J.A.W.

Charly is known for both legit and illegit reissues. No idea if this one is legit.

Really? That's nice. Not eveyone would call it a language, more a dialect. That's not correct. It's 'Fries' for the Frisian language and Westfries for the Dutch dialect. Westfries is spoken in the northern part of the province of North Holland, which was inhabited by Frisians in the early Middle Ages, before the great floods separated what is now North Holland from Friesland. Westfries is indeed a dialect, while Frisian (Fries) is a language - see my earlier post about that. Right. But my answer was about that 'dialect'.... I know, my post was just meant as an addition to what you said, not a correction People who claim that Frisian is a mere dialect have got it wrong.

Really? That's nice. Not eveyone would call it a language, more a dialect. That's not correct. It's 'Fries' for the Frisian language and Westfries for the Dutch dialect. Westfries is spoken in the northern part of the province of North Holland, which was inhabited by Frisians in the early Middle Ages, before the great floods separated what is now North Holland from Friesland. Westfries is indeed a dialect, while Frisian (Fries) is a language - see my earlier post about that.

i thought so! what i've read in english refers to them as languages, but i was certain they would be more dialects. i also find these things fun to learn and know about. for instance, i'm positive that each region and province has its own characteristics that differ - some greatly - and some subtly. and what a more neglected place to start than the netherlands! Frisian is officially recognised as a language, with its own grammar etc.

Yep. Part of what is now the Netherlands - roughly the current country without the province of Limburg and part of Brabant - was a republic from the Declaration of Independence ("Plakkaat van Verlatinghe") in 1581 until 1806. British historian Jonathan I. Israel wrote a brilliant book about it: The Dutch Republic - Its Rise, Greatness, and Fall 1477-1806 (1995, Oxford University Press).

That's not quite correct. The Netherlands became a kingdom in 1806, with Napoléon's brother Louis Napoléon Bonaparte as king. In 1810 the country was annexed by Napoléon and became part of the French empire. After Napoléon's first defeat in 1813 the Netherlands became a principality, not a kingdom (again) - that didn't happen until 1815 when Willem I became king, so all these celebrations are either too late or premature, depending on the way you look at it.

Carmen Leggio was born in the same year as Getz (1927) and died 18 years after Getz (2009).

I wasn't referring to your comment.

Klemperer recorded the 7th twice with the Philharmonia Orchestra, in 1955 and 1960 (both stereo), and once with the New Philharmonia Orchestra, in 1968. The 1955 performance is a favourite of mine.

Well, as I explained before, the Carlos Kleiber is a "reference" recording for me, and I really don't care what others think of my using this description. Sheesh, the things people can get worked up about in this place...

The Jimmy Giuffre set isn't bad either.

I could be wrong, but I thought you were a teacher

No one trying yet, maybe we should make it mutiple choice?? I don't think anyone is interested in Dutch geography

I have the 1936 Toscanini on Naxos, but I have no idea which version of the first movement they used. [edit] Just checked and Naxos used both takes. Timings: first take 11:49, second take 11:26. Mark Obert-Thorn did the transfers and mastering. http://www.amazon.com/Sym-5-7-Beethoven/dp/B00005MFGQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1385981492&sr=1-2&keywords=toscanini+beethoven+naxos

My preference is analog recordings, but I'm hep to hip digital recordings, if they're done by hip orchestras and hip conductors! HIP performances I'd recommend: John Eliot Gardiner with the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, Frans Brüggen with the Orchestra of the 18th Century (the earlier set, not the recent one), Christopher Hogwood with the Academy of Ancient Music, and a really adventurous one by Jos van Immerseel with Anima Eterna Brugge (Bruges).

Furtwängler and especially Mengelberg are an acquired taste for many and I'm not sure they are the best to start with if, like the original poster, you don't know anything about Beethoven's symphonies. The lack of exposure in this case might help; someone who doesn't know what Beethoven's 7 "should sound like" will listen with an open mind. In any case, I believe it's worth spending a few minutes on the tube to find out. That goes for all recommendations.

Furtwängler and especially Mengelberg are an acquired taste for many and I'm not sure they are the best to start with if, like the original poster, you don't know anything about Beethoven's symphonies.

That Brautigam set is very good indeed. I usually don't like the sound of a fortepiano (and that's putting it mildly), but this set doesn't bother me in that respect.

Another recording I like very much is the one by Carlos Kleiber's father, Erich Kleiber, with the Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam. It's a mono recording made in 1950. Other favourites of mine from the 1950s and 1960s: Guido Cantelli with the Philharmonia Orchestra London, Otto Klemperer with the same orchestra, and George Szell with the Cleveland Orchestra. These are traditional, "old-style" interpretations, but very good ones in my opinion ( ) Most HIP ("Historically Informed Performance" on period instruments) versions are recorded digitally, so I guess you're not interested in those.

The McCoy Tyner Select is now on "Last Chance". http://www.mosaicrecords.com/lastchance.asp

Seems obvious to me. Is it really necessary to add "in my opinion" every time an opinion is posted? [sigh]

Carlos Kleiber with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. A reference interpretation of the 7th, coupled with an equally wonderful version of the 5th. It's originally an analogue recording. http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Symphonies-Nos-5-7/dp/B000001GPX/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1385930883&sr=1-1&keywords=kleiber+beethoven+5+7 I don't like the sound on the remaster, but if sound is not an issue, it's an OK disc. However, if sound is important, the hybrid SACD is an excellent alternative: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Symphonies-Nos-5-7/dp/B00007KMOX/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385931176&sr=8-1&keywords=kleiber+beethoven+5+7+sacd

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mindbenders

And here are the Americans taking a crack at European geography...: http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/americans-try-to-place-european-countries-on-a-map

You are so lucky. The limit here in England is about $22 (including postage). Step over that line and you have to pay VAT, import duty and a "handling charge" The European Union limit is 22 euros or its equivalent (about £18) for goods imported into the EU, excluding shipping. If the value exceeds that limit, you have to pay VAT and in some cases duty over the total value plus shipping. A handling charge is also payable.