Getting into CM the Naxos way
Thu, Jan 27 2011, 4:06PM
A relative CM newbie I've mainly got into it through getting used Naxos recordings for as little as 50p +pp on Amazon. Have found some real gems that IMO stack up against 'classic' recordings on other labels pretty well e.g. Brahms 'Hungarian Dances (Budapest SO/Bogar), two CDs of Sibelius tone poems (Iceland SO/Sakari), Alpine Symphony (Staatskapelle Weimar/Wit) Dvorak & Suk Serenades for Strings (Capello Istrapolitana) and the recent cycle of Debussy orchestral works (Lyon NO/Maerkl). Just wondering what else on Naxos you'd recommend as being pretty top notch recordings regardless of their budget price.
Thu, Jan 27 2011, 7:41PM
#2
RE: Getting into CM the Naxos way
The list is extensive. Any of the Paul Daniel Walton discs, the ongoing RLPO/Petrenko Shostakovich series, Tintner’s Bruckner, the Roy Harris symphonies, Wit playing Lutoslawski or Penderecki, any of the Rautavaara orchestral discs, anything Alsop’s doing with American music, most of the Respighi, the Alain organ works (a personal favourite) and a host of one-off issues of minor composers. I second the St. John’s/Robinson series recommendation, particularly the Berkeley, Walton and Leighton issues.
There’s very little in the catalogue to avoid at the price they’re asking. For every under-rehearsed or phone-in performance, or behind-the-front-rank orchestra, there are scads of compensatory pleasant surprises. Recordings tend to be a little too in-your-face for my taste but not always. Go for it.
Thu, Jan 27 2011, 10:24PM
#3
RE: Getting into CM the Naxos way
Indeed, too many good ones to mention, but this one always makes me smile...
http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.557153
Rolf
Fri, Jan 28 2011, 12:08PM
#4
RE: Getting into CM the Naxos way
Casella's 2nd Symphony!
Prompted by some reviews I bought this disc thinking that if it was not to my taste then I had not spent a lot on it.
Blew me away! An incredible mix of post-Mahler and pre-Shostakovitch and, no doubt, others I cannot quite place.
Also, anything conducted by David Lloyd-Jones
Sat, Jan 29 2011, 12:43AM
#5
RE: Getting into CM the Naxos way
And the Shostakovich Symphony cycle and Tchaikovsky Manfred with Vasily Petrenko & the RLPO.
Sat, Jan 29 2011, 8:56AM
#6
RE: Getting into CM the Naxos way
I'd second pretty much everything above, and add a couple of favourite cycles of my own: the Baltimore SO/Alsop Barber series (try also their superb Bernstein Mass), and the complete Bax symphonies with the RSNO and David Lloyd-Jones. Oh, and Naxos's Malcolm Arnold series too (mainly the symphonies with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland under Andrew Penny, but don't miss the disc of Dances and the disc of piano concertos too). Personally I've also been enjoying the Sibelius symphonies from the NZSO and Pietari Inkinen.
Mon, Jan 31 2011, 9:30AM
#7
RE: Getting into CM the Naxos way
I only came across him by chance but Franz Schmidt's symphonies are very nice indeed, played by the Malmo SO. Picked them up on Amazon for about £3.50 each. Nothing about him in the Gramaphone Guide though.
Mon, Jan 31 2011, 7:47PM
#8
RE: Getting into CM the Naxos way
Try Bruckner Symphony No.2, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, cond. Georg Tintner
Fri, Feb 18 2011, 9:52AM
#9
RE: Getting into CM the Naxos way
Also if you are really interested in naxos recordings (and indeed mamny other specialised labels) might I suggest you check out Classics Online where for the princely sum of £8.00 a month you can stream any recording in its entirety. This together with Spotify are my favourite websites at the mo. The riches to be found here are legion.
My favourite naxos recording is Antoni Wit conducting Richard Strauss's Alpine Symphony. Right up there with Karajan et al.
Fri, Feb 18 2011, 5:19PM
#10
RE: Getting into CM the Naxos way
I would add to this the complete cycle of Soler harpsichord sonatas on 13 CDs; at the Romantic end of the spectrum, the Karlowicz Symphonic Poems on two CDs.
Naxos's practice of replacing some of their less satisfactory earlier recordings - viz Chopin Piano music, Dvorak and Brahms symphonies and now the Shostakovich cycle, is one that shows they are alive to criticism and respond appropriately.
Sun, Feb 20 2011, 6:14PM
#11
RE: Getting into CM the Naxos way
Agree Marin Alsop's Barber series but surely these were recorded with the Scottish Orchestra not Baltimore? Would suggest the disc with the Symphonies, First Essay for Orch & School for Scandal Overture as a starter: just a pity the recorded sound isn't a bit warmer & richer. No such problem though with Alsop's Brahms symphonies (LPO). Have only heard 1 & 4 but they can stand comparison with the best.
For something different, Benjamin Godard's violin concerti, typical romantic virtuoso works. They may not have Bruch's & Mendelssohn's luscious melodies but make up for this by Chloe Hanslip's and the Slovakian Orchestra's fiery & passionate performances. This is real stunning virtuoso violin playing given in good brilliant upfront sound. Also her Naxos CD of Adam's concerto and the Chaconne from Corigliano's Red Violin show what a superb player she is although the latter works may be more of an acquired taste.
The English Choral Music series they recorded with St John's, Cambridge under Christopher Robinson is marvellous - try the Stanford recording.
Editor, Gramophone