Saint-Saëns: Le Carneval des Animaux

This discontinued Point Classics CD has had several bad reviews, despite its minimal price. I personally enjoyed it and would still recommend it.
It includes a DDD recording from 1994: Le Carneval des animaux performed by Süddeutsche Philharmonie, conducted by Hanspeter Gmür. The sound is not as bright as we are used to in recent recordings, but still acceptable.

1. Introduction and royal march of the lion
2. Cockes and hens
3. Wild asses
4. Tortoises
5. Elephants
6. Kangaroos
7. Aquarium
8. People with long ears
9. Cuckoo in the heart of the woods
10. Aviary
11. Pianists
12. Fossils
13. The swan
14. Finale.

Symphony No. 3, Op. 78, in c minor, 'Organ,' performed by the Münchner Symphonie Orchester, conducted by Alberto Lizzio: (15) Adagio - Allegro moderato; (16) Allegro moderato; (17) Maestoso - Allegro moderato. Total playing time 56:30.

Bruno Walter: Beethoven & Mahler

This is the rare Volume 2 for Grammofono 2000's "His First Recordings in America for Columbia". Bruno Walter conducts the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. And he plays the piano in "Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit" for Desi Halban, soprano.

I really enjoyed Mahler's Symphony no. 5 with Walter, as compared to Claudio Abbado's. I think Walter's is how it was intended... much more subtle, playful, serene (of course, his closeness to Mahler must have played a key role in his interpretation). While Abbado's gives it a cinematographic touch, very much with the grandiosity used in incidental music, Walter's is more situated, theatrical... less lights and more imagination. The comparison would be similar to Hollywood productions today vs. Hollywood productions from the 50's.
Regardless, both are worth listening to. Enjoy particularly the fifth movement of Mahler Symphony No. 5.

Beethoven's Eroica is very expressive, especially with his use of dynamics.

Link to Amazon's page for this CD set: Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Mahler: Symphony No. 5

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Disc 1: Beethoven
Symphony No.3	Eb	Op.55 Columbia M449	Jan. 1941	Eroica
Disc 2: Mahler
Symphony No.5	C#m	Columbia SL 171	Feb.10,1947
Selection from "Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit" for Voice and Piano(1880-1890)		Columbia SL 171	Desi Halban, soprano Bruno Walter, Piano Dec. 16, 1947	I.Frühlingsmorgen (Leander) II. Erinnerung (Leander) III. Hans und Grethe (Mahler) VII. Ich ging mit Lust durch einen grünen Wald (*) IX. Starke Einbildungskraft (*) XI. Ablösung im Sommer (*) XII. Scheiden und Meiden (*) XIII. Nicht wiedersehen (*)

Oistrakh: Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Prokofiev 2/2

What a lovely interpretation by David Ositrakh and Pierre Fournier. It is the second disc of the EMI Classics, double forte, that has Beethoven's Triple Concerto and Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3.
Full of passages from where to make postcards, I loved especially the theme for the 3rd movement, Vivace non troppo - Poco meno allegro, directed by Alceo Galliera and the Philarmonia Orchestra. In the first movement, just after its first third, the intertwining of both soloists, just before the entrance of the orchestra is quite beautiful. It could well be one scene he wanted to capture while he was writing this next to a lake. It resembles to me those little tableclothes that are of picked cotton.
As for Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 in Gm, Op. 63, I can say what a graceful interpretation of a bland ouevre. With a comic British ending of the 2nd movement, I cannot say more.
The double forte 2CD edition seems to be out of print, but this is the most similar I found.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Brahms: Double concerto	Am	Opus 102	Oistrakh(violin),Fournier(cello)
Prokofiev: Violin concerto #2	Gm	Opus 63

Oistrakh: Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Prokofiev 1/2

Wow! I could not imagine Beethoven as a care-free joyful being. The Triple Concerto Op.56 is that. Oistrakh's interpretation in Emi Classics, double forte is great.

Light, whole-hearted, warm, exquisite... a definite favorite.

Mozart: Violin Concerto

I have heard 2 versions of Violin Concerto No.3 in G, KV 216. One in Oistrakh's interpretation in Emi Classics, double forte, the other in Brilliant's CD2-16 with Verhey playing the violin.
I have to say that I prefer Brilliant's orchestration with Eduardo Marturet directing the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra. But Oistrakh's intention and force well surpasses Verhey's. This version features Oistrakh as director of the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Nice piece. As has been my general experience so far, Brilliant's is worth listening to, but this time Oistrakh's shouldn't be missed.


In Violin Concerto No.1 B flat KV 207, Verhey's cadenza in the end is quite charming. Though concertos 1 and 2 are quite umpretentious, the natural fluency of Mozart's themes and scales are always welcome.
The double forte 2CD edition seems to be out of print, but this is the most similar I found.