Best classical recordings...ever! - Page 2

I find that non HIP recordings are generally more emotionally charged than HIP recordings.

that's a pretty sweeping statement! Would you say that Bohm's Mozart is more emotionally charged than Jacobs'? Or that Richter's Bach is more emotionally charged than Suzuki's or Gardiner's? 

 

Speaking of Gardiner I have been recommending this live recording of Beethoven 5th and 7th  http://www.wqxr.org/#/programs/carnegie/2011/nov/16/

 

Give it a try and let me know if that 5th is emotional enough for you :-)

Edited by calaf - 9/19/12 at 11:09am

scratch that, sadly looks like they took that recording offline...

Bohm's Mozart symphonies are among the most beautiful and emotionally inspiring recordings of Mozart that I've ever heard. They're varied and vivid like Technicolor.

As for Bach, I've never heard anything to top Turek.
Edited by bigshot - 9/19/12 at 9:40pm

HIP can be thrilling, if done right. To me, the Beethoven sets by Krivine, P Jarvi, and Mackerras are second to none, including the much loved Karajan 1963. They bring excitement and emotional fervor that eludes Szell, Toscanini, Leinsdorf and many others. Their use of HIP is a smaller orchestra which makes wind parts much clearer. Some follow the metronome marking more or less closely. They also use modern instruments. The really bad HIP uses original instruments, eschew string vibrato, slavishly follow tempi, and play it "as written" with little understanding or emotional impact. That's what turns me off to HIP like the Hannover Band (badly out of tune playing) and Norrington in general.

 

Mackerras's Brahms symphony cycle is another top contender, Norrington is terribly dull. Same with Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique. So making sweeping generalizations is not a good idea. As to Rosalyn Turek's Bach, it is great, isn't it? But it's not the ONLY way to play Bach when you consider that Bach never heard or conceived of a grand piano! Still, her Well-Tempered Clavier is top-drawer.

I love Bohm and the Vienna Philharmonic and Kletzky with the Czech Philharmonic. Those two orchestras have such a kaleidoscopic range of sounds. HIP orchestras don't come anywhere close. Bohm's 6th is sublime from beginning to end and the Czech woodwinds are unsurpassed.

I don't mind HIP. I'm enjoying a lot of the Brilliant Classics Mozart set. I just don't think it's the be all and end all. I'd never give up my Geza Anda piano concertos or Bohm symphonies.
Edited by bigshot - 9/20/12 at 6:37pm

since you are a Beethoven fan you owe to yourself reading through the 63 pages of this very very informative thread
http://www.head-fi.org/t/77383/beethoven-symphonies

I's suggest moving on to other Beethoven rather than to drill down on the same works you have. The next logical step would be to get the five Beethoven piano concertos (Fleisher or Perahia).

But if you want my advice, I would strongly recommend symphony cycles of Schubert (Neville Marriner), Mendelssohn (Maag or Abbado), Dvorak (Ketesz) and Tchaikovsky (Mavrinsky or Svetlanov). Don't waste any time retracing past steps. These new steps will blow your mind.

If you like the Living Stereo box, save up for the Decca Sound and Mercury Living Presence boxes. They're just as good.
Edited by bigshot - 9/21/12 at 11:48am

Since this thread is Best Recordings ever, and the Tchaikovsky symphonies came up...skip Svetlanov (horrible soviet era sound) and Mravinsky only does 4, 5, 6. Recently I acquired all six symphonies, Manfred, 1812 and more with Ricardo Muti and the Philharmonia & Philadelphia. I've collected several dozen sets of 4, 5, & 6 and quite a few complete cycles. There is none, not one, that is better than this set. The playing, conducting, recording are all beyond reproach. Exciting as it can be. The finale of the 3rd is exhilirating, as is the 5th. The 6th is an emotionally draining experience, and the Manfred is after all these years still the best ever done. The most amazing thing is the price from Berkshire Record Outlet: $20. But wait, there's more...you also get John Lanchbery's recordings of the three ballets. They're good, and quite enjoyable, but the addition of a piece in Nutcracker, and the omission of the one most recognizable scene in Swan Lake drives me nuts. But get the set for the symphonies: you'll never regret it.

 

I've enjoyed the old Markevitch recordings so much. For some reason I just skipped the Muti's: but there's no question. Muti is a master Tchaikovskian. Far better than Abaddo, Jarvi, Temirkanov, Karajan, Rostropovich, Bernstein, Pletnev, Dorati. Nice as their sets are, Muti's better. 

Wrong. The Svetlanov set was recorded in Japan in spectacular digital sound. It's the best version of the Tchaikovsky symphonies I've ever heard, and I have at least a dozen. The only drawback to the Svetlanov cycle is the low frequency info. When they hit the bass drum, my walls shake.

Muti is OK, but you really want Russian brass for this.
Edited by bigshot - 9/22/12 at 9:20am

Beethoven symphonies by Leibowitz on Chesky records

Also ordered the Living Stereo 60 Cd set.  I am excited for their arrival ! I paid for express shipping so I should have it in a couple days. Is there a CD you recommend I start with, or just disc 1 of 60?

That will keep you busy. Heifetz and Fritz Reiner are recommended.