Baroque Music Appreciation Thread, v.1.1 - Page 4

I don't have a favorite work but I love a lot it. Telemann was the last composer I had on my play list. I love the Cd's of Ton Koopman and I wish can I get more. In fact, I'm glad this thread came up because now that I think about it, I will dedicate the next 12 months of listening to more Baroque and Renaissance music. There should probably be a thread on Renaissance music too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by calaf 

 I think this thread is the right one to mention a good deal  on amazon

  http://www.amazon.com/Freiburger-Barockorchester/dp/B0054MEHZ8/ref=pd_luc_sbs_03_04_t_lh

Freiburger Barockorchester may not be the most flamboyant baroque group  out there, but they have a solid reputation and a knack for finding and recording off-the-beaten-track works. Here is what they have in this collection (which I have just ordered)

The set looks really enticing.  Calaf, can you tell us how are the write-ups in the booklet?  -- I expect it to be skimpy, but I'll order it too if it is anything more than a track listing.

This is a cool CD, not my favorite of all time but very cool:

Beginning with Monteverdi

Quote:

Originally Posted by FalconP 

 

The set looks really enticing.  Calaf, can you tell us how are the write-ups in the booklet?  -- I expect it to be skimpy, but I'll order it too if it is anything more than a track listing.

unfortunately the write-ups are little more than the track listings: for each CD they have a page of track listings, and a page with a pretty picture and the full listing of the musicians playing, and the instruments they used.

Would love to know what everyones favorite Bach's St Mathews Passion is?

I'm very partial to Gustav Leonhardt's on BMG. Very paced, he brings out every subtlety in a very subtle way.

 Superb recording too.

I own two St Matthew Passion on disc: the Gardiner one, which I find very exciting in the beginning (their antiphonal chorus has a big WOW! factor), but unable to sustain that emotional impact in the more spiritual parts, and the second Herreweghe recording which is so-well sung that it hurts (the cast reads like a who's who of sacred music singers: Scholl, Gura, Henschel, Bostridge as the very touching Evangelist, and Selig as Christ). As I read somewhere this the only St Matthew Passion that doesn't give you the urge to skip over the recitatives. I'll check the Leonhardt one you recommend: I like pace :-)
 

BTW, the most hair-raising performance of St Matthew Passion I have heard was a live one from a modern orchestra from Stuttgart (can't remember who was directing, or who were the soloists). Double choir (one was a kids choir!), big orchestral forces. In the beginning it felt as if they were going to blow out the roof of this beautiful Roman church in Pisa, but almost immediately they switched into this sweet, hushed tone that kept us warm for the rest of the evening. Also, nobody can sing German as convincingly  as German singers...

Quote:

Originally Posted by LugBug1 

Would love to know what everyones favorite Bach's St Mathews Passion is?

 

I'm very partial to Gustav Leonhardt's on BMG. Very paced, he brings out every subtlety in a very subtle way.

---

 Superb recording too.

 

 

Bach: St. Matthew Passion BWV 244
The Netherlands Bach Society
Jos van Veldhoven (conductor)

Channel Classics (CCS SA 32511)

Quote:

Originally Posted by LugBug1 

Would love to know what everyones favorite Bach's St Mathews Passion is?

I'm very partial to Gustav Leonhardt's on BMG. Very paced, he brings out every subtlety in a very subtle way.

Thanks for those recommendations calaf and Arnaldo. I've never heard the Herreweghe or Veldhoven so I'm going to try and check them out.

I've just finished downloading a version from the Dunedin Consort & Players. John Butt is director, Nicholas Mulroy- Evangelist, Matthew Brook-Jesus. It makes for a great listening experience simply because of the fantastic HD recording. It's only my first listen but I'm engrossed already. It's in contrast to my recommendation above and has a more aggressive approach, or it may be the faster tempos or because everything is closely mic'd. Every voice is audible and the voices and intruments are perfectly balanced.  Anyhow can't help but recommend at this stage.   

Just went to amazon to copy the cover pic and its got stirling reviews there too!

Quote:

Originally Posted by LugBug1 
<snip>

I've just finished downloading a version from the Dunedin Consort & Players. John Butt is director, Nicholas Mulroy- Evangelist, Matthew Brook-Jesus. <snip>

Ah, it's on Linn which is good, so I don't have to buy a SACD player right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiteki 

 

Or ever, the latest Fostex DAC/Amp plays .DSF files, which is the file format you'll get when ripping an SACD.

 

OS-X friendly .DSF ripping app?

I'd like to resurrect this thread with one I stumbled over tonight.  An interesting version of the great Chaconne, different to the few rather masculine versions I've heard. Quite relaxed as one listener has observed.  I think I like the feminine touch.  Interested to hear other impressions.