Whats on your turntable tonight?

I just got several new records in the mail today.I will be auditioning some of them tonight as follows:

Benjamin Britten: "War Requiem" Rattle/City of Birmingham/CBSO Chorus/Boys of Christ Church Oxford/Robert Tear/Thomas Allen/Eliz. Soderstrom. EMI/digital

This is a powerful and emotional piece written for the dedication of the newly rebuilt Coventry Cathedralin 1962,after the medieval original was bombed in WWII. It features poems by Wilfred Owen (killed in WWI)juxtaposed with the Requiem Mass. The poems are dialog between the Tenor (English originally Peter Pears) and the Bass (German,originally Dietrich Fisher Dieskau).
Sonically, though a digital master, is amazing. The ppp is very quiet but when the canons of the tympani roar, it is quite a contrast.The choir is first rate. The boys sing their cherub/Latin parts to perfection. The soprano (archangel) is a big dramatic sound. The Bass and Tenor are the perfect pairing for each other. Both are English in this case so the text is articulated well.
This is nothing short of a stunner!
Rushton you got this one????

Gesualdo "Resposories of the Office of Tenebrae or Maundy Thursday" volume 1, Deller Consort/ Harmonia Mundi(France)
This is strange sometimes unapproachable music from the Italian Renaissance.
Gesualdo was a aristocrat who it is said murdered his wife and her lover when they were caught "in flagrante delicto" by Gesualdo. The music's use of "text painting" is extensive. Indeed I find if you do not have the text you are lost. Not for the renaissance choral music neophyte. Once again the Dellers and HM are stellar.

enough for now

e

To tempt the spouse down this evening...

Italian Violin Music 1600-1750, Chiara Banchini -vn, Gerhardt Darmstadt -vc, Alfred Gross, hpd - Klimo Open Window OW 004 (Just scrumptious. Find it!)

The Cozens Lute Book, Anthony Rooley -lute - L'Oiseau-Lyre DSLO 510 (another excellent LP from L'Oiseau-Lyre)

e, I'm very fond of Britten's performance of the War Requiem and have not sought others. Rattle has never been a favorite conductor here. If you like his performance of the WR, I should try to find a copy and give Sir Simon another listen.

You are the only person I've met who also enjoys the Gesualdo's "Lecons de Tenebres." Amazing!
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Rushton: Here we go again.Folks are going to talk.

The Britten WR with Rattle (also not my usual favorite)is definitely worthwhile. I too have the original London/Britten WR.It is a historic recording.
I have to admit that my favorite Bass/Baritone is Thomas Allen, and Robert Tear is one of my favorite Tenors.The duets are what I find most intriguing about the piece.These two have a chemistry that Peter Pears and Dietrich Fisher Dieskau never had.I know this is sacrilege; don't get me wrong,I love them both. Both were at end of their fantastic careers.
Also there is something about the percussion/artillery that sounds more powerful.This adds tremendously to the terrible impact that is war.It could be just me being sucked in by digital knob turning.
but:
"only the monstrous anger of the guns,only the stuttering rifle's rapid rattle,can patter out,their hasty orisons.
The poetic imagery is fantastically portrayed.

This piece is mandatory to anyone that thinks war is about honor and glory.
truly musical genius.

I love the Anthony Rooney recordings.Especially with Emma Kirkby. Rooney single handedly created the early music phenomenon,and L'Oiseau-Lyre was the venue.

I will look for the Italian Violin Music.If you say it's good then I know it is.

cheers my friend

e

e, given the alignment of so much of our musical tastes, another LP in the Klimo Open Window series may also appeal to you, and it is still available. This is a collection of Baroque music for the cornett, called "Il Cornetto, Music for Baroque Cornett" on OW 004. The capture of the timbre of the instruments is superb; a record to be savored for it's delicacy and for the intricacies of the instrumental harmonics. Slipknot1 and I have mentioned this record several times in the past and Elusive Disc still has a few copies in inventory:
http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AEOW%20004
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testing the new wires. Just built a newer tonearm cable using mil-spec silver solid 30gauge wire.Also rewired the SUT with the same wire. The system just took a huge leap upwards in quality.Wire was given to me by Mike Morrow of Morrow Audio.
thanks Mike!

playing tonight:

Dire Straits: "Love over Gold"

Jennifer Warnes: "Famous Blue Raincoat"

Henry Prucell: "King Arthur" /Deller Consort Harmonia Mundi

Ralph Vaughn Williams "Mass in G minor"/ Corydon Singers Hyperion