The Classical Music Guide Forums

rogch

Definitely cause for celebration. I wonder if any soloist during the last century had such a strong position compared to his rivals on the same instrument. If we were to name the greatest pianist or violinist of the last century i don't know who would be chosen. But if it was the greatest cellist i ...

rogch

Karajan's recording of Mahler's ninth symphony. I think it is the second of his two recordings. I will be surprised if i hear a better performance of that work.

rogch

Classical composers and performers of course experienced some restrictions in the USSR. But i think it is fair to say that other artists had bigger problems, authors being the most obvious example. Knowing the history of the USSR it is not an unthinkable scenario that they could declare western musi...

rogch

So, Pizza, here we are with North Korea and, prospectively, Iran acquiring nuclear capability. You sensibly dismiss my suggestion of nuking 'em preventively. So here we are - what's your prescription? Regime change -- get rid of the mullahs. We would all like that, but not at any price. A war with ...

rogch

The problem, according to US officials in the Middle East, is that Iran operatives are at work in Iraq, crossing the border with impunity, etc. In recent weeks the US troops have been arresting hundreds of Iranians and have even pursued some of them, across the border, into Iran. In entering Irania...

rogch

So now James Baker is a pacifist softy? I am glad we have the internet, otherwise it would be difficult to follow the last twists and turns in American foreign policy debate. I don't have many illusions about the Iranian regime, but wouldn't it be wise to cool down things a little? Isn't an Iranian ...

rogch

Perhaps it is time for Claudio Abbado to get a real job again after several years with comfortable free-lancing? I know he is getting old, but he looks very fit to me. And conductors before him have done well into their 80s. But perhaps Chicago should get him instead? It would be interesting to see ...

rogch

I've gone a long time without listening to Wagner. I figure once I open those floodgates, I'm going to be busy for a while. Where should I start with Wagner? Oh, we all reach that point sooner or later, don't we? I recognize the mixed emotions of excitement and concern. Here's how i did it: I found...

rogch

Lastly, I have trouble appreciating any music other than orchesetral music. Solo piano works, string quartets, and chamber works all do not seem to grab and hold my attention in the same way that any work utilizing an orchestra of any size does. Any advice? My experience is that piano trios can be ...

rogch

The Klien are so cheap, Roger, you could buy two sets and still have money left for a coffee and sweet roll. :D :lol: Well, the Uchida set is quite cheap too, at least from some European retailers. So perhaps i can afford both? Maybe later. I listen to Schubert from time to time, but i don't inhale...

rogch

Sixty years after the Nazi Holocaust, anti-Jewish hatred reached another climax at the hideous anti-Israel hate fest - the United Nations Conference on Racism in Durban, South Africa. There the Left demonstrated their common cause with Radical Islam by embracing hateful anti-Zionist propaganda, and...

rogch

Our late lamented founder, Ward Botsford, had something to do with that recording. He may have been the producer. If memory serves, he thought very highly of Klien's style and preferred his Schubert recordings above all others' interpretations. Wow, that is interesting. I have considered to buy Kli...

rogch

I thought it was fairly obvious from my post. Of course the left did it and does it. It does it for two reasons: 1) the American left now is the principal critic of Israel and what it characterizes as the undue influence that Jews and AIPAC have over American foreign policy; 2) as part of their cam...

rogch

In particular, I would like to know the relative merits (and demerits) of the following sets: Uchida - Philips Klara Wurtz - Brilliant Classics Maria Jao Pires - Brilliant Classics Walter Klien - Vox Box All of those can be recommended. Klien's set is the most original one in my opinion. The sound ...

rogch

Ligeti is the most accessible of all the avant-gardist, possibly because unlike many of his peers, he was actually a musician... Sure. Messiaen for example was definitely not a musician. Could not even play the organ, much less write music for it. I like much of Ligety's music, but i don't understa...

rogch

Both Kliegel and Wispelwey are very good cellists and perhaps good comparisons to du Pre. But concertos aren't just about the soloist, the orchestra and conductor are also important. And in du Pre's recording the London Symphony Orchestra under John Barbirolli are perfect partners. I have one other ...

rogch

Monteux' recording is obviously very popular and that does not surprise me. I have his Beethoven recordings and they are sensational. He has the eye for details that i do not find in Dutoit's recording of Daphnis . And i guess it is no drawback that Monteux was French and old enough to have heard an...

rogch

I did not think i would have to write this post. I own the acclaimed recording with Charles Dutoit and the Montreal SO and i have liked other recordings with this orchestra and conductor. But this one just does not work for me, i have listened to it a number of times. I think the sound is too massiv...

rogch

I think it is fair to say that Bartok's string quartets re-established the string quartet as an ambitious and experimental genre. Some of Beethoven's string quartets are among his most progressive works. But after Beethoven much of the most influential music was in other genres: Schumann's piano mus...

rogch

If you like Prokofiev, his piano concertos are a must. They are quite complicated, but when you get to know them you are hooked. The classic set with Vladimir Ashkenazy and Andre Previn is quite cheap. Plenty of masterpieces among his music for solo piano also. Bernd Glemser's recordings on Naxos ar...

rogch

Karl Böhm of course is a very safe recommendation. I have hardly heard a bad performance by him and many of them are sensational. His Beethoven symphony cycle on is "DGs best kept secret" according to Amazon's review.

rogch

da Karajan was a very controversial conductor for many reasons. For one, he recorded an incredible number of works, and many several times over (Bethoven symphonies, as an example). Not every conductor can conduct everything well, and Karajan was cetainly one of those. Some of the outstanding recor...

rogch

I am often surprised by Grieg's diverse production. Unfortunately, Norwegians don't know more about Grieg than average classical music lovers abroad. Sometimes i get the impression that the truisms about him ("minimalist", "national composer") are even more common in Norway than abroad. Abroad he is...

rogch

How did they get there, and why is the list so resistant to newcomers? When Mariss Jansons was conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic through the 1980s and 1990s, it won the sort of reputation that opens doors. Previously unnoticed, it became a presence in the world’s musical capitals. But the moment J...

rogch

I think Harnoncourt can be recommended in most of the works mentioned in danglam's first post. In particular if you already own recordings of these works, he can be a refreshing alternative. Harnoncourt is a rather paradoxical conductor: He started as one of the pioneers on period instruments, but n...

rogch

I have heard the Concertgebouw orhchestra in a number of radio transmitted concerts, and they seem to be in very good shape. That comes as something of a relief, i was not sure if Jansons was the right man for this job. Of course i know he did a very good job with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and...

rogch

I have just ordered the Brilliant Classics set with Staatskapelle Dresden and Rudolf Kempe, and i look forward to hearing that. My interest in Richard Strauss has increased over the years. I am very fond of Till Eulenspiegel and Ein Alpensinfonie. I have tried a couple of his operas too, did not car...

rogch

Ralph wrote:Interesting. I wonder if she will add to the glut of Mahler 5th recordings. Probably ineivtable that she will.

I would if i were her. It seems almost impossible these days to make a Mahler recording without receiving some kind of award or at least become "editor's choice" or something like that.

rogch

Although Brahms is still a very popular composer, it is my impression that he does not have quite the same position as 20-30 years ago. Whatever the origin is of the expression "the three great Bs", it was used by many people. I don't hear if often these days. If Brahms' position among composers has...

rogch

david johnson wrote: unbelievable! someone actually thinks lee was fighting for white supremacy. good grief.

That was not his personal motivation, but he must have known that the political leadership he fought for wanted white supremacy.

rogch

General Lee was both a lousy commander and a quite good one. His overall strategy was probably wrong, he fought the war as if the Confederacy had to win a total victory. This led to a number of brave (some will say reckless decissions). The advance against Gettysburg is the most famous case. However...

rogch

I am afraid an avarage of 6 works per CD is a little optimistic. He has many operas and large-scale choral works that are much longer than his sonatas and concertos. Are all his operas recorded by the way? I know people are working with it, but i don't know if they have come through all of them yet....

rogch

Thanks for the compliments, Karl! Has anybody heard Rimsky-Korsakov's opera Mozart and Salieri? Rimsky-Korsakov is most famous for his instrumental music, but often it is difficult to tell why some works by a composer are more famous than others. On the other hand, when the opera is so seldom played...

rogch

No, it is not possible to love Stravinsky. Millions of people have just been fooling themselves for nearly 100 years now. Seriously, what kind of question is this? Let's ask the question about a less original composer for once. For example, after Wagner, is it still possible to enjoy the dreadfull o...

rogch

I love the film Amadeus, but i see it as pure fiction. If we are to blame the producer for anything, it is not that there are historical errors in the film. The problem is that some of the stories and persons in the film are real so many people compare it to real events. Salieri in the film probably...

rogch

Abbado has recorded all 5 symphonies in a very cheap box set. Well worth the money (the second symphony is quite underrated, isn't it). I haven't come around to buy it yet, but hopefully i will soon. I don't want to make a big point out of which recording in every work i buy, so i will settle for th...

rogch

Khatchaturian is the most obvious case i can think of. I don't think Ellitot Carter and Alban Berg should be used as examples. They have written so much good music that it shouldn't surprise anybody that their violin concertos are good. Mozart's violin concertos are very good by the way, at least th...

rogch

20$ is so cheap that you can buy it for its historic interest alone... I bought it myself not long ago when i came across it in a local shop. I haven't been in a hurry to buy this set, i have been very satisfied with the Blomstedt/Staatskapelle Dresden recordings on Brilliant Classics when it comes ...

rogch

Thank you very much Corlyss, i have wanted that one for a long time

rogch

Yes, of course Michel Tilson Thomas is chief conductor in San Fransisco, how could i forget that? Shame on me.

rogch

AbeilleMusique.com noted that while Radio Classique and Le Monde de la Musique did include French orchestras on their lists, none of the other voters did . :lol: That is interesting, but not very surprising. I have noted many times that French critics often have very different tastes than English o...

rogch

How is the San Fransisco symphony orchestra doing these days? They were excelent under Blomstedt but who is in charge now?

rogch

Some people have claimed that the south has gained so much in influence that the north should consider secession...

rogch

Is Lorin Maazel so bad that it is a question of "surviving" him? I have heard some good preformances with Maazel and various orchestras, but of course radio stations try to pick the best recordings and not play the lousy ones. I have Mahler's first symphony with the Vienna Philharmonic and Maazel on...

rogch

I never get sick of Mozart despite the anniversery. I have got really tired of Shostakovich though.... Deutche Grammophon is ruining me these days. They release all these "must have" box sets that are not very expensive, but their back cataloge is so huge that i end up buying lots of them... But tha...

rogch

There were celebrations at christmas time long before they became part of christian traditions, but they of course had other names. It is actually an old pagan mid winter celebration. In Scandinavia it is still called "jul" which is the same word as "yule".

rogch

How exciting that this debate should come up! I was once very interested in everything that had to do with the American civil war. I am not sure what triggered it, but the beautifull song "The night they drove old Dixie down" by the Band played its part... In my opinion we can't separate the problem...

rogch

Naxos has two good CDs with various Norwegian composers. One of them with works for violin and orchestra, mainly from the romantic period. The other with string quartets from the last century is more modern. I think Klaus Egge in particular is interersting. From the late romantic period, David Monra...

rogch

If Barenboim did not like the fund-rasing and marketing jobs that comes with the post as chief conductor for an American orhchestra, he can't be very pleased with the current situation in Berlin either. Seems like he spends a lot of time to secure the survival of his ensemble. But there were more th...

rogch

Perhaps you will find this album interesting:
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1033772

I heard about this album on the radio. If i am not mistaken, it is a collection of first time recordings of various Barber works. One of the songs is sung by the composer himself!

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