What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[bart]

Originally Posted by Toccata

I count myself as a member of this disc's fan club--wow! I love the way she fearlessly attacks difficult passages. Wonderful sound, too.

John, I don't have many recordings of Ligeti, and none of Eötvös, so I followed your suggestion.
I haven't listened to the Bartók yet, but I can already say the Eötvös is a very nice work, and the Ligeti... well, not for the faint of heart!
I'll need some more listening sessions to begin to understand this piece...

[Toccata]

Yes, it will take a few listens. I'm not sure that I fully "get it" since it's so complex, but I appreciate it and the enormous demands on the musicians. The Bartok is stunning.

[Toccata]

So I splurged and bought the $46 SACD SHM (super high materials) version of this disc, which doesn't even include the original fillers of Till, Don Juan, and The Dance of the Seven Veils. Mind you, a new copy of the complete original recording sells for $6.10 from an Amazon seller. Is the shorn SACD version nearly 8x better in terms of sound? NO! I'd say there's about a 10-15% (if such matters can be quantified) improvement in clarity and detail.

[AndyPandy]

Originally Posted by Toccata

Is the shorn SACD version nearly 8x better in terms of sound? NO! I'd say there's about a 10-15% (if such matters can be quantified) improvement in clarity and detail.

Now there is a great example of the diminishing returns in audioland

[Toccata]

Sad but true. If the SACD were just twice the price, then maybe it would be worth it.

[AndyPandy]

Ha! John - at least you have a cracker of a player (the Esoteric) to help appreciate the differences.

BTW I had a go at the Ligeti a few of pages ago, - the first part was ok then it got too tough for me to enjoy any further. I sank back into Bruckner, by memory, warm in Abbado's familiar embrace.

Testing is one thing, trying is another.

[Toccata]

Ligeti is a tough nut. I guess it boils down to how people perceive music's purpose. Is it to soothe? Entertain? Challenge? It depends on my mood.

The SACD is better than the RBCD, just not enough to justify the inflated price.

[Antonmb]

Ein kleines orgelmusik this morning:
Bach: Toccatas and Fugues
Christopher Herrick
Organ of the Stadtkirche, Zofingen, Switzerland
Hyperion, 1990

Wonderful playing and a grand sound from this organ and recording.

[Antonmb]

Schubert - Piano Works 1822-1828
Alfred Brendel
Decca via Qobuz 16/44 streaming



Very good sound and of course Brendel is excellent.

[bart]

Originally Posted by Toccata

The Bartok is stunning.

Just listened to it.
It is indeed, maybe even better than the Arabella Steinbacher version I already had.