How to find the best recordings
Thu, Aug 18 2011, 9:24PM
Despite being a casual listener to classical music for a fair while, I'm getting more interested in building a CD collection, although the fact that I'm a student means I often can't buy much of what I'd like. However, I was wondering what the best way is to find out which recordings are the best for any particular piece. I know there's the Gramophone Guide, and also the Penguin Guide (which appears to be being discontinued this year in favour of a more concise "best 1000" volume), but then there's also the Radio 3 Building a Library, independent reviews, etc etc.
So my question is, how do you decide on which recording to purchase, especially when different sources favour different recordings?
Fri, Aug 19 2011, 8:39PM
#2
RE: How to find the best recordings
Matt,
The bad news is that there is no such thing as a "best recording". The good news is that there has never been cheaper to buy classical music than it is now. There are a lot of boxes of complete symphonies, concertos, operas etc at bargain prices. This of course rises the question if you should buy a complete set of, for instance, the Beethoven symphonies or if you should try to gather together the "best recording" of each symphony. For me, that would be an impossible task. And for a beginner who´s building a basic collection I would recommend complete sets.
Also remember that most recordings of the major record companies are very, very good.
For example, I can think of at least 15 recordings of the complete Beethoven Piano concertos and although I have not listened to everyone there are none of which I would say: don´t buy this, this recording is not good. Then if you like Rubinstein better than Brendel, or Pollini better than Ashkenazy that comes with time and after you have listened a lot to the music. And of course there are people who settle for just one recording of a piece of music and that is just fine. But I find it very fascinating and rewarding to listen to different interpretations of the major works.
As I said, music is cheap today. For instance Sony Classical is releasing a lot of boxed sets at bargain prices between 10-15 pounds. You can have the Beethoven symphonies with Bernstein, the Sibelius symphonies with Maazel, the Bruckner symphonies with Wand and the Schubert symphonies with Barenboim at these prices. I think it´s a great bargain and a good start to build a classical collection. But it´s just my point of view, others will tell you different ways to build a collection.
Good luck!
Sun, Aug 21 2011, 10:13AM
#3
RE: How to find the best recordings
I compare gramaphone & penguin reviews (I find penguin reviews more reliable, & would be horrified if they are going to discontinue it!), but I loved the gramaphone guide's "Essential Basic Classical Library" that was a great help when I started out getting my collection. I found the 1001 classical recordings you must hear before you die book helpful, as it not only recommends "benchmark" recordings, but also the more interesting & unusual ones, which give your collection a bit more character & insight into some of the great historical recordings, live accounts, and less-well-known works.
Spotify is great for previewing CDs before you buy (i think most of EMI, Virgin, BIS and Sony labels are their).
I was a student for many years, spent most of my student loan & the best part of 12 years getting my collection. I keep it on my computer so have no need for the 500 cds that are stored in my loft. I'm selling it (see my post under recordings) if you're interested in any of it. I'll beat any 2nd-hand online price you can find. Will shortly be uploading the photographed collection onto facebook. All CDs have a penguin/gramaphone *** rating. Right, shameless sales pitch over. Hope the other advise was of some use.
Kind regards,
Dr. J Stow
Mon, Aug 22 2011, 11:28AM
#4
RE: How to find the best recordings
Taking up from troyen1, I must say that David Hurwitz is not a reliable guide. His range goes from the factually inaccurate - like saying that the Argerich/Chailly Rach 3 is "the fastest you will ever hear" (this dubious honour in fact goes to the Horowitz/Barbirolli 1941 off-the-air recording) - to the unabashedly idiossincratic - e.g., his criticism of Mahler's Symphony N° 1 under Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic, on account that the BPO is a "vastly inferior orchestra" (!!). These are actual quotes from his reviews. So, whatever source you use to search for good recordings, I recommend that David Hurwitz be not one of them.
Mon, Aug 22 2011, 2:26PM
#5
RE: How to find the best recordings
As a very serious collector of a quite vast collection of LPs, CDs and SACDs for more than 30 years, I have to advice you not to embark, at this stage, on any kind of "casual listener's" collection, because you will compromise your listening experience, pleasure and understanding of the most complex and sophisticated form of music. (Bernstein use to call it "precise music", since everything played is written).
At this stage, if you are really interested in classical music, it is better to start reading and learning as much as you can. For your listening, you may choose the cheapest forms (downloads, etc) and any cheap kind of live concerts.
When you finish your studies and you manage to have enough money, then, buy a very good (possibly a high-end) sound equipment, so that you can enjoy and give the greatest value to your future collection. You have to bear in mind that the CDs and SACDs are products and, first of all, have to be treated as such. If you have a "modest" (the elegant way to say "cheap") sound system and the arguably best performance of Beethoven's Ninth, it is like you have the engine of a VolksWagen in the body of a Rolls Royce!
Finally, taking the example of Chirostow, you may comprehend that the CDs are not only consumable but also expendable. Their financial value, after the original purchase, is...null, unless you find, waiting and waiting, some leftover collectors who may buy your CDs for collectibles. If you ever decide to create your own proper collection, you should be prepared that you will only collect...
In any case, it's your choice. Good luck to whatever you decide to do.
Parla
Mon, Aug 22 2011, 11:31PM
#6
RE: How to find the best recordings
Taking up from troyen1, I must say that David Hurwitz is not a reliable guide. His range goes from the factually inaccurate - like saying that the Argerich/Chailly Rach 3 is "the fastest you will ever hear" (this dubious honour in fact goes to the Horowitz/Barbirolli 1941 off-the-air recording) - to the unabashedly idiossincratic - e.g., his criticism of Mahler's Symphony N° 1 under Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic, on account that the BPO is a "vastly inferior orchestra" (!!). These are actual quotes from his reviews. So, whatever source you use to search for good recordings, I recommend that David Hurwitz be not one of them.
I know but his ire is very entertaining.
He doesn't like Rattle because he thinks that he "micro-manages" and he's British.
Rattle conducts the BPO, ergo, he doesn't like the BPO.
I'm all in favour of fast performances of Rachmaninov. In fact, short of not playing the stuff at all, I can think of a number of composers where speed by the performers can only benefit the audience if not the work.
Tue, Aug 23 2011, 12:46PM
#7
RE: How to find the best recordings
Interesting notion, troyen1. I agree that some composers take fast speeds well, and can even benefit from it. Rachmaninov is a case in point. Beethoven is another, and so is Liszt. However, I think the reverse is also true, and there are those composers whose music shouldn't be played too fast, lest their monumentality of conception, or even the relevant pieces' architectural underpinnings, be lost. I'd put Wagner, Bruckner and Brahms in this group. In Bruckner, achieving a correct balance is particularly tricky: play it too slow and the music sags and plods; make it fast and you may take away its strength and vigour. That's why a convincing Bruckner performance is a kind of high-wire act.
Tue, Aug 23 2011, 5:16PM
#8
RE: How to find the best recordings
I get the impression Hurwitz looks on himself as a necessary antidote to the pro-British bias of the British musical press. Which he counters with his own set of biases, as all reviewers do. Surely the trick with any reviewer is to be aware of his/her particular predispositions and interpret the review with those in mind. I do find him entertaining. Crabby, wilful, but a refreshing change in a world of political correctness.
Tue, Aug 23 2011, 11:15PM
#9
RE: How to find the best recordings
I quite like my Wagner light on its feet with no loss of weight. Yes men, as the old advert used to state, it can be done!
As for Bruckner try Celibidache's 4th and Schuricht's 5th with the Hague PO. Both live performances, both utterly absorbing but from different planets.
I do not detect a British bias in the British musical press but, then again, I'm British and fully recognise that we probably have the top pianists in the world at the moment, for example.
As for Rachmaninov, I was being ironic as the quicker he is played the sooner he is over. I can think of other composers who would benefit from such a performance practice.
Wed, Aug 24 2011, 12:55PM
#10
RE: How to find the best recordings
If one looks to Howard Shelley, Stephen Hough and John Lewis, for example, it isn't difficult to understand you point about the top pianists being British. However, when I think of Marc-André Hamelin, Louis Lortie and Angela Hewitt, or Grigory Sokolov, Boris Berezovsky and Arcadi Volodos, I see that the Canadians and the Russians could make the same claim without blushing. In any event, it seems to be a fair-sized assumption while the likes of Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich, Murray Perahia and Nelson Freire are still alive and kicking.
Wed, Aug 24 2011, 1:00PM
#11
RE: How to find the best recordings
Where I wrote John Lewis, it's obviously Paul Lewis. Sorry for the slip.
Wed, Aug 24 2011, 4:24PM
#12
RE: How to find the best recordings
Since the topic got away to the Pianists, there are still around Radu Lupu (the true poet, par excelence), Daniel Barenboim (not to everyone's taste, but an artist of great spirit) Zimermann and Kovacevich (another two poetes veritables) and from the youngest generation we should not forget Anderszewski. I'm glad none metioned Lang Lang (immense talent which went astray, as many others). Unfortunately, Gramophone opted to reward him, giving him a chance to be voted as Artist of the Year. No wonder.
After the piano interlude, where may we jump?
Parla
Wed, Aug 24 2011, 5:53PM
#13
RE: How to find the best recordings
I do not detect a British bias in the British musical press but, then again, I'm British and fully recognise that we probably have the top pianists in the world at the moment, for example.
Fair comment. National bias is something that hits you in the face when you switch domiciles, and it applies to all countries. You may have underlined it in your claim re. pianists, as has been pointed out above. Outside the UK I can't see too many people including Lewis or Shelley in their top ten.
There's nothing evil about bias as long as it's recognized. We all suffer from it. Reading music reviews it's just a case of filtering it out. My main issue with reviews in publications like Gramophone, or in newspapers, is that they've become so condensed. Even if the reviewer has support for his/her opinions there's little room to offer it and you're left with a lot of subjective phrases that amount to 'trust me'. My sense is that the web reviewers have a freer rein to get into specifics - not that they always use it, but I certainly prefer it when we're given score references and performance details.
Wed, Aug 24 2011, 10:47PM
#14
RE: How to find the best recordings
Lang Lang has a British name. Twice.
Let's not forget the incomparable Steven Osborne.
Thu, Aug 25 2011, 12:35AM
#15
RE: How to find the best recordings
Don't forget Peter Katin.
Not always.
You would be surprised how a recording can elicit such diverse opinions from reviewers.
A recent example was Norrington's Mahler 9, called "stupid" by David Hurwitz on the Classics Today site, but receiving favourable reviews in the British press,
But, you see, Hurwitz loathes to distraction vibrato-less string playing and Norrington, God bless him, loves the lack of vibrato.
Those fortunate enough to catch the belated Proms broadcast can make up their own minds.
One can only seek consensus if consensus exists with the warning that having seen the generally favourable reviews of a disc one goes out and buys it to find it is a complete dud. It happens to us all, I'm sure.