Forthcoming Releases
Sat, Nov 17 2012, 10:29PM
#2
RE: Forthcoming Releases
I noticed that Debussy set by Bavouzet too. I've never bought any of the individual discs so may well buy the box, if the overall standard is as good as I've heard one or two of the award-winning discs to be.
Also on Chandos, I was tempted to try that disc of music by Spanish composer Montsalvatge. Does anyone know his music and is it worth giving it a try? I had never even heard of him (let alone know how to pronounce his name!) but love several other Spanish composers' music.
I noticed a really good DG promotion on Presto Classical's website the other day and the credit card took a minor hammering. It'll keep me busy for weeks listening to some great recordings of works I don't yet know, for example, Abbado's Debussy opera Pelleas & Melisande, Mozart's violin sonatas with Perlman and Barenboim, and Ozawa's full recording of Mendelsohn's Midsummer Night's Dream. I also bought Karajan's Schoenberg Pelleas which I have never heard but was recommended by Parla in a different discussion.
Finally, I'm tempted by the Schumann violin concertos disc on Hyperion with Anthony Marwood. Are they worth getting to know? You would have thought even second-rate Schumann pieces should deserve an audience!
Graham
Sat, Nov 17 2012, 11:07PM
#3
RE: Forthcoming Releases
I noticed that Debussy set by Bavouzet too. I've never bought any of the individual discs so may well buy the box, if the overall standard is as good as I've heard one or two of the award-winning discs to be.
Also on Chandos, I was tempted to try that disc of music by Spanish composer Montsalvatge. Does anyone know his music and is it worth giving it a try? I had never even heard of him (let alone know how to pronounce his name!) but love several other Spanish composers' music.
I noticed a really good DG promotion on Presto Classical's website the other day and the credit card took a minor hammering. It'll keep me busy for weeks listening to some great recordings of works I don't yet know, for example, Abbado's Debussy opera Pelleas & Melisande, Mozart's violin sonatas with Perlman and Barenboim, and Ozawa's full recording of Mendelsohn's Midsummer Night's Dream. I also bought Karajan's Schoenberg Pelleas which I have never heard but was recommended by Parla in a different discussion.
Finally, I'm tempted by the Schumann violin concertos disc on Hyperion with Anthony Marwood. Are they worth getting to know? You would have thought even second-rate Schumann pieces should deserve an audience!
Graham
First of all (hope that you see this), Parla, thanks for your comments. I have a couple of other discs with Bavouzet--his Bartok concertos one in particular I love. And like you Graham, I've read many good reviews of his Debussy. I have some other recordings of Debussy's works, but would also love to get one in good modern sound (though I do have Zimmerman's "Preludes"). Some of my favorite recordings of Debussy's works are with Gieseking and Moravec.
Graham, I'm afraid that I don't know the particular recordings that you have mentioned, so I can't give any feedback there. :--( I look forward to what others have to say here too.
Hope that you enjoy your new purchases!
Best wishes,
Petra
Sat, Nov 17 2012, 11:31PM
#4
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Graham/Petra
I have to say I think the Ozawa recording of Mendelssohn is a very special. There is a lightness of touch that is most affecting - plus Judi Dench is supreme in her spoken verse.It is my favourite Ozawa recording, together with the Liszt Piano Concertos with Zimerman - now if you have not heard that I would suggest giving that a try.
The Bavouzet Debussy is a pretty fine set. I am not enough of a Debussy expert to compare it to other versions but I think it somebody is looking for an 'integrale' set it is probably a most competitive buy.
As for the Schumann Violin Concerto Parla once recommended Wallin (BIS). I personally only have the Tetzlaff (Ondine) which I like. The concerto is one I find interesting but in the end a little unconvincing.
Sat, Nov 17 2012, 11:41PM
#5
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Graham/Petra
I have to say I think the Ozawa recording of Mendelssohn is a very special. There is a lightness of touch that is most affecting - plus Judi Dench is supreme in her spoken verse.It is my favourite Ozawa recording, together with the Liszt Piano Concertos with Zimerman - now if you have not heard that I would suggest giving that a try.
The Bavouzet Debussy is a pretty fine set. I am not enough of a Debussy expert to compare it to other versions but I think it somebody is looking for an 'integrale' set it is probably a most competitive buy.
As for the Schumann Violin Concerto Parla once recommended Wallin (BIS). I personally only have the Tetzlaff (Ondine) which I like. The concerto is one I find interesting but in the end a little unconvincing.
Hi Naupilus! Have you by any chance heard any Gieseking or Moravec in this reportoire (Debussy I mean)?
Glad anyway that you have enjoyed them!
Best wishes,
Petra
Sat, Nov 17 2012, 11:47PM
#6
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Hi Petra
As I said before I am no expert so I would not dare to offer an informed comparison! A friend was once so horrified by my suggesting that Alexis Weissenberg's recital on DG was worthy of merit that he told me he would never trust my judgement again... still love him though.
Sun, Nov 18 2012, 12:03AM
#7
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Graham, Montsalvatge is a fine, but not necessarily great, Spanish composer of the 20th century. He was rather prolific and left some nice music for Piano (on Naxos and on the Spanish label Columna Musica), some very beautiful songs (on various recitals of some of the most famous singers), a very interesting and very fine Piano Concerto (there are two recordings: the "icon" one with De Larocha, now on Australian Eloquence, and a modern one with Jenny Lin, on Haenssler, along with the Poema Concertante for Violin and Orchestra and the most famous of his Songs, the Canciones negras; an excellent and essential CD for this composer). Finally, on Columna Musica, there is his very charming short Opera, El Gato con Botas (Puss in Boots): just lovely.
Schumann's Violin Concerto needs some kind of guts to tackle his enormous (and, mostly, unnecessary) difficulties for the soloist and eventually for the "poor" listener too. Personally, I very rarely touch it. As for my female friend violinist of our Chamber Group, it is a "nightmare" to play it. Anyway, the Marwood recording on Hyperion is fine. If you are "brave" enough, go ahead.
Parla
Sun, Nov 18 2012, 12:11AM
#8
RE: Forthcoming Releases
naupilus, thanks for the feedback. I'll look forward to the Mendelssohn arriving. I had not realised Dame Judi Dench was on the recording. I'll have to try and blot James Bond out of my mind! I also have the Liszt piano concertos disc you mention and it is an exciting recording. Since we share the same taste in recordings I may well trust your judgement in Debussy and try the Bavouzet. I've a few odd piano recordings of Debussy but fancied it as I assume it is his "complete" piano works.
Graham
Sun, Nov 18 2012, 12:16AM
#9
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Appreciate the information Parla. My daughter has just started learning the violin at the age of eight. I'll keep her away from the Schumann!
Mon, Nov 19 2012, 12:35AM
#10
RE: Forthcoming Releases
However, Graham, Schumann's Piano Trios and at least his First Violin Sonata in a minor are brilliant works for violinists too. If your daughter is going to invest in Chamber Music, sometime in the future, the Piano Quartet and the Piano Quintet (both in E flat) are masterworks of the first order. His three String Quartets are "must" listening as well.
Parla
Fri, Nov 30 2012, 3:41PM
#11
RE: Forthcoming Releases
The fact that Naupilus didn't use the word 'list' is neither here nor
there. List, catalogue, enumeration, preference rating, what would you
prefer? Your penchant for backtracking on your own labyrinthian logic
and conducting arguments with nobody but yourself, is somewhere between
perplexing and hilarious.
Petra, I have the individual CDs of Bavouzet's account on Debussy. If you don't have any of the five individual ones, I would suggest it is a more than decent performance and a fine recording. So, it should be worth acquiring it, anyway.
Parla