What are you listening to?

[Jared]

This is an excellent Damnation de Faust. What a pity that Gardiner didn´t use the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique with period instruments, though of course it didn´t yet exist at the time of this recording. Anne Sofie von Otter who also recorded the work with Myung Whun-Chung is one of the finest Marguerites ever.

Thank you Pepe... this is my very first outing on Berlioz' Damnation, and I read good things about this recording. Gardiner's involvement, along with such a fine cast of soloists sold it to me (von Otter is a personal favourite) and it is undoubtedly very fine. Berlioz' choral works, both sacred and secular have long been a real omission in my collection, which I have been determined to put right.

current listen:

[Jared]

these are very reasonable performances all round, with fine solists and set at a brisk pace, although I am not entirely sold by the recording quality or the acoustics of the King's College Chapel here, which make the performance seem a little distant. I picked this up at an amazing bargain price, but I may try another version for comparison in due course... any suggestions?

[Jared]

Maskarade Overture
Saga Drom
Pan & Syrinx
Flute Concerto
Rhapsody Overture
Clarinet Concerto

[bombasticDarren]

Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.1 (Yefim Bronfman/David Zinman, Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, Arte Nova)

Darren, I'm on (another) Beethoven kick at present and am wallowing in these wonderful concertos, do you like these performances?

I can't fault any of Zinman's Beethoven Sean. I enjoy the PCs, but have never felt that they were in any way masterpieces of the genre. I like to give a cycle a spin every 6 months of so though....

[bombasticDarren]

Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.2 (Yefim Bronfman/David Zinman, Tohalle Orchestra Zurich, Arte Nova)

[Seán]

Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.1 (Yefim Bronfman/David Zinman, Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, Arte Nova)

Darren, I'm on (another) Beethoven kick at present and am wallowing in these wonderful concertos, do you like these performances?

I can't fault any of Zinman's Beethoven Sean. I enjoy the PCs, but have never felt that they were in any way masterpieces of the genre. I like to give a cycle a spin every 6 months of so though....

Thanks Darren, I am particularly fond of the Third, Fourth & Fifth Piano Concertos, they are magnificent.

[bombasticDarren]

Martinu - Cello Concerto No.1 (Raphael Wallfisch/Jiri Belohlavek, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Chandos)

[bombasticDarren]

Thanks Darren, I am particularly fond of the Third, Fourth & Fifth Piano Concertos, they are magnificent.

That's interesting. I think I prefer to first 3 personally.

I hope you have this disc Sean

[Seán]

Thanks Darren, I am particularly fond of the Third, Fourth & Fifth Piano Concertos, they are magnificent.

That's interesting. I think I prefer to first 3 personally.

I hope you have this disc Sean

Oh dear, no I don't. I have complete cycles by Perahia, Paul Lewis, Zacharias, Gulda, Brendel and two cycles by Emil Gilels.

[Seán]

Martinu - Cello Concerto No.1 (Raphael Wallfisch/Jiri Belohlavek, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Chandos)

I have never heard Martinů's Cello Concerto, what do you make of that recording?