What are you listening two?

[Jose Echenique]

Who would have known 20 years ago that there would be a time when 4 commercial recordings of Glück´s Ezio would be available?
Let´s take our Glück operas off the shelves, next year is his Tricentenary!!!!

[Seán]

In work, using headphones and have enjoyed:
Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 9, 8 & 1
The Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Claudio Abbado - conducting.

Wonderful! Now for number 2.

Schubert bathed in warm, lovely, Italian waters.

The first, second and third movements of the Ninth are simply divine and, in particular, the delicious sound of the woodwinds in the first movement are heavenly. I think the symphony may have waned a wee bit in the fourth movement but I will have to listen to it again before knowing for sure or perhaps I was otherwise distracted.

Right, I have just returned from listening to the entire symphony including the 4th movement again of course, and I take back what I said earlier, it is marvellous, full of vitality and bounce a lovely sound really.

[Seán]

Who would have known 20 years ago that there would be a time when 4 commercial recordings of Glück´s Ezio would be available?
Let´s take our Glück operas off the shelves, next year is his Tricentenary!!!!

Dear Pepe, it's probably about time that I put a few on the shelves, have you any recommendations for a novice like me?

[Jose Echenique]

Excellent recordings to start with the great Christoph W. Glück. René Jacobs´Orfeo couldn´t possibly be more gorgeously sung, and the orchestral playing is of course, out of this world.
Magdalena Kozena is absolutely delicious in the Paride ed Elena, a very beautiful 1770 opera written for Vienna.
Glück´s greatest opera is certainly Iphigenie en Tauride, but that is rather more complex, and more difficult to start with. But both Orfeo and Paride are masterworks that will give you a taste of this great man´s music and I guarantee that you will love both works and the respective recordings.

[fergus]

Well I´ve heard the 2nd and the 4th. Both are very good, and are extremely well played.
The 2nd starts rather nervously, but has a lovely slow movement and the finale is thrilling -as it should be-.
The 4th is magisterial and analytical, but does not erase memories of the famous Carlos Kleiber/VPO or even the quite excellent Herbert Blomstedt also with the Gewandhausorchester, a slightly warmer and more convivial 4th.
In general I liked the cycle except for the 3rd, but it is an improvement on the previous Concertgebouw.

Thank you for that Pepe; you seem to be positive overall with a reservation on the 3rd. The idea of hearing the Gewandhausorchester playing Brahms is the attraction here (and I also like Chailly - I got to see him perform here in Dublin not too long ago with the Gewandhaus Liepzig).

Did you Fergus? I am pleased, I missed it unfortunately. That must have been a lovely experience?

The sheer quality was almost overwhelming from the very first note Seán; it was almost frightening it was that good - the stuff of goosebumps!!

[fergus]

Schubert bathed in warm, lovely, Italian waters.

Beautifully described Pepe!!

[Seán]

Excellent recordings to start with the great Christoph W. Glück. René Jacobs´Orfeo couldn´t possibly be more gorgeously sung, and the orchestral playing is of course, out of this world.
Magdalena Kozena is absolutely delicious in the Paride ed Elena, a very beautiful 1770 opera written for Vienna.
Glück´s greatest opera is certainly Iphigenie en Tauride, but that is rather more complex, and more difficult to start with. But both Orfeo and Paride are masterworks that will give you a taste of this great man´s music and I guarantee that you will love both works and the respective recordings.

Thanks Pepe, much appreciated.

I have excerpts from the works of Gluck in my Harmonia Mundi box sets, I will revise them today.

[fergus]

Who would have known 20 years ago that there would be a time when 4 commercial recordings of Glück´s Ezio would be available?
Let´s take our Glück operas off the shelves, next year is his Tricentenary!!!!

Dear Pepe, it's probably about time that I put a few on the shelves, have you any recommendations for a novice like me?

I only have Gluck's Orfeo Seán (the inevetible Gardiner version!) and it is a lovely work and very accessible music.

[Jose Echenique]

Who would have known 20 years ago that there would be a time when 4 commercial recordings of Glück´s Ezio would be available?
Let´s take our Glück operas off the shelves, next year is his Tricentenary!!!!

Dear Pepe, it's probably about time that I put a few on the shelves, have you any recommendations for a novice like me?

I only have Gluck's Orfeo Seán (the inevetible Gardiner version!) and it is a lovely work and very accessible music.

The Gardiner is also excellent Fergus, and that is still the best recording with a countertenor, but Bernarda Fink is indecently gorgeous in the Jacobs.

[fergus]

I am a big fan of Jacobs and I fancy that one Pepe!