What are you listening to?

[fergus]

I had never heard of the Cluyten's set until you mentioned it. I have the Zinman & Vänskä sets in my basket. Perhaps I should drop one in favour of the Cluyten's then? And yes I do love Beethoven's Second Symphony.

I do not know the Vänskä set Seán so I cannot comment on it but I have the Zinman set almost since it was first issued and although it is a very good cycle I rarely play it any more....others have long since overtaken it in my collection. In relation to the Cluytens set it has consistently good performances in the big band, bold and assertive performance mode and it would certainly be the one that I would now recommend to anyone just coming to Beethoven and wanting to explore his symphonies....they will certainly get a sense of the power of his music and personality....just my opinion.

Which I rate very highly indeed, so sold on that, thank you.

Two solds in one night....do I get commission!?!?

[DaveF]

Schumann – Symphonies 3 & 4, BPO/von Karajan....
No. 3 continues the presentation of Schumann’s work with great power, energy and drive. The opening movement is a bold statement. The slow movements are played with great depth and grandeur and the blazing brass in the Finale is wonderful....von Karajan at his best!
No. 4 is a wonderful affair played with grace and charm. It has a great build up of power and tension in the final movement with a wonderful finale.

I'm sold. Added to basket. :-)

I'm happy with the Chailly & Sawallisch sets and don't need anymore Schumann for now.

That would be the Mahler Edition right? I like it but something kept bugging me about it in that I wanted to hear the original score instead. Anyway its been a very long time since I bought anything by HvK so I think I'll go for his Schumann cycle.

[Seán]

Just FYI Dave....some negative reaction to this set with our CMG colleagues which you may want to acquaint yourself with before you actually buy....just in case. I know that he is now out of fashion but I must say that I like most things that HvK did with Classical Music and especially with the BPO. As I have said I like the power, drive and energy behind these works.

When it comes to Solti and von Karajan I don't pay too much attention to the negative comments from those on CMG.

[fergus]

Oh Fergus don't miss the Sibelius on Thursday night.
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=116

I had spotted that Seán....thanks a lot!

[fergus]

Some wonderful French Baroque to finish off the evening with. Savall and Le Concerts des Nations come up trumps yet again. Everything I have by them is near flawless and together with the extremely high sound quality make many Savall recordings must haves imho.

You make a compelling case Dave.....

[DaveF]

Some wonderful French Baroque to finish off the evening with. Savall and Le Concerts des Nations come up trumps yet again. Everything I have by them is near flawless and together with the extremely high sound quality make many Savall recordings must haves imho.

Yes, I remember mcq recommending to us everything that Savall recorded.

Ever since I got Savall's Boccherini recording well over a year ago, I've been keeping an eye out for his stuff ever since.

[fergus]

When it comes to Solti and von Karajan I don't pay too much attention to the negative comments from those on CMG.

That is what I like....a man of conviction!!!

[fergus]

Ever since I got Savall's Boccherini recording well over a year ago, I've been keeping an eye out for his stuff ever since.

That is what happens....you like what somebody does and then you must track down everything that they have done!!!

[Seán]

That would be the Mahler Edition right? I like it but something kept bugging me about it in that I wanted to hear the original score instead. Anyway its been a very long time since I bought anything by HvK so I think I'll go for his Schumann cycle.

It doesn't bug me at all. The fact that Mahler actually changed these works heightens the interest for me. I would love to hear how Mahler might have interpreted Beethoven's and others too. Surely Mahler's modifications can only enhance a piece of work by Schumann? Chailly/Gewandhausorchester sound is splendid.

[DaveF]

When it comes to Solti and von Karajan I don't pay too much attention to the negative comments from those on CMG.

I noticed that alright particulary in the case of HvK. At least we're all in agreement on Simon Rattle with the BPO. :-) Incidentally, the Mahler section in Tower in choc full of Rattle recordings. I asked the guy there why and he said he doesnt really know Mahler much at all. I suggested some conductors/cycles that would be worth getting in. Hopefully he listened!