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January 3, 2009
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Danish record company DACAPO is joining the chorus of vocal supporters of Rued Langgaard (1893-1952). It was the second volume of the Dacapo recordings of Langgaard’s Violin Sonatas that turned me on to this marvelous, lovably strange, utterly romantic, occasionally acerbic, short-lived 20th century ... more |
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December 31, 2007
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The enemy of excellence is greatness? True, generally – but not when it comes to Bach’s Mass in B-minor which would still be a masterpiece in the least of performances and is a gift to humanity when performed as well as I’ve now had the pleasure of experiencing trice in short succession. First ... more |
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October 10, 2007
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Valery Gergiev continues with his cycle of Shostakovich's "War Symphonies," a concept that he stretches to include Symphonies No. 4 through 9. The idea of a new, even if truncated, DSCH cycle from a Russian conductor and outfit is an exciting one, given the allure that the Mravinsky cycle (Melodiya) ... more |
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October 10, 2007
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Following his release of the 2nd symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas's Mahler cycle continues to take shape with this 9th on the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra's own label. The predecessor did not disappoint and neither does this issue.
Just as the last time I reviewed a new MTT Mahler release, I ... more |
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October 10, 2007
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It may be coincidence that my Mahler collection contains more Mahler 2nd symphonies than any other. It may also be coincidence that that symphony seems to have been particularly well served by the recording industry, but its popularity is certainly no coincidence. It combines all the elements that ... more |
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December 20, 2008
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Julien said:
I strongly *believe* that as well as machines detect things...
Indeed. Believes play a big role. Faith is very important in the higher realms of HiFi.
>> So I never believe in most blind tests. >Those Acapella horns my friend has (100.000 euros...) will reflect any little difference in the system. They are so big that [...] I just ... more |
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December 22, 2007
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can't say that the results match the effort. SQ4t 4 is kind-of suited to this treatment (mvt. 1 esp. so) ... but #2 less so. Sound just about as stunning as the Walton - but to what musical avail? Pretty ain't always enough in some of the DSCH Quartets. ... more |
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October 28, 2007
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This is a little arrogant, to say the least. Or perhaps ignorant - I don't quite know which one.
Ingo's answer perfectly addresses the questions posed -- but neither the answer nor Ingo ex- or im-plicitly suggests that therefore you must like it.
To hear clicking and hissing noises in a concert is only normal - although not necessarily in a ... more |
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October 27, 2007
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Speaking of Naxos SACDs (I think the Craft re-makes of Strav. not quite hot, btw.), the Scherbakov/Yablonsky recording of Rachmaninov 2 & 3 is just about the best sounding (interpretation and audio quality) disc I've heard - not only from Naxos but in general.
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=83444 ... more |
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October 26, 2007
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With all due respect... the idea of cables... well, never mind. "There's nothing either good nor bad, but imagining makes it so.
(To me, it is a hoax)."
I hope you appreciate the sense of classicism that I bring to my mockery. :-)
best,
jfl ... more |