Search found 2006 matches
- Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:49 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Eric Heidsieck, pianist - Complete Edition
- Replies: 36
- Views: 2015
Re: Eric Heidsieck, pianist - Complete Edition
Today's update on Heisdieck listening: Recorded in Paris in 1960 (Volume I) and 1962 (Volume II) by Erato, Heisdieck's complete traversal of Faure's neglected Nocturnes shows the astounding depth of that pianist's musicianship. The set I have by Jean-Phillippe Collard performing these same works is...
- Mon Feb 08, 2021 9:38 am
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Rubinstein in Moscow, live 1964
- Replies: 7
- Views: 286
Re: Rubinstein in Moscow, live 1964
Lance, I believe this is the passage you are referring to, where at the double-bar marker the key shifts from A-flat major to E major. The same repeated E major chords reappear about 17 bars later, but this time preceded by a not-quite C major chord (it is missing its G). I've tried to upload an att...
- Thu Feb 04, 2021 11:40 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Eric Heidsieck, pianist - Complete Edition
- Replies: 36
- Views: 2015
Re: Eric Heidsieck, pianist - Complete Edition
Very interesting comments, John. I have a Lamond piano roll CD somewhere, but that's all. Speaking of Liszt pupil Lamond, there are two small boxes of his recordings now available. This one includes two previously unreleased concerto broadcasts in a restoration of selected electrical recordings by ...
- Mon Feb 01, 2021 11:42 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Eric Heidsieck, pianist - Complete Edition
- Replies: 36
- Views: 2015
Re: Eric Heidsieck, pianist - Complete Edition
Yes, thank you John for your comments. Your post is a perfect example of why I joined CMG much more than a decade ago, and I appreciate the time you took from your busy schedule to write all that and find the link accompanying it. I will listen to the interview with great interest. It's a pleasure ...
- Mon Feb 01, 2021 11:39 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Eric Heidsieck, pianist - Complete Edition
- Replies: 36
- Views: 2015
Re: Eric Heidsieck, pianist - Complete Edition
Very interesting comments, John. I have a Lamond piano roll CD somewhere, but that's all. If that CD is part of the Caswell Collection, it is an interesting set as it has recordings of many Liszt pupils, really a Who's Who of late 19th and early 20th Century pianists. Lamond's recordings in the col...
- Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:20 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Grumiaux box
- Replies: 12
- Views: 410
Re: Grumiaux box
Szeryng was a beautiful player who certainly deserved a higher reputation. But the congnoscenti knew. Yes he was good (I heard him several times) but I tend to agree with Perlman's oft quoted view that 'yes that was good, I wonder who it was - oh Szeryng'. Somhow it's all very well done but there's...
- Tue Jan 26, 2021 10:45 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Eric Heidsieck, pianist - Complete Edition
- Replies: 36
- Views: 2015
Re: Eric Heidsieck, pianist - Complete Edition
Yesterday I heard Heisdieck's debut recording from 1957, recorded in Paris, a single Beethoven Sonata, the Hammerklavier, Op. 106. What an incredibly brave choice for a 20-year-old virtuoso, even though he studied Beethoven at the knee of Wilhelm Kempff. Magnificent and fully idiomatic playing! It'...
- Sat Jan 02, 2021 12:16 am
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: What I listened to today
- Replies: 1270
- Views: 926458
Re: What I listened to today
My custom is to ring out the old year with Beethoven's 9th and this time I chose André Previn's recording from 1989/90 in memory of the artist. Hard to believe he has been gone for almost two years now. In a word the performance is exuberant. The orchestra, soloists (Roberta Alexander, Florence Quiv...
- Wed Dec 30, 2020 12:26 am
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Who enjoys Pancho Vladigerov (1899-1978)?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 257
Re: Who enjoys Pancho Vladigerov (1899-1978)?
He was the teacher of the young Alexis Weissenberg, who performed and recorded some of his music. That led me to explore a bit more on Spotify and enjoyed it. I'll be seeking these out for a listen.
John
John
- Wed Dec 30, 2020 12:17 am
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Eric Heidsieck, pianist - Complete Edition
- Replies: 36
- Views: 2015
Re: Eric Heidsieck, pianist - Complete Edition
For me the new release date for this set is the second or third since the original announced for November 18th. The set is available in Europe, but is considerably more expensive than Amazon.com's $75 asking price. I suspect this is the problem behind the delays. Hopefully, after all this time has p...
- Fri Dec 25, 2020 11:44 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Happy Christmas everyone
- Replies: 6
- Views: 388
Re: Happy Christmas everyone
A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for you and your family. And the courage and fortitude to tackle the storage problem.
I bought some shelving for the living room and the smaller boxed sets look quite handsome.
John

John
- Fri Dec 25, 2020 11:34 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: 120-disc Ormandy Columbia Legacy box is in the works
- Replies: 68
- Views: 3706
Re: 120-disc Ormandy Columbia Legacy box is in the works
This is a good sign. Thanks for finding this.jserraglio wrote: ↑Tue Dec 22, 2020 7:57 amFWIW, this link gives a projected release date: 21 March 2021. https://www.saturn.de/de/product/_e...d ... 09093.html
John
- Fri Dec 25, 2020 11:26 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: 120-disc Ormandy Columbia Legacy box is in the works
- Replies: 68
- Views: 3706
Re: 120-disc Ormandy Columbia Legacy box is in the works
Speaking of Japanese releases, I believe they were the only ones to issue Ormandy's premiere recordings of Symphonies XIII & XIV, the former with bass Tom Krause in one of his finest recordings. I attended the Western premieres (1970/71) of both symphonies in the Academy of Music, and was thrilled ...
- Sun Dec 20, 2020 11:01 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: 120-disc Ormandy Columbia Legacy box is in the works
- Replies: 68
- Views: 3706
Re: 120-disc Ormandy Columbia Legacy box is in the works
CDJapan has a huge number of CD listings for Ormandy's Columbia recordings so a lot of digital remastering has been done and could be available for such a project, but the Japanese no longer issue large box sets and rarely ever did at budget price so I wouldn't expect them to be a source. South Kore...
- Sun Dec 20, 2020 10:30 am
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: 120-disc Ormandy Columbia Legacy box is in the works
- Replies: 68
- Views: 3706
Re: 120-disc Ormandy Columbia Legacy box is in the works
I've done some digging on this set and can't find any trace of it other than the posted link, which implies that it has already been published and is temporarily out of stock. The Philadelphia Orchestra itself doesn't seem to know about it, where I would expect it would be news, but if anyone has co...
- Wed Dec 02, 2020 10:31 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Pianist Ruth Slenczynska's American Deccas on DGG!
- Replies: 25
- Views: 1636
Re: Pianist Ruth Slenczynska's American Deccas on DGG!
https://www.universalmusic.com/labels/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Music_Group Thus, EMI Classics is now owned by Warner because of the EU's opposition to Universal's acquisition of the label, in spite of the claim of ownership and the misleading display of the EMI logo still on Univers...
- Tue Dec 01, 2020 9:38 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: How does Garrick Ohlsson fare with you?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 881
Re: How does Garrick Ohlsson fare with you?
Just another senior moment, John! :oops: My apologies for any confusion. I was actually thinking of the Tasmin Little and Jennifer Pike recordings of the Elgar Sonata that feature Roscoe: I was thinking that was the case. I was very curious about these works and listened to both the Piano Quintet a...
- Tue Dec 01, 2020 9:21 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Pianist Ruth Slenczynska's American Deccas on DGG!
- Replies: 25
- Views: 1636
Re: Pianist Ruth Slenczynska's American Deccas on DGG!
John, I wrote to Cyrus Meher-Homji, who heads Eloquence with your suggestion. This was his reply: Hi Barney Thanks for writing. We’re doing American Decca recordings, not American Capitol recordings so the Hollywoods can’t be included. I’m not even sure we own them. All best Cyrus So, for me, a big...
- Sun Nov 29, 2020 11:26 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Pianist Ruth Slenczynska's American Deccas on DGG!
- Replies: 25
- Views: 1636
Re: Pianist Ruth Slenczynska's American Deccas on DGG!
I am still patiently awaiting the Ida Haendel box - and you already have the Slenczynska set - really lucky you! Of course, those Eloquence sets originate in Australia so it is reasonable you would have it first! The only one I'm not sure about yet is the Boulanger. Amazon shows the Slenczynska set...
- Sun Nov 29, 2020 11:15 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Wilhelm Kempff - 80-CD set forthcoming on DGG
- Replies: 10
- Views: 936
Re: Wilhelm Kempff - 80-CD set forthcoming on DGG
I've been listening to Kempff's stereo cycle over the last four weeks or so and am up to Sonata No. 28. I also started listening to his mono Concerto cycle as well. I wouldn't be interested in the DG box. I have long had the impression that Kempff was a lyric and poetic pianist, but listening to the...
- Sun Nov 29, 2020 10:53 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: How does Garrick Ohlsson fare with you?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 881
Re: How does Garrick Ohlsson fare with you?
'm also very interested in acquiring this recent release of piano quintets by Elgar & Beach with the Takacs Quartet, which has been very well received by reviewers on amazon. Frankly, I have not been impressed with Ms.Beach's compositions, but the Elgar Quintet is an overlooked gem.I have not heard...
- Sun Nov 15, 2020 11:56 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Eric Heidsieck, pianist - Complete Edition
- Replies: 36
- Views: 2015
Re: Eric Heidsieck, pianist - Complete Edition
Thank you for mentioning this set, Lance. A must have for me. It looks like all those interesting "record people" (as opposed to bean counters) from French EMI have found a home at Erato, although I think Warner Classics is headquartered in Paris. I was just thinking how nice it would be if Warner i...
- Sat Nov 07, 2020 9:53 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Orchestras Are Rushing to Add Black Composers. Will It Last?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 810
Re: Orchestras Are Rushing to Add Black Composers. Will It Last?
Sony seems to released another run of this set. Amazon.com lists 10 copies available. I bought my copy from ArchivMusic.com, which also reports it in stock.
John
John
- Sun Nov 01, 2020 12:58 pm
- Forum: Corner Pub
- Topic: Is the US really a democracy?
- Replies: 29
- Views: 1386
Re: Is the US really a democracy?
The United States is a constitutional republic, not a democracy. It was designed that way to preserve the stake of smaller states in the nation as a whole and larger states cannot impose their will by sheer large numbers. For change to be peacefully embraced by a nation, there has to be substantial ...
- Thu Oct 22, 2020 11:20 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Midori is Recording Again!
- Replies: 41
- Views: 2135
Re: Midori is Recording Again!
Nice to hear Midori is back at the microphones. I prepared her piano for a concert with Robert McDonald as her piano collaborator. Much as I admire her artistry, I hate to tell you how many recordings I have of Beethoven's Violin Concerto not to mention the two Romances. Do I really need another VC...
- Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:04 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Comparative listening: Bach's English Suites
- Replies: 24
- Views: 1554
Re: Comparative listening: Bach's English Suites
Excellent point re Richter. I've watched the famous film,YouTube videos and have many pictures in books of Richter, and I can't recall hm smiling. He must have, surely. Neither did Rubinstein, for that matter, IIRC. He was famously stone-faced when he played. I guess he preferred to let the music s...
- Sun Oct 11, 2020 11:55 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Comparative listening: Bach's English Suites
- Replies: 24
- Views: 1554
Re: Comparative listening: Bach's English Suites
I remember buying the various Perahia Bach recordings as they came out - the English and the French Suites. But I haven't listened to them a great deal since. The Well-Tempered Clavier is my 'go to' in Bach. I can't get enough of it. But perhaps it's time to pull the English Suites and give them a ...
- Sun Oct 11, 2020 11:43 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Comparative listening: Bach's English Suites
- Replies: 24
- Views: 1554
Re: Comparative listening: Bach's English Suites
Thanks, John, for a most interesting perspective on your listening experience. :) I agree that Murray Perahia is quite a bit more subtle in his approach to these works and to Bach in general than others, but his understated readings do appeal to my taste, especially his recent release on DGG of the...
- Sun Oct 11, 2020 11:26 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Comparative listening: Bach's English Suites
- Replies: 24
- Views: 1554
Re: Comparative listening: Bach's English Suites
Thank you, very interesting analysis.I do not have your recordings,and only one set of the English, Schiff’s cd set of several years ago on Decca.I do tend to enjoy the English Suites more than the French Suites. I considered buying Schiff's collected Bach recordings before undertaking this adventu...
- Sun Oct 11, 2020 11:05 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Comparative listening: Bach's English Suites
- Replies: 24
- Views: 1554
Re: Comparative listening: Bach's English Suites
Thank you John for a very interesting post. I am really interested in your observations. I don't have many complete collectons of the English suites, but one I do have and like that you didn't mention is Angela Hewitt. Until recently I hadn't heard any of Ms. Hewitt's Bach recordings. The local cla...
- Sat Oct 10, 2020 12:39 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Comparative listening: Bach's English Suites
- Replies: 24
- Views: 1554
Comparative listening: Bach's English Suites
I had the pleasure of listening to five complete recordings of these suites over the past several weeks. The idea was to just listen each suite played by the five artists and then move on to the next. These were the recordings: Glenn Gould https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41HEfvYR8XL._AC_UY218_.j...
- Mon Oct 05, 2020 7:45 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Samson Francois Complete Warner Box: New Release
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1466
Re: Samson Francois Complete Warner Box: New Release
A further thought. I do have the EMI 36-CD edition entitled "The Complete EMI Recordings and Live Concerts," which I acquired in 2010. Now Warner/Erato comes forth with another "complete" edition comprised of 55 CDs. The 1969 Japan recital was once issued on the Weitblick label [0021], now in this ...
- Sun Oct 04, 2020 10:56 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: What NEW discs/music are you adding to your collection?
- Replies: 4323
- Views: 1525953
Re: What NEW discs/music are you adding to your collection?
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61aijI5a%2BKL._SX425_.jpg I had never heard of this pianist, but was curious. Australian Decca has reissued a number of long forgotten recordings by now unfamiliar artists. I listened to this set on Spotify (Amazon Prime members can also listen there...
- Sat Oct 03, 2020 3:24 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Fritz Reiner: Pittsburgh SO Recordings on CD Finally!
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1005
Re: Fritz Reiner: Pittsburgh SO Recordings on CD Finally!
I've listened to a little over half the set and am happy to have it. Reiner favored fast tempi wedded to tight ensemble in the 1940s. His Beethoven 2nd holds its own with any version ever recorded. In a word--bracing. The recordeed sound often is very good with a great deal of presence. That presenc...
- Fri Aug 28, 2020 12:15 am
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Moura Lympany Boxes
- Replies: 5
- Views: 556
Re: Moura Lympany Boxes
I don't have the Membran set, but it looks like about half the set is duplicated in the Decca and APR sets. The Decca and APR are all mono material. Membran also includes some of her stereo recordings made for EMI (Grieg/Schumann Concertos, Chopin Nocturnes and Waltzes, and Khachaturian Concerto). I...
- Sun Aug 16, 2020 1:33 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Paul Lewis - Beethoven Sonata #2
- Replies: 7
- Views: 750
Re: Paul Lewis - Beethoven Sonata #2
Glenn Gould always preferred his New York Steinway until it was dropped and "allegedly" brought back to its supposed original condition. He was not happy with the end results and looked around for his next piano, which was a Yamaha. Near as I know, Gould never played nor performed on a Bosendorfer ...
- Sat Aug 15, 2020 11:50 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: He Wasn’t Toscanini, but He Made Orchestras Sing
- Replies: 6
- Views: 756
Re: He Wasn’t Toscanini, but He Made Orchestras Sing
I've been listening to several large scale works from the Sony Barbirolli box (Brahms 2, Sibelius 1 & 2, and some Baroque suites) and find the playing and readings dull. The set wasn't helped by airless sound which led to some wooden phrasing. Sibelius 2 was probably the best of the group. Sibelius ...
- Thu Jul 16, 2020 6:52 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Florence Beatrice Price
- Replies: 3
- Views: 741
Re: Florence Beatrice Price
Frederick Stock conducted the world première of the First Symphony with the Chicago Symphony as part of a series of concerts held at the 1933 World's Fair (Century of Progress Exposition). The concert was broadcast over the NBC networks and was likely recorded (although none of the recordings have y...
- Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:38 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Willian Grant Still: Miss Sally's Party
- Replies: 6
- Views: 903
Re: Willian Grant Still: Miss Sally's Party
I have several discs of Still's music and enjoy it. Tuneful and colorful, he wrote for many instrumental combinations as well as for voice. It started with a song titled "Golden Days" I heard on the radio played by the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra with soprano Margaret Astrup. Thanks for the reminder...
- Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:14 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Backhaus Box
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3958
Re: Backhaus Box
I don't care for multi-disc mini-gatefold covers used in these sets. They can be really tight and present risk of damaging the disc as well as the cover. The outer boxes seem standardized and perhaps that drives the packaging. I'd prefer they packaged the multi-disc sets in a small mini-album box wi...
- Sun Jul 12, 2020 10:51 am
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Ida Haendel 1928-2020
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2265
Re: Ida Haendel 1928-2020
When I learned of her passing, the EMI recording of the Sibelius Concerto with Berglund was the first of her recordings to come to mind. I was captivated by it nearly 40 years ago and bought it the next day. Re-listening, I was captivated again and will re-visit some other recordings over time as we...
- Sun Jul 12, 2020 10:21 am
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Backhaus Box
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3958
Re: Backhaus Box
Besides Warner, Backhaus also made recordings for Victor during his tour of the U.S. in 1908. Yes,I believe the ones on the Pearl 2-cd set of his 1908-1925 acoustics. I was incorrect in stating Backhaus had recorded for Victor in 1908. I discovered this checking Julian Morton Moses' Collector's Gui...
- Sat Jul 11, 2020 1:55 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: What NEW discs/music are you adding to your collection?
- Replies: 4323
- Views: 1525953
Re: What NEW discs/music are you adding to your collection?
Having enjoyed the COMMAND LP recordings of Beethoven's symphonies with the Pittsburgh Symphony under the baton of William Steinberg , I was happy to recently acquire the 5-CD boxed set from DGG 483 8344 giving us all the symphonies plus the third Leonore Overture. Unlike other sets of this music (...
- Fri Jul 10, 2020 10:20 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Lang Lang Records the Goldberg Variations
- Replies: 5
- Views: 858
Re: Lang Lang Records the Goldberg Variations
I just listened to the Aria via Spotify. It was very beautifully performed. Both sections were repeated with varied and simple ornamentation. Timing was 5:21, but doesn't sound slow.
I've been listening to much Bach of late and look forward to hearing this recording.
John
I've been listening to much Bach of late and look forward to hearing this recording.
John
- Wed Jun 10, 2020 12:16 am
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Soprano Mady Mesplé Obituary
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1880
Re: Soprano Mady Mesplé Obituary
Thanks for posting that, John; I will watch with interest. But last night I spent some time watching her on YouTube, and she was very fine. I'm surprised that I was never aware of her. I don't believe most of her recordings had much circulation outside of France. This would particularly true for th...
- Sat Jun 06, 2020 4:53 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Soprano Mady Mesplé Obituary
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1880
Re: Soprano Mady Mesplé Obituary
I didn't have the time to check the newsletter from Presto Classical yesterday and I'm glad I didn't as this news would have saddened the day. She was probably best known as Lakmé, but she sang a wide range of music from the Classical period into the 20th Century. She recorded many obscure French op...
- Mon Jun 01, 2020 10:31 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Backhaus Box
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3958
Re: Backhaus Box
I have this set as well. I've admired Backhaus since hearing some of his early electrical recordings issued on LPs by Music & Arts in the mid 1970s. Critical opinion of Backhaus around the time he died was that he mechanical and a bit cold. It didn't sound like that to me. Backhaus plays with clarit...
- Thu May 28, 2020 7:51 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: What NEW discs/music are you adding to your collection?
- Replies: 4323
- Views: 1525953
Re: What NEW discs/music are you adding to your collection?
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71Pewv%2Bd6CL._SY355_.jpg I was happy to see DG had issued this set earlier this month. This may be its first official release as a complete cycle--there are two issues available taken from LPs. I remember seeing the LPs discounted as remainders many...
- Tue May 05, 2020 10:29 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Guarneri Quartet
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1924
Guarneri Quartet
Lance, you are right about their being the preeminent quartet among American quartets from the mid-1960s and into the 1970s for their youth, interpretive warmth, virtuosity and rich sonority. Very different from the Juilliard Quartet, another great and expressive quartet, but one that did not cultiv...
- Mon May 04, 2020 9:37 pm
- Forum: Classical Music Chatterbox
- Topic: Cellist Lynn Harrell Has Died, Age 76
- Replies: 9
- Views: 3687
Re: Cellist Lynn Harrell Has Died, Age 76
I first met him (sonically, not in person) with a pair of Boccherini quintets on LP that I loved. That recording is very possibly his first, from the early 1960s during his time at Juilliard. David Soyer, an outstanding cellist, and Michael Tree became lifelong members of the Guarneri Quartet. John