I invested some time listening to the piano competition. I know what you mean by irritating pianists (and musicians) - some of them really get on my nerves. To date i'm still not sure if I like Glenn Gould or Shura Cherkassky. Moving further afield not sure if I like Niklaus Harnoncourt either I love the Prokofiev piano concertos, probably because I only really got into them a couple of years ago. Not worn out yet, still hearing many new things.
Audiobugged Posted August 3, 2008 Posted August 3, 2008 Thanks Audiobugged, I am starting to wish that I invested some time listening to the piano competition. no worries - felt at times like I was pushing a rock up a mountain given the amount of interest the piano competition has generated on this forum... My (possibly over harsh) critique is partly bourne out by my following these performers and that most of them (well, nearly all) have performed gems in the previous rounds that are utterly exquisite and have been an incredibly rewarding musical journey. Increases the frustration factor significantly when they fail to perform at the final hurdle on the big stage... One final note also is that at the end of the day, it is all about enjoying the music... Listening via squeezebox at 128kbs streamed is certainly not "audiophile" by any stretch of the imagination, but it has been infinitely more rewarding than listening to another recording in my collection of the same piece. AB
Audiobugged Posted August 3, 2008 Posted August 3, 2008 And yes, I'm all Pianoed out... or call it piano listening fatigue... Listening to the very beautiful benchmark performance of the Dvorak Cello Concerto played by Rostropovich with Karajan at the helm... A glorious change from piano... AB
Catostylus Posted August 3, 2008 Posted August 3, 2008 Thanks very much for your assessment of the competition and the contenders. I'm afraid I wasn't able to settle into the competition this year; I've had a lot of problems with health issues with my elderly parents. I'll never know now whether I would have agreed with your thoughts or not - I'll just assume that knowing what an astute judge of these things you are, I probably would have. Lets compare notes in 4 years time.
jkn Posted August 5, 2008 Posted August 5, 2008 I have recently bought this DVD and really enjoy it has anyone Got this one? This unique DVD collection presents the art of Sir Georg Solti, one of the twentieth century's most celebrated and charismatic conductors. The Works included represent several of the composers with whom Solt was closely associated, and the collection focuses on his special relationships with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, of which he was Music Director for over twenty years. The collection also includes one of his last filmed concerts, given with the Vienna Philharmonic in the beautiful Musikverein and accompanied by revealing rehearsal footage. DVD 1 Rossini Overtures: Il barbiere di Sivuglia - L'italiana in Algeri La scala di seat -Le Siege de Corinthe - Semiramide - La gazza ladra. Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3 "Scottish" - Symphony No. 4 "Italian" Violin Concerto. DVD 2 Bruckener- Symphonies 6 and 7. DVD 3 Wagner Overtures: Der fliegende Hollander - Tanhauser Die Meistersinger - Prelude and Liebstod from Tristan und Isolde. Richard Strauss Till Eulenspiegel - Tod und Verklarung Vier letzte Lieder. DVD 4 Kodaly Hary Janos Suite. Bartok Romanian Folk Dancers. Weiner Introduction and Scherzo. Berlioz Hungarian March. Beethoven Symphony No. 7.
mickj1 Posted August 7, 2008 Posted August 7, 2008 Hi I've been listening my way through the Karajan 60's DG complete Beethoven symphonies. It's the only one I've got - but it set me wondering after some of the other comments here whether there is another set more preferred by SNAers? cheers Mick
davidsss Posted August 7, 2008 Posted August 7, 2008 Well I'll vote for that one, I have it and the 1977 Karajan cycle and the 1960s one is better IMO. DS
2sheds Posted August 13, 2008 Posted August 13, 2008 This morning I thought I'd dust off some of Ludwig's finest and have been treating the neighbours to a burst of his 9th, 5th and 6th Symphonies (so far). Coincidentally, I noticed that this is the current topic on this thread. I am enjoying it very much. Can't speak for the neighbours. Check out the 3rd and 4th movements of Beethoven's 5th for some great exercise for your woofers and sub-woofers... cheers 2sheds
brumby Posted August 13, 2008 Posted August 13, 2008 I don't have either the '63 or the '77 Karajan Beethoven sets but I've heard most of both of them over the years. I would agree that the '63 set is better as a whole but the '77 set has its moments, particularly the 9th and extra particularly the slow movement of same. I often put that one on just for the slow movement. Sublime, IMHO.
Orpheus Posted August 13, 2008 Posted August 13, 2008 There are, of course, many fine recordings of these suites, Rostropovich being one of them. Another is Janos Starker, who was terrific live when he performed in Sydney some years ago at the Opera house. I prefer the tone and technique of Rostropovich to Casals. My own personal favourite is from a lesser known cellist who plays both the old, five string cello of the period, and the modern cello, Peter Wispelway. His recording on modern cello is superb, absolutely beautiful, and wonderful dynamics. Hi MustudSorry, I don't have any other recordings of the Bach to compare it to - and I haven't had it long enough to make a serious comparison of his playing versus Rostrapovich or more recent cellists - but I'm finding I love the timbre of the instrument itself when it's well played - whoever the composer. Cheers mick
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