[LesterSleepsIn]

Eleni Karaindrou

[LesterSleepsIn]

I was going to add a comment on the atrocious pressings, esp. Vox and Vox Turnabout but didn't. Nonesuch were a tad better, imo.   Those old Vox Boxes had very interesting music but the pressings made them nearly unplayable.

Oh, I disagree, there are some fine recordings to be found in the Vox box sets, the Haydn String Quartets for example, performed by the Dekany Quartet and then completed by the Fine Arts Quartet.

The Dekany Quartet was the predecessor to the Haydn Quartet, and consisted of Béla Dekany and Jacques Hartog, violin; Erwin Schiffer, viola; George Schiffer, cello.

The Fine Arts Quartet consisted of Leonard Sorkin and Abram Loft, violin; Bernard Zaslav, viola; George Sopkin, cello.

[S Clark]

I guess I have to disagree with your disagreement.  Although there are clearly some fine Vox recordings(the Johannes, for example), most of them are noisey pressings.  They are about the only label that I'll pass on at my used vinyl store, even at 2 bucks.

[Randy]

Oh, I disagree, there are some fine recordings to be found in the Vox box sets, the Haydn String Quartets for example, performed by the Dekany Quartet and then completed by the Fine Arts Quartet.

The Dekany Quartet was the predecessor to the Haydn Quartet, and consisted of Béla Dekany and Jacques Hartog, violin; Erwin Schiffer, viola; George Schiffer, cello.

The Fine Arts Quartet consisted of Leonard Sorkin and Abram Loft, violin; Bernard Zaslav, viola; George Sopkin, cello.

If you read my post more clearly, you'll see I was not disparaging either the music or the performances on the "Vox Box" sets.  As I said, they were interesting but were let down badly by the quality of the pressings and packaging.  It was a shame actually.

[LesterSleepsIn]

If you read my post more clearly, you'll see I was not disparaging either the music or the performances on the "Vox Box" sets.  As I said, they were interesting but were let down badly by the quality of the pressings and packaging.  It was a shame actually.

No, I read your post clearly but I think you misunderstood mine. I’m saying there’s nothing wrong with the pressing, or packaging for the Vox Haydn, not noisy at all. I believe both Wilma Cozart Fine and Joanna Nickrenz were involved in the recording.

I also have a vinyl set of the Haydn Complete String Quartets Aeolian SQ, 7 LP Box Sets, London Treasury STS
and there are times I prefer the Vox.

But as they say, to each their own.

[S Clark]

There are exceptions with every label.  I'm not a big fan of Phillips, but Cozart and Fine did some excellent work for them (they weren't just Mercury); Richter's Liszt concerto comes to mind.  There are some Reader's Digest boxed sets done by RCA and their best teams that are as good as some of the best shaded dogs.  Shoot, Colgems pressed a great soundtrack to "Casino Royal", and I don't think ever made a great recording again.  So I'm not surprised that there are more excellent Vox pressings.   

[006.9]

Fun! and beautifully recorded.

[andolink]

Just wonderful and a great spirit lifter on this stormy, rainy day.

Glad you enjoyed it Lester.  That opera is such a delight!

[LesterSleepsIn]

Stretching ‘classical’ here but this is delightful, especially if you’re old enough to remember Nick Drake.

[andolink]

This is blowing my socks off--

Gothic Voices:  French and English Music 1350-1420

[S Clark]

Mono RCA from the mid fifties. Heifitz at the peak of his powers.  Kind of hard to come by in decent shape.

[Tone Depth]

Happy Halloween! I decided to start celebrating early, with Toccata and Fugue in D minor, symphonic version:

[S Clark]

King's Row on Chalfont.  Very nice recording and pressing.  The DBX version is even more dynamic.
If you haven't heard this, there's little doubt that Williams "borrowed" heavily from it for the theme for "Star Wars"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGcpLm989-U

[Dave G]

Stretching ‘classical’ here but this is delightful, especially if you’re old enough to remember Nick Drake.

And to really stretch "classical," this is also delightful.  Extremely well-sung journey through American vocal music of the 18th and 19th centuries.

[andolink]

Roger Sessions: Symphony No. 7 (1967)

[andolink]

Marin Marais:  Suite for 2 bass viols in D minor from Pièces de viole, Livre I (1686/89)

[S Clark]

Westminster XWN 18103 Barylli Quartet Mozart String Quartets.  #170-172- part of the Vienna quartets.
Fine, full mono sound.  Album art is the same as below except the label number.

[Randy]

King's Row on Chalfont.  Very nice recording and pressing.  The DBX version is even more dynamic.
If you haven't heard this, there's little doubt that Williams "borrowed" heavily from it for the theme for "Star Wars"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGcpLm989-U

I have that on Lp and then rebought it on CD. Kind of glassy sonics, but great music.  Yes, the opening of the original Star Wars theme is almost a direct quote from this.

[andolink]

Wolfgang Rihm: Klangbeschreibung I, for 3 orchestral groups (1987)
SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg/Michael Gielen

[andolink]

L. van Beethoven:  Piano Trio in C minor, Op 1 no. 3
Patrick Cohen, fortepiano
Erich Höbarth, violin
Christophe Coin, cello