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Len_Z

Thank you so much, bigshot - it's a true gem of a recording.

Len_Z

The ABT Met season is coming to an end and I must confess that I have attended just five performances this year, which is about half of what I used to see the previous years. Paradoxically, this season is absolutely the best in recent memory, so please do not judge it by my rather modest attendance ...

Len_Z

I saw her in Ernani when she replaced the indisposed Radvanovsky, fell in love immediately and have been following her career ever since. Unfortunately, her Norma at Caramoor was a bit disappointing (rather a work in progress than a finished product), but nevertheless I think Angela Meade has got a ...

Len_Z

Most likely THE best interpreter of German Lieder of the XX century.

I am having a really hard time trying to come up with another name that could aspire to the same title.

If not him, who?

As much as I love Hermann Prey, just the scope of F-D legacy puts him out of reach.

Len_Z

Heifetz/Hendl is probably the best Sibelius of all time, but, I have at least thirty other performances of this great concerto and many of those are contenders, too. 8) Regards, Mel 8) Would love to hear about at least some of these contenders. No need to elaborate, just a list of soloists/conducto...

Len_Z

You're all missing out on an extraordinary DVD, with Antonenko/Poplavskaya, led by the indomitable Muti. Don't believe the reviewers on Amazon: this is a superb cast with both stunning looks and singing: you will be astounded! 8) That said, Scotto's Desdemona on DVD with Vickers in the old MET tele...

Len_Z

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61QWDqSF6NL._SL500_AA300_.jpg I love this performance by Gilels and Svetlanov. There's also a very decent recording of all three Tchaikovsky Piano Concertos by Gilels and Maazel available at a really budget price on 2 CDs that also include Prokofiev & Bartok by...

Len_Z

Once again, I'd like to tap into the collective wisdom of this esteemed forum to answer the question asked in the topic subject. Would love to hear about choices that might seem obvious to you as well as about the more unorthodox ones. Historic as well as modern performances are more than welcome. A...

Len_Z

Interesting piece. Have you been to any of the HD showings? I haven't. Neither have I. And I have yet to watch one on DVD at home, too. Even though I must admit that I've purchased them all, I am still, technically speaking, Met-HD-virgin :) Probably the first one I'll actually watch will be Il Tro...

Len_Z

Thanks again, everybody!

Really appreciate your insight and will definitely give all of the above a try.

Len

Len_Z

The modern recordings that appeal most to me - well, more or less modern - are by Isaac Stern, Eugene Ormandy, and the Philadelphia Orchestra (not Stern's remake with Zubin Mehta and the NY Phil). This is also among the less expensive options. I also like Maxim Vengerov's recordings with Rostropovi...

Len_Z

Well, I guess the subject is pretty self-explanatory :) This esteemed forum has helped me with so many wonderful suggestions in the past, that I'm sure I'll see some very interesting and non obvious choices mentioned here. Please consider that I am extremely conservative in this particular respect a...

Len_Z

Pina Bausch' Orfeus is available on DVD: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41FtYXcVLEL._SL500_AA300_.jpg So you may want to watch it before deciding whether you actually want to see it live. In any case one should be aware that this is primarily a ballet and no major vocalists (on the par with B...

Len_Z

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519Y-TkkYRL._SS400_.jpg First solo CD by Marlis Petersen is a gem. An exceptionally original choice of songs (for instance, "Meine Ruh ist hin" not by Schubert but by Wagner, or "Kennst du das Land" not by Wolf but by Diepenbrock - how much more "not obvious" c...

Len_Z

http://www.ljplus.ru/img4/k/i/kitezhgrad/Boulianne.jpg Bought this out of sheer curiosity and am delighted I did. It's really an outstanding recording by a singer who, I think, has the potential to become a major presence on the vocal scene. The chamber orchestra arrangements of the songs also work...

Len_Z

Who else might be considered master conductors of ballet music (without the ballets)? I think Dorati was highly touted for his representation of the great Tchaikovsky ballets, and wasn't Manuel Rosenthal noted for his work, too? I think Monteux was outstanding when it came to Stravinsky. Thoughts? ...

Len_Z

I love ballet and would like to add two titles that mysteriously have not been mentioned yet: Don Quixote La bayadere Both are very dear to my heart, albeit for different reasons. If you like Giselle you just owe it to yourself to see La bayadere ASAP, as it contains - among many other things - one ...

Len_Z

My first opera on LPs was Kubelik's Lohengrin (and Janowitz remains my favorite Elsa to this day) and my first live opera was Parsifal at the Met with Peter Hofmann in the title role. As the saying goes, I was hooked for life. And the thought of what my life would have been without opera (and classi...

Len_Z

Thanks, Mel.

We've seen it during the previous run, a DVD recording of which, I should add, is going to be released in about a month.

Thanks again!

Len

Len_Z

I was amused by the authorship of Il barbiere as well, but decided to post the list exactly the way I had received it :lol: As for new productions, no word yet, but I'm safely guessing L'elisir and Stuarda will be new. I'm not writing the whole season off just yet, especially after listening to some...

Len_Z

*Verdi’s Aida (10)* November 23, 26, 29, December 3, 7, 12, 15m, 19, 22, 28 Conductor: Fabio Luisi Aida: Liudmyla Monastyrska (Nov, Dec. 12, 15) / Hui He (Dec 3, 7, 19, 22, 28) Amneris: Olga Borodina Radamès: Marco Berti (Nov, Dec 3, 7) / Roberto Alagna (Dec 12, 15, 19, 22, 28) Amonasro: Alberto Mas...

Len_Z

The Met 2012-2013 Season with full castings has been leaked to the internet and what a disappointment it turns out to be. Not a single Richard Strauss opera. Not a single Russian opera. And the castings! Mamma mia! Mattila as Amelia? Fleming as Desdemona? Racette as Leonora? Damrau as Violetta? Netr...

Len_Z

I will never forget the performance of Wesendonck-Lieder by Matthias Goerne. I was incredulous at first, but he made it sound riveting and true.

Len_Z

Quite right. I'm a little surprised that the new production of "Don Giovanni" isn't selling better, but I'd already heard that it wasn't. Mid-season revivals of the likes of "Aida" and "Barbiere" are ho-hum stuff for New York opera-goers who've seen them before, though visitors to New York like the...

Len_Z

And three more (how could I ever forget?): Brahms' Vier ernste Gesänge, Alt-Rhapsodie and Schicksalslied

Len_Z

I'd like to add another vote for Richard Strauss' Four Last Songs and add Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder (really surprised nobody mentioned them yet, as those two works are my absolute favorite in the genre). I also really liked the following CD: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B001KS96O2/ref=dp...

Len_Z

Hello Len ... I wrote up a review when this Brilliant set of Tretiakov first was released. I was both, impressed, and unimpressed (at times). If you click on this, it will take you to the older CMG thread on Tretiakov. http://www.classicalmusicguide.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=14755&p=142933&hilit=Tret...

Len_Z

Len, Your wish is my command, my friend: Regards, Mel 8) CH19qS0VTNE The young Korean pianist HJ Lim’s debut recording for EMI Classics will be a two-disc set of piano sonatas by Beethoven. The first instalment in what will become a complete survey of the piano sonatas follows Lim’s signing to an e...

Len_Z

There's a great Tretyakov Shostakovich No. 1, conducted by Temirkanov, that is worth getting to supplement the Brilliant box (which has in it the No. 1 conducted by Fedoseyev, as I recall). It comes either on a Russia Revelation cd (which is the one I have): http://www.amazon.com/Plays-Shostakovich...

Len_Z

len, you have inspired me to finally try to obtain that Tretiakov Brilliant box set. I have heard Tretiakov very infrequently, even though I have seen him on DVD. I have positive memories, but, since I do not know his work that well, I will reserve judgment, my friend. Your comments have whetted my...

Len_Z

I've been listening to the Brilliant Classics box set of Viktor Tretiakov recordings and find that I like them more than ever. The virility, the monumentalism, the passion, and the technique to spare - it's a fascinating listen. I was especially impressed by his rendition of Prokofiev #1 and Shostak...

Len_Z

Hilarion Alfeyev was who first came to mind, but I had to look around a bit to find his name. Another composer I didn't know about. The samples from Alfeyev's "St. Matthew Passion" on YouTube reveal it as an outright Bach imitation, and I don't get a sense of the composer's own voice speaking throu...

Len_Z

I don't think Hilarion Alfeev is likely to compose a lot of music in the nearest future as he is now the head of the Department of Foreign Relations of Moscow Patriarchate and is considered to be the most likely successor to the current Patriarch Kirill. As for Lera Auerbach I am so glad somebody el...

Len_Z

I'd like to add two names that have not been mentioned here: Arvo Pärt - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arvo_P%C3%A4rt and Lera Auerbach - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lera_Auerbach I'm not sure how they'd stack up against Stravinsky, but I think both of them are incredibly talented and interesting ar...

Len_Z

Lance wrote:I do wish Vox would reissue Klein's on CD, however.

Haven't they already?

Or was there a different set on LPs?

BTW, a thorough discussion of various Brahms piano music recordings would be of great interest.

Len_Z

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21WACSH0R5L._SL500_AA300_.jpg Is there a better rendition of the Berg Violin Concerto than this Leonid Kogan's recording? I've always loved Szeryng's, but this one surpasses him with its profundity and solemness of the sound. Right now am listening to Hindemith...

Len_Z

John F wrote:I'd guess that Testament's contract with EMI to reissue its Kogan recordings must include a provision that EMI will not reissue the same recordings itself any time soon, especially at a lower price that undercuts Testament.

Then I'm really screwed

Len_Z

Well, the $10 self-imposed limit is not a bad way to go, but it will surely limit your acquisitions, and you may have to pay more for the Testament issues referenced, which are stunningly done, outstanding sound, excellent remastering and packaging, and illustrate Kogan at the top of his form. The ...

Len_Z

Having experienced the most snow-free winter I have ever seen in these parts, winter has finally caught up with us thus providing extended listening times to such things as that 10-CD box of Leonids Kogan. Ah, the power of suggestion! I love winter, love the snow and am currently suffering through ...

Len_Z

Chalkperson wrote:His Beethoven Violin Sonata disc with Emil Gilels is electrifying...

http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Violin- ... B0002A2VT6

Thanks! Will definitely buy this one.

Len_Z

Thanks, Mel, - ordered it from amazon.com right away.

Len_Z

Like it quite a lot, I must admit.

Len_Z

I see the Brilliant Classics set includes a piece by Edison Denisov and, less to Kogan's credit, a concerto by Tikhon Khrennikov. However it does not include a Kogan recording I really like, of the Berg violin concerto with Rozhdestvensky conducting. I see this has been released on CD, twice, as we...

Len_Z

I've recently purchased the 10-CD Leonid Kogan box set on Brilliant Classics, and as I slowly advance through it disc by disc, I start to realize that I've been neglecting this violinist practically all my life. Even though I heard him live on several occasions when I was in my late teens and liked ...

Len_Z

For the last several days I have been listening to the Walter Klien Brahms box set on Vox and found it quite exciting, which led me to order the complete Schubert sonatas by him from Amazon. I have always thought that Brahms piano music was quite elusive and very difficult even for the best pianists...

Len_Z

Joseph Marx who was the most performed living composer in Austria and Germany during the Nazi era but is rarely heard today, even though his music has been getting more recognition lately, especially his wonderful Lieder.

Len_Z

^^ don't believe a word... not at the rate Sean, Fergus, Darren and myself are buying them up... :mrgreen: lol :) I've been buying quite a lot myself lately, but can the four of us save the format abandoned by the masses? It feels like there's more of a market for the tangible product in CM. I have...

Len_Z

Jared wrote:^^ don't believe a word... not at the rate Sean, Fergus, Darren and myself are buying them up...

lol

I've been buying quite a lot myself lately, but can the four of us save the format abandoned by the masses?

Len_Z

According to this article the CD will be abandoned by major labels in about a year:

http://www.side-line.com/news_comments. ... 80_0_2_0_C

I'm not sure I'm happy about it. Not sure at all.

Len_Z

The Concerto doesn't eclipse the Anda/Fricsay rendition but is quite remarkable in its own way. The Rapsody is outstanding.

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