Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[The new erato]

Arrived in today's mail: Brahms First/Haydn Variations conducted by Ivan Fischer, a CD that was enthusiastically recommended by Brian. The Hurwitzer loves it too; his 10/10 review ended with "Even if you have a hundred recordings of this music, let this disc be your hundred and first."




Sarge

I døn't have this, but have a handful of the issues by this collaboration, and they have never been less than excellent IMO.

[Sergeant Rock]

I døn't have this, but have a handful of the issues by this collaboration, and they have never been less than excellent IMO.

Have you heard the Fischer/Budapest Philips disc with the Hungarian Dances? I'm considering that one.

Sarge

[Antoine Marchand]

Could you give me link? That recording is rather elusive!

I used the same link (itunes) provided by PaulSC:

Hiroaki Ooi - Bach: The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080 [clavichord]

Unfortunately, I didn't find physical copies available.

[Que]

I used the same link (itunes) provided by PaulSC:


Unfortunately, I didn't find physical copies available.

Thanks! BTW, I found this: http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/3547674

Q

[Conor71]

Had a Disc arrive today :


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[nigeld]

inspired by the "favourite symphonies" thread

[asin]B000KP7JDQ[/asin]

[asin]B0002QXRM0[/asin]

[The new erato]

Have you heard the Fischer/Budapest Philips disc with the Hungarian Dances? I'm considering that one

Sarge

Yes, buy with confidence.

[Sadko]

Have you heard the Fischer/Budapest Philips disc with the Hungarian Dances? I'm considering that one.

Sarge

Fischer added a slightly folky touch, which I liked. I heard it on the radio and bought it.

[Brian]

Have you heard the Fischer/Budapest Philips disc with the Hungarian Dances? I'm considering that one.

Sarge

New copies are $100 on Amazon US. Used for $3, though!
As you will hear on that Brahms CD, at least one of Fischer's Hungarian Dance arrangements is downright sensual.

[Sergeant Rock]

Fischer added a slightly folky touch, which I liked. I heard it on the radio and bought it.

Yes, buy with confidence.

Thanks, guys. I ordered it this afternoon. Already received a confirmation that it's been posted.

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

New copies are $100 on Amazon US. Used for $3, though!
As you will hear on that Brahms CD, at least one of Fischer's Hungarian Dance arrangements is downright sensual.

I bought from a German seller who offered it new for 14 Euro. He shipped it within an hour of my order 

Sarge

[Gurn Blanston]

I bought from a German seller who offered it new for 14 Euro. He shipped it within an hour of my order 

Sarge

Well, too late now, I just sort of followed this back to the beginning. In any case, I would have agreed with Erato, that is a splendid disk. When I attempted to rec it to someone a couple of years ago, I scrapped it when I discovered how rare and expensive it has  become since I bought it at release.   Brian's quote of $100 is what I found too. Damn! It is good, but I'm not sure about $100 worth of good.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Fischer added a slightly folky touch, which I liked.

Fischer does that with his Bartok, too, which makes it my favorite Bartok.

[Mirror Image]

Fischer does that with his Bartok, too, which makes it my favorite Bartok.

This is why I enjoy Fischer's Bartok as well. I need to revisit his Bartok recordings as I have recently purchased the only Fischer Bartok recording I was lacking: Bluebeard's Castle.

[TheGSMoeller]

Are the Amazon mp3's up to scratch? It seems in my experience that especially harpsichord music is rather sensitive to compression.

Q

Sorry to intrude, but I've bought many mp3s from Amazon and I find more problems with certain record companies rather than types of ensembles. For example, many of the Decca, and also a good number of DG mp3s I bought I've been very disappointed with, some very noticeable quality issues. In fact, I've stopped purchasing mp3s from those two all together because I've had such bad luck.

[DavidW]

Sorry to intrude, but I've bought many mp3s from Amazon and I find more problems with certain record companies rather than types of ensembles. For example, many of the Decca, and also a good number of DG mp3s I bought I've been very disappointed with, some very noticeable quality issues. In fact, I've stopped purchasing mp3s from those two all together because I've had such bad luck.

Could you elaborate?  I'm going digital only, when I was in favor of cds before.  The few purchases I had were from labels different from Decca and DG.  And are these problems also around on the itunes versions?

[jlaurson]

aren't the latest brahms and bartok recordings of fischer re-issues from the oop Philips releases?
wonder if anyone could look at the recording dates, esp. of the bartok.

[TheGSMoeller]

Could you elaborate?  I'm going digital only, when I was in favor of cds before.  The few purchases I had were from labels different from Decca and DG.  And are these problems also around on the itunes versions?

Hi David,

Well, I was just looking at some of my *bad* mp3 purchases and the first two that came to mind on Decca were actually from iTunes. Brahms 3rd Ashkenazy/Cleveland I already had on CD, but was packed away so I saw that iTunes had it fairly cheap, and also Janacek Mass-Sinfonietta, Dutoit/Montreal.
The main problem I have found with these mp3s lie within the strings, primarily the lower strings, there is a wavering-wobbily sound that accompanies them. I listen to my headphones alot so I noticed this right away.
With DG I can think of two right of the bat, the Berg's Four Pieces for Clarinet & Piano that is featured on the mutli-disc Alban Berg collection, and Patricia Petibon's Italian Baroque Arias. Both have a similar issue of suffering when the Clarinet (Berg) and voice (Petibon) reach a high octave and at a loud dynamic, the tone begins to crack and distort, I have since bought these two on discs to replace the mp3 and the issue was solved.

This has not stopped me from buying mp3s though, I find all of my Naxos mp3s (which is too many to count) to sound fine, and I do have other Decca & DG mp3s that are not bad but I tend to be weary of new purchases from them.
Hope this helps, but I am by no means an expert. 

[DavidW]

Thanks Greg that helps.  If it's just the occasional screw up, then I won't worry too much. 

[TheGSMoeller]

Thanks Greg that helps.  If it's just the occasional screw up, then I won't worry too much.

You're welcome, like I said it's really only been with Decca and DG that I've had a problem, but there are many other labels that are fine, I just don't buy from them because I don't have the money to waste anymore.
Also, I know Q was inquiring about harpsichord mp3s, and I have Pinnock's 2006 recording of Rameau: Les Cyclopes and I think it's great, I've listened through speakers and headphones and have had no questions regarding quality.

I wonder if there is a site that rates mp3 quality of certain recordings?