Faves !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sam saunders]

Please lets have your favourites ! Composers, conductors, recordings, favourite pieces. Unknown, obscure, plain weird, quirky, off the planet, anything you like. I`m really interested ! I`m going to get something together myself....
Best,sam

[Randolph]

Song of the Earth, best of the best...especially the Fischer-Dieskau version with Kletzki
Another Mahler....Symphony # 2 with Bernstein and the New York Phil - DG recording

Worst of best... Song of the Earth with Jessye Norman - both recordings...oh so slow!

[sam saunders]

Oh save me from excess of joy !!!!!!!!!!
Ahead of some personal faves, I have been knocked out today by Eccles` Judgement of Paris.That the man didn`t win the competition is absolutely criminal ! I don`t think i shall ever get over it and may have to go to A & E. This CD is out at the beginning of May.

Best,Sam

[Louise]

A few orchestral must-haves: Ravel Daphnis et Chloe Suite 2; Debussy Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune; Schoenberg Gurrelieder; Vaughan Williams Oxford Elegy

On the piano - anything performed by Martha Argerich

[Friedrich Kuhlau]

Louise said:

On the piano - anything performed by Martha Argerich

Just as I was warming to you, Louise, you go and mention Argerich. ;o)

I joke, of course - although I don't appreciate her playing as much as I do that of others. I prefer my pianism a little more precise and unhurried (two words one doesn't readily associate with Argerich at her expressive best). Here's hoping she impresses in her party piece - Ravel's G minor Piano Concerto - at this year's BBC Proms.

Anyway, favourites. Can only think of one as it's quite late: Finzi's Cello Concerto.

Not heard it? Remedy that immediately by hearing Tim Hugh play it for Naxos.

FK

[Louise]

:) I suppose it's a matter of personal taste - but her pianism is truly extraordinary, never dull, always exhilarating. Thanks for the Proms link - Prokofiev 1 as well as Ravel!
Friedrich Kuhlau said:

Louise said:

On the piano - anything performed by Martha Argerich

Just as I was warming to you, Louise, you go and mention Argerich. ;o)

I joke, of course - although I don't appreciate her playing as much as I do that of others. I prefer my pianism a little more precise and unhurried (two words one doesn't readily associate with Argerich at her expressive best). Here's hoping she impresses in her party piece - Ravel's G minor Piano Concerto - at this year's BBC Proms.

Anyway, favourites. Can only think of one as it's quite late: Finzi's Cello Concerto.

Not heard it? Remedy that immediately by hearing Tim Hugh play it for Naxos.

FK

[sam saunders]

Hi Guys!
Well, I am going ahead with my faves inspite of the annoying problem of not being able to remember
what some of them are called, precisely. It`s a bit like my brain is a thousand stringed harp and bits of information just slip through the strings, you know!
Anyhow, I have mentioned some of my faves on my profile page and this is another chance to extol the Great Mr. Handel !!!!!! The Harpsichord Suites have been a long dedication of mine through harpsichordists to pianists and beyond. Any whichway!!!! Love Edwin Fischer!

So , further to My Page, I have to mention the utterly rumbustious presto from Dall`Abaco`s concerto in A 0p. 2. I am told that it is interlocking parts, though it sounds like the most frenzied fiddlist you have ever heard doing his nut completely!

Then there`s my newish discovery of Lasciate Averno, from Orfeo, by Luigi Rossi. Sublime. Bliss. In the same vein a mention for Thomas Arne`s Sleep, gentle Cherub, Sleep descend.

How I am ever going to get over Grabu`s suite from Valentinian , i don`t know!

Can`t go through all my opera arias, I`m afraid. Really ecstatic with them, I can tell you that much !

It`s strange, I was thinking about what I would have listed when I was in my twenties, and how we hold onto some faves and lose others. I have the feeling though, that if I went back to listen to Dowland`s Lachrymae I would be hooked again !

Really pleased to hear your faves,thanks.

Best to all, Sam

P.S Apologies to all my beloved faves that have slipped my mind today. I love you just as much and will remember you tomorrow.

[SchubertGuy]

Randolph Magri-Overend said:

Song of the Earth, best of the best...especially the Fischer-Dieskau version with Kletzki
Another Mahler....Symphony # 2 with Bernstein and the New York Phil - DG recording

Worst of best... Song of the Earth with Jessye Norman - both recordings...oh so slow!

Thanks for mentioning the Jessye Norman, Randolph. I have a 2-fer of her singing the Schoenberg Erwartung (which I bought the set for), coupled with Stravinky's Oedipus Rex. She does a good job on the Erwartung as that piece is probably suited for her voice. I don't think I've listened to the Stravinky yet.

[Randolph]

Ta SchubertGuy for your comments. Jessye Norman is a wonderful singer but at times she gets carried away with her enormous voice. In the case of her Songs of the Earth one gets the feeling she considers she can hold on to phrases for an eternity which, alas, slows down the whole process.

[SchubertGuy]

Randolph Magri-Overend said:

Ta SchubertGuy for your comments. Jessye Norman is a wonderful singer but at times she gets carried away with her enormous voice. In the case of her Songs of the Earth one gets the feeling she considers she can hold on to phrases for an eternity which, alas, slows down the whole process.

@Randolph: Yes, I understand what your saying completly and definitely concur.

[Louise]

Poulenc Melancolie.....enjoy!

[Sophie]

Poulenc Sinfonietta - but I was dying for someone to start singing.
S