What are you listening two?

[fergus]

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh!

(If I called your mother a goat, my apologies!)

Anyway... been listening to a classic Haydn series. Would have been the first integral recording if Goberman had lived to complete it. Sound is ok, typical of early 60's and stories are about the the masters were damaged a long time ago. Fine recordings, not heavy and mannered like a lot of Haydn performances of yore. A most wonderful "Maria Theresa" is part of the set. Goberman recorded 45 of the symphonies and a couple overtures before his premature death in 1962. Interestingly, Goberman was also well known as a conductor of Broadway musicals including the original West Side Story.

Interesting for sure... but does not replace Dorati or Fischer in my book.

Goberman, Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Haydn Symphonies
Sony 88843073942 14 discs

Very well done Don; I am impressed and no, you have not insulted the entire nation!

I have often wondered about that Goberman cycle [?] but I have not heard any of it yet.

[fergus]

Mozart chamber music....




....Clarinet Quintet and Oboe Quartet. Sublime music!

[fergus]

Verdi: Don Carlo [Highlights]....

[Jose Echenique]

Verdi: Don Carlo [Highlights]....

This is a good example of great Verdi singing conspicuously absent from theaters today.
Bumbry as Eboli has never been bettered, nor Bergonzi´s aristocratic Don Carlo. And the sheer opulence of Ghiaurov´s Philipp II is a wonder.

[fergus]

Verdi: Don Carlo [Highlights]....

This is a good example of great Verdi singing conspicuously absent from theaters today.
Bumbry as Eboli has never been bettered, nor Bergonzi´s aristocratic Don Carlo. And the sheer opulence of Ghiaurov´s Philipp II is a wonder.

Yes, Pepe, even to my untrained operatic ear that sounded like a strong performance.

[Diapason]

I don't know this music nearly as well as I should. I'll be rectifying that.

[DonKC]

Fergus: Goberman did Haydn as I like it, brisk and symphonic without being too stodgy. I find them quite good, but not to the level of Dorati's great traversal or even Bernstein and Szell. From what I can tell, some love the performances, some hate them with a passion.

[mcq]

I don't know this music nearly as well as I should. I'll be rectifying that.

I strongly recommend the versions by William Christie (Erato) and Rene Jacobs (Harmonia Mundi), Simon.

[Diapason]

Duly noted, thank you. I wasn't sure about this one as it went on. Only in some ways, but still.

[fergus]

Fergus: Goberman did Haydn as I like it, brisk and symphonic without being too stodgy. I find them quite good, but not to the level of Dorati's great traversal or even Bernstein and Szell. From what I can tell, some love the performances, some hate them with a passion.

Thank you Don. I like my Haydn brisk in the outer movements and stately but with charm in the slow movements. I might sample some Gobermann to get a flavour as I have indeed read various accounts which polarize in opposite directions.