Classical Music II

[hectorberlioz]

Just listened to the first two mvts of Simon Rattle's account of Shostakovich Sym.4.

What did I think?

1) First mvt was very good indeed, except perhaps that moment (at about 5'20 into the music) when the strings play that desperate and interesting passage in unison. Haitink's strings do far better, while Rattle's all sound like one kind of instrument: violins. Needed to be louder, at least.

2) 2nd mvt was also very good, only one quibble: the water-dripping/horse-trot was WAY too tame and quiet. Haitink really trots the Soviet warhorse there, but this was rather a lame horse, with rubber shoes.

The brass is fine, also the strings, except for what I said above. No real complaints, and really it's almost as fine as Haitink's version. But stuck with a decision to choose between the two? The Haitink is the one to get.

[Elfhelm]

Thanks for that review, HB. I noticed that all the Shostakovich Symphonies conducted by Haitink can be downloaded from iTunes, so I might just go have me a taste of lush Concertgebouw playing this evening. yummy!

[trolls' bane]

I never understood why people consider Frank Sinatra, et. al., as classical music... Oh well!



South of the border - down mexico way
Thats where I fell in love, where the stars above - came out to play
And now as I wander - my thoughts ever stray
South of the border - down mexico way

She was a picture - in old spanish lace
Just for a tender while, I kissed a smile - upon her face
cause it was fiesta - and we were so gay
South of the border - mexico way

Then she smiled as she whispered manjanna
Never dreaming that we were parting
Then I lied as a whispered manjanna
cause our tomorrow never came

South of the border - I jumped back one day
There in a veil of white, by the candle light - she knelt to pray
The mission bells told me (ding-dong) - that I musnt stay
South of the border - mexico way

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by Elfhelm

Thanks for that review, HB. I noticed that all the Shostakovich Symphonies conducted by Haitink can be downloaded from iTunes, so I might just go have me a taste of lush Concertgebouw playing this evening. yummy!

here's my new review of the third mvt:

You really couldn't ask for a better ending mvt than this one, though the Haitink here is competition. At those final brass "crescendos" that could burst your eardrums if you were too foolish to wear headphones and uppity the volume, like me, Rattle really does rattle stuff up. It's tremendous.

[trolls' bane]

Well, I'm lazy right now. See Cafe post for a few minutes ago.

[Mercutio]

Excitement!

I was accepted as one of a handful of students for a week-long pipe organ camp at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. We get lessons with the head organist at the Curtis Institute, music theory classes, and practice/perform on the brand new J. Cooper Organ! (It's the talk of the organ community).

Needless to say, this blew my mind.


_________
I've also commenced the study of opera, with a university course. So far we've covered voice types and Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci.

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by Mercutio

Excitement!

I was accepted as one of a handful of students for a week-long pipe organ camp at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. We get lessons with the head organist at the Curtis Institute, music theory classes, and practice/perform on the brand new J. Cooper Organ! (It's the talk of the organ community).

Needless to say, this blew my mind.


_________
I've also commenced the study of opera, with a university course. So far we've covered voice types and Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci.

Wow! Merc! Send me a few spare Organs while you're over there ...ok, I'll settle for a few of your best-selling albums that topped the Pop charts even! Ok...Ok...I get it, you're not famous yet. But don't forget your conductor over here in Tenn (who does NOT have an accent!)

ps. Get Aaron Rosand's autograph for me!

[Mercutio]

Is Rosand at Curtis?

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by Mercutio

Is Rosand at Curtis?

yep


btw, I forgot to tell you guys,

I bought Reiner's Bartok Conc for Orch, a disc of Cantatas by Barber, BARTOK, and RVW. A disc of Barber, and two of Krysztof Penderecki's earlier music. Sheesh! I really don't know about that stuff...I don't like any of the discs I bought that day, except the Barber one.

[Mercutio]

To me Barber, Bartok and RVW sounds lovely.

[trolls' bane]

When I'm really tired, when most classical music would annoy me, I just can't get enough of the Time Square dance thing.

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by Mercutio

To me Barber, Bartok and RVW sounds lovely.

Yeah, but they're Cantatas/Choral music. Not top-notch stuff by any of those masters. I listened to all of it last night, same opinion still. The Penderecki is just weird, the Barber is great, and the Reiner/Bartok is fully justified in being called great.

Originally Posted by trolls' bane

When I'm really tired, when most classical music would annoy me, I just can't get enough of the Time Square dance thing.

Sounds like you and Bing Crosby should be tappin' out the Rite of Spring

[Mercutio]

I ordered 20 cds (or a few cd sets) to start my collection. Total = $205 + SH from Arkiv music.

I went by our compiled lists of appropriate works, and then looked up recordings in Penguin.

For HB Fantastique I picked Muti & Philly. They are particularly close to me (*sappy*) and slightly cheaper.

One thing I am particularly excited about is the complete set of Mendelssohn symphonies with Dohnányi and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for $23.

The works I selected for this order are quite random from the list--well, slightly. I leaned towards 20th century I'm afriad.
Bartók, Kodály, Barber, Sibelius, Prokofiev, Britten, Respighi, Berlioz, Dvorak, des Prez, Dowland, Bach, Holst, Copland, Mussorgsky, Stravinsky, and Mendelssohn.

I already had Handel, Bach, & Wagner (my dad gave me a few cds with money for more).


These cds are all officially mine. To college and beyond!

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by Mercutio

I ordered 20 cds (or a few cd sets) to start my collection. Total = $205 + SH from Arkiv music.

I went by our compiled lists of appropriate works, and then looked up recordings in Penguin.

For HB Fantastique I picked Muti & Philly. They are particularly close to me (*sappy*) and slightly cheaper.

Slightly?

One thing I am particularly excited about is the complete set of Mendelssohn symphonies with Dohnányi and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for $23.

Yes!! This is the one to get indeed. I own that set, and I have never regretted it.

The works I selected for this order are quite random from the list--well, slightly. I leaned towards 20th century I'm afriad.
Bartók, Kodály, Barber, Sibelius, Prokofiev, Britten, Respighi, Berlioz, Dvorak, des Prez, Dowland, Bach, Holst, Copland, Mussorgsky, Stravinsky, and Mendelssohn.

I already had Handel, Bach, & Wagner (my dad gave me a few cds with money for more).


These cds are all officially mine. To college and beyond!

Good choices, IMO, especially of Sibelius, Prokofiev (try his First and third pino concertos, and his sixth piano sonata), Britten, Respighi (I'm a proud supporter!), Berlioz and Dvorak (your best choices so far!), Stravinsky.

All are great choices. Glad Debussy isn't on the list...

Btw, check out Stravinsky's Violin Concerto.

On Naxos there is a "Historical" release with Holst conducting hsi own "Planets", and V.W conducting his own Fourth Symphony. Probably less mainstream....havent heard it myself yet.

[Mercutio]

I promise Debussy will in fact be on the list! Just you wait......

[Mercutio]

I forgot!

In our opera class we are running ahead of schedule, so guess what additional opera we will study?

Romeo & Juliet--by you know who!

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by Mercutio

I forgot!

In our opera class we are running ahead of schedule, so guess what additional opera we will study?

Romeo & Juliet--by you know who!

Charles Gounod

[Mercutio]

Yes. I had a mind bleep. When I posted that I was thinking Berlioz....but he did Beatrice & Benedict.

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by Mercutio

Yes. I had a mind bleep. When I posted that I was thinking Berlioz....but he did Beatrice & Benedict.

But he did write a Romeo and Juliette Symphony! I has lots of vocals and is sortof Oratorio/Cantata-ish, but I doubt anyone would consider it an "Opera".

[Mercutio]

Yes.


Well, I was just part of an organ recital (one of four students) in Verizon Hall, the Kimmel Center, Philadelphia.

That was probably the best organ I'll play in my life, unless I become a concert performer.

Wow.

An absolutely stunning instrument.