Album of the Evening

[austinpop]

More explorations on Qobuz. Found this sumptuous recording. This may be my new favorite Brandenburg.

 

[austinpop]

14 hours ago, WAM said:

Thanks for sharing. One for the greed-list.

 

If you like the Brandenburgs, Café Zimmerman is worth a listen.

 

 

 

Brilliant! I found this on Qobuz too, though not hi-res. No matter - an excellent recording, and enjoyed it thoroughly.

 

If picking between this and the aforementioned BIS, the tempi here are a tad brisk for my tastes, but that's a very minor nit.

 

Thanks for the referral. Between these 2 and the Jordi Savalls recommended by @Jud, this is an embarrassment of riches!

[austinpop]

Today's listening: Carl Maria von Weber's clarinet concertos. Compared and contrasted 2 versions.

 

From my library, in DSD:

 

And from Qobuz, in 24/44.1:

 

My nod goes to Meyer, although I love Fröst's Mozart recording on BIS.

[austinpop]

4 hours ago, Musicophile said:

While on the Brandenburgs, you also need to check out Alessandrini:

 

https://musicophilesblog.com/2016/02/11/my-favorite-version-of-the-brandenburg-concertos/

 

Found and bookmarked on Qobuz... will listen tonight.

[austinpop]

17 hours ago, Musicophile said:

While on the Brandenburgs, you also need to check out Alessandrini:

 

https://musicophilesblog.com/2016/02/11/my-favorite-version-of-the-brandenburg-concertos/

 

Wow, thanks for the pointer. I have been comparing and contrasting, and I have to say the Alessandrini is way up there in my favorites. I think you are absolutely right - one of the key ingredients with Brandenburgs is fun! The trumpets in #1, for example are a blast!

 

Note to self: must subscribe to your blog! Excellent job with it - a wealth of useful information. Thanks for your efforts.

[austinpop]

2 hours ago, Guidof said:

incongruous cover art)

 

Nothing says Brandenburg like a reindeer (?) on a parking garage ramp??

 

Maybe I’m Naïve... ? 

[austinpop]

This evening's listening: still my all-time favorite Mahler 2nd.

 

 

Unlike a Bond martini, this one leaves you shaken AND stirred!

[austinpop]

I was introduced to this album at RMAF when a fellow audiophile requested a track from it in the room we were both in. Wow, this is good stuff!

 

 

https://open.qobuz.com/album/w27dushm2bsac

[austinpop]

9 minutes ago, crenca said:

 

I would not normally ask, but since several others liked this album, what does this cover say...I can't begin to read it.

 

Anouar Brahem - Le Voyage de Sahar

 

https://www.amazon.com/Voyage-Sahar-Anouar-Brahem/dp/B000E0W2AM

[austinpop]

22 minutes ago, rando said:

Quite recently I've been struggling to unlock a concise line of thought carried through a local release.  The existence of old world influence in MN is often at odds with a dearth of fresh ideas overflowing in NY or LA reaching this far inland.  The sea that is ever present in Nordic music, and much from the Romantic countries, is no less conspicuously absent.  Yet I'm not aware of anywhere else in North America the larger musical institutions challenge convention and safety as modernly.  As if a peaceful dissentient element washes in through some natural means other than study.  Nowhere on the order of energy vortices.  Still, unique to say the least. 

 

I reread this several times, and I'm afraid I don't understand what you're trying to say. I assume it's about Osmo and the Minnesota Orchestra? And I think it's a compliment?

 

I'm a big fan of these guys. Hoping to make it out to Minneapolis at some point to catch a performance.

[austinpop]

 

While the San Francisco/MTT is still my "favorite" Mahler 7, this reading is fantastic too, and excellent SQ on the DSD rip from SACD. I haven't (yet) explored the others in Nott's Mahler cycle, but will do so tout-de-suite.

[austinpop]

9 hours ago, Norton said:

 

https://tidal.com/album/68790357

 

Nice find. Delightful album!

[austinpop]

8 hours ago, rando said:

Zhou Yu & Ensemble

Master of the Chinese Erhu

 

 

Enjoyed this thoroughly, even though I know very little of traditional Chinese music.

 

Here’s another in this vein. It’s more contemporary fusion, but benefits from the stunning sonics of Channel Classsics.

 

[austinpop]

OK not really Christmas, but aren't those sleigh bells in the opening?  

 

 

A compelling version of Mahler 4, and hard to resist during eClassical's recent 50% sale.

[austinpop]

1 hour ago, Melvin said:

Can I just say, I really love this thread. I've been exposed to so many artists I've never heard of, like the one @WAM just posted. Thanks to all of you. Happy New Year.

 

+1

 

And can I also say I love the idea of "beverage pairings" and photos of same should be encouraged!

[austinpop]

 

The latest in the Minnesota Orchestra's Mahler cycle with Osmo Vänskä. I'm a sucker for eClassical's promotions, so at $12.69 for the hi-res version, I couldn't resist, even though this is the 8th version of the 2nd in my library!

 

Verdict - a very respectable performance, and outstanding sonics. 

 

With that said, it didn't unseat my all-time favorite Mahler 2nd - both in performance and sonics:

 

[austinpop]

 

A nice alternative to the ubiquitous Dawn Upshaw version. Hard to find, though.

[austinpop]

            +  

 

Nuff said!

[austinpop]

[austinpop]

23 hours ago, Paul R said:

There is a live version of the Return to the Center of the Earth concert that is well worth the listening time. 

 

Would you believe - I had never gotten around to listening to the Return ... rectifying now. Please post pointer to the live version to which you refer.

 

Meanwhile my prog rock binge continues. Earlier tonight: Steven Wilson's 2009 remix of King Crimson's In the Court of the Crimson King...

[austinpop]

On 2/8/2019 at 12:53 AM, austinpop said:

 

The above is the 2012 re-recording of the classic shown below:

 

I have a nostalgic preference for the latter, but the SQ of the re-recording is fabulous!

[austinpop]

1 hour ago, Paul R said:

 A recommendation in another topic led me to tonights really enjoyable recording. (Thank you Austinpop. ) 

 

 I didn't catch but perhaps one word in every ten though.  The title and track, Vande Mataram means something like "I bow to thee mother". The song is from a 19th century Bengali poem of the same name. I do not even begin to understand all the threads that make up what this song means to people from India, but it is inextricably tied up with their struggle for freedom in the 20th century. On this album, _Vande Mataram_ is also sung by A. R. Rahman. 

 

The last track, _Maa Tujhe Salaam_ hold a worlds record for being performed in the most languages - 277 different languages to be exact, and according to Wikipedia. The title means something like "I Salute You Mother India!"  and, so far as I can tell, is a sweet little song saying that India is home and the best place to be. Very patriotic! 

 

The Roon blurb speaks of the album being intended to introduce international audiences to Indian music, and if so, I would say it is a success. 

I forgot to listen for the recording aspects, because I got lost in the music. 

 

 

So glad you enjoyed it! Rahman is truly a joy. My favorite track is Revival.

[austinpop]

One of the most compelling and best recorded classical albums ever! Riveting from start to finish. Listen in DXD if you can.

 

 

Kudos to recording engineer Jared Sacks.

[austinpop]

Very different from the Pines of Rome, but lovely in its own right!

 

[austinpop]

Popped over to B&W SoS for a last look before it goes away, and downloaded a few albums that fall into the bucket of "probably not my cup of tea." Well, I'm usually wrong about that, and here's one that I'm really enjoying, despited being out of "season."