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Discussion: Schreker: Irrelohe - Blunier

Posts: 43
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 next

Post by hiredfox September 6, 2011 (1 of 43)
Um?

Post by Jonalogic September 6, 2011 (2 of 43)
hiredfox said:

Um?

Yep, that was my reaction, too.

There may be too many Mahler symphonies and 'warhorse' core repertoire recordings on SACD, but there is also a considerable amount of REALLY obscure stuff like this. I really wonder who might buy this and similar releases.

Meanwhile there are blatant gaps in masterworks by Brahms, Haydn, Britten, Prokofiev, Elgar, Walton, Nielsen and many others... (you add your own favourites).

I really don't understand the rationale behind many current SACD classical releases. In fact, some make me scratch my heads in disbelief and wonderment.

And I like to think I have pretty eclectic tastes.

Post by Peter September 6, 2011 (3 of 43)
Jonalogic said:

I really wonder who might buy this and similar releases.

The same sort, but in a different country, who buy Bantock, Boughton, Hanson operas. I'm sure Irrelohe will be as interesting as Omar Khayyam or Merry Mount.

Post by Jonalogic September 6, 2011 (4 of 43)
Peter said:

The same sort, but in a different country, who buy Bantock, Boughton, Hanson operas. I'm sure Irrelohe will be as interesting as Omar Khayyam or Merry Mount.

Peter Hi

And good luck to you! Believe me, I'm not knocking any music, really. Even if it doesn't turn me on, personally.

Now all we have to do is find someone who's into Dutch Cello Sonatas Vol. 4 - Doris Hochscheid, Frans van Ruth, announced at exactly the same time...

I was only seeking to make the point that I find it strange to see material like this on SACD when the later Haydn London symphonies, Brahms Piano Concertos, Elgar cello concerto and so on... and on... do not have any decent versions extant on this medium.

And, yes, I know that having the one does not preclude the other.

Parenthetically, the economics of releasing rarities on SACD interests me. Are these actually making money, or are some of them, perhaps, 'vanity' projects?

I honestly don't know the answer to this one.

Post by hiredfox September 6, 2011 (5 of 43)
Chandos are also sometimes guilty of the same 'wrong' emphases with RBCD only releases that would appeal to most SACD buyers and obscure SACD repertory that does not. It is hard to believe they are willing the format to slink away quietly into the night. Even 'though most major artists are signed up to the BIG labels no such restriction applies to repertory.

I here it murmured "Be grateful for what you get.." but surely it is in nobody's interest to release material that can't possibly sell in significant numbers.

Post by Cicero September 6, 2011 (6 of 43)
Jonalogic said:

Now all we have to do is find someone who's into Dutch Cello Sonatas Vol. 4 - Doris Hochscheid, Frans van Ruth, announced at exactly the same time...

I was only seeking to make the point that I find it strange to see material like this on SACD when the later Haydn London symphonies, Brahms Piano Concertos, Elgar cello concerto and so on... and on... do not have any decent versions extant on this medium.

hiredfox said:

I here it murmured "Be grateful for what you get.." but surely it is in nobody's interest to release material that can't possibly sell in significant numbers.

I am into Dutch Cello Sonatas Vol. 4, thank you. In fact, I am collecting the other volumes in the series, and can tell you that you are missing some interesting music.

Your bewilderment may stem from the fact that you don't quite understand the marketing (and cooperation) models on which labels such as MDG (but also many others) survive; their intention is not to release yet another Brahms or Bruckner cycle, or even a set of Nielsen Symphonies for that matter, to fill your SACD gaps in the standard repertoire. If they did that, they would not be able to compete in the marketplace (which, as you know very well, is not SACD-oriented). But what they do, they do rather well; and issuing their repertoire, or some of it, on SACD is a nice bonus. Why criticize them for that?

More generally, I find it somewhat frustrating to read comments like yours. Why can't we take the remarkable fact that an opera by Schreker (who was once regarded a minor genius) is being issued on SACD as a sign that classical music is still alive, and SACD is doing not too badly? Why have a thread to complain about labels deciding to release on SACD what they believe will sell? Who is to serve as the arbiter of what should be released on SACD, and what not? Hopefully not those who seem to think that the masterworks they crave in high resolution need to be recorded before we should even consider touching anything else. You know what that would mean: fewer SACDs from labels such as MDG, or maybe none, and fewer SACDs overall.

Besides, given the positive reviews of the Bonn production of Irrelohe in newspapers from across Germany, Switzerland etc., and even from the US (but possibly not from where you live), there may be a small but lucrative niche market for Schreker. You and I may not buy the recording (for very different reasons) but some will.

Post by zeus September 6, 2011 (7 of 43)
Cicero said:

Your bewilderment may stem from the fact that you don't quite understand the marketing (and cooperation) models on which labels such as MDG (but also many others) survive; their intention is not to release yet another Brahms or Bruckner cycle, or even a set of Nielsen Symphonies for that matter, to fill your SACD gaps in the standard repertoire. If they did that, they would not be able to compete in the marketplace (which, as you know very well, is not SACD-oriented). But what they do, they do rather well; and issuing their repertoire, or some of it, on SACD is a nice bonus. Why criticize them for that?

Personally I have little interest in the catalogue fillers many here seem to yearn for. Since the range of titles on offer on the format is always going to be limited, it makes more sense to me to issue titles that exploit the format and expand opportunities for potential adopters. There's nothing more discouraging than some here clamouring for also-ran interpretations of music that is well served on other formats just so they can fill (and likely duplicate) a hole in their collection. I've always approached music as an opportunity for expanding my appreciation, exploring new soundscapes etc rather than seeking the definitive version of tired orchestral warhorses. A different mindset will open up a world of great music already on the format.

Post by wehecht September 6, 2011 (8 of 43)
Cicero said:

...their intention is not to release yet another Brahms or Bruckner cycle, or even a set of Nielsen Symphonies for that matter, to fill your SACD gaps in the standard repertoire.

Although they've just given us a very intriguing Brahms 1st PC with Hardy Rittner playing an Erard from 1854 supported by an orchestra I'd never heard of employing gut strings, wooden flutes, natural horns, etc. I know that won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I've found it quite enjoyable. The two "standard rep" series that MDG was producing on sacd, Zacharias' Mozart PCs and Fischer's Haydn symphonies,seem to have gone into hiatus, and I, for one, would certainly welcome their return. Having said which, I'm thrilled to have found music by composers I'd likely never have encountered except that the availability of an sacd encouraged me to give it a try, such as Fitkin,Pulkkis, Shilkret, Stephan, and Tansman. I do get frustrated by the choices wonderful labels like Chandos and BIS make with regard to which recordings are released on sacd, since so often my choices would have been the opposite of those made by the labels. Mr. von Bahr has been forthright in writing about the financial exigencies that often dictate these choices, but it's still frustrating not to have many of the most interesting new issues in the best possible sound.

Post by krisjan September 6, 2011 (9 of 43)
Jonalogic said:


Now all we have to do is find someone who's into Dutch Cello Sonatas Vol. 4 - Doris Hochscheid, Frans van Ruth, announced at exactly the same time...

I'm another who has ordered Vol. 4 of the Dutch Cello Sonatas. The other three volumes have some very good music in good performances and sound. Looking forward to the new one. Not the least bit interested in the Schreker, however.

Post by Polly Nomial September 6, 2011 (10 of 43)
wehecht said:

Although they've just given us a very intriguing Brahms 1st PC with Hardy Rittner playing an Erard from 1854 supported by an orchestra I'd never heard of employing gut strings, wooden flutes, natural horns, etc. I know that won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I've found it quite enjoyable. The two "standard rep" series that MDG was producing on sacd, Zacharias' Mozart PCs and Fischer's Haydn symphonies,seem to have gone into hiatus, and I, for one, would certainly welcome their return.

Agreed on all counts.

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