From: rodean@fc.hp.com (Bruce Rodean)
Subject: Re: Christmas Gifts (Was: Bernstein's Live Mahler)
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 20:39:46 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Fort Collins, CO
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.8 PL6]

Here's what I got for Christmas and also some CDs I bought while out in
California (alas before the Tower sale):

Arnold Bax          Symphony No 5, Russian Suite                      
		    Thomson/London Philharmonic

	    I already had the CD with Sym 4 and Tintagel, and this was
	    the only other one I had heard and liked.  Unless I find
	    something on sale, I think the Bax stops here.

Sir Arthur Bliss    A Colour Symphony, Checkmate Suite                
		    Handley/Ulster O

	    This piece was recommended to me a long time ago and I
	    finally got a listen to a copy of this.  Now I have my own
	    and I like it a lot.

Johannes Brahms     Symphony No 3, Tragic Overture, Schicksalslied    
		    Abbado/Berlin PO, Ernst-Senf-Chor

	    This completes my set of the Abbado/Brahms symphonies.  I
	    like them all, but I've heard contrary reports, so the heck
	    with them.

Howard Hanson       Symphonies Nos 1 "Nordic" & 2 "Romantic", Elegy   
		    Schwarz/Seattle Symphony

	    This is the best CD in the bunch!  Excellent performance and
	    recording.  I may have to explore some more in this series.
	    I got it mainly due to an article on American composers in
	    Stereo Review.

Gustav Mahler       Das Lied von der Erde
		    Giulini/Berlin PO, Fassbaender, Araiza

	    I gambled on this one and lost for the most part.  It's too
	    much singing for me, although the performance is very good
	    indeed.  Maybe it will grow on me.

Bohuslav Martinu    Frescos of Piero Della Francesca, Rhapsody-Concerto
                    for Viola, Double Concerto
		    DePriest/Malmo SO, Imai

	    I had borrowed another CD which had the first and last
	    pieces and liked it.  I researched a bit and settled on this
	    CD.  I found it mispriced at Tower (I think) and saved a
	    couple of bucks on it.

Sergei Rachmaninov  Symphony No 1, The Isle Of The Dead               
		    Litton/Royal PO
Sergei Rachmaninov  Symphony No 3, Symphonic Dances                   
		    Litton/Royal PO

	    With all the discussion on the future of Virgin Classics, I
	    felt it prudent to complete my set of Rachmaninov's
	    symphonies.  I already owned #2, and these are both
	    excellent performances and generously filled CDs.

Franz Schubert      Sym No 8 in B minor "Unfinished", "Grand Duo"     
		    Abbado/Chamber O of Europe

	    I am trying to complete this set as well, and have liked
	    what I've heard so far.  I'm missing the #3/#4, and there
	    doesn't appear to be a #7 in this set according to the DG
	    catalog.  Is that true?  Does anyone know if there are plans
	    to complete the set?

Eduard Tubin        Sym No 1, Balalaika Concerto, Music for Strings   
		    Jarvi/Swedish Radio SO, Sheynkman

	    Another CD to nearly complete this set.  I don't have #5
	    yet, and I think I'll pass on #4/#9 since it is a live
	    performance that doesn't edit out the applause, and I
	    personally don't like that at all.  The Balalaika Concerto
	    is very interesting, although it does seem to get lost in
	    the mix now and then.

--
Bruce Rodean                          Hewlett-Packard Company
rodean@fc.hp.com

Newsgroups: rec.music.classical