Classical Music for Aficionados
I bought a London Treasury series copy of this record when I was a teenager, and still listen to the recording, though I have accumulated a variety of different copies, I still do not own the first Decca. But, in its various incarnations, it is a wonderful performance and recording and short of the original Decca copy, can be gotten cheaply: https://www.discogs.com/master/view/551677 |
@scott_w @terry9 That Gorecki #3 is very powerful, thank you (I bought the soundtrack Terry mentioned, but would be interested if there are other performances on vinyl). Though not similar in style, but theme is the Kol Nidre on this famous old warhorse by Starker with Dorati: https://www.discogs.com/Janos-Starker-Dvořák-Bruch-Tchaikovsky-Antal-Dorati-London-Symphony-Orchestr... The mono original is good and cheap, and the Speakers Corner reissue of the stereo is fine. I’m a big fan of cello music, Du Pre, Starker, etc. Often the orchestra seems unnecessary. This famous piece was probably recorded many times by Starker but the early Period Records performances are wonderful: https://www.discogs.com/Janos-Starker-Kodaly-Sonata-For-Unaccompanied-Cello-Opus8/release/6124443 There have been various reissues of this over the years. |
I’ve found that I like a certain period of modernist piano- some of the work of Scriabin. I gather that one of the best interpreters was his son in law, Sofronitsky. The vinyl selections seem pretty bleak, originating from the old USSR. Any suggestions along these lines? I’ve just bought a CD of the Moscow 1960 performance. Any others, by Sofronitsky or of other composers who were creating a modern, spare sound in that period? One sort of stupid way I segued into this was the limited edition record of the Cloud Atlas Sextet, not the soundtrack, but a special record --a copy of a movie "prop" if you will--that was part of the film’s narrative, and produced in limited quantities. I did buy one when new, but it was badly warped. The price has since skyrocketed to ~$500 or so for a copy, and it’s not worth that to me. |
@newbee - my thanks. I'm not sure the entire body of Scriabin's work can be described as spare. There's a sound that I'll try and find a better example of, with fewer notes, more held notes. Appreciate the recommendations-- I abandoned classical for a long while, and this thread is helping me get back into things I haven't thought of, or listened to, in a while. |
