HutchFan

David Liebman - The Elements: Water (Arkadia, rec. 1997) with Billy Hart, Cecil McBee & Pat Metheny

The apple did not fall far from the tree.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEANT! (This is why I put it quotation marks!)

Yeah, I've thought about that too. Oh well. My preferred light beer would make most Germans and Dutchmen wince, but it tastes good to me. NP:

I agree 100%. In the "core German repertory" -- Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner -- Jochum is consistently outstanding, IMO. I usually (but not always! ) prefer Jochum's recordings to those made by his more famous contemporaries who focused on the same repertory; i.e., Furtwängler, Böhm, Wand, et al.

I have heard many other recordings of individual Sibelius symphonies, but the only other complete cycle that I know is Ashkenazy's. I love Ashkenazy's cycle. They were the first Sibelius recordings that really grabbed me, my gateway into his world. I've heard Ashkenazy's readings described as "Russian Sibelius," which I can understand. His approach is definitely warmer and more Romantic than what you hear from Scandinavian conductors like Berglund and Vänskä. Barbirolli's approach is also "warm" -- which I suppose is my preference (although I think one could make an argument that it's less idiomatic than "cooler," Nordic accounts). To my ears, the biggest difference between Ashkenazy's cycle and Barbirolli's cycle is that the latter seems a shade more personal, more subjectively realized. Some might hear that as a fault. To me, it's a positive. That said, I'm not sure that I could have appreciated Barbirolli's cycle as much if I hadn't heard Ashkenazy's more straight-forward account first. I hope that helps. Earlier this morning: A very distinctive and interesting interpretation of the Symphonie fantastique.

I love Barbirolli's way with Sibelius.

Franck: Symphony in D minor, etc. / Martinon, Orchestre National de l'O.R.T.F. (Erato)

Thanks soulpope! Still deep in a French bag: Wish I could travel back in time and hear this performed when it was written. Such revelatory sounds! And such exquisite and powerful music!

Prime.

Oh, I wouldn't go so far as to say that I'm "right"! It's just my impression, based on the recordings I've heard. . . . Now you've got me thinking about Richter! Maybe I'm missing the boat. I'm curious . . . What are some of your favorite Richter recordings? If I were to choose one, it would likely be this: (MHS, licensed from Melodiya, 1972) Everything comes together perfectly here.

To my ears, Richter can sometimes sound (a little!) cold and hard. [Ducks for cover. ] Admittedly, this is coming from a listener who loves Rubinstein, Vásáry, François, Collard -- guys who make their bones at the "gentler" end of the spectrum.

He reminds me of Richter!

I can see how Bronfman might not work so well with "hard surface," modernistic Prokofiev. Perhaps these works are more suited to overtly-virtuosic pianists -- L. Berman, Richter, Melnikov . . .

It's a very different approach than, say, Lazar Berman's or Richter's. Bronfman is more ruminative and inward, less "motor," less flash. I think his approach works best with the early sonatas. Maybe not a ringing endorsement. But I've enjoyed the disc; it's the only Prokofiev/Bronfman recording I've heard.

LOL So... exactly how do you feel about it, Jim. NP: On this CD, the ever-prolific Liebman teams up with Canadian saxophonist Samuel Blais, whose primary ax is the baritone. Two-sax front-lines are almost always interesting -- and the soprano-baritone combo here works very well. I dig.

I like Janson's Rachmaninov VERY much. Earlier: Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Nos. 2, 3, 5 & 9 / Yefim Bronfman (Sony)

Now: Earlier:

String Quartets by Franck & Fauré as performed by the Quatuor Parisii:

One of the many high points in the MJQ discography.

Last night and again today:

Superbe!