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[George]

 
4!!!!

[John G.]

As much as I enjoyed Sanderling's Sibelius yesterday, thus far Barbirolli is making me enjoy this music anymore - these recordings were always criticized for sound in their LP incarnations, but this 2000 remastering is justly praised.  Most of the reviews I've read really like this set, save for one pretentious, pompous twit.  It's hilarious to me to read these things - one person's opinion speaking as if for everyone, and acting for all the world as if he is THE ONLY Sibelius expert out there.  Well, pal, your fellow critics disagree with you and so do I.  But what's so much fun is that in each personal reading of these works that I've heard I hear new things because they all have their own point of view.  So far, Barbirolli in the first and second is, for me, a clear winner - the recordings, first of all, are so beautifully detailed with every orchestral detail clear as a bell in the way that I love, so that's a big plus.  But his conducting and his point of view is, for me, in these first two symphonies, exemplary.  Sanderling, too, has a real way with this gorgeous music.  Bernstein, whose set I really liked on first hearing, seems heavy-handed compared to these others - lots of fire and passion, but none of the icy quality of Sibelius, which is very important to the work.  And Berglund, despite sound I'm not in love with, I still like for certain symphonies.  But this Barbirolli will automatically become top shelf if it continues like this.

That's the set I have, the 2000 remastering. I love it.

[John G.]

Just got a very sweet e-mail from a dear reader in England who reads the notes every day, and has been discovering Villa-Lobos thanks to my enthusiasm.  He bought the Batiz set, and tells me he can't get past the first CD because it's been on repeat constantly - I'd say that's an endorsement of some sort

Nice!

I wish he'd join us.

[John G.]

The holiday baking has begun.

[John G.]

I've started watching a movie called Dough with Jonathan Pryce and Pauline Collins. Supposed to be a comedy about a Jewish baker who takes on a Muslim apprentice.

It's starting good.

[John G.]

TOD:

DVD:
Le Silence de la Mer
Cry of the City

[ChasSmith]

TOD:

Blu-ray:  Moby-Dick.  Just finished it.  Wonderful.

I had never watched this movie at a time when I was really up for appreciating it, on just about any level.  And how rewarding it is now.

[bk]

Back from a fun birthday dinner with fellow birthday person Sami's mom (and Sami of course).  Ruth's Chris in Woodland Hills - excellent but not as good as the Hills of Beverly.  I had my New York, we shared lobster mac-and-cheese, and it was deelish and we all laughed quite a bit.

[bk]

Finishing the Barbirolli Sibelius third - the "critic" especially was harsh on this crying about how slow the second movement is - and yes it's three minutes slower than Bernstein and Sanderling, but the same guy does bring up Berglund as being exemplary and Berglund is within seconds of Barbirolli's.  Furthermore, it doesn't feel slow at all, it feels right.

[John G.]

I finished Dough, which was entertaining. I also finished the Sherman Brothers' Huckleberry Finn, which wasn't anywhere near as good as it should have been. The score is fine, but the direction is so lackluster and flaccid that nothing lands. There's no punch despite a solid cast with Harvey Korman and David Wayne as the King and the Duke. I also liked seeing Gary Merrill as Pap.

[John G.]

Gratuitous post No. 100!

[John G.]

Cranberries!

[John G.]

Underpants!

[John G.]

I'm losing energy.

[John G.]

Hello, 11 guests!

[John G.]

Who's your favorite conductor of Sibelius?

[John G.]

On that note, I'm outta here.

[John G.]

Good night, all.

[bk]

Symphony five playing - so far, so good - this is my favorite and I've yet to hear one with a final movement that completely had me by the throat - the Sanderling was pretty good, the Bernstein a bit better but only in that movement, but none, for me, have been perfect - hoping for the best here.

[Jane]

I need to stop coughing so Keith can sleep.

[bk]

I did really like the Barbirolli Sibelius 5th - it's a bit different reading of the final movement - not sure it's perfect, but I now prefer it to all the others I've heard.  Still have two sets (one on Blu-ray, one on CD) to go through, then I think two more will arrive shortly.

[TCB]

Good evening!

[TCB]

Home from a sold out performance.

[TCB]

Several old friends were there.

[TCB]

Including former DR Jed and his friend Deya.

[TCB]

He is looking great with his weight loss.

[TCB]

He will be playing Herbie in GYPSY in March.

[TCB]

It was really a good show tonight.

[TCB]

The audience didn't laugh as much as some audiences, but they really seemed to enjoy it.

[TCB]

One more post.