Tír Na HiFi

This is a great 10 CD box set, I bought it from jpc in November for €10. The performances were recorded between 1949 and 1957, it is well worth having. There are some real gems in this collection not least Rimsky-Korsakov's, Scheherazade.



CD 9
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Scheharazde
Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Rudolf Schultz - violin
Ferenc Fricsay - conductor
[Recorded in: 1956]

This is a sparkling, powerful performance and the soloist Rudolf Schultz is very impressive, it is very enjoyable, strongly recommended.

CD 6
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 7
RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Ferenc Fricsay - conductor.
[Recorded in: 1953]

fergus wrote:

that looks to be certainly one for the future Fergus... I really enjoy all the Palestrina I own and will build upon this collection, gradually. I can imagine this to be a fine performance? Would I be right in thinking this is made up of boys only? How many voices are there?

fergus wrote:


Partitas 4-6.

Fergus its lovbely that you're taking time out to remember the great man, but forgive me for asking the obvious; are these played on the Harpsichord? I know you're not fond of Bach on piano... if so, how would you say it compares with the texturally rich Pinnock versions?

bombasticDarren wrote:Brahms - String Sextet No.1 (Yehudi Menuhin/Robert Masters/Cecil Aronowitz/Ernst Wallfisch/Maurice Gendron/Derek Simpson, EMI)

I like his Sextets, Darren... if you ever see them around, try and pick up the wonderful set by members of the Berlin Octet; they'll make for an ideal companion:

bombasticDarren wrote:

ravel30 wrote:

bombasticDarren wrote:Vaughan Williams - Symphony No.5 (Andre Previn, London Symphony Orchestra, RCA)

That looks very interesting Darren. Do you like that set?

Matt.

Yes Matt, it was the first Vaughan Williams cycle I owned and I have played through it over and over (except the Sea Symphony, which I still don't quite 'get')

The Previn set is generally very good... he did a tremdous amount to promote some of the more 'tonal' Britrish works during the early 1970's, at a time when they weren't fashionable, and recieved little airplay... and for this, we have a great deal to thank him for. To be fair Matt, there is hardly a poor boxset of RVW's work out there... Handley, Boult, Previn, Haitink and the late Richard Hickox all excelled in this repertoire, because they all understood it, loved it and wished to promote it. If I was to pick out a set I wouldn't be without however, it would be:



uniformly superb interpretations.

ravel30 wrote:I never really considered Bruckner's third among my favorites. But after hearing that performance yesterday, this may very well change. All great movements with a lot a variety in them. Now I see why my friend Jared likes this piece a lot.

You really do have an excellent memory Matt... I would never say that No 3 is his finest work, but it certainly is one of my favourites... it seems to have more false-crescendos than any other, which many people find infuriating, but the brass section here has to be in robust form, because it certainly has a lot of work to do... especially in the original version, expounded by Georg Tintner on Naxos!!

bombasticDarren wrote:Yes Matt, it was the first Vaughan Williams cycle I owned and I have played through it over and over (except the Sea Symphony, which I still don't quite 'get')

It's not the easiest piece to love, Darren.. I have always said that I think it is too long... a shorter, 40 minute work would have improved it as I think it's a little too repetitive, but you have to remember he was still fairly young when he wrote it...

bombasticDarren wrote:I made some headway with this recording during the Christmas holidays:-

Pleased to see that Darren... no doubt inspired by the cover image, which I must admit I have always liked..

and finally, what I'm actually currently listening to!



sorry I've been away for a while... busy week at work, I'm afraid..

Jared wrote:

fergus wrote:

that looks to be certainly one for the future Fergus... I really enjoy all the Palestrina I own and will build upon this collection, gradually. I can imagine this to be a fine performance? Would I be right in thinking this is made up of boys only? How many voices are there?

This is indeed a beautiful performance Jared. I found Palestrina one of the easier Early Music composers to come to grips with.
I can confirm that the choir is indeed all male. I have a few recordings of the Westminster Cathedral Choir and I have found them to be wonderful singers and well worth exploring!