What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by bart

Kal, 30€ for the DSD 5-channel download.
I payed 9,99£ (12€) for the SACD, and that includes a nice booklet and a silver disc...
Seems a little expensive to me.

Granted but, if you want it earlier, it costs.

[Toccata]

I'm enjoying Freddy Kempf's new Schumann disc. His version of the Symphonic Etudes includes two Etudes that Schumann originally omitted and the five posthumous Variations. Kempf is a fine player, muscular or poetic as the music requires, and as always, BIS has recorded him in demonstration-worthy sound.

[tima]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

...

I don't have a really good reading of the Brahms Symphonies on CD or SACD and wouldn't mind suggestions (especially SACD if there is a really good one)

For the 4th, Bruno Walter on SACD is a classic.

There's a nice multi-disc CD set of the Symphonies with choral and orchestral works from Abbado on DG. The choral pieces are particularly rich.

[AudioNut]

Originally Posted by tima

For the 4th, Bruno Walter on SACD is a classic.

There's a nice multi-disc CD set of the Symphonies with choral and orchestral works from Abbado on DG. The choral pieces are particularly rich.

A double "thank you" Tim for your suggestions on both the Brahms and the Mahler.
__________________________________________________ ________

Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson

Here's real gloating. I have been enjoying this and their impending Bruckner 7 from mch/DSD files for months now.

Of course, you can have the M5 now, too, by download: Mahler Symphony no. 5 in C sharp minor - Channel Classics Records

And Kal, one of these days I'm going to actually have to learn to download music. Obviously I can load MP-3 junk onto my iPod, phone, etc.; but the need to download High Def music has thus far escaped me. At a smidge over 70, I'm just not sure that I want to sink more money into equipment & technology when most of the music I own is around 50 years old and on black vinyl discs, and most of my listening is two channel stereo.

Any suggestions about a "cheap & easy" way to download the good stuff?

[AudioNut]

Listening to . . . Disc 2 of this wonderful set . . . . Glorious music, beautifully played by a gorgeous piano player . . . .

Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2

Hélène Grimaud - Piano
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Wiener Philharmoniker - Andris Nelsons, Conductor

Recorded in 2013 by Deutsche Grammophon.

[Antonmb]

A little contemplative music to start the day:
Francisco Tárrega: Recuerdos de la Alhambra, Lágrima, Danza Mora, Adelita, Pavana, Jota - Narciso Yepes
Playing is impeccable, music is beautiful, recording pretty good if maybe just a little flat.

image-36759288.jpg

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

And Kal, one of these days I'm going to actually have to learn to download music. Obviously I can load MP-3 junk onto my iPod, phone, etc.; but the need to download High Def music has thus far escaped me. At a smidge over 70, I'm just not sure that I want to sink more money into equipment & technology when most of the music I own is around 50 years old and on black vinyl discs, and most of my listening is two channel stereo.

Any suggestions about a "cheap & easy" way to download the good stuff?

Downloading is easy but not often cheap. All you need to do is to point your browser to a website that sells them, have your credit card handy and follow the instructions.

The real issue is having something that you can play them with. If you stick to stereo (even in hi-res), it is relatively easy. There new Sony boxes that will work (High-Resolution Audio) out of the box as well as many other less obvious options. I still have a Logitech Touch which was, and still is, the easiest, friendliest and most affordable option but it is long-discontinued.

If you want multichannel in hi-res (as I do), it is more complex. I just bought a MCH HD/DSD USB DAC for this purpose and, AFAIK, there are only 2 of those in the wild.

That said, even for those of us past 70(!), it is eminently doable but not the topic of this thread.

[cma29]

Originally Posted by tima

I've listened to it several times over the past month - available mid-October at the CC Web site and they ship quickly. It's very good. CC and Fischer certainly have the recording process down to yield excellent sound. Their last couple (the 5th here and the earlier 1st) are a wee bit mechanical albeit studied and serious.

Since you have everything , try a comparison and see what you find:



EMI Angel AA8681-82/Esoteric ESSE 90057
Barbirolli and the New Philharmonia - masterful - not quite Celibidache but a, let's call it, 'measured' approach that really draws you in.
(and still barely available and pricey.)

I have not heard it, but the Barbirolli 5th was selected as one of Gramophone's 100 Greatest Recordings.

[AudioNut]

One of life's little bargains . . . .

Listening to Volume 1, disc 1 of Arthur Rubenstein - The Chopin Collection

Nocturnes.

I've always thought that Rubenstein was at his best with the music of Chopin and in this collection he really shines.

This 11 disc box set of RCA CD's is an almost complete collection of Rubenstein's Chopin - that he performed after the advent of the stereo age. and it is marvelous.

The bargain is that I just received this set this afternoon from Amazon where it is still available for $19.33 - for ELEVEN outstanding CD's of beautiful music.

[cma29]

Today I'm enjoying some harpsichord concerti...

Bach, C P E:
Concerto in G minor, H.409 (W.6)
Concerto in A major, H.411 (W.8)
Concerto in D major, H.421 (W.18)
Miklós Spányi (harpsichord)
Concerto Armonico, Péter Szüts



Just excellent music brilliantly recorded by BIS. These are world premiere recordings that took too long to see the light of day.