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#11
Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Franco Alfano string quart...
Last post by Febct - Yesterday at 17:51Naxos' rise from bargain basement to the penthouse has outpaced inflation. So it goes.
But you're right - or, perhaps, "somebody" is right. When I scan my CD shelves, I see tons of Naxos spines looking back at me. Tomorrow, the world...
But you're right - or, perhaps, "somebody" is right. When I scan my CD shelves, I see tons of Naxos spines looking back at me. Tomorrow, the world...
#12
Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Franco Alfano string quart...
Last post by Alan Howe - Yesterday at 17:44Naxos releases certainly aren't bargain basement any more - I suppose that's inflation for you. While all price hikes are to be regretted, nevertheless I don't really regard Naxos as a budget label any longer - more like just below standard price. And when you consider (for example) that their latest release of Meyerbeer's L'Africana features world-renowned tenor Michael Spyres, they're not putting out bargain-quality material any more. Somebody once opined that Naxos would conquer the world one day. Perhaps that day has come...
#13
Composers & Music / Re: Jakab Gyula Major Concert ...
Last post by Gareth Vaughan - Yesterday at 17:44There are also the 3 Concert Fantasies Op. 63 for piano & orchestra, mss. of which are in the Szechenyi Library.
I'm not sure that the E major PC without opus number is complete. Szechenyi never replied to my enquiry about that which, admittedly, I sent during the COVID outbreak.
I'm not sure that the E major PC without opus number is complete. Szechenyi never replied to my enquiry about that which, admittedly, I sent during the COVID outbreak.
#14
Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Franco Alfano string quart...
Last post by Febct - Yesterday at 17:35I've been a collector of recordings of Alfano's music. Naxos seems to have a thing for him.
But, parenthetically, what the heck has happened to the prices on Naxos CDs? Amazon now wants upwards of US$20 or so. A bit lower on the Amazon UK, but shipping cost wipes out the difference.
Our once and future "budget" label has made it to the big time!
But, parenthetically, what the heck has happened to the prices on Naxos CDs? Amazon now wants upwards of US$20 or so. A bit lower on the Amazon UK, but shipping cost wipes out the difference.
Our once and future "budget" label has made it to the big time!
#15
Composers & Music / Re: Jakab Gyula Major Concert ...
Last post by Alan Howe - Yesterday at 13:07It's been put right, Eric.
My own feelings towards Liszt are rather mixed: I think his symphonic poems are a fusion of sublimity, excitement and banality - probably about right for the experimental form that they represent. However - and it's an important 'however' - I firmly believe that his Faust Symphony is a blazing masterpiece: every bar of it grips me, and I think it's significant that many good-to-great conductors have recorded it - e.g. Beecham, Bernstein (twice), Solti, Barenboim, Sinopoli, Masur, Ansermet, Fischer (Ivan), Muti, Chailly, Thielemann, Rattle, Noseda, Dorati, d'Avalos, Dausgaard, Conlon, Inbal - and probably others I've forgotten. In other words, far more conductors than those who have conducted just the odd symphonic poem or two.
So, to return to Mihalovich and Major, I'm hoping that some of their symphonies/concertos might turn out to be worth reviving. Mihalovich wrote four symphonies; Major wrote six symphonies, two further PCs, one VC and one Cello Concerto!
For Major's works list, follow this link:
https://imslp.org/wiki/List_of_works_by_Gyula_Major
My own feelings towards Liszt are rather mixed: I think his symphonic poems are a fusion of sublimity, excitement and banality - probably about right for the experimental form that they represent. However - and it's an important 'however' - I firmly believe that his Faust Symphony is a blazing masterpiece: every bar of it grips me, and I think it's significant that many good-to-great conductors have recorded it - e.g. Beecham, Bernstein (twice), Solti, Barenboim, Sinopoli, Masur, Ansermet, Fischer (Ivan), Muti, Chailly, Thielemann, Rattle, Noseda, Dorati, d'Avalos, Dausgaard, Conlon, Inbal - and probably others I've forgotten. In other words, far more conductors than those who have conducted just the odd symphonic poem or two.
So, to return to Mihalovich and Major, I'm hoping that some of their symphonies/concertos might turn out to be worth reviving. Mihalovich wrote four symphonies; Major wrote six symphonies, two further PCs, one VC and one Cello Concerto!
For Major's works list, follow this link:
https://imslp.org/wiki/List_of_works_by_Gyula_Major
#16
Composers & Music / Re: Jakab Gyula Major Concert ...
Last post by eschiss1 - Yesterday at 09:35Of course, most of Mihalovich's music remains in ms and available at best through a Hungarian library. I respectfully disagree regarding Liszt's music- my opinion is as opposite as my "opinion" of the spelling of his family name as he wrote it.
#17
Composers & Music / Re: Jakab Gyula Major Concert ...
Last post by Alan Howe - Yesterday at 08:47I have one CD of Mihalovich's songs, which I rather like. There are also four symphonies; no.1 is at IMSLP - these are what interest me. However, Major may well be the more attractive proposition, I agree.
#18
Composers & Music / Re: Jakab Gyula Major Concert ...
Last post by Reverie - Wednesday 17 April 2024, 23:01As regards Mihalovich I don't think there is much to take in. The orchestral works are poor immitations of Listz as far as I can see after a bit of research. (And Liszt's orchestral stuff is poor to start with) Sorry!
Major might be a diferent case as he belongs to a different era of course. I have his Symphonie Hongroise (No2) op17 (1898) from the BL and it looks promising. We will see.
Major might be a diferent case as he belongs to a different era of course. I have his Symphonie Hongroise (No2) op17 (1898) from the BL and it looks promising. We will see.
#19
Composers & Music / Re: Jakab Gyula Major Concert ...
Last post by Alan Howe - Wednesday 17 April 2024, 21:41...and I for one trust your judgment, Gareth. I think there's an important gap in Hungarian musical history, i.e. between the generation of Liszt and that of Dohnanyi. We've already (partially) redicovered Beliczay and Moor is a work in progress, but I think that Major and Mihalovich are two worthy composers that have fallen through the musicological net.
Perhaps there are others whom I've forgotten...
Perhaps there are others whom I've forgotten...
#20
Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: A trip to the record store...
Last post by eschiss1 - Wednesday 17 April 2024, 18:49During my first of two trips to London , in 1993, I remember getting a couple of CDs at Moores (Myaskovsky 3/Lyrical Concertino, and - oh right, Tubin sym.7 etc. on BIS.)