Whats on your turntable tonight?

Last night's listening...

Beethoven Symphony No 2
..Karajan/BerPO, DGG
..Norrington/LCP, EMI
.....always interested to hear two so VERY different performances of the same piece back-to-back.

Ravel, Piano Concerto in g
d'Indy, Symphony on a French Mountain Air
..Munch/BSO, Henriot-Schwirzer -pf, LSC 2271-45 (Classic Records 45rpm reissue)(Delightfully different, excellent sound quality)

Country Dances: J.Playford's English Dancing Master
..Barlow/Broadside Band, Harmonia Mundi HM 1109
....A delightful collection of 17th Century English dance music, with sonics to delight one's ear! Recording engineer: the inimitable Jean-Francois Pontefract, who created so many of the Harmonia Mundi sonic marvels.

Bill Evans, Portrait in Jazz, Riverside 1162 -45 Analogue Productions 45rpm reissue. Oh yes! Excellent in this incarnation.
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Hi Rushton, I don't know that I'm familiar with the particular Ravel piece you list (recalling the names of classical pieces or placing them with those I've heard not being one of my strengths!), but I don't think I've ever listened to any Ravel that I *didn't* like. Today my radio alarm clock woke me to the finale of his Daphnis And Chloe Suite #2 (Rotterdam/EMI) and I was reminded of this fact again. Do you have any top recommendations for recordings of his work to be on the lookout for?

Hi Zaikesman,

The recordings made by Vox with Skrowaczewski conducting the Minnesota Orchestra in 1974 are some of my favorite recordings of Ravel's orchestral music. Vox engaged the marvelous Nickrenz/Aubort recording team and Marc Aubort's capture of the orchestra is marvelous. And the performances verge on legendary.

The complete box set is on VOX QSVBX 5133.

This series was partially reissued by Reference Recordings in their regrettably short-lived "Reference Mastercuts" reissue series. The results of the much better mastering and pressing allows the wonderful sonics on the master tape to shine. If you ever come across Reference Recordings RM 1001 and RM 1004, grab them at virtually any price. (Other reissues in this Reference Mastercuts series feature music of Copland and Gershwin performed by Leonard Slatkin and the St. Louis Orchestra, also recorded by Marc Aubort, and are equally scrumptious.)

Analogue Productions made yet another reissue of some of these recordings on APC 007. Both this AP reissue and the earlier Reference Mastercuts reissues were mastered by Sax and pressed at RTI. The earlier Reference Mastercuts sound better for some reason. (The LPs have different music on them, so they are not cut from the same metal work.)

Paray's and Ansermet's recordings are also excellent on Mercury and Decca respectively.

If you enjoy piano, I suggest very highly the Reference Recordings LP of Ravel's piano music performed by Minoru Nojima, "Nojima play Ravel," RR 35. Sublime playing and an exceptional recording.
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Thanks Rushton, I have to admit I've never stumbled across any RR vinyl, probably 'cuz I don't shop in the right kind of used record stores (and wouldn't know what I was doing to order something like that new), but I do see and have occasionally bought various Vox and Ansermet vinyl for cheap (thrifts etc. -- better suits my level of classical interest and knowledge), so I'll be on the lookout...

I have a good audiophile friend over for some single malts,cigars, and of course vinyl.
Tonight's listening as they occur:
Christy Moore "Voyage"
Lyle Lovett "Pontiac"
Frank Zappa "Joe's Garage"
Chris Issak "Heart Shaped World"
John Williams "Star Wars" incidental music (Zubin Mehta,LA)