Tír Na HiFi

Jared wrote:^^ I have to say, there appears to be a Fritz Reiner fan club developing on this forum...

Well, I'll join. I love his work, everything I've heard, Reiner was an extraordinary conductor. The Reiner/CSO Bartok CD mentioned earlier by Dave is truly magnificent. To my mind Reiner could do no wrong.

Jared wrote:^^ I have to say, there appears to be a Fritz Reiner fan club developing on this forum...

There seems to be alright. I wouldnt say that I have 'loyalty' to any particular conductor or orchestra although I'll admit to having a soft spot for Bernstein's Mahler.
On the other hand the mere mention of Rattle will send Sean into an uncontrollable rage. ;-)

Jared wrote:^^ a most enticing looking pair of disks, Fergus..

To be honest Jared I do not own those two individual CDs but they come from this fine 2 CD set which has 5 very fine masses included in it....

This was a tough listen and certainly not one for the feint hearted....






....methinks Jared should definitely avoid this one!

Italian mezzo Daniela Barcellona at over 6 feet is a very tall woman, so she is particularly apt for castrato roles. She is better known for Rossini and Donizetti than for baroque music, in fact if I´m not mistaken, this is her very first baroque music cd, but she sings the great Alessandro Scarlatti arias as if to the manner born. Most of these opera arias were composed for castrati, who had large, impressive voices, and Barcellona has what it takes. After the sleepy Silvia Vajente recital, this electrifying display of vocal fireworks is like sunshine.

DaveF wrote: On the other hand the mere mention of Rattle will send Sean into an uncontrollable rage. ;-)

well if that is indeed the case, then our dear Sean has spent too much time mixing with the wrong company... I'm sure we're all grown up and independent minded enough to come to our own conclusions over which interpretations we like and don't like, by any particular conductor.

Seán wrote:

Jared wrote:^^ I have to say, there appears to be a Fritz Reiner fan club developing on this forum...

Well, I'll join. I love his work, everything I've heard, Reiner was an extraordinary conductor. The Reiner/CSO Bartok CD mentioned earlier by Dave is truly magnificent. To my mind Reiner could do no wrong.

it's quite priceless when you find a conductor whose work resonates with you emotionally..

fergus wrote:To be honest Jared I do not own those two individual CDs but they come from this fine 2 CD set which has 5 very fine masses included in it....

undoubtedly a lovely disk Fergus and I'm there with you in spirit. as deliciously pleasurable as the experience has been, I feel a little 'Tallis Scholared' out at the moment as I've listened to a lot of them and Harry Christophers recently, although I will undoubtedly return to Renaissance music before the year is out.

I have recently been embarking on a Bach voyage which should certainly see me into June, with an impending break for Don Quixote. Bach's Choral works are slowly becoming good friends if not exactly old acquaintances as they are for you, Fergus. It is however rather confidence building to return to familiar repertoire after what has been several months of new (to me) material.

fergus wrote:This was a tough listen and certainly not one for the feint hearted....






....methinks Jared should definitely avoid this one!

no.. maybe when I'm old (and a little wiser) but alas not for the present.