Coda II
getting there slowly
I increasingly find that I buy music by artist rather than work. This usually takes the form of hearing something I like then looking up recordings made by that person. Sometimes this is easy - heard Alice Coote at the weekend; Amazon only list five CDs. On the other hand, have been meaning to get something by Dawn Upshaw for ages - but where to start?
Historically there are iconic recordings with which particular performers are associated - Schwarzkopf/Four Last Songs - Du Pre/Elgar and so on, perhaps that means some of the rest of their output is overlooked but these are good starting points.
Also, with singers at least, what I first hear is often an opera but what I want to listen to is a recital; record companies seem wise to this so I'm probably not the only one, but with some singers this approach is dissappointing - Bryn Terfel for example - haven't heard a song disc that comes anywhere close to his Wotan. Possibly unfair I know.
So - your nominations please: recordings in which performers show themselves at their best, that are a show case for what that person is about.
Historically there are iconic recordings with which particular performers are associated - Schwarzkopf/Four Last Songs - Du Pre/Elgar and so on, perhaps that means some of the rest of their output is overlooked but these are good starting points.
Also, with singers at least, what I first hear is often an opera but what I want to listen to is a recital; record companies seem wise to this so I'm probably not the only one, but with some singers this approach is dissappointing - Bryn Terfel for example - haven't heard a song disc that comes anywhere close to his Wotan. Possibly unfair I know.
So - your nominations please: recordings in which performers show themselves at their best, that are a show case for what that person is about.