The Classical Music Guide Forums

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I think that composers such as Stravinsky, Schönberg, Bartok, Alban Berg, Webern, Prokofiev, Ravel, Enescu, Britten, Shostakovitch, are already "traditional" to a great number of music lovers. And I am sure that masterpieces such as Dutilleux String Quartet, Boulez "Pli selon Pli", Ligeti's Requiem ...

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dulcinea" The plots of operas based on such plays as HERNANI, LUCREZIA BORGIA and RIGOLETTO are among the most truly unbelievable and absurd of all opera plots. You should read the plays, in special Hernani, a true masterpiece of the French Romantic Theater. Victor Hugo was not the author of the li...

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The extraordinary First Quartet by the Talich String Quartet is perhaps the best moment of this Box, along with Dalibor directed by Krombholc with Blachut. Dalibor is a masterpiece, Smetana's best opera. Regarding Ma Vlast, I remember that old version of Vaclav Talich, but I prefer the versions of A...

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I never liked Rosen as a pianist. But I loved his book, "Beethoven Piano Sonatas: a Short Companion", in special regard the indication of the tempos and their meaning in Beethoven's time.

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I loved her voice, but sometimes she seems distant and cold. Anyway she was the best Dido I ever heard (Purcell's Dido & Aeneas, conducted by Anthony Lewis), a sublime Diana (Cavalli's La Calisto conducted by Leppard), and among other great moments she recorded an extraordinary version of Händel's C...

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Regarding the operas: Orfeo (Harnoncourt, with Kozma and Berberian). "L'Incoronazione di Popea" (Harnoncourt with Donath, Soderstrom and Berberian) and the Lamento of Ariana with Berberian and Harnoncourt or von Otter/Lindberg. The Madrigals: The 6th and 8th Book, by Alessandrini. Also, the Lettera ...

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I love three versions. Klemperer with the Philharmonia (or, before, with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra) is very dramatic in the first movement, "Totenfeier", powerful and with a perfect cohesion. His version with the Concertgebow (and Kathleen Ferrier) is too fast and the sound is horrible. Bruno Wa...

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Don Giovanni

Serenade K 361

Piano Concerto 19

String Quintet K 516

Clarinet Concerto

Symphony 40

The Magic Flute

Piano Concerto 17

Clarinet Quintet

String Trio K 563

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My favorite work is "Istar", a tone poem with a remarkable orchestration. I only know one version, conducted by Pierre Dervaux (EMI).

"Jour d'eté a la montagne" is another very seducing symphonic poem.

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JOHANN STRAUSS: Walzer / RIAS Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay (1950/1952)

One of the greatest recordings of this repertory, with the one of Clemens Krauss. The technical conditions are very acceptable.

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PETER PHILIPS: Paradisus Sacris Cantionibus / Ensemble Currende, Erik van Nevel A very beautiful CD. The little motets of Philips, an English composer exiled because of his religious faith, show a strong influence of Italian music. He was a contemporary of Monteverdi. The music is delightful and the...

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I think you are talking about the Gloria RV 589 (and not 527). As far as I know Vivaldi composed two Gloria, one in 1713 (the RV 589) the other (the RV 588, more obscur) in 1717. The music is agreable but Vivaldi did better: the Nisi Dominus RV 608, the Stabat Mater RV 621 and the little motet Longe...

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Favorite: Schumann's First Symphony (Sawallisch, Staatskapelle Dresden).

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SCHNITTKE: Concerto grosso n. 2 ; Cantata "Faust" / Oleg Kagan, Rozhdestvenski The Concerto offers the usual composite language of Schnittke, but it is agreable and the second movement, a Passacaglia, is very touching. Regarding the Cantata, the CD doesn't include the text and a translation and, sin...

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Among other great performances, I cherish his CD with Choral works of Poulenc, conducting the Groupe Vocal de France. Wonderful performances of Litanies pour la Vierge Noire, Chansons Françaises and the sublime Figure Humaine.

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My favorite is Pierre Monteux: Beethoven's 2nd and 7th Symphonies, Debussy's Images and the excerpts of Le Martyre de Saint Sebastien, Ravel's Ma Mère L'Oye, La Valse, Bolero, Cesar Franck's Symphony ... Then Pierre Boulez and his amazing recordings of Bartok, Schönberg, Stravinsky, Webern, Varèse, ...

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CONRAD PAUMANN and the 15th century German keyboard school / Tasto Solo

A recent CD that gives a nice panorama of German keyboard music in the ARS NOVA.

The instruments used by the interpreters are: gothic organ and harp, organetto and the (new to me) clavisimbalum.

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The 4 Symphonies and Overture, Scherzo & Finale: Sawallisch with the Staatskapelle Dresden and the 4th Symphony by Cantelli with the Philharmonia. The piano concerto by Freire/Kempe, Anda/Kubelik, Rubinstein/Giulini. The cello Concerto by Fournier and Fricsay. And Manfred's overture in the extraordi...

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The new recordings that I listened were a disappointment, in special Rene Jacobs (38 & 41).

And I never liked the superficial version of Hogwood. Neither Harnoncourt or Gardiner.

For the moment, I don't see a real alternative to Bruno Walter, Szell, Beecham (41) and Giulini (40, 41).

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ELGAR: Violin Concerto / Nikolaj Znaider, Staatskapelle Dresden, Colin Davis (2009)

A very beautiful recording. I loved the very poetic phrasing of Znaider and the energy of Davis direction.

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J S BACH: Six Suites for violoncello solo / Anner Bylsma (1992) To me, this is the best alternative to the legendary interpretation of Pablo Casals. It is the second recording of this work made by Bylsma. The dynamic contrasts, the characterization of the dances (the Courantes and Minuetos above all...

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Don't forget Honegger: Une Cantate de Noel (in special with Camille Maurane and Jean Martinon).

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I deeply admired Hugues Cuénod. He had a unique talent to characterize, in a few words, a situation. I remender him singing Dowland Songs or Satie's Socrate, but also his incredible performance as Linfea in Cavalli's opera La Calisto. Perhaps his best recording was the one with Debussy's Melodies, o...

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Not one of my favorite conductors. His Don Giovanni has great singers but the direction is very far from the best (Busch, Giulini, Rosbaud, Fricsay or even Haitink). The best I heard from him was his version of La Fanciulla del West, with a superb Mario del Monaco and E. Steber. But the sound is rea...

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J S BACH: Cantatas BWV 13, 73, 81 & 144 / La Petite Bande, Kuijken Splendid direction of Sigiswald Kuijken and very good soloists. The problem is in the option of replacing the Choir by the voice of the four soloists, a minimalist choice that doesn't convince me. Anyway, very good versions of the BW...

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SCRIABIN: Prometheus / Argerich, BPO, Abbado To me, the great version of this work. Abbado uses a fast tempo (18'), with contrasts and a very impressive and intense performance by Martha Argerich. Svetlanov is very slow (23') and heavy. In the last part he becomes monumental, as if he was conducting...

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Me too, I think that Toscanini with the NBC and Reiner with the Chicago Orchestra gave the best versions of Eroica. But Klemperer with the Philharmonia gave an extraordinary version of the Marcia Funebre, perhaps the best I ever heard. Other versions I love: Erich Kleiber with the VPO, Monteux with ...

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The interpretation of Alfred Cortot is not far from the ideal. The ideal according to the perspective I have of this work.

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1. DEBUSSY

2. STRAVINSKY

3. SCHÖNBERG

4. BARTOK

5. RICHARD STRAUSS

6. SIBELIUS

7. PROKOFIEV

8. WEBERN

9. MAHLER

10. RAVEL

11. ENESCU

12. ALBAN BERG

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I only heard the 4th and I am not very enthusiasmed. I think other conductors did much better, from Furtwängler (BPO) and Bruno Walter (Columbia) to Karajan (BPO, 1978) and Carlos Kleiber (VPO). I was never a big fan of Munch, even in French Music, and always preferred, among the French conductors o...

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PERGOLESI: La Serva Padrona / Renata Scotto, Bruscantini, Fasano (1960)

THe great version of this little but famous opera buffa, full of life, with two great singers. The direction of Fasano is very decent.

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BRAHMS: Symphony n. 1; Haydn Variations / NDR Orchestra, Furtwängler (1951) I have heard three versions of Furtwängler in this Symphony and this one is the best. In special because of the intense emotion of the Andante Sostenuto and the exceptional cohesion of the 4th movement. But I still prefer th...

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Because of its poetic beauty and elegace, my choice is Schwarzkopf with Ackermann. The recording that Schwarzkopf made with Szell is more dramatic, with more contrasts, but, to me, not as touching as the previous version.

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[quote]- Am I the only one here who really like these pieces and find a lot of them very deep ? No, many people love this Sonatas.To me, after the Lieder and the chamber music, Schubert's piano music contains many of his deepest inspirations. - Which sonata would you consider your favorite ? Perhaps...

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The disc with Bach Cantatas was the first I ever had. I was a kid and my parents gave me that LP, with Kurt Thomas conducting the Cantatas BWV 4, 54 & 59. It made a very strong impression to me. It is one of those moments we never forget, like my first concert (Kubelik conducting Mahler's First Symp...

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BEETHOVEN: The Complete Sonatas for Violin & Piano / Isabelle Faust, Melnikov (2009) Beautiful. Perhaps the best modern version of the ten Sonatas, since the legendary versions of Grumiaux/Haskil and Francescatti/Casadesus. Everything is remarkable, but the version of the Sonata opus 96 is the best ...

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Jack Kelso It used to be the fashion to criticize Schumann's Third (last) Period as not containing the highest quality masterpieces of the first two. Deeper analysis has shown this premise to be false, as it is now recognized that his harmonic, rhythmic and melodic style underwent a change toward m...

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I disagree regarding Shostakovitch: his Symphony 14, the Quartets 12 & 14, the viola Sonata, are among his most inspired masterpieces. Regarding Hindemith, yes, his best period (Cardillac, Mathis der Maler, Nobilissima Visione, 5th Quartet) was between 1930/1945. The Symphony inspired by his opera "...

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BUSONI: Sarabande & Cortège / Staatskapelle Dresden, Sinopoli

I am not an enthusiast of this works, but the interpretation is good, in special the orchestra.

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Yes, I am talking about the recording with Milnes and Freni and conducted by Chailly.

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I have excerpts from it with Martinelli as well as all the complete versions & this shows the sort of tenor you actually need in the Arnold role. If there is somebody like that out there he's doing a good job of remaining anonymous. Yes, Martinelli would be the perfect interpreter of Arnold. The be...

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LISZT: Dante Symphonie / Staatskapelle Dresden, Sinopoli

A superb version, with a beautiful orchestra. The Choir, in the Magnificat, was also very good.

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The amazing 4th movement, "Largo maestoso" of Charles Ives Symphony n. 4.

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For years, my favorite version of the string quartets was the one of the Italiano Quartet, for the beauty of their sound and their perfect balance. Today, I prefer the version of the Ysaye Quartet, more subtle, with more contrasts, and a deeply touching poetry in the slow movements (above all in the...

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J.S. BACH: The 6 Cello Suites / Pablo Casals

The absolute splendour of the cello's voice.

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My choice:

Dorati with the Concertgebow

Reiner with CSO

Ancerl with the Czech Philharmonic

Solti with the LSO

Stokowski with the Houston Orchestra

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My choice: Das Lied von der Erde/ Ludwig, Wunderlich, Klemperer Das Klagende Lied / Fassbaender, Hollweg, Chailly Kindertotenlieder / Ferrier, VPO, Walter Lieder eines Fahrenden Gesellen / Fischer Dieskau, Furtwängler Rückert Lieder / Janet Baker, Barbirolli Das Knaben Wunderhorn / Norman, Shirley-Q...

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CHARLES TOURNEMIRE: Complete recordings (1930/1931) The legendary recordings made by Tournemire with Cesar Franck's organ, the Cavaille-Coll of Sainte-Clotilde in Paris. The sound is poor but who cares? Tournemire plays works of Cesar Franck and excerpts of his own Orgue Mystique. But the best are t...

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WEBER: Clarinet Quintet / Variations on a theme from "Silvana" Janet Hilton, Lindsay String Quartet To me this is the great version of this works (with the old version of the Melos Ensemble). A good example would be the way Hilton phrases the Adagio ma non troppo of the Quintet, a sublime aria of be...

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Her Dido, in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, and her Diana in Cavalli's La Calisto were unforgettable. They are, in my opinion, her only great opera recordings. I am not a great fan of her interpretations of Mozart operas, even if her Vittelia in La Clemenza di Tito offers nice moments. But she was remar...

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