Forums - Classical Music Thread

CAJames

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Re: Classical Music Thread
Reply #750 - 01/01/25 at 16:24:39

That is an amazing album Geno, and you remind me I haven't listened to it for a while. And probably should upgrade my recording, which is pretty old. Also, don't sleep on Isle of the Dead.

Anyway, Happy New Year! and Happy New Page and next Beethoven symphony, No. 4.

DSD rip from Tower Japan SACD.

I've said before the 4th is probably my single favorite Beethoven symphony, and Andre Cluytens and the Berlin Philharmonic is probably my favorite symphony cycle. So there.

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CAJames

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Re: Classical Music Thread
Reply #751 - 01/02/25 at 21:45:37

Jeno Jando is an interesting case. He was the original house pianist for Naxos, and made a bunch of records, everything from Bach to Bartok, and remarkably well played. So well played that I guess the critics thought he must be some kind of mindless automaton, or even a robot. But I always thought he was one of the most engaging musicians of the day and really liked pretty much everything I heard. Like Schubert's "Unfinished" Piano Sonata no. 15.

16/44 FLAC download

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Dominick

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Re: Classical Music Thread
Reply #752 - 01/02/25 at 23:20:40

Inspired by watching the John Williams documentary on Disney+, I decided to stream some of his works under the Deutsche Grammaphon label. Streaming in Hi Res through Qobuz. While this is not traditional classical music and being torn between which place to post this album, I felt this was the better place to post his music as opposed to the “What’s Spinning” section.

I’ve also gone down the rabbit hole with looking for a good vinyl pressing of Star Wars. So far it seems like the Polydor RSO label is preferred over the 20th Century Fox.

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CAJames

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Re: Classical Music Thread
Reply #753 - 01/03/25 at 00:35:18

Quote:

Posted by: Dominick Posted on: Today at 15:20:40

...I’ve also gone down the rabbit hole with looking for a good vinyl pressing of Star Wars. So far it seems like the Polydor RSO label is preferred over the 20th Century Fox

Been there done that

. If you don't insist on the original movie sound track I think this is your best bet:

On CD, LP.

And not just because it is from LA. I have a decent London pressing but if you want to go crazy there is a MFSL issue that I recall was pretty sweet:

https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?sort=price%2Cdesc&limit=25&master_id=45657...

P.S. Star Wars absolutely belongs here

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Dominick

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Re: Classical Music Thread
Reply #754 - 01/03/25 at 00:51:33

Quote:

Been there done that . If you don't insist on the original movie sound track I think this is your best bet

.

I dug through 7 pages on the Hoffman forum, and the Zubin Mehta album was mentioned as a highly recommended album. In the Williams documentary on Disney, they briefly talk about the relationship between the two. If you have access to Disney+, then I would highly recommend watching the documentary. It’s in 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, 5.1…. So needless to say I had to watch it through my Zen’s.

Undecided if I’m going to buy the Zubin Mehta or the true Star Wars album. I’ll keep you posted. Thanks.

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CAJames

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Re: Classical Music Thread
Reply #755 - 01/03/25 at 01:04:23

I look forward to your further adventures. IMO (and back in the day I spent plenty of time with both) Mehta/London runs up the score on the original for sound. It is an arrangement and "only" 20something minutes, which is a downside for some but I consider that a bonus compared to the full movie soundtrack. Also Close Encounters is very good as well.

And since we're talking Star Wars, I've seen a couple of screenings where the music was performed live by an orchestra. Which is very cool. Except, if you know anything about trumpet playing, hitting all the high notes at the end after playing for 2 hours was a struggle, even for pros.

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CAJames

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Re: Classical Music Thread
Reply #756 - 01/03/25 at 01:15:48

I really like Star Wars (the original trilogy, not the 21st century stuff) and not least because the music is so great and played such a big part in the movie. I almost forgot I had this one:

On CD.

It might have been the very first Telarc/Kunzel recording and while it is very good (but not as good as the LA Phil) it opens with a 2 minute synth bit that I find incredibly annoying. So I almost never listen to it.

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CAJames

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Re: Classical Music Thread
Reply #757 - 01/03/25 at 18:53:52

My first exposure to Mozart's c minor wind serenade was as a teenager in youth orchestra and I though it was pretty close to the best thing ever. At the time I felt like it's perfect marriage of pathos and classical elegance was just what I needed to feed my adolescent angst, and even having outgrown my angst I still think it is pretty much the best thing ever.

16/44 FLAC download

I'd probably call the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra my "go to" recording, but when I want to spice it up I'll go with the Czech Philharmonic winds.

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CAJames

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Re: Classical Music Thread
Reply #758 - 01/03/25 at 23:43:35

A few days ago Geno posted The Reiner Sound, to which I had not listened in a long time. So I spun up my CD, and then one of my demonstration discs from way back in the day, my Chesky RC11. This is the record I'd play to astound my friends with how good analog sounded in the digital age.

On LP

I haven't listened to LPs in a while, and I guess it is because even though they still sound good they are no longer worth all the work compared to digital. Also I found I've become considerably less forgiving of pops and clicks than I was back in the day. YMMV.

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