What are you listening two?

[Peter]

Interesting. I have M2/Klemperer+Philharmonia Orchestra/Schwarzkopf and I wonder how they would compare?

Hmm, good question. I haven't heard the Schwarzkopf version although I know that I probably prefer Ferrier's voice over Schwarzkopf in Mahler. I know that people complain about her German accent, but I care more about the tone and spectrum of her voice. I guess voices are quite subjective when it comes down to which singers we enjoy in our listening....... :-)

[Seán]

A wonderful M8 from Sinopoli....

How is Sinopoli's cycle overall?

I have to confess that I do not know Peter as I only have M2 and M8 under Sinopoli; both (for me) being powerful performances with great vocals.

I have his M7 and it is very fine indeed.

[DaveF]

[fergus]

I often search out Fauré's nocturnes when I am searching for some low key serenity. Apart from his requiem I have not listened to much else of Fauré's compositions. I noticed that Brilliant is putting forward some more composer sets and one of them is Fauré!!! Are you familiar with his works beyond the piano set you just listened to?

Beside a few versions of Fauré's Violin Sonata I also have this 5 CD set Peter....





I am very partial to Chamber Music in general; I love the intimacy and intensity of it. I do dip into that Fauré set every so often as I like his musical sound world.

[fergus]

Simon: I played CD 2 of Vol. 11 this morning as it contains the relevant Cantatas for today (the 21st Sunday after Trinity)....





It contains gentle, beautiful music of a high quality with some lovely obligato oboe work in the first two contemplative Cantatas. However the mood does pick up and I would recommend the wonderful organ work contained in the Sinfonia in BWV 98 which should warm your cockles!

[fergus]

A wonderful M8 from Sinopoli....

How is Sinopoli's cycle overall?

Ciaran I think has the full Mahler Sinopoli cycle but I may be mistaken in my memory of that??

[Diapason]

DaveF, I didn't know of that Saint-Saens disc, but I bought the new Ben van Oosten set after his recent concert in the Hague and you've just reminded me that it's still in the wrapper! How's that set? Correct instrument used anyway. So much music so little time.

Speaking of which, I doubt I'll get to those today Fergus as we've people coming over, but I think I should implement a plan to listen to the right cantatas for each Sunday soon. It would be a fascinating way of traversing the music. Incidentally, one of the few frustrations with the box set is that all the CDs now have different numbers so the original volume numbers don't apply. Makes it a bit more awkward to cross reference!

[Jared]

and now for something completely different... Symphs 3&4

[Jared]

Symph 1

[fergus]

Speaking of which, I doubt I'll get to those today Fergus as we've people coming over, but I think I should implement a plan to listen to the right cantatas for each Sunday soon. It would be a fascinating way of traversing the music.

PM me your email address Simon and I will forward you a small Excel spreadsheet with it all laid out for you if you are interested.

Incidentally, one of the few frustrations with the box set is that all the CDs now have different numbers so the original volume numbers don't apply. Makes it a bit more awkward to cross reference!

That seems a bit odd all right. One would imagine that they would have maintained the integrity of that data.