Verdi - Requiem // De Sabata 1952 (yes, 1952, not 1954)

Legendary Archives (now defunct, only on Bandcamp)

The great man's funeral was on this date in the year of our Lord, 1901.

On Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 12:21:34 AM UTC-8, Oscar wrote:
> Verdi - Requiem // De Sabata 1952 (yes, 1952, not 1954)
>
> Legendary Archives (now defunct, only on Bandcamp)
>
> The great man's funeral was on this date in the year of our Lord, 1901.

No more Bruckner and Wagner for you ?!?

I might have a new favourite nozze recording: Solti. (Böhm's DG isn't bad as well...)

Marc S schrieb am Montag, 5. Februar 2024 um 14:55:53 UTC+1:
> I might have a new favourite nozze recording: Solti. (Böhm's DG isn't bad as well...)

while the singing is great (though I'm a bit undecided about te Kanawa) I have a problem with Solti's accompaniment... will probably opt for Böhm.. Problem with Fricsay's nozze is the singing...

Marc S schrieb am Montag, 5. Februar 2024 um 17:29:46 UTC+1:
> Marc S schrieb am Montag, 5. Februar 2024 um 14:55:53 UTC+1:
> > I might have a new favourite nozze recording: Solti. (Böhm's DG isn't bad as well...)
> while the singing is great (though I'm a bit undecided about te Kanawa) I have a problem with Solti's accompaniment... will probably opt for Böhm. Problem with Fricsay's nozze is the singing...

Na, I don't think I can get into Kanawa... or Solti...

Minor changes regarding my fav Mozart opera recordings:

I take back what I said about Rothenberger and Janowitz, they are both fine....

Serail: Beecham (EMI), Krips (EMI)
nozze: Böhm (DG), Suitner (Berlin Classics) (*and Klemperer (EMI) for Philharmonia/Klemperer and Grist)
DG: Klemperer (EMI), Krips (Decca), Mitropoulos (Sony)
cosi: Böhm (Decca), Böhm (EMI)
Zauberflöte: Böhm (Decca), Klemperer (EMI)

Hmmmm maybe Solti is actually better than Böhm in nozze... the singers are superb... probably was wrong about te kanawa... not a fan of Prey as Figaro and DFD as the count... and Popp is way more to my taste than Mathis....

sometimes Solti is a bit too hmmm... upfront... but when he is not, it's all great... have to relisten...

Yeah I think Solti's (singing is just amazing) and Suitner's nozzes are my favourites... Fricsay's is just marred by bad singing (Böhm's as well)....

Popp and Grist are probably my favourite Susannas; Rothenberger is fine as well, just not sure if I like her as much (need to listen some more).

Problem with Solti is really his accompaniment sometimes; it's already evident in the ouverture, often rather harsh and pushy.

Ya... Solti's nozze is really beautiful (it should be noted, that I also have trouble with Böhm's accompaniment (I like his accompaniment much more in his decca zauberflöte, decca cosi and emi cosi)).

Among HIP-nozzes Östman's is the best I think... semi-hip (?) Harnoncourt is horrible (problem starts with Scharinger... and also his questionable accompaniment, questionable choice for certain instruments etc.), his Zürich Figaro is horrible as well for similar reasons (also Gilfry just sucks; just as he does in Gardiner's nozze and DG) - what the fuck is wrong with the brass section...

Jacobs... well... Jacobs just sucks. Some of the singing is truly horrible, as is his whole conception of this opera.

So... it seems my favourite nozzes are: Solti (Decca), Suitner (Berlin Classics) and likely even Östman.

Karajan 1950 and Kleiber 1955 feature some beautiful singing, but it's marred by bad accompaniment, similar to Furtwängler's 1953 and 1954 DG (not a fan of Gobbi in his earlier DG).

The rest I heard are more or less completely dismissed... from busch to abbado and beyond...

Marc S schrieb am Dienstag, 6. Februar 2024 um 18:24:09 UTC+1:
> So... it seems my favourite nozzes are: Solti (Decca), Suitner (Berlin Classics) and likely even Östman.
>
> Karajan 1950 and Kleiber 1955 feature some beautiful singing, but it's marred by bad accompaniment, similar to Furtwängler's 1953 and 1954 DG (not a fan of Gobbi in his earlier DG).
>
> The rest I heard are more or less completely dismissed... from busch to abbado and beyond...

Actually Kleiber and Karajan are dismissed as well... honorable mention goes to Fricsay.

*Fav Mozart opera recordings update:

Serail: Beecham (EMI), Krips (EMI)
*nozze: Östman (not sure yet; seems Decca, but also some other), Solti (Decca), Suitner (Berlin Classics) and Klemperer (EMI) for Philharmonia/Klemperer and Grist.
DG: Klemperer (EMI), Krips (Decca), Mitropoulos (Sony)
cosi: Böhm (Decca), Böhm (EMI) (not sure about Klemperer yet; the singing I heard was quite bad...)
Zauberflöte: Böhm (Decca), Klemperer (EMI)

Wow... Östman is great - his Zauberflöte, cosi and nozze rank among the best, haven't really checked his DG yet.

Just bought his Mozart operas Decca box...

*My favourite Mozart opera recordings update:

*Serail: Beecham (EMI; have some problems with the females; apart from Wunderlich Simoneau is my favourite Belmonte, I rate him even higher tbh...), Böhm (DG; Grist etc. - not a fan of Schreier, but maybe he is okay...), Krips (EMI; not a fan of Gedda either...) -- do not like Belmonte in Östman's Serail
*nozze: Östman (Decca), Solti (Decca), Suitner (Berlin Classics; also not a fan of Prey, but I think he is okay here... will have to revisit), Klemperer (EMI -- not so sure about Söderstrom or Marcellina... will have to revisit as well)
*DG: Klemperer (EMI), Krips (Decca), Mitropoulos (Sony), Östman (Decca)
*cosi: Böhm (Decca), Böhm (EMI), Östman (Decca) -- still have to revisit Klemperer
*Zauberflöte: Böhm (Decca), Klemperer (EMI), Östman (Decca)

hmmmm probably need Talvela or Moll for Sarastro... think I prefer Talvela a little over Moll (will have to relisten), but Sawallisch's recording with Moll tops every recording with Talvela (Solti, Levine - of which I think Levine's is better)...

Marc S schrieb am Donnerstag, 8. Februar 2024 um 14:16:10 UTC+1:
> hmmmm probably need Talvela or Moll for Sarastro... think I prefer Talvela a little over Moll (will have to relisten), but Sawallisch's recording with Moll tops every recording with Talvela (Solti, Levine - of which I think Levine's is better)...

but Talvela is better in Solti's recording and I prefer him over Moll... think I'm going to get myself the Solti recording just for Talvela since my Zauberflöte recordings lack a great Sarastro...

Marc S schrieb am Donnerstag, 8. Februar 2024 um 15:52:38 UTC+1:
> Marc S schrieb am Donnerstag, 8. Februar 2024 um 14:16:10 UTC+1:
> > hmmmm probably need Talvela or Moll for Sarastro... think I prefer Talvela a little over Moll (will have to relisten), but Sawallisch's recording with Moll tops every recording with Talvela (Solti, Levine - of which I think Levine's is better)...
> but Talvela is better in Solti's recording and I prefer him over Moll... think I'm going to get myself the Solti recording just for Talvela since my Zauberflöte recordings lack a great Sarastro...

hm no... I actually seem to like Moll in Sawallisch's recording more... yes.... seems I'll be getting Sawallisch's recording...

*Almost final update regarding my favourite Mozart opera recordings:

Serail: Beecham (EMI), Böhm (DG; Auger, Grist, Moll), Krips (Warner)
nozze: Klemperer (Warner), Solti (Decca), Suitner (Berlin Classics), Östman (Decca)
DG: Klemperer (Warner), Krips (Decca), Mitropoulos (Sony), Östman (Decca)
cosi: Böhm (Decca), Böhm (Warner), (Klemperer (Warner) -- unsure yet, still have to revisit), Östman (Decca)
*Zauberflöte: Böhm (Decca), Klemperer (Warner), Östman (Decca), Sawallisch (Warner)

On Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 12:21:34 AM UTC-8, Oscar wrote:
> Verdi - Requiem // De Sabata 1952 (yes, 1952, not 1954)
> Legendary Archives (now defunct, only on Bandcamp)
> The great man's funeral was on this date in the year of
> our Lord, 1901.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpXLYG00T3c

Cheers

On Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 12:21:34 AM UTC-8, Oscar wrote:
> Verdi - Requiem // De Sabata 1952 (yes, 1952, not 1954)
> Legendary Archives (now defunct, only on Bandcamp)
> The great man's funeral was on this date in the year of
> our Lord, 1901.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk5BAYpAKBI

Listening to Liszt: Annees Italie, performed by Bolet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbsO2cT3Idg&list=PLLxfHmnpxpOXB6Xl0BxjTNe5ICBU3u7Dg

I’d previously only been familiar with the Petrarca 104 - and really enjoy
Bolet’s performance. The rest of this Annee seems less memorable - maybe other
performances are superior? Suggestions??

Also going through my opera collection - I’ve always liked the Callas Gioconda
and while I’m not that big a Callas fan, she was in good voice and makes the
most of this score. I’ve now been listening to the Cerquetti version with Del
Monaco which is also very dramatic.

And very appropriate to these times (in the USA) Gershwin’s Of Thee I Sing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnkYfkrtrHw&list=OLAK5uy_msplW0pHn9hwnjTeIUoZeDhth06KO5kec

This is the story of a less-than-ideal candidate for US President - who gets
sued - impeached - and…

Wintergreen for President!
He’s the man the people choose
Loves the Irish and the Jews

If a girl is sexy,
she may be Mrs. Prexy!

Love is sweeping the country,
there never was so much love
Florida and Cal-
ifornia get together
in a festival
of oranges and weather

We’re the one, two, three, four, five, six,
seven, eight, nine Supreme Court judges
We have powers that are positively regal;
Only we can take a law and make it legal!

He is stubborn, we must teach him,
He has forced us to impeach him
You decline to resign,
So we’ll teach you,
We’lll impeach you!

The country thinks it’s got depression.
Just wait until we get in session!

(Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1932)

Gavriil Popov: Chamber Symphony (Septet) op.2 (1926/1927)

"Gavriil Popov (1904-1972): Sinfonia da camera (Settimino) op.2 (1926/1927) --- Natalia Danilina, flauto; Oleg Tchastikov, clarinetto; Andrei Simonov, fagotto; Mikhail Druzhinin, tromba; Natalia Malkova, violino; Julia Molchanova, violoncello; Lyudmila Khoteeva, contrabbasso"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnsMFKnvZRY

Domenico Cimarosa: Ouverture from the opera La baronessa Stramba

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-9IddrLiuA

On 2/11/2024 5:19 PM, Notsure01 wrote:
> Listening to Liszt: Annees Italie, performed by Bolet
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbsO2cT3Idg&list=PLLxfHmnpxpOXB6Xl0BxjTNe5ICBU3u7Dg
>
> I’d previously only been familiar with the Petrarca 104 - and really enjoy
> Bolet’s performance. The rest of this Annee seems less memorable - maybe other
> performances are superior? Suggestions??

My reference for the full set of the Anneés de Pèlerinage is Berman
1977, possibly the only set that attempts to fully integrate the
forward-looking and late III year with the more traditional mid-century
I and II years (plus Appendix).

About the whole Italian II year, I like a lot the recent (2020) reading
by Yunchan Lim in his pre-Cliburn days, not shy about exploring
innovative ways to use the sustain pedal way more extensively than most
of his peers. For a selection of single pieces, try Sofronitzky
1949-1952 (Sposalizio, Penseroso, Canzonetta, Sonetto 123), Barere 1934
or Lipatti 1947 or Horowitz 1986 (Sonetto 104), Cziffra 1963 (Sonetto
123) and more recently Grosvenor 2020 (Sonetti 47, 104 and 123). To
close with a bang, Volodos 2009 in the Dante finale.

On Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 9:12:22 PM UTC-8, PPeso wrote:
> On 2/11/2024 5:19 PM, Notsure01 wrote:
> > Listening to Liszt: Annees Italie, performed by Bolet
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbsO2cT3Idg&list=PLLxfHmnpxpOXB6Xl0BxjTNe5ICBU3u7Dg
> >
> > I’d previously only been familiar with the Petrarca 104 - and really enjoy
> > Bolet’s performance. The rest of this Annee seems less memorable - maybe other
> > performances are superior? Suggestions??
> My reference for the full set of the Anneés de Pèlerinage is Berman
> 1977, possibly the only set that attempts to fully integrate the
> forward-looking and late III year with the more traditional mid-century
> I and II years (plus Appendix).
>
> About the whole Italian II year, I like a lot the recent (2020) reading
> by Yunchan Lim in his pre-Cliburn days, not shy about exploring
> innovative ways to use the sustain pedal way more extensively than most
> of his peers. For a selection of single pieces, try Sofronitzky
> 1949-1952 (Sposalizio, Penseroso, Canzonetta, Sonetto 123), Barere 1934
> or Lipatti 1947 or Horowitz 1986 (Sonetto 104), Cziffra 1963 (Sonetto
> 123) and more recently Grosvenor 2020 (Sonetti 47, 104 and 123). To
> close with a bang, Volodos 2009 in the Dante finale.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nSzUv4XhTIUBBTn0g1GO0vVcSs-RGwikw