HutchFan

What a fantastic opportunity, Jim. So cool that you're going to be able to see all four in the course of one week! Outside of Bayreuth (and maybe music capitals like NYC, London & Berlin), complete Ring cycles must be VERY rare.

Now spinning: Robert Schumann: Davidsbündlertänze; Kreisleriana / Géza Anda (DG) I've never heard anyone play this repertoire better than Anda.

Now on my turntable: Canciones Populares Españolas: Works by Manuel De Falla & Federico García Lorca Teresa Berganza & Narciso Yepes (DG, 1977)

Brahms: Complete Trios / Beaux Arts Trio, et al (Philips, 2 CDs) Last night: Piano Trio No. 2 in C, Op. 87 Today: Piano Trio No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 101 and Clarinet Trio in A Minor, Op. 114 (with George Pieterson, cl) Like they say, Brahms was always a symphonist, even when he was writing chamber music. Sublime performances by the Beaux Arts Trio. As you say, @soulpope, it's no surprise that this performance is superb. I've never heard it, but I have heard Tennstedt's 1988 live M5 with the London PO. It's transcendent.

Glad you're enjoying it!

Terrible news. R.I.P.

Three LPs that I ordered recently:

Now streaming Jolivet's Concerto pour Ondes Martenot et Orchestre -- with Yvonne Loriod -- from this set: André Jolivet - Le enregistrement Erato (Warner Classics, 2004, 4 CDs) Strange and wonderful music. I have two Jolivet MHS LPs that were licensed from Erato and appear on this set. But as I listen, I'm wondering, "Is that enough?" For someone like me, that's the danger of streaming: Often, it makes me want to spring for having the whole enchilada. I suppose I could join the 21st century. Be content with streaming, stop buying music & building a collection. . . . Nah. That's no fun!

Next up: This CD compiles two Barretto LPs, both originally released on Riverside: Latino! (rec. 1962) and Pachanga with Barretto (rec. 1961). I love the flute-and-violin instrumentation of charanga bands -- plus "Chombo" on tenor!

Back to Almeida:

NP: Laurindo Almeida, Bud Shank - Brazilliance, Vol. 2 (World Pacific/BN) with Gary Peacock and Chuck Flores I think this second volume is even more impressive than the first. Among the reasons why: Gary Peacock.

IMO, all of Bryant's Pablos are top shelf.

NP: Disc 3 Martinon conducts the Orchestre National de l'O.R.T.F. in recordings of: - Roussel: Aeneas [ballet in 1 act], Op. 54 - with the Ensemble des Choeurs de l'O.R.T.F. - Khatchaturian: Flute Concerto [after Violin Concerto] - with Jean-Pierre Rampal

NP: Disc 2 David Oistrakh (vn) and the Staatskapelle Dresden with Franz Konwitschny (cond) perform: - Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 - Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 Recorded in 1954 (mono).

Paco De Lucía - Luzia (Mercury/Blue Thumb, 1998)

Drew Gress - 7 Black Butterflies (Premonition, 2005) with Tim Berne, Ralph Alessi, Craig Taborn, and Tom Rainey

NP: Piano – Oscar Peterson Violin – Stéphane Grappelli Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen Drums – Kenny Clarke Recorded in Paris in February 1973

More Milhaud:

Milhaud: Piano Music / Bolcom (Nonesuch, 1975)

Great stuff, @Pim !!!