The Classical Music Guide Forums

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I did subscribe, but I will probably not renew my subscription. Please see this rant by David Hurwitz regarding the Boulez "Complete Works" box. He described the box as "a big box of punishment." Thirteen discs of this stuff is torture–27 works that graphically illuminate the utter failure of the p...

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The overall brilliance and uniquenesss of Leonard Bernstein and he had loads of charisma, too.

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I am not familiar with the website, 'Classics Today'. I depend on magazines like Fanfare, The American Record Guide, Gramophone and BBC. Are any of our fellow CMGer's members of Classics Today's membership? If you are, please advise me about its strengths or weaknesses.

Thank you.

Regards,
Mel

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Lenny, here is David Rubinoff on record. Fascinating topic, my friend:

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I would not like to choose between Stravinsky and Bartok. I must have both composers. They are both unique geniuses.

Regards,
Mel

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My tribute to the maestro:

Regards,
Mel

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Congratulations, Garrett. What wonderful news, my friend.

Regards,
Mel

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Let us not forget his Nielsen 2nd and 3rd from DaCapo. Excellent recordings from Gilbert and his New Yorkers.

Regards,
Mel

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Happy B Day, Lance. You should celebrate by listening to something special. I wish you only the best health and many more years happily leading this great forum. Have lots of fun, my friend!

Regards,
Mel

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Lemeshev was indeed an outstanding tenor, and he recorded quite a few complete operas for the Soviet national recording company. One of these is "Eugene Onegin," and its outstanding cast includes Galina Vishnevskaya as Tatiana, Eugene Belov as Onegin, Ivan Petrov as Gremin, and forces of the Bolsho...

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0gdFzoxwROI&list=PL8Ia5e5Q_mtdCnbIL6sGZNtN5O-vhDXyo Wow!.....................I hope there is a Bluray of Bartoli performing 'Norma'. That 'Casta Diva' segment was definitely different and deserves my undivided attention when I finally get to hear it in context. 'Norma', where are you?... :lol: :D 8...

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I have already preordered this set as soon as it popped up at Amazon. I am so happy that the great Bartoli has finally recorded the entire title role. This 'Norma' could be a winner. 8) Regards, Mel 8) Have you heard it yet, Mel? What did you think? Any one else? I'm going to listen at the weekend....

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I have the Thielemann 2008 Bayreuth 'Ring' with Albert Dohamn and Linda Watson. It is a good and well conducted version, but is not in the same class as Solti, Furtwangler, Karajan and some others. The price was right for me and I have enjoyed the 1st Thielmann 'Ring'. If the new one is priced fairl...

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Jacqueline Dupre was an exceptional musician, in the sense that her playing was unlike anyone else's and she didn't know the meaning of the word "caution." That makes her my kind of artist. I saw her only once, playing the Dvorak concerto in Oklahoma City of all places, but several of her recording...

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Are you sure that this wasn't published on April Fools' Day? How can you list any cellists and leave out Janos Starker? (That's right, you have to make room for Jacqueline du Pré, that overrated English rose who was scared to play anything written after 1900 save for the Elgar Concerto.) Where are ...

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Are you sure that this wasn't published on April Fools' Day? How can you list any cellists and leave out Janos Starker? (That's right, you have to make room for Jacqueline du Pré, that overrated English rose who was scared to play anything written after 1900 save for the Elgar Concerto.) Where are ...

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Len, I have known the Dallapiccola for a half a century. It is a powerful opera and not as difficult to listen to, as most critics describe it. Please enjoy, my friend and let us know what your reaction to this 20th century masterpiece is.

Regards,
Mel

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Lance,

My intro to Rite on LP in the 50's and still a wonderful Bernstein performance over half a century later. Just received the CD and can recommend it very highly. My fellow CMGers get it while it lasts.

Regards,
Mel

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I have collected all of these boxes from the early 2000's thru now. I just received the latest box and was impressed as usual. Argerich and Capucon in the lovely Prokofiev 2nd Violin Sonata is worth the price of this very inexpensive set by itself.

Go for it, my fellow CMGers.

Regards,
Mel

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Both boxes are extraordinary. They both bring back many wonderful memories from the 1950's. I grew up loving most of these performances. I truly wish they could make both of these magnificent boxes available in the West. Golden oldies! If pressed, I would go with the Chamber box first and the Orches...

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I have already preordered this set as soon as it popped up at Amazon. I am so happy that the great Bartoli has finally recorded the entire title role. This 'Norma' could be a winner.

Regards,
Mel

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I was pleasantly surprised that the venerable BSO went outside the box and chose such a young, but very talented conductor. A.N. is not generally known to the average classical music lover and Boston is taking quite a chance. Good for them. That makes the appointments of Gilbert in New York, Dudamel...

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Quite frankly it´s only so-so. Rather invest in Le Roi D´Ys, much more beautiful score. I believe the 1980´s ERATO recording conducted by Armin Jordan is still available. Jose, I love Le' Roi D'Ys, so I will take my chances with the original genius of Lalo. By the way, the Overture to Le Roi D'Ys i...

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Wow! I am ordering it as soon as I leave CMG today. Thank you for the heads up, my friend.

Regards,
Mel

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bigshot, thank you so much. What a treasure you have given us. Wow!

Regards,
Mel

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At this low price, or even more, the Rubinstein set represents some of the finest piano playing from the earliest of his recordings right to the end of his recording career. He was a master musician and pianist of the highest caliber. I can almost guarantee that once this set goes out of print, the...

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Definitely worth hearing the Moscow Soloists and Yuri Bashmet is one of the world's greatest Violists.

Regards,
Mel

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Chalkie, I think Isabel Leonard has a fabulous voice and will be a big star very soon. What did you think of her performance, m8?

Regards,
Mel

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Len, 'Almira' is a wonderful Handel opera. It is actually his first opera and it quite lovely. Here is an excerpt under the direction of the up and comming conductor Thomas Hengelbrock. Camilla Tilling and her lovely voice are also featured. Have fun and let us all know how your Berkshire Handel exp...

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Sounds like a wonderful tribute to Rostropovich.

About Schnittke's fine Viola Concerto. Yes, it is near the top, but the Walton Viola Concerto and Hindemith' 'Der Schwanendreher' Viola Concerto are equally great.

Regards,
Mel

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Now this is great news indeed. Wow!

Regards,
Mel

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Not cut-outs only, but brand new copies of classical CDs and LPs, with or without punched holes or slash marks. Places where critics and reviewers discarded their bounty for cash. I remember some of the locations from way back when in NYC. A gruff old man running a tiny little, creepy store on 9th o...

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The 12 Concerti Gossi Op. 6 would be enough to classify Corelli as one of the greatest of composers. This set of works influenced Vivaldi, Bach, Handel and that is enough for me to regard Corelli in the pantheon of outstanding composers.

Regards,
Mel

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We posted at exactly the same moment my friend!

Horrible news, indeed.

Regards,
Mel

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Sad, sad news indeed. One of the greatest cellists of all time and an LP recording pioneeer in the 1950's and way beyond, Starker brought so many great cello masterpieces to our attention. From Dohnanyi's luscious Konzertstuck to Kodaly's magnificent solo Cello Sonata, Starker's unique sound was uni...

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No. Historically important and not uninteresting, but not great. Ahem, truly great I think, for connoisseurs of Baroque anyway, even non scholars, i'd go as far as to call him a legend, and, he's buried in the Parthenon at Rome, could that be because both Bach and Handel studied him, or because he ...

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Len, thank you for the heads up. I am looking forward to this broadcast. The main trio of singers is excellent, but who is the conductor, my friend?

Regards,
Mel

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Suggestion: Try alibris.com. Many of the top 3rd party sellers from Amazon also sell through this site. Classical Music Superstore - the best of the lot - certainly does. And Alibris reduces the shipping charges on second and subsequent discs in the same order (from the same seller, of course). Tha...

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Sad, sad, sad..........3.99 it is...........

Regards,
Mel

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Let me get this straight........... :oops: If you order more than one item from an Amazon 3rd party, such as MovieMars, IDeals or Classical Music Sperstore, we will now be charged $3.99 for each separate order? For example a single chamber music CD and a single orchestral CD. That would now be $7.98...

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Both J. Northrop Moore and Diana McVeagh have strong reservations about "The Apostles" finding it has too much slow music and that the dramatic tension slackens off too frequently. Myself, I have never heard the work but it sounds a bit too much like "The Kingdom", about which the two Elgar special...

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Giltberg is a wonderful young pianist. I have his EMI debut album and I was impressed. Since I know and love the war sonatas, I will try to obtain this new recording. Thumbs up to you, m8. But, Richter still is the Mount Everest in this repertory. I have never heard any other pianist top him. So, Gi...

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I have amost all of Britten's works. He was the first musician ever to receive a life peer (the title Lord Britten). I consider Peter Grimes the greatest opera of the 2nd half of the 20th century. I realize that the opera was written in the mid 40's, but that is my opinion. Britten produced masterpi...

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'Siegfried's Funeral Music' from 'Gotterdammerung' is and always has been my first choice. But, hopefully it will not have to played for a long time...................

Regards,
Mel

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I miss High Fidelity and Stereo Review. Almost all of the writers mentioned were excellent, except for Alfred Fraankenstein. His short paragraph negative reviews for Shostakovich, over half a century ago still sting in my memory. High Fidelity should have terminated this neanderthal of writers befor...

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Henry, In 1977 I purchased an RCA LP of an unknown 25 year olf pianist who knocked me out. Yes, it was the Janina and her recording of the Liszt Sonata is still fondly remembered. I have no idea if it was ever issued on CD. But, if it is available, run, dont walk to get it, my friend. Regards, Mel 8...

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I am very, very sad. I saw Sir Colin conduct on numerous occasions and actually got to chat with him after a Boston Symphony Tanglewood concert. He was one of the truly great conductors and he will be remembered for his many outstanding recordings. His great Philips Berlioz cycle and his supurb thre...

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Here is the latest best of 2013 list. I am so happy to see Elgar's great Oratorio, 'The Apostles' awarded top prize in the Halle Label's set with Sir Mark Elder conducting. A lovely choral work, unjustly neglected. What do my fellow CMGers think of the BBC winners? Regards, Mel 8) Conductor Sir Mark...

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I am still collecting more and more CDs. It is still my passion. As long as men like Klaus Heymann keep on churning out intriguing issues, I will still be in the 'game'. 8) Regards, Mel 8) P.S. I 'inherited over 300 CD MP3's when Amazon fathered in its Cloud service recently, so I have even more rea...

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Len, thank you for the new info. I will watch now because of your post, my friend. Thank you.

Regards,
Mel

P.S. Elina Garanca should be quite a treat for us!

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