What are you listening two?

[Jose Echenique]

It was a good idea to pair Prokofiev´s finest piano concerto with his finest symphony, and since both performances are highly charged and idiomatic, it makes for a most satisfying Prokofiev concert.

[Seán]

It was a good idea to pair Prokofiev´s finest piano concerto with his finest symphony, and since both performances are highly charged and idiomatic, it makes for a most satisfying Prokofiev concert.

Lovely Pepe, Prokofiev's Fifth is a splendid work and you can count me in as a fan of his third piano concerto. It's one of my favourite piano concertos second only to Beethoven's in my affections. I must listen to it again this evening.

I expect that the Gergiev led Mariinsky performance is very fine indeed.

[Jose Echenique]

It´s very characterful Seán, far more than Gergiev´s previous recording with the LSO which is more tame and urbane. This is more histrionic, or rather "Russian". My all time favorite Prokofiev 5th is, or are, both Celibidache recordings, the earlier with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra and the later with the Munich Philharmonic. His insights in the score are unmatchable, but this Mariinsky recording has enough good things in it to be recommended, and the pairing makes a lovely concert.

[fergus]

It was a good idea to pair Prokofiev´s finest piano concerto with his finest symphony, and since both performances are highly charged and idiomatic, it makes for a most satisfying Prokofiev concert.

I am not a real Prokofiev fan as I prefer his smaller works but that looks like and interesting one indeed Pepe. I would also think that Gergiev does both works justice here.

[Jose Echenique]

It´s a most enjoyable cd dear Fergus, both works are among Prokofiev´s greatest compositions and among his most accessible, so, what´s not to love?

[Jose Echenique]

Bach´s Easter Oratorio has been recorded with alarming frequency, and the catalogue already has extraordinary recordings with Brüggen, Koopman, Herreweghe and Bernius among others, but of course Sir John just had to make his own version and needless to say, it´s splendid. Is it the best? Now that´s tough one, I wouldn´t place it above the Brüggen or the Koopman but it´s up there next to them.
The new recording of BWV 106 is not that different from the earlier recording of the complete cycle, so perhaps it´s not entirely justified to rerecord it. Perhaps he should have looked into a cantata he was dissatisfied with and give it another go.

[Jose Echenique]

There was a time when record companies knew their business. La Dame Blanche was one of the most popular of French operas in the first decades of the XIX Century, in a way, it´s France´s Il Barbiere di Siviglia!!! It´s tuneful, fun and just adorable. But surprisingly, it was never commercially recorded before this late 90´s recording. Vocally it´s fiendishly difficult, especially the impossibly high lying tenor lead. Pathé Marconi, EMI´s French subsidiary, recorded it just in time when they had the perfect tenor for it, the admirable American tenor Rockwell Blake, a master Rossini tenor who recorded very little because his voice production is not to everybody´s taste. He makes a slightly "strange" sound, but he is so musical and a master of his instrument, that I personally don´t care if the sound itself is not the most beautiful. Some of the greatest tenors didn´t have beautiful voices, like Alfredo Kraus. But Rockwell Blake will leave you open mouthed in disbelief at the pyrotechnics he can make, This is an utterly extraordinary performance. Next to him is the charming lyric coloratura Annick Massis, just perfect in her role, and the rest of the cast is ideal too.
Of course it was only obvious that Marc Minkowski was the ideal conductor for this opera, he knows the period, and makes sure that every gem in the score shines for all it´s worth.
Now EMI sells it dirt cheap in a twofer without libretto, but I urge all in the Forum to try it, it´s THAT good.

[fergus]

I know nothing of Boieldieu's music Pepe other than his Harp Concerto that I have in my collection. However Minkowski is one that I have had a long admiration for and your description of Rockwell Blake is intriguing so I may just check that one out.

[fergus]

A very recent purchase....





This is a lovely, intimate recital of six Cantatas by Albinoni with soprano voice and harpsichord and cello continuo accompaniment.

[Jose Echenique]

I know nothing of Boieldieu's music Pepe other than his Harp Concerto that I have in my collection. However Minkowski is one that I have had a long admiration for and your description of Rockwell Blake is intriguing so I may just check that one out.

This is something really special Fergus, both opera and recording, and I warmly recommend it.