What are you listening to? ( classical music)

dvmrp

Bought a few second-hand CDs of the BBC Legends in Disk Union, Tokyo. This is a live recording in Blythburgh Church, Aldeburgh Festival, 1975. It carries typical ambience reflecting the hallowed space of a church. The content of the CD booklet is well written and comprehensive, covering the pianist, the concert and the works. Don't miss reading it.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Trinity_Church,_Blythburgh

koalakoala

Just received the new Japanese SACD version of Matthew Passion - Klemperer with Fischer-Dieskau.  Not sure how this would measure up against Richter or Harnoncout...

koalakoala

The third Mozart opera by Nezet-Seguin (after Don Giov and Cosi fan tutte)

tom188

多謝分享。

新漢陳Sir

koalakoala 發表於 2015-9-26 13:24
Just received the new Japanese SACD version of Matthew Passion - Klemperer with Fischer-Dieskau.  No ...

This is the best recorded performance of St. Matthew Passion ever.

dvmrp

Klemperer conducted the St. Matthew Passion on 1962. Understandings of Bach, his background and music, changed since the Fall of Berlin Wall as scholars can access the literatures in Leipzig.

Other discussion on Klemperer's performance: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Vocal/BWV244-Klemperer.htm

The opening chrous "Kommt ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen" takes 11:46, it is too much for me. I personally prefer brisker, 'modern' interpretations: John Eliot Gardiner[Link], John Butt [Link].

For anyone want to know more about Bach's Passions, for example, the minimum singers to perform passions, given the limit resources that Bach could gather; the position of choirs, performers relative to the audiences during Bach's time; contemporary culture, liturgy, etc, this book is a great companion.

Hearing Bach's Passion

koalakoala

The warner japan version of Klemperer is said to be newly remastered 24bit/96hz.  It sounds natural, open and spacious.  The tempo is noticeably slow (relaxed?).  The soloists really show their class...
There are 3 other often praised versions of Matthew Passion, namely
1) Richter (also with Fischer-Dieskau) - I think this is very good
2) Gardiner - My disc set is bad (because of foam corrosion or something)
3) Harnoncourt - Don't care for this one
And then many more, like
4) Karajan - personally never like Karajan
5) Butt (linn sacd) - Audiophiles would love this one, sounds great (artificial?)
6) Rene Jacobs (HM) - quite new, with the surround sound choruses, on stereo this is eerie, and making my head ache...
7) Velhoven (sacd) - excellent sonic qualities, but performance wise not much appreciated
8) Herreweghe - I think this is great too
There seem to be a couple more sacd versions and many cd versions I haven't heard...

koalakoala

Newly released by warner japan
Klemperer - Brahms cycle

koalakoala

http://wmg.jp/special/legendary/

新漢陳Sir

koalakoala 發表於 2015-9-30 01:27
The warner japan version of Klemperer is said to be newly remastered 24bit/96hz.  It sounds natural, ...

Karajan was deeply moved after hearing Klemperer's monolithic account of Beethoven's Symphony # 3 and swore to perform this work as well as the old maestro did. He never did it.

dvmrp

koalakoala 發表於 2015-9-30 01:27
The warner japan version of Klemperer is said to be newly remastered 24bit/96hz.  It sounds natural, ...

In John Butt's version, the performance is served by using eight principal voices only. It's clearly an great endeavour from the perspective of historical informed approach.   

koalakoala

Butt (linn) did an excellent version of Messiah earlier.  Audiophiles use it as testing sacd too.

Dear Chings, what is your favourite version of Messiah?

新漢陳Sir

koalakoala 發表於 2015-9-30 18:48
Butt (linn) did an excellent version of Messiah earlier.  Audiophiles use it as testing sacd too.

D ...

還有一個 Archiv Produktion 錄製 Trevor Pinnock 指揮 The English Concert & Choir 的古法演繹版本。

新漢陳Sir

Trevor Pinnock 指揮 The English Concert (英國古樂團) 演出的《彌賽亞》。

koalakoala

New version of Messiah by Haim (Erato/warner japan sacd)
An audiophile disc set with superb sonics
Dramatic interpretation with deliberate dynamic contrast

tom188

koalakoala 發表於 2015-10-4 01:23
New version of Messiah by Haim (Erato/warner japan sacd)
An audiophile disc set with superb sonics
D ...

多謝師兄分享。