What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[tima]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

... I always feel with Oistrakh that it's about the music, not about him as with some of our more modern stars. ...

A most fine observation; show-off virtuosity is alien to him. You also may enjoy his Sibelius VC with Ormandy or Rozhdestvensky.

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by tima

A most fine observation; show-off virtuosity is alien to him. You also may enjoy his Sibelius VC with Ormandy or Rozhdestvensky.

Thanks Tim. I have the Ormandy on vinyl, I'll have to check for the Rozhdestvensky.

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by Toccata

Thank you--that's a much better deal. I still won't have the booklet, but I can print the back cover so I at least know which piece is playing! By the way, I don't do much hi-rez downloading, so would it be better to burn the tracks onto a DVD to better preserve the resolution? Or, should I just copy them to a USB drive and play them on my Oppo? (I don't think my Esoteric will directly play USB files.)

I use a streamer and NAS for all my digital so I'm only speculating, but I'd think the Esoteric would give you better results since it should have the better DAC. I guess it would be pretty easy to try both and see which one you like better.

[Toccata]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

I use a streamer and NAS for all my digital so I'm only speculating, but I'd think the Esoteric would give you better results since it should have the better DAC. I guess it would be pretty easy to try both and see which one you like better.

I'm sure it would, but it won't play directly from an external drive--only from a computer, and since it and my computer are in different rooms and I don't want to invest in new equipment for files that I only occasionally play, the Oppo will have to do! It sounds pretty darn good...way better than the MP3s, which weren't all that bad.

[AudioNut]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

WOW !!!!

Any old recording of Mahler's Second Symphony is fantastic . . .

And this one is certainly no exception.

Listening to Mahler Symphony No. 2 in C minor

San Francisco Symphony Orchestra - Michael Tilson Thomas, Conductor

I think I like the Fischer/Budapest recording of Mahler's 2nd the best, but when I hear another really good one, my certainty waivers a bit. This one starts off with a literal BANG which tests my sub woofer a bunch. I close my eyes and I'm transported to the Louise Davies Hall in a good seat.

This SACD is very well recorded and the performance certainly appeals to my fondness for this wonderful piece of music.

I like it! This recording is exciting and I think it stands up there with the really great recordings of this incredible symphony.

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AND, I'm playing it again and loving it even more. Tilson Thomas did a superb job on his Mahler.

[AndyPandy]

Well I have finally found one - a really horrid recording by BIS - everything that is ugly about digital. Recorded in 1986. That will learn me to be more careful. I want my $5.28 back please.

[AudioNut]

Originally Posted by AndyPandy

Well I have finally found one - a really horrid recording by BIS - everything that is ugly about digital. Recorded in 1986. That will learn me to be more careful. I want my $5.28 back please.

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Even the cover is UGLY

[cma29]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

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AND, I'm playing it again and loving it even more. Tilson Thomas did a superb job on his Mahler.

^^^
Thanks for the reco, Julian.

Mahler's second is fast becoming my favorite piece of music (what took me so long?) and I've collected a few version in the past few months. I'll add the MTT to the stack based on what you say.

[cma29]

I've seen this recommended, so I checked it of my public library...

Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 5 (Complete)
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)
BBC Philharmonic, Gianandrea Noseda



Playing the 1st concerto on disc 1 now, but what I hear sounds good to me. At least this concerto has nice energy and good melodies. The recorded sound has impact and is sharp (in a good way).

Gramophone Awards 2014, Winner - Concerto

[tima]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

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Even the cover is UGLY

Whispering in J's ear: "careful ... that font might catch the gods eyes - you don't want any problems watering your lawn next summer..."

The Birth of Venus by François Boucher.
Personally I'd have gone with the Botticelli.