What are you listening to?

[fergus]

What was that like Dave? I only have a limited selection of those works in my collection.

It's probably my favorite version of these works Fergus. I also have a version by Richard Egarr with the AAM and its really good too. The above though just about edges it for me. The organ that Handel himself used is on this recording.

Ah, now that kind of thing always appeals to me Dave!

[fergus]

.... I finally have a Wadia 861i in my system for a trial period so I'll be going through a wide range of recordings over the next few days. If it makes a balls of Mahler, forget it!

I wish you the very best with that Dave....do let us know how you get on.

[fergus]

Not too much listening done today with the All Blacks in town but I did finish off this set....

[img]images-amazon.com/images/I/51bNsnsygPL._SL500_AA300_.jpg[/img]

Brahms – Symphony No. 4 [Toscanini] was another very fine performance that is full of dramatic and beautiful lyrical performances.

I must say that I have indeed enjoyed this set from beginning to end.

[mcq]

A lovely mix of modern strings and period brass makes this a very interesting recording of some of Mozart's best symphonies. I finally have a Wadia 861i in my system for a trial period so I'll be going through a wide range of recordings over the next few days. If it makes a balls of Mahler, forget it!

Enjoy your time with the Wadia, Dave. I think you'll find it hard to say goodbye. And, you should be mightily impressed with the way it handles Mahler (and Bruckner, as well, for that matter. Nobody wrote for brass quite like Bruckner and the impact of something like Solti's cycle of Bruckner symphonies with the CSO as played through the Wadia is quite something, I can tell you!)

[Seán]

A lovely mix of modern strings and period brass makes this a very interesting recording of some of Mozart's best symphonies. I finally have a Wadia 861i in my system for a trial period so I'll be going through a wide range of recordings over the next few days. If it makes a balls of Mahler, forget it!

Enjoy your time with the Wadia, Dave. I think you'll find it hard to say goodbye. And, you should be mightily impressed with the way it handles Mahler (and Bruckner, as well, for that matter. Nobody wrote for brass quite like Bruckner and the impact of something like Solti's cycle of Bruckner symphonies with the CSO as played through the Wadia is quite something, I can tell you!)

A timely utterance as the Solti/CSO treatment of Bruckner was mentioned on CMG, not favourably either too I might add. Solti comes in for too much criticism.

[mcq]

Liszt – Années de pelerinage, disc 1....




There is indeed very fine playing here particularly in the more quiet and reflective moments.

If you enjoy this, Fergus, keep an eye out for two of 2010's best releases: Boris Berezovsky's Liszt recital (available on Mirare and containing a fabulous version of the B Minor Sonata - more reserved than many competing versions but bristling with intelligence - as well as a bracing Mephisto Waltz No.1) and Arcadi Volodos's breathtaking Vienna recital (which contains a quite astonishing version of the Dante Sonata from the Années de Pèlerinage as well as some fanastic Ravel, Schumann and Scriabin - this one is available on Sony).

[mcq]

A lovely mix of modern strings and period brass makes this a very interesting recording of some of Mozart's best symphonies. I finally have a Wadia 861i in my system for a trial period so I'll be going through a wide range of recordings over the next few days. If it makes a balls of Mahler, forget it!

Enjoy your time with the Wadia, Dave. I think you'll find it hard to say goodbye. And, you should be mightily impressed with the way it handles Mahler (and Bruckner, as well, for that matter. Nobody wrote for brass quite like Bruckner and the impact of something like Solti's cycle of Bruckner symphonies with the CSO as played through the Wadia is quite something, I can tell you!)

A timely utterance as the Solti/CSO treatment of Bruckner was mentioned on CMG, not favourably either too I might add. Solti comes in for too much criticism.

It's the visceral impact of the Chicago brass that I love, Sean, which is also a highlight of Solti's Mahler cycle. You can find more refined versions of both composers' cycles - I do like Haitink's approaches in particular - but there is something quite overwhelming about Solti's overt emotionalism. Bernstein's way with Mahler (the DG cycle) is similarly impressive to my ears. And, Sean, if you are partial to Solti, you must hear his classic version of Wagner's Ring cycle - truly desert island material.

[Seán]

It's the visceral impact of the Chicago brass that I love, Sean, which is also a highlight of Solti's Mahler cycle. You can find more refined versions of both composers' cycles - I do like Haitink's approaches in particular - but there is something quite overwhelming about Solti's overt emotionalism. Bernstein's way with Mahler (the DG cycle) is similarly impressive to my ears. And, Sean, if you are partial to Solti, you must hear his classic version of Wagner's Ring cycle - truly desert island material.

mcq, partial to Solti? I simply adore the man. I have one CD of Solti's Wagner overtures with the VPO and it is magnificent beyond compare. I agree with you on Solti's Mahler, I love it. The full Ring cycle? now there's a thought.
I do have the Haitink/Concertgebouw Orchestra Mahler cycle, but I actually prefer the Kubelik and then the Bertini cycles with the notable exception of the Ninth where Haitink really excels.
I now have the Bernstein/NYPO and the Levine box set to listen to too, I'm looking forward to that.

[mcq]

It's the visceral impact of the Chicago brass that I love, Sean, which is also a highlight of Solti's Mahler cycle. You can find more refined versions of both composers' cycles - I do like Haitink's approaches in particular - but there is something quite overwhelming about Solti's overt emotionalism. Bernstein's way with Mahler (the DG cycle) is similarly impressive to my ears. And, Sean, if you are partial to Solti, you must hear his classic version of Wagner's Ring cycle - truly desert island material.

mcq, partial to Solti? I simply adore the man. I have one CD of Solti's Wagner overtures with the VPO and it is magnificent beyond compare. I agree with you on Solti's Mahler, I love it. The full Ring cycle? now there's a thought.

One of my favourite DVDs is Solti conducting a sizzling version of Verdi's La Traviata (available on Decca) with Angela Georghieu's breakthrough performance as Violetta. It's also available on CD but the visual impact of the young Georghieu (whose incandescent performance dominates the entire opera) is quite something.

And the Ring cycle is, I believe, Solti's greatest achievement. Perfectly cast and with a well-drilled VPO, it really deserves every bit of praise that has ever been showered on it. Have a look at this clip - an impassioned Solti and Nilsson on mercurial form which just leaves me breathless every time I see it. This footage is priceless beyond words. And it's even better as a climax to a wonderful evening spent listening to the entire cycle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=146tTKSXu7s (The piece of music beginning at 5.20 is some of the very finest ever written. You must be made of stone if it doesn't bring tears to your eyes.)

Truly, they don't make them like that anymore.

[Seán]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=146tTKSXu7s (The piece of music beginning at 5.20 is some of the very finest ever written. You must be made of stone if it doesn't bring tears to your eyes.)

Truly, they don't make them like that anymore.

I have just finished watching that clip, it is magnificent, I enjoyed it immensely, thanks for posting the link.