(western) classical music discussion

[Pyrrho]

Pyrrho, you're easily offended, I like that.

In my defense (and I know it is a weak excuse), on the first page of this thread I said

http://atheistforums.org/thread-32140-po...#pid899552

Yes, I saw that. I looked through the entire thread before posting above. That is how I knew of your love of Bach, which, of course, is just and proper. One cannot love Bach too much. It also gives one hope that your soul might be saved, as you are not completely lost to what is good and holy.

Also, that tells me you have probably been listening to the wrong performances. Mozart "detached?" No! If that is a problem, it is the fault of the performer, or you are not properly paying attention.

I have the Gardiner version (I'm just a sucker for Gardiner even when it's not baroque, sorry), but I shall have a close look at what the Saxons did there

Btw do you by any chance have an idea which version they are performing in your recording with Schreier?

The version with Schreier is the one completed by Süssmayr. The performance is "conventional," but has extreme power and beauty. I am far from alone in my affection for it. The critic Ted Libbey says of it:

"Presiding over modern forces, Schreier offers a conventional but stylistically informed interpretation in which the link between the Requiem and the great sacred works of the Baroque can be readily sensed. The reading combines seriousness of tone with an appealing sincerity of expression, and it gains much from the playing of the Dresden orchestra, which produces clear lines and translucent textures without surrendering its customary beauty of tone. The digital recording is satisfyingly balanced and captures the tonal richness of the performance."

From The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection.

An earlier review called the performance "a revelation," which is very apt and to the point. Unfortunately, I cannot recall who wrote that, but I am happy to own the sentiment. I have heard many other versions, but all of them are a disappointment after hearing the version conducted by Schreier.

I find it is best if one does not understand Latin, and one does not look at a translation of what they are singing. It is the music that is sublime, not the words.

I seem to recall that you are in Germany. You can get a used copy cheaply at:

http://www.amazon.de/Requiem-Schreier-Pe...B0000040W1

And it seems to have been reissued with additional music:

http://www.amazon.de/Requiem-Coronation-...B00005IB5E


I am sorely tempted to post links to other great recordings of Mozart, like:

http://www.amazon.de/Piano-Recital-Horsz...B000005IZG

That is not all Mozart, but all of what is there is great. It took me a little while to warm up to Horszowski (with a different recording), but I now regard him as a god.


Then there are the Horn Concerti, with Dennis Brain on the horn, conducted by Herbert von Karajan. It has been reissued several times, and each time they remaster it, they seem to make it sound just a little better. But is it still an old mono recording from EMI in the 1950's. Here is the most recent version that I purchased; there may be a newer release:

http://www.amazon.de/Hornkonzerte-1-4-Ho...B000BPN24U


And there is the justly famous recording of Don Giovanni conducted by Giulini:

http://www.amazon.de/Don-Giovanni-Ga-Wäc...B000026CHT

It has been reissued (possibly without the libretto) a couple of times:

http://www.amazon.de/Don-Giovanni-Suther...B00006BCDF

http://www.amazon.de/Don-Giovanni-Giulini/dp/B002N4DZ2G

I have the earlier release, and have no experience with the reissued versions.

(A couple of his other operas that are divine are Le nozze di Figaro and Die Zauberflöte, though I have no specific recordings that I recommend. Either of the recordings of the former featuring Bartoli are good, but I do not know which I prefer, and am not sure that something else would not be better. With Die Zauberflöte [which, of course, has a very silly story], I am leaning toward the underrated version conducted by Colin Davis that is featured in Philip's complete Mozart edition. The queen of the night is less powerful than one often hears, but she sings with exquisite beauty.)


And for something a bit different from the above, there are the Piano Quartets:

http://www.amazon.de/Klavierquartette-Be...B0000040VP


I am convinced that you will come around, if you hear the right recordings, and give them a chance.

---

Alex K, to help convince you of my taste, I recommend you buy:

http://www.amazon.de/Brandenburg-Con-1-6...B000002AQ4

There are many recordings of the Brandenburgs, but none that I have heard come close to this one. Since you already have a great love of Bach, this recording should convince you that I am not just some savage trying to mislead you about what is great. Listen to it a few times, both as the focus of your attention, and also while you do something else (like posting online). If you do not love it, I will not know what to say to you.

Jeanne Lamon may not be a household name, but she deserves to be. Her recording of Handel's Water Music is also the best of that that I have ever heard, and I know of two other absolutely great recordings (Pinnock on Archiv and Marriner on Hänssler). I am thinking that maybe Lamon can do no wrong as a conductor.