My Essential Classical Albums.

[sphinxsix]

11 minutes ago, Kal Rubinson said:

I think you have already done so.  OTOH, one of the most elusive elements, even for multichannel, is real proximity.  

OTOH I tend to think (purely theoretically, I sold my surround amp more than 15 years ago and I didn't buy e.g. multichannel SACDs back then and have been using stereo system only ever since so I don't know much about quality of contemporary multichannel recordings but IMO back then in case of rock or jazz mch reproduction tended to destroy quite lots of nuance in comparison to stereo) that with other genres (not classical music) the multichannel reproduction might create more problems than advantages. What's your opinion on that?

[Kal Rubinson]

8 minutes ago, sphinxsix said:

.........but IMO back then in case of rock or jazz mch reproduction tended to destroy quite lots of nuance in comparison to stereo) that with other genres (not classical music) the multichannel reproduction might create more problems than advantages. What's your opinion on that?

Prior to SACD (and DVD-A), all multichannel was in lossy, compressed formats so your observation is probably accurate.  However, the shoe is now on the other foot.  Modern multichannel is as high in resolution/detail/dynamics as any stereo media and has the additional benefit of expanded spatial definition.

[sphinxsix]

25 minutes ago, Kal Rubinson said:

Prior to SACD (and DVD-A), all multichannel was in lossy, compressed formats so your observation is probably accurate.  However, the shoe is now on the other foot.  Modern multichannel is as high in resolution/detail/dynamics as any stereo media and has the additional benefit of expanded spatial definition.

I understand you claim no detail/resolution is lost in mch reproduction. How about rock and jazz mch recordings - what kind of venue acoustics do they render (small/medium size clubs, stadiums.?). And what about realism of mch productions in general (concerning venue acoustics)?

[Kal Rubinson]

2 hours ago, sphinxsix said:

How about rock and jazz mch recordings - what kind of venue acoustics do they render (small/medium size clubs, stadiums.?).

I am guessing that live recordings can do that.   As ever, it will depend on the particular recording team.  Most of my experience is with classical recordings.  

 

2 hours ago, sphinxsix said:

And what about realism of mch productions in general (concerning venue acoustics)?

General is too general.  Again, I can only say that the majority of classical do it pretty well.

[sphinxsix]

I think this question actually deserves a separate thread but not to multiply them I will ask it here.

Do you guys think there exists some quintessential 'ingredient' of a good performance of a particular classical piece and if so what would it be? To what degree a claim that a particular performance is good is objective and to what degree it is a question of a subjective judgment.? 

Will appreciate your reflections on this topic.

[sphinxsix]

This thread has been for me a great adventure full of exciting discoveries that will probably cost me a lot till my last days here  

Once again - THANKS A LOT to everyone who participated!

 

 

[sphinxsix]

Has anyone heard this version:

 

 

What about SQ, is it the same mastering as:

 

[Mayfair]

49 minutes ago, sphinxsix said:

Has anyone heard this version:

 

 

What about SQ, is it the same mastering as:

 

I don't know if this is what you're looking for, but for what it's worth, I have two versions of these performances: the 1995 Decca CD, and the 2015 Decca/DG Argerich box set retrospective, "Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon".  According to JRMC, they appear to be the same masterings:

 

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3
The DRs in dB, (LU) on the respective works and movements of Rach 3 are:
Rach 3: 13 (14.2); 13 (14.0); 13 (14.8)

The respective peak levels, R128, (sample) are:
Rach 3: 2.1 dBTP (2.1 dB); 0.0 dBTP (0.0 dB); -0.3 dBTP (-0.4 dB)

 

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
The DRs in dB, (LU) on the respective works and movements of Tchaikovsky 1 are:
Tchaikovsky 1: 15 (21.8); 15 (18.3); 13 (16.6)

The respective peak levels, R128, (sample) are:
Tchaikovsky 1: -2.2 dBTP (-2.2 dB), -6.0 dBTP (-6 dB); +0.1 dBTP (-0.0 dB)

[sphinxsix]

I'm not that much into post WW II music. If you omit 'spiritual' composers like Part or Tavener and some minimalists (I'm not that crazy about minimalism though) not much is left.

Got intrigued by this album yesterday though

 

so I decided today to check out fragments of

 

 

in an attempt to expand my music horizons. Why Ligeti? First of all his Requiem which I know is so intense that IMO it's quite hard not to get intrigued by it. Secondly - he is IMO quite similar to Klaus Kinsky and I once used to be a big fan of Werner Herzog movies - to put it simply - an interesting face (IMO)  

But maybe it's a wrong place to start with let's say post Shostakovitch stuff..

Any post WWII music fans here.? Any suggestions.?

 

 

[semente]

[semente]

[semente]

 

[semente]

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/search?search_query=braga santos naxos

[semente]

 

[sphinxsix]

 

@semente Thanks! I'm only familiar with Mompou's name (but not his music), I will check out your recommendations, especially since I know our tastes are very compatible in many areas!

 

[semente]

2 hours ago, sphinxsix said:

 

@semente Thanks! I'm only familiar with Mompou's name (but not his music), I will check out your recommendations, especially since I know our tastes are very compatible in many areas!

 

 

Like you I'm still tentatively dipping my toes. Some stuff is just plain inedible...

[Musicophile]

Mompou is quite nice, also this one. 

 

 

You really mostly wouldn't be able to tell Mompou is 20th century music (which for me is mostly a compliment, as I really struggle with anything beyond Bartok and Shostakovich.

 

One rare exception of something relatively contemporary I actually find somewhat interesting and listenable is Lutoslawski. This concerto was written for Zimerman, and he plays it brilliantly. 

 

 

[sphinxsix]

On 6/13/2020 at 1:22 PM, semente said:

 

On 6/14/2020 at 11:10 PM, Musicophile said:

Mompou is quite nice, also this one. 

 

 

 

Very nice indeed, reminds me of Erik Satie and impressionists which isn't a bad thing cause I like such piano playing. Thanks guys, both albums to be ordered.

 

BTW @Musicophile thanks for reminding me of Bartok, he is one of the composers I used to have unexplainable aversion to (my aversion to R. Strauss based probably on associations with the other Strauss, despite the fact that I knew these are 2 different composers, is luckily long gone ) while not knowing his music. Yesterday I checked out his Concerto for Orchestra (Reiner, CSO) and was simply floored! 

 

[Musicophile]

3 hours ago, sphinxsix said:

 

 

Very nice indeed, reminds me of Erik Satie and impressionists which isn't a bad thing cause I like such piano playing. Thanks guys, both albums to be ordered.

 

BTW @Musicophile thanks for reminding me of Bartok, he is one of the composers I used to have unexplainable aversion to (my aversion to R. Strauss based probably on associations with the other Strauss, despite the fact that I knew these are 2 different composers, is luckily long gone ) while not knowing his music. Yesterday I checked out his Concerto for Orchestra (Reiner, CSO) and was simply floored! 

 

The concerto for orchestra is also my favourite Bartok piece (and the Reiner is a legendary recording).

[Bob Stern]

3 hours ago, Musicophile said:

The concerto for orchestra is also my favourite Bartok piece (and the Reiner is a legendary recording).

 

An entire scene of the Ernie Kovacs Show was devoted to the eerie 2nd movement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjXHgqkc5uY

 

A similar (and even better, IMO) piece is Bartok's "Music for Strings, Percussion & Celeste".  The "Sonata for 2 Pianos & Percussion" is similar but less famous.

 

In the 2nd violin concerto and 3rd piano concerto, the soloist's part is tuneful, while the orchestra is more angular.  Start with the pretty slow movement of the 3rd piano con.  Shaham (with Boulez) brings out the romanticism of the violin concerto.

[Kal Rubinson]

1 hour ago, Bob Stern said:

An entire scene of the Ernie Kovacs Show was devoted to the eerie 2nd movement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjXHgqkc5uY

He also did a brilliant animated play set to Jancek's Sinfonietta.

[Bob Stern]

1 hour ago, Kal Rubinson said:

He also did a brilliant animated play set to Jancek's Sinfonietta

 

Can’t seem to find an archive of that online.

[Kal Rubinson]

49 minutes ago, Bob Stern said:

 

Can’t seem to find an archive of that online.

Can't help you with that.  I can still picture it.

[Bob Stern]

13 minutes ago, Kal Rubinson said:

Can't help you with that.  I can still picture it.

 

Can we do a Vulcan mind meld?

[sphinxsix]

16 minutes ago, Bob Stern said:

 

Can we do a Vulcan mind meld?

I'm pretty sure Kal won't (Vulcan) mind.