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From: doug@cornell.UUCP (Douglas Campbell)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: CD Reviews
Message-ID: <1005@cornell.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Sep-84 13:13:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: cornell.1005
Posted: Mon Sep 24 13:13:51 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Sep-84 08:30:52 EDT
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept.
Lines: 85




Notes on my CD Reviews:

        In the left margin I rank discs with an overall rating
        from 1 to 5, 5 being the highest rating.  I tend to be very
        picky about the emotional content of a performance.
        
        I don't usually notice/care about technical sound
        quality unless it is unusually good or bad.  Hence,
        I usually don't mention it in my reviews.
                     
                     
Mahler Symphony No. 4                                   London 410 188-2

        Sir Georg Solti, Chicago Symphony, Kiri Te Kanawa singing.
   3
        This is a fair all-around performance.  Occasionally Solti
        loses a lilting feel to the rhythm by taking a section too
        slowly, but this only happens occasionally.  More seriously,
        the music doesn't flow the way it should.  This symphony
	has some beautiful sections that come out choppy here.
	Still, many of the emotions do come through.
        
        
Strauss, Richard, Also Sprach Zarathustra               DG 410 959-2

        Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic
   5
        Karajan's 1973 recording of this work was, to me, one of the
        finest performances ever put on disc.  It ranks with his Mahler
        Ninth as a must for any record collection.  This new performance
        is almost as good - only occasionally does he not squeeze as much
        out of the orchestra as he did in '73.  Overall, another complete
        win in terms of emotional pull.
        
        
Strauss, Richard, Ein Heldenleben                       Phillips 400 073-2

        Seiji Ozawa, Boston Symphony Orchestra
   4
        As I often find with Ozawa's performances, this one lacks the
        deep Germanic spirit that brings out the best in 19th century music.
        The performance is controlled and clean, but this control is not
        utilized to bring out the heroic spirit as Karajan and others
        are able to do.  Still, this is the only flaw in an otherwise
	firey and graceful performance.
        
        
Wagner, Overtures                                       London 411 951-2

        Sir Georg Solti, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
   2
        This collection includes Flying Dutchman, Tannhauser, Die
        Meistersinger (Prelude to Act 1) and Tristan (Prelude and
        Liebestod).  These recordings were made from 1972 to 1977
        on analog masters, and have been transfered to CD form.
        Some emotions come through with skill and subtlety.  Most,
        however, including the big climaxes, are too formal and ponderous.
        In fact, all of the most important emotional moments are dull.
        The Tannhauser is the Dresden version, which I don't like nearly
        as well as the Paris version.
        
        
Wagner, Ring Excerpts                                   London 410 137-2

        Sir Georg Solti, Vienna Philharmonic
   2
        This collection includes all of the essential ring excerpts.
        In fact, its selection is probably the finest I've ever seen
        on one album.  That said, it's a big disappointment.  The
        Vienna Philharmonic just doesn't come through with the
        power and fluidity that it should.  Some parts are even
        a little sloppy, with uneven entrances and such.  Even so,
        some emotion can be felt.  And nowhere do I grimace at this
        performance, which I often do at mediocre Wagner.
        
        
                                                Doug Campbell
                                                
                                                doug@cornell
                                                cornell!doug