What are you listening two?

[Jose Echenique]

A recent purchase: Mozart Horn Concertos played by Ab Koster, Tafelmusik/Weil....





Wonderful music splendidly played by both soloist and orchestra. What a wonderful tone from the solo horn! Another wonderful addition to my collection.

Glad to know you liked it Fergus.

[Diapason]

I see that you have bought the Harnoncourt cycle Simon; you should enjoy that. As for another Beethoven Symphonic cycle I would recommend, depending on how one likes one's Beethoven, von Karajan [1963]/Zinman, Cluytens, Gardiner and/or Bruggen [2].

What would others recommend to help convert this non believer?

Thank you Fergus. I bought the Cluytens on your recommendation a while ago and I like it very much. It all seems very "right" to me in terms of conception and performance -- nothing to scare the horses, just excellent music in a familiar tradition and soundworld. For my next cycle I was looking for something to give a different slant so Harnoncourt seems like a good next step. I'll eventually get to Gardiner, but I often wonder if that will be like Beethoven's Sonatas on a fortepiano rather than a Steinway: interesting, informative, but just not as beautiful?

That's a discussion for another day, but meanwhile I'm excited to listen to the Harnoncourt set (assuming I ever get the time!)

[mcq]

Personally I believe that Beethoven's sonatas retain their beauty when played on a fortepiano.  What they lose in terms of dynamic range they gain in a sense of intimacy.  And that applies to period performances in general.  Ultimately though, it's all about the performance.  This is one of my favourite performances of Beethoven's last three sonatas.  If you can sample it online, I recommend you do so.



I think the Harnoncourt performances are genuinely revelatory.  If you do like them, I strongly recommend Frans Brüggen's second cycle on Glossa as well. I bought this set at full price when it was first released and I have found it so profoundly satisfying that I haven't felt the urge to buy any other Beethoven symphonic cycles since then.  If you find you can't quite engage with the performances, you may want to look at Thomas Dausgaard's ongoing cycle on Simax.  He uses a chamber-sized orchestra with predominently modern instruments but period instruments are substituted for the woodwinds and brass.  Although I don't own any of the individual releases, the selections I've sampled online sound very interesting and, if I ever fancy a change from Brüggen and Harnoncourt, this might well be next cycle.

[Diapason]

Thank you, mcq. I might need to listen to more fortepiano too!

[fergus]

....  By the way, I assume you've heard this beautiful CD?

Alas, no; but I intend to order it now!

[fergus]

Thank you Fergus. I bought the Cluytens on your recommendation a while ago and I like it very much. It all seems very "right" to me in terms of conception and performance -- nothing to scare the horses, just excellent music in a familiar tradition and soundworld. For my next cycle I was looking for something to give a different slant so Harnoncourt seems like a good next step. I'll eventually get to Gardiner, but I often wonder if that will be like Beethoven's Sonatas on a fortepiano rather than a Steinway: interesting, informative, but just not as beautiful?

That's a discussion for another day, but meanwhile I'm excited to listen to the Harnoncourt set (assuming I ever get the time!)

Oh you should enjoy the Harnoncourt Simon but I personally do not include it in my top recordings of the Beethoven symphonic cycles. These things are always very subjective.

With regard to the Gardiner cycle [yes I am biased as I simply love the man's sound world] but the one thing that it cannot be accused of is being insipid if that is what you fear. It is powerfully electrifying, so much so that some are put off by it saying that it is too much so. However, I like my Beethoven to be assertive where required.

Bruggen 2 definitely deserves very close attention too [total endorsement pending a listen to No. 9!].

Ensure that you make time to listen to your Harnoncourt before the Christmas mania sets in!!

[fergus]

Some delightful chamber music by CPE Bach comprising three quartets for fortepiano, flute and viola with Andreas Staier at the fortepiano....

[dhyantyke]

[img]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4 ... OU11__.jpg
easily accessible to the 'classical newbie' after a long absence from the listening room.[/img]

[dhyantyke]

[fergus]

I have always liked Part's music.
I bought a book a while back which is an extended interview with him if I remember correctly; I must get around to reading it some time soon.