Tír Na HiFi

The Levine's 40 years at the Met sets are on sale ($100 off each set at this point and w/ no sales tax in the US). Any thoughts on these? The reviews have been pretty much stellar! The selections are very much in the realm of the 20th century which makes them unique in a sense compared to the normal emphasis on Verdi/Puccini/Wagner/Bellini etc. Personally I am pretty new to Strauss's operas and the casts here seem pretty much stellar. Have you listened to some of these recordings or, for that matter, been to any of these performances at the Met? Thoughts and recommendations?

https://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera ... x?id=12326

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/arts/ ... =all&_r=1&

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/01/132051082 ... at-the-met

http://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-40-Ye ... nkc4192-20
http://www.amazon.com/James-Levine-Cele ... y_m_text_z

Very good value this if you're in the market for a complete set of Bach organ works. I've tried many, and this is up there with the very best. Indeed, I've been picking off individual discs from this series for a while and generally that requires about a tenner a go. Here's the whole set of 20 discs for under £28. Even though I have a good few already, I've ordered the set.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00CBEA5M6

Diapason wrote:http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00CBEA5M6

Thanks Simon, I am in the market for new musical experiences but I'm not sure if I would get good use out of a set that size to be honest, good idea though.

I certainly understand, Sean, and I'd say most will feel the same way. Still, I couldn't resist the temptation myself!

Diapason wrote:I certainly understand, Sean, and I'd say most will feel the same way. Still, I couldn't resist the temptation myself!

Good for you and thanks for the thought, keep 'em coming.

One can never have too many recordings of Bach! Right? Right.........? RIght........................?

Peter wrote:One can never have too many recordings of Bach! Right? Right.........? RIght........................?

and of Verdi's operas..................... *gasp*

In that case I should inform you that I have just started on this box set recommended to me by Pepe (Jose Echenique), so far, it's wonderful music-making:



http://www.amazon.com/Operas-Maschera-F ... rdi+abbado

Seán wrote:In that case I should inform you that I have just started on this box set recommended to me by Pepe (Jose Echenique), so far, it's wonderful music-making:



http://www.amazon.com/Operas-Maschera-F ... rdi+abbado

Some of those are in the large Decca Verdi set. I still have to dig into Abbado's interpretations of Verdi as I get the impression that they are impressive and very much recommended by many of you. I have a tendency to always gravitate back to Callas's voice regardless of circumstances ... :-)

What do you think about this entity in celebration of Sir Colin Davis? Seems like the core content of the 19th century symphonies. I DO like his Sibelius cycle very much, and some of Mozart, but have not listened much to his other recordings. A deal at less than 50 GBP though...... hmmmmm

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sir-Colin-Davis ... ords=davis



SET CONTENTS:
DISC 1:
Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525
Mozart: Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra K. 622 in A (Version for Basset Clarinet)
Mozart: Serenade No. 11, K. 375 in E-Flat
DISC 2:
Mozart: Bassoon Concerto in B-Flat, K. 191
Mozart: Serenade No. 9 in D, K. 320 "Posthorn"
DISC 3:
Mozart: Serenade No. 10 in B-Flat, K. 361 "Gran Partita"
Mozart: Serenade No. 12 in C Minor, K. 388
DISC 4:
Mozart: Overtures
DISC 5:
Mozart: Concerto No. 9, K.271, in E-Flat
Mozart: Concerto No. 21, K. 467, in C
DISC 6:
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20, K.466 in D Minor
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 25, K. 503 in C
DISC 7:
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 27, K. 595 in B-Flat
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 19, K. 459 in F
DISC 8:
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23, K.488 in A
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24, K. 491 in C Minor
DISC 9:
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22, K. 482 in E-Flat
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 26, K. 537 in D
DISC 10:
Brahms: Symphony No. 1, Op. 68 in C Minor
Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 73
DISC 11:
Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 73
Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F, Op. 90
Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56a
DISC 12:
Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98
Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80
Brahms: Tragic Overture, Op. 81
DISC 13:
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15
Brahms: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77
DISC 14:
Brahms: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major, Op. 83
DISC 15:
Weber: Konzertstück, Op. 79, for Piano and Orchestra
Weber: Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 11, in C
Weber: Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 32, in E-Flat
Weber: Polonaise brillante, Op. 72, for Piano and Orchestra
DISC 16:
Schubert: Symphony No. 1 in D major, D. 82
Schubert: Symphony No. 3 in D major, D. 200
Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759 "Unfinished"
DISC 17:
Schubert: Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, D. 125
Schubert: Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D. 417 "Tragic"
DISC 18:
Schubert: Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D. 485
Schubert: Symphony No. 6 in C major, D. 589 "The Little"
DISC 19:
Schubert: Symphony No. 9 in C major, D. 944 "The Great"
DISC 20:
Schumann: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54
Elgar: Violin Concerto in B Minor, Op. 61
DISC 21:
Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G
DISC 22-23:
Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E flat "Symphony of the Thousand"
DISC 24:
Sibelius: Symphony No. 1, Op. 39 in E Minor
Sibelius: Symphony No. 4, Op. 63 in A Minor
DISC 25:
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2, Op. 43 in D
Sibelius: Symphony No. 6, Op. 104 in D Minor
DISC 26:
Sibelius: Symphony No. 3, Op. 52 in C
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5, Op. 82 in E-Flat
DISC 27:
Sibelius: Symphony No. 7, Op. 105
Sibelius: Rakastava, Op. 14 Sibelius: En saga, Op. 9
DISC 28:
Sibelius: Kullervo, Op. 7
DISC 29:
Sibelius: Lemminkäinen-Suite (Lemminkainen Suite) op.22
Sibelius: Pohjolas Tochter (Pohjola's Daughter) op. 49
Sibelius: Der Barde (The Bard) op. 64
DISC 30:
Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Op. 11
Sibelius: The Oceanides, Op. 73
Sibelius: Finlandia, Op. 26
Sibelius: Valse triste
Sibelius: Tapiola, Op. 112
Sibelius: Nightride and Sunrise, Op. 55
DISC 31:
Elgar: Symphony No. 1, Opus 55 in A Flat Major
Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez with Julian Bream
DISC 32:
Elgar: Violin Concerto, Op. 61 in B Minor
Elgar: Introduction and Allegro for String Orchestra and String Quartet, Op. 47
DISC 33:
Berlioz: Overtures
DISC 34:
Mozart: Arias
DISC 35:
Mozart: Requiem, K.626
DISC 36:
Beethoven: Missa solemnis in D major, Op. 123
DISC 37:
Beethoven: Choral Fantasy, Op. 80
DISC 38:
Brahms: Schicksalslied, Op. 54
Brahms: Rhapsodie für Altstimme, Männerchor und Orchester, Op. 53
Brahms: Nänie, Op. 82
Brahms: Gesang der Parzen, Op. 89
Brahms: Marienlieder, Op. 22
DISC 39:
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45
DISC 40-41:
Verdi: Messa da Requiem
DISC 42-44:
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro
DISC 45-46:
Beethoven: Fidelio
DISC 47-48:
Verdi: Falstaff
DISC 49-51:
Wagner: Lohengrin