What are you listening two?

[Ciaran]

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??

I do have the cycle. The 8th is perhaps the highlight, but there are other excellent things. It wouldn't be my first choice of cycles, but he did take his own way through Mahler and often very convincingly, so there's a lot of individuality: a refreshing alternative. The Collectors Series box is not expensive: woth investing in, I think.

[Peter]

Revisiting some of my early Bach listening experiences. I was cleaning house yesterday and came across one of my "corner storage units". "The Musical Offering" really made me interested in Bach (especially as I came across numerous versions from small chamber oriented ones to larger symphonic ensembles). It was fascinating to encounter the fugues in this fashion. This Naxos version was not my first one ( I am still trying to recall which one it was - it was a small chamber version), but I truly enjoyed listening to this one once again this Sunday.

[Peter]

I have that cycle in a lovely vinyl box set Jared and I only finished listening to it last week. Nielsen's music is really growing on me.

Yes, Nielsen seems like an acquired taste some times (kind of like Elgar). There was a nice high quality Nielsen Membran box a couple years ago that you may be interested in?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Carl-Nielsen-Th ... an+nielsen
I always wondered why so few "famous" composers originate from Scandinavia. We have Sibelius of course ( : - ) ), but beyond that nobody really hit the charts as viewed from our 2013 perspective. Grieg and Nielsen comes next and then perhaps Stenhammar and Alven. Hmm, I need to explore Stenhammar some more. I recall a haunting theme from one of his symphonies that they used to play on TV as I was growing up. I still have to find it, but the BIS label is a bit expensive.
Anyway, enjoy the Nielsen sojourn!

[Peter]

That looks very enticing! Did you enjoy the recording?

[Seán]

I have that cycle in a lovely vinyl box set Jared and I only finished listening to it last week. Nielsen's music is really growing on me.

It's very good.

Yes, Nielsen seems like an acquired taste some times (kind of like Elgar). There was a nice high quality Nielsen Membran box a couple years ago that you may be interested in?

Ugh, I don't think that I will ever acquire a taste for Elgar.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Carl-Nielsen-Th ... an+nielsen
I always wondered why so few "famous" composers originate from Scandinavia. We have Sibelius of course ( : - ) ), but beyond that nobody really hit the charts as viewed from our 2013 perspective. Grieg and Nielsen comes next and then perhaps Stenhammar and Alven. Hmm, I need to explore Stenhammar some more. I recall a haunting theme from one of his symphonies that they used to play on TV as I was growing up. I still have to find it, but the BIS label is a bit expensive.
Anyway, enjoy the Nielsen sojourn!

Nielsen is wonderful.
This is a lovely Stenhammar set on the Brilliant Classics label:

[Peter]

Weiss: Lute Works, Kirchhof [Sony] ( I think I enjoy Robert Barto's rendition a bit more)

Neapolitan Chamber Music, Antonini/Il Giardino Armonico [thanks to you guys - I picked up the set as suggested in the bargain thread :)

[Seán]

Anyway, enjoy the Nielsen sojourn!

One of the best Nielsen symphony cycles has Herbert Blomstedt conducting the SFSO, it's unbeatable:

[Peter]

Nielsen is wonderful.
This is a lovely Stenhammar set on the Brilliant Classics label:

Thanks Seán! :)
I just realized that I have that set in one of my piles. I have to dig it out. Now - I realize that I must be reaching a dangerous points in music collecting with the possibility of duplicating albums without intending to do so. Dangerous!!!! LOL

On a different note I very much like the painting on that cd cover!!!

[Peter]

Anyway, enjoy the Nielsen sojourn!

One of the best Nielsen symphony cycles has Herbert Blomstedt conducting the SFSO, it's unbeatable:

The Membran set has Bostock conducting the Royal Liverpool PO. It is pretty good, but I am not a Nielsen expert by any means. I think it received mixed reviews in the media if I recall correctly. However, the set has a lot of other Nielsen goodies in very good sound.

[Peter]

Ugh, I don't think that I will ever acquire a taste for Elgar.

I have taken a fancy for Elgar's first symphony over the last few years (especially Barbirolli's rendition). You don't like that piece at all? The reoccurring theme seems to work its magic as a strange nostalgic parade....