David Ayers

Any good? I'm currently comparing Jarvi, Vanska, and about-to-be-completed Davis versions. I can see that some of it is sort-of meaningful, but no-one has really made me feel it. So far. The floodgates may open. PS I am not new to Nielsen - at all - this is my nth attempt to make him work for me, and the most sustained so far....

It's official now! http://www.bbc.co.uk...siness-20908845 And add to that the month-long 25% off everything sale at HMV stores in the UK... http://www.bbc.co.uk...siness-20973135

http://www.gramophon...at-give-delight

I haven't ordered recently. In the past, any second-hand CD I ordered was actually new and sealed. Things have changed, maybe.

She recorded them all on six CDs with extras, later reissued on a 6 CD set then on the 5 CD set but without the extras.

[...] I checked various internet stores and found that the Hickox discs are still full price and therefore not very attractive for someone who is interested in comparing various interpretations. It'd be nice if Chandos would reissue the symphonies in a bargain-priced box, as far as I'm concerned without the extras that are on the individual discs. Well if the Jarvi Shostakovich is anything to go by they'll keep this as individual disks forever! That cycle was never completed either but individual disks were favorites with reviewers so stayed as single disks. And as I'm sure you know they still are, even though there are many cheaper alternatives.

There are two of these from Kenneth Leighton on the Chandos series we discussed in another thread. The first is juvenile and nothing worth going put of your way for. The 'mature' one is 'of interest' but pales in comparison to any so far mentioned. It serves to show how exceptional some of the classics of the genre really are. Never got excited about the Mendelssohn... and truly unexcited by the Barshai transcriptions of the Shostakovich quartets for strong orchestra.... Oh! Apollon Musagete (excuse lack of diacritical marks) which I sat through recently... I'm also finding that some works I remember as being for strings.. aren't!

Good! And on Spotify - just played it...

Pieces for string orchestra fit oddly in a concert - I wonder if that is why there are not so very many of them. You pay for an entire orchestra and then half of them sit out...

I heard Vernon Handley joking: 'I get invited by orchestras, all over the world, to conduct Prokofiev, Strauss, Stravinsky... but I make them all sound like Vaughan Williams!'

I should say there are - as might be expected - some sound problems with the first Boult, but in fact most come across pretty vividly.

It is probably a good idea to hear the first Boults, mainly mono, now all on Decca, then take it from there. Like Bev I'm not keen on the Handley just as recordings - distant and grainy. I only heard one of the Hickox on Chandos (a series that was never completed). That was the London, only recording of the original version, and it is brilliantly shaped, played and recorded - a must - other Hickox's got mixed reviews but I bet that his 5 is pretty attractive... I've dabbled in many other cycles but at the point of making a recommendation I have to say Boult. Others prefer the stereo Boults on EMI but I know those less well. I came to the Decca Boults only when the box set emerged and had heard many other versions first, so it's not like I am recommending just my old favorite/first love/ etc

Currently channelling funds to Katherine Jenkins and Il Divo on Spotters. Say cheese.

wow. Not something I'd buy but quite a venture.

Karyobin. Iskra 1903 well, not all the time, maybe

Boulez.

Most people these days are trying to save the planet. A little behind the curve? The force is weak in you, my friend.

I had the old Columbias and they were not good. I'm going to study the rest on spotters and work out what I need from there.

I've got the JSP but don't have the other material in any version - what should I do? The Mosaic is also in my line of sight but doesn't overlap with this at all, AFAICS.

Good to hear from you.

It's coupled with "The Golden Striker" on a Collectables CD Thanks for the info.

Thanks Hans. I see John Lewis's Jazz Abstractions is in there. I've got the LP. Has it ever been on CD? I know the tracks with Ornette are on the Ornette box.

Sadly my deck broke. And I'm not going to replace it. Makes me wonder, if my stereo broke, what would I decide to do?

Did someone express their opinion that you have not "moved on"? No I was just thinking in general about the difference between moving on and dwelling for decades on the same activity or interest. Losses/gains etc.

I kind of liked the evanescent experience of the last couple of days. Posts appearing like bubbles above an ineffable deep, there for an instant then gone.