What are you listening to?

[Seán]

The now never heard Lucien Cailliet orchestration of Pictures at an Exhibition. Cailliet was an arranger and composer who frequently worked with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Eugene Ormandy Philadelphia Orchestra 1937

Decent sound for the era.

I have come across that set many a time in Tower Records and have considered buying it but have never done so.

[Seán]

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 5 & 7
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Charles Mackerras - conducting.

This is a very enjoyable performance of the Fifth and a thoroughly magnificent performance of the Seventh, overall it is a superb set, I love it.

[DonKC]

The now never heard Lucien Cailliet orchestration of Pictures at an Exhibition. Cailliet was an arranger and composer who frequently worked with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Eugene Ormandy Philadelphia Orchestra 1937

Decent sound for the era.

I have come across that set many a time in Tower Records and have considered buying it but have never done so.

It is interesting, and I have always enjoyed Ormandy. The Piatigorsky Dvorak Cello Concerto is excellent and the Rachmaninoff Concerti 1&3 with the composer as solo are great and well known. Have not tackled the 1935 Mahler 2nd yet. Worth the $11 or so I paid for the 10 discs.

[james]

Ray Manzarek [of the Doors] died a few weeks ago and I discoverred he had a recording of Carmina Burana and out of curiosity I bought it ..



I am listenning to it an the moment and it is 'interesting' [actually a lot of fun] .. It's still in Latin by the way !!

james

I am playing it on the computer [i.e. through the computer's cheap speakers] as I type this and I am smilling ...

[fergus]

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 5 & 7
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Charles Mackerras - conducting.

This is a very enjoyable performance of the Fifth and a thoroughly magnificent performance of the Seventh, overall it is a superb set, I love it.

That set has always been a favourite with me too Seán....I have always liked its difference of approach to these standards; it can be a refreshing alternative to the big hard hitting versions that we all know and love.

[fergus]

Double Tchaikovsky....

[fergus]

Some Brahms chamber music....

[Jared]

OK, I've been mulling this one over and I think a few words need to be said about this box set, for a couple of reasons.

I realise BB isn't everyone's cup of tea; indeed his sound-world is unique and at times quirky and esoteric. I do nevertheless think he is an important composer and should be persevered with, as his material is always interesting and imaginatively rich.

Simon Rattle has had a slightly harsh press for such a long time, that we've lost sight of what he was best at. His interpretations of 20th Century Music in general has always been of a very high standard, and British Music in particular is where he cut his teeth with the CBSO during the early to mid 80's. What we have in this set, mostly comes from that period (only disk 3 containing Serenade, Les Illuminations & Nocturne come from his later Berliner era; a particularly good disk with Ian Bostridge).

Generally, the set is mostly BB's orchestral work and I would argue, contains some of his most accessible music, therefore would be of benefit to the beginner. That said, the first two disks contain some of his less frequently recorded works, which would actually be quite difficult to piece together otherwise, so would benefit the collector also, and at £10 for the full set, the price is self recommending.

The performances are generally strong; Rattle has always had a keen love and understanding of Britten's works, so this will come as no surprise; likewise he has some fine soloists in the few choral pieces the box contains. I would point to an especially exhilarating Sinfonia da Requiem as a highlight, but then this has always been a favourite of mine so maybe I'm biased. My only quibble is that on first hearing, the recording quality for 1983's War Requiem in the University Great Hall is a little distant and set back... which is a shame.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Simon-Rattle-Ed ... le+britten

[fergus]

Good post Jared. I must confess that Britten's works are thin on the ground in my collection as he never really appeared on my horizon for some reason.

[fergus]