Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

	Corrections to the original...

	Poulenc's Gloria in on Telarc CD-80105 with Stravinsky's
	"Symphony of Psalms".

	The catalog number of the "North by Northwest" is VCD 47205.

					Alan

Speaking of shows, does anyone know if any label has released JESUS CHRIST
SUPERSTAR on CD yet? (My question has nothing to do with the imminence of
Easter. I just happened to listen to it the other day, after not having heard
it in quite a while.) My LP of JCS has acquired over the years an annoying
number of pops and scratches. I'd like to replace it, but would of course
rather get a CD than another LP.

--- jerry

I just got two new CD's, a "Messiah" and a set of Brandenburg
Concertos:

	Messiah, GF Handel, Decca 414 396-2  $28
	Concertos, JS Bach, L'Oiseau-Lyre 414 187-2  $22

Each is a two-disk set, and they were ordered from the Discount
Music Centre, 29 Rathbone Place, London W1P 1AD.  (Telephone
011-44-1-637-0129)  There was a two week delay before they
shipped the order (don't know why) then another 2 weeks before
it got to me.  Next time I'll try Harold Moore's.  But on to the
reviews.

The Messiah recording is by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and
Chorus, Sir Georg Solti conducting.  It is all digital (DDD process).  The two disks are packed full, containing just over
70 minutes each.  (Average cost $.19 per minute)  They don't
use the INDEX feature, but come with a detailed timing chart
so you can position to the start of each recitative, aria, or
chorus if there is more than one per "band".  The 50-page
booklet also contains all the words.

There are around 100 singers and 40 members of the orchestra,
but it doesn't sound like it.  By that I mean that it is VERY
clear and unmuddled.  Every word is understandable, every note
is clear.  The soloists are very good, especially the soprano
(Kiri Te Kanawa) and the bass (Gwynne Howell).  Solti takes
the fast parts (such as the bass air "Why do the nations") at
blinding speed.

An exhilarating performance.

The Brandenburg Concertos (my fifth set) are recorded by the
Academy of Ancient Music under Christopher Hogwood.  This is
also an all-digital recording (DDD), but the disks are not as
full.  It would have ALMOST fit on one disk, but not quite.
Average $.30 per minute.

The performance is different from many modern recordings as
Hogwood does a lot of research into the history of the music
and tries to come as close as possible to the way it was
originally performed by Bach.  All this is described in the
booklet.  The musicians use authentic instruments of the period
(or reproductions) so the sound is not as bright as you may
be used to, hearing Bach on modern instruments.

You can hear the keys on the instruments sometimes, and the
occasional intake of breath or rustle of paper, creating a
good "you are there" feel.

Very interesting overall, and also highly recommended.

    RE: 99.
    
    I believe the CAMELOT recording is one of the recent Richard Harris
    casts.  Since he revives the show every few years and apparantly
    becomes more tired of the role each time around, it's hard to tell
    whether this is worth it.  I seem to remember reviews of this Harris
    stage recording and the reviewers weren't falling over themselves
    with praise.
    
    My choice is still the Broadway cast with Burton/Andrews/Goulet,
    but, of course, you have to put up with early '60s sound.  If you
    really want Harris, get the soundtrack

    Re:  .3
    
    Glad to hear an evaluation of the Hogwood Brandenburg Concertos
    (Concerti?).  There is also a recording by Trevor Pinnock and a
    reissue on CD of the 10(?)-year old Gustav Leonhardt version which
    got outstanding reviews at the time.
    
    Has anyone had the chance to make comparisons among these?  Judging
    from the number of times their names show up in the press and their
    performances are heard on Morning Pro Musica, apparently all the
    conductors are highly regarded.
    
    I've been listening the old Harmonia Mundi/Victrola original
    instruments performance on vinyl for a LONG time now (can't remember
    the group).  Seems like a good chance to invest in a new performance.
    
    Reminds me of the cover blurb on one of the P.D.Q Bach records,
    recommending it particularly "for those of you who are wearing out 
    your third set of the Brandenburg Concertos".
    
    dq                                                                     
    
    

    re:.5 re:.3
    
    I've heard (once) the AofAM disks of the Brandenbergs and like
    them quite a bit. I also like and recommend the set done by
    Neville Mariner and the Academy of St. Martin's in the Field.
    
    re:.4
    
    What note are you replying to?
    
    The Harris CAMELOT CD is from, I think, a 1982 performance. I
    remember a review in DIGITAL AUDIO that compared that CD with
    the Broadway Cast CD, concluding that the latter was the better
    performance, while the former was the better recording.
    	I happen to like the movie soundtrack, and which that was
    available on CD, but I'm perfectly willing to "settle for" :-)
    the Broadway recording.
    
    --- jerry

    I was replying to note 99.0 which dealt mainly with film score
    recordings.
    The reference to CAMELOT was buried near the end of one of the paragraphs.

    Has anybody got the OUTFIELDS 'PLAY DEEP' cd.  I bought the album
    (before I got a cd player) and noticed on "Cry just a little bit"
    that the guitar intro sounded noisy,  Like a cheap digital flanger
    would. I thought is was my record player but that same noise is
    on the cd version.  The songs are great but the recording, at least
    that guitar intro, sounds crappy.  Anyone else notice that?
    
    ekiM

    I was very disappointed in the overall sound of this recording.
    I did not notice any particular cut as being worse, however.

Anybody care to review the Rambo soundtrack on CD?  Who are they kidding?

    Bruce Springstein sells alotta CDs...

>    Bruce Springstein sells alotta CDs...
               ^

That's Springsteen!

John

    I was using the Joe Piscapo/Frank Sanatra spelling.