Records recently heard

Discussion in 'Classical Music' started by tones, May 7, 2005.

  1. tones

    sn66

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    Miss Frisch's Goldbergs have received numerous accolades and critical acclaim. Unfortunately, I have yet to hear them. I have, although, heard her recent recording of d'Anglebert. I only heard it once but a good first impression. Very well played, and she includes a second disc of orchestral works and organ fugues, I think. However, I still believe Rousset has set the mark with his d'Anglebert integral and it has yet to be surpassed. Repeated listenings have only enhanced this belief.

    In respect of the Goldbergs, maybe because they were the first of Bach's keyboard works that I listened to exhaustively (Gilbert's partitas just set me on the road), I have come to find them a trifle boring, well, at least some of the variations. Nevertheless, I cherish the interpretations of Gilbert (for me, as yet, unsurpassed in its phrasing, fluency and understanding), Hantai (both the 1992 and 2003 versions are quite brilliant but also quite different) and Walcha (a very cerebral version).

    Concerning the Art of Fugue, I have listened to only two recordings, Moroney's and Leonhardt's (second recording). Thus, I don't feel particularly qualified to proffer an informed opinion, especially since I'm yet to fully understand the work. However, I have checked out some of Rubsam's piano recordings, specifically his partitas and English Suites. There is no doubt that he is a talented musician with very individual ideas and a firm conviction in his methods. But I find his interpretations too mannered, his use of rubato and agogics excessive to the point of altering the music almost to a point beyond recognition. No one can deny his commitment and a few musicians I know consider him extraordinarily brilliant, but I feel otherwise. I do believe he would sound better on a good harpsichord rather than the soft-toned piano he uses in his recordings.
     
    sn66, Feb 6, 2006
  2. tones

    bat Connoisseur Par Excelence

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    Isn't that the super slow Naxos recording? Yes, it takes a lot of time to listen through - I never made it
     
    bat, Feb 6, 2006
  3. tones

    Rodrigo de Sá This club's crushing bore

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    Dear Sn66, dear Bat:

    I too, find the Goldbergs horribly boring. There are very beautiful moments, but, especially the high virtuosity variations towards the end are nothing but meaningless to me. Frisch's version is also boring, so much so that she makes all the repeats. Nevertheless, she plays with gusto. The record has another CD, where one can find the canons that Bach wrote in the annotated version of the Goldbergs. They are amusing but are they boring! There is also a reconstruction of the Quodlibet tunes. Again totally wasted CD time.

    Rübsam: I found his playing extremely odd. The liberties he takes with the tempo are very pronounced; however, there are several very interesting moments, perhaps because he plays the bass in the pedal (most organists do, perhaps because the fugues are rather difficult to play on manuals only) in very soft registrations (but quite audible) and the left hand is clearer than usual. That notwithstanding, his tempo liberties are a bit puzzling.

    He also plays teh Variations on Sei gegrüsset and the Passacaglia. The Passacaglia is horribly slow, and I did not like the appogiaturas at the begining (I don't know about the end: I could not listen to it).

    A very puzzling musician indeed. If one has his first Bach records - dazzling fast but inexpressive - and the modern set - ponderously slow and too expressive (I think) - one wonders that there was a revolution in his mind.
     
    Rodrigo de Sá, Feb 7, 2006
  4. tones

    tones compulsive cantater

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    Just listening to this (newly arrived tonight):

    [​IMG]

    Nice crisp performances.
     
    tones, Feb 13, 2006
  5. tones

    bat Connoisseur Par Excelence

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    I agree. They are boring. Bach had obviously a bad creative crisis in the 1730s and 1740s. Finally he found his form in Die Kunst der Fuge, unfortunately death found him before he could write anything more. I think he would have composed something eceptional in the 1750s after Die Kunst der Fuge.
     
    bat, Feb 14, 2006
  6. tones

    tones compulsive cantater

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    I don't agree. I enjoy them thoroughly.
     
    tones, Feb 14, 2006
  7. tones

    pe-zulu

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    Dear RdS

    Inexpressive is the last thing, I would say about Rübsams Philips 1977 Bach cycle. How much of it have you heard?

    On the other hand I agree, that his newer Naxos cycle is very expressive, sometimes too much so.
    And especially Die Kunst der Fuge is often irritating romantical and sticky as compared to the simple and beautiful version he made in 1977.
    He has lived in USA for many years, and this may have influenced him. The overall impression of the version of e.g. Michael Ferguson is much like Rübsams.

    Regards,
     
    pe-zulu, Feb 14, 2006
  8. tones

    pe-zulu

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    Dear Sn66

    Great to see you here again. Hope to see you more often in the future.

    Nor do I care much for the Goldbergs, except for the variations in canon. Never-the-less twenty versions have towered up on my shelves!

    In between I have acquired and have listened many times to David Cates French Suites, and the more I hear them, the more I like them. I find him most expressive, and essentially his style is much similar to Wolfgang Rübsams using very detailled articulation in all voices stressed by micro-irregularities of rhytm. But I agree, that Rübsam ought to record on a harpsichord, which offer all the expressive possibilities he uses.

    On the contrary, the more I listen to Parmentier, the more I find, that he hasn't much more to offer than superficial brilliance. His instruments sound splendid, but his articulation and phrasing is unimaginative.

    Regards,
     
    pe-zulu, Feb 14, 2006
  9. tones

    Rodrigo de Sá This club's crushing bore

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    I plead guilty. I only listened to one record. It was a recording of relatively early compositions. And, anyway, it was about 10 years ago! So don't pay attention! :NADowner:

    Any further information will be welcome.
     
    Rodrigo de Sá, Feb 16, 2006
  10. tones

    bat Connoisseur Par Excelence

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    I have now Rosalyn Tureck's DG recording of Goldbergs. She made it when she was 83. It lasts 91 minutes,uh-oh. Recommended for you RdS! Boring? Well, they were composed as a cure for insomnia.
     
    bat, Feb 16, 2006
  11. tones

    tones compulsive cantater

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    tones, Feb 16, 2006
  12. tones

    Basil

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    Hi tones,

    After treating myself to an Arcam CD36, I bought a copy of The Concerto Project along with the Kronos Quartet recordings of quartets 2,3,4 and 5 and the Violin concerto with Gidon Kremer.

    All excellent.

    btw, have you tried Akhnaten yet?
     
    Basil, Feb 18, 2006
  13. tones

    Basil

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    Anyone wanting something different?

    Try Messiaen's Turangalila-Symphonie

    Not for the faint of heart though!


    I'd recommend the Andre Previn - LSO recording from 1978
     
    Basil, Feb 18, 2006
  14. tones

    bat Connoisseur Par Excelence

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    This is hot stuff: [​IMG]... and loud. My cat doesn't like it.
     
    bat, Feb 18, 2006
  15. tones

    lordsummit moderate mod

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    Vaughan Williams the Symphonies

    [​IMG]

    A very good set for the money.
     
    lordsummit, Feb 18, 2006
  16. tones

    midlifecrisis Firm member

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    yesterday got the Gergiev conducted Shostakovich Leningrad Symphony on sacd. Chilling stuff and awesome recording quality - highly recommended .
     
    midlifecrisis, Feb 18, 2006
  17. tones

    bat Connoisseur Par Excelence

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    Rosalyn Tureck's 1950s recording of Bach partitas in the Great Pianists series. Perfect!
     
    bat, Feb 19, 2006
  18. tones

    alanbeeb Grumpy young fogey

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    Well, it was a brave and much appreciated attempt to swing this thread away from its obsession with baroque keyboard music.... but probably doomed.
     
    alanbeeb, Feb 19, 2006
  19. tones

    bat Connoisseur Par Excelence

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    Speaking of baroque keyboard music, yesterday I listened to Pekka Vapaavuori's record on which he plays Froberger, Böhm, Bach little preludes etc. on self-built clavichords. Quite nice music, and interesting CD booklet.
     
    bat, Feb 19, 2006
  20. tones

    pe-zulu

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    Rübsam Bach cycle 1977

    What a pity. You ought to hear all of it.
     
    pe-zulu, Feb 19, 2006
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