Oh, what the hell. If you can't beat 'em ...



Though in my case it's Kleiber père.

Luciano Berio: The Complete Works for Solo Piano
David Arden (piano) on New Albion Records

And ... ?!!

(How did you get that so early, Richard?)

Look forward to hearing all about it, Richard. (And to hearing it in due course.)

Spinning here this evening:

conducting
.

The Glagolitic Mass (Chicago, 2000) and the Sinfonietta (Cleveland, earlier this month).

Often missing the bite and forward drive of Mackerras and Ančerl, but also opening up some new textural (and occasionally rhythmic) perspectives. In the Mass (Boulez uses the Wingfield edition) the "Raspet" (Crucifixus) section of the Credo -- with the three sets of timps and that strange, anguished violin line -- sounds a bit more convincing when it's slightly subdued and misterioso as here.  On the other hand, clarity too often takes second place behind clarity (now there's a surprise ). And in the last movement of the Sinfonietta Boulez moves the cymbal clash back to where it shouldn't be. (Or maybe his publisher just didn't give him a corrected score? )

hh, I have that on LP, but with my turntable now defunct I really ought to get hold of the CD, oughtn't I?

Erm ... I'm not sure that's going to be happening ...

No, you ought to get hold of this:



... which includes that CD alongside 4 others in a handy little box of Boulez conducting things from Schoenberg to Hugues Dufourt, and is a steal.


Oh, and I'm spinning a 2-CDR set of Ferneyhough's Carceri d'Invenzione cycle (currently Irvine Arditti hacking through Intermedio alla ciaccona).  I believe I whinged here several months ago about the lack of a commercial recording of this cycle, and someone said something about something being in the works.  But, as you may have noticed, I have forgotten the details...

I remember seeing that set in an HMV sale for a fiver, and feeling like kicking myself as I already had all of them, mainly bought when they come out, at full price.