Naxos record label

[Alex]

I wanted to start a Naxos fawning thread, but also to see what some of the more expert classical music experts think about this label.

I've only recently started to explore Classical (or maybe "Western art music") with any sort of seriousness recently, partly as a result of living in Germany, where the cultural heritage is suffused with it. Recent trips to Halle and Leipzig (birthplace of Handel and final career stop for J.S. Bach, respectively) have been sort of an epiphany for me.

Anyway, I tend to favor solo instrumentals and chamber music, so for that, I really want to have Murray Perahia on the Goldberg Variations or Rachel Podger playing the violin sonatas and partitas.

But I find for symphonic music, which I'm not a huge fan of but like to listen to for edification's sake, Naxos is the best source. I'm very satisfied with the recordings of Bruckner's Fourth and Mahler's Fourth and Ninth I've picked up from this label. And even for chamber music that I wouldn't want to drop a ton of cash on, like Mozart's piano sonatas, I find the Jeno Jando recordings on Naxos generally excellent. Ditto Idil Biret playing Chopin's Nocturnes.

So, opinions pro and con? I've always had the sneaking suspicion that a lot of the hostility to Naxos from the classical establishment stems from the fact that this label is offering quality standard repetoire to us unwashed masses, not to mention more obscure stuff, and this really irks elitist pecksniffs who want to feel so superior about their Deutsche Grammaphone recordings of Herbert von Nazi-scum and the Berliner Philharmassmurderers.

BWDFDIK?

[shrugs]

Why so much love for HVK?
His '62 Beethoven cycle is excellent. And one can find the whole set on wax for less than the price of a Naxos cd.

So I'll sit her and continue to not let any artists beliefs, religions or what the fuck ever get in the way........


And believe it or not, DGG is not as favored as one would think. DO some more research.

[Alex]

Originally posted by shrugs

So I'll sit her and continue to not let any artists beliefs, religions or what the fuck ever get in the way........

That's generally what I do, but I make a strong exception for Nazis.

I can deal with Republicans, Conservatives, Christian Democrats, Liberals, Libertarians, Social Democrats, Communists, Anarchists, whatever.

Not, however, Nazis. The Holocaust was a massive crime. The Second World War was a massive crime. Nazis were massive criminals. Karajan should burn in hell.

[shrugs]

You're missing out on some great Furtwangler as well. You'll never hear a Ninth like the one
done at the 1951 Bayreuth Festival.

and there is no equal to HVK's Also Sprach Zarathustra.


Does anyone know if this is true?


"As the Second War World continued, Karajan got himself into trouble with the Germans in October 1942 by marrying Anita Gutermann, who was Jewish. He was fired by the Nazis as he was touring Itlay. His musical career suffered a heavy setback during the rest of the war."

[walto]

Who conducts the Bruckner symphonies you have, Alex?

[Alex]

Walt,

Georg Tintner, with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

[Monte Smith]

First of all communism was a crime co-equal with Hitlerism. However, I agree with you on Nazis sucking, WWII, and the Holocaust. And on Naxos.

I like Naxos for several reasons. They are exposure for some orchestras in Eastern Europe, Asia, and South America that aren't getting recorded much otherwise. Also, Naxos has a wonderful release program for old recordings. Really old recordings from the early years of last century. I love their archival work. Extensive catalog, cheap prices, available everywhere: that's a good record company.

Their audio books of classic literature are a treat, too. Never heard their jazz catalog--love to hear opinions on that.

[walto]

I haven't heard those, but of those I have caught, I recommend Wand, Tennestedt, or, best of all, the entire set by Jochum. (I'm not sure the Royal Scottish National Orchestra is really going to be that competitive here, btw.) I haven't heard enough versions of the other repertoire you mentioned to hazard any recs.

Amer. Record Guide is very good at comparisons, I think, if you're looking to expand your classical collection.

[Alex]

Stalinism was a massive crime, but to ignore the pecularities which distinguish it from Fascism would be to cheapen both.

The purges, and the deaths which resulted from agricultural collectivization, while bloody and inexcusable, were undertaken with the aim of taking what amounted to a Third World country and trying to put it on the same level as the developed world. The capitalization of the English countryside during the transition from Feudalism to Capitalism was also bloody and barbaric, but it happened over the course of a couple centuries, whereas in Stalinist Russia this whole process was compressed into a decade.

The Holocaust, on the other hand, had absolutely no instrumentalist logic behind it. It was a purely irrational outburst of barbarism. It served no economic or military end. It was the screaming, vomitous expression of the German id and the culmination of a long tradition of Prussian militarism and Germanic anti-semitism.

I'm glad we agree on Naxos, though. I also get a kick out of some top talent from peripheral countries getting some exposure and a chance to shine.

[Salvador Dali Lama]

what do you think about Wagner, Alex?

Theres a lot of good stuff on Naxos. I especially like that their website has lots and lots of music to listen to on it...

I really dont know anything about classical music though.

[Alex]

Sal,

I like Wagner. Anti-semitism is idiotic, but Wagner didn't live to see the consequences of his beliefs, and therefore is not implicated in them directly.

Karajan belonged to a political party which undertook the planned destruction of six million human lives. That is an unforgivable crime, no matter how great his musical gifts. I think I'll get through life just fine without owning anything by him.

[walto]

I believe that R. Strauss had some party ties too. I remain a fan of his, though (and I lost two grandparents and a bunch of other relatives in the Holocaust). He didn't have much moral courage, apparently. Still a good composer though.

Interesting theory that Wagner would be culpable for the results of his cuckoo bilge only if he lived longer, btw.

[shrugs]

Bruno Walter was relieved in Berlin by Strauss when the Nazi party took over and still conducted Strauss.

[shrugs]

and the whole classical establishment vs. Naxos is a joke. I have seen many classical fans recommend Naxos as well as MHS on vinyl. MHS is even a better deal than Naxos if you are around any stores with tons of classical vinyl. I usually pay mo more .50 for their records.

[shrugs]

[Alex]

[shrugs]

ok, ok, but why do you think that Naxos is filling a void that other labels have filled for years?
Nonesuch, MHS, VOX......
The list is long. you come out with these statements like "I've always had the sneaking suspicion that a lot of the hostility to Naxos from the classical establishment stems from the fact that this label is offering quality standard repetoire to us unwashed masses, not to mention more obscure stuff"
and "I also get a kick out of some top talent from peripheral countries getting some exposure and a chance to shine."

Why is this first statement true?
and since I listed three labels that can prove the second wrong, we can consider it settled.

[Alex]

I love Nonesuch's recording of Reich's Music for 18 Musicians.

Luckily, I got mine through a record club. Otherwise I would've paid a not inconsiderable sum in a record store.

Naxos CDs cost Eur 4,99. Naxos CDs have good-to-excellent recordings of standard repetoire by relatively unknown musicians. Naxo's catalogue is ideal for somebody like me who's looking to grow a collection quick and familiarize himself with the music.

I could go for the "standard reference version" of every piece, but at those prices and at that rate, I'd have a classical collection consisting of about 20 CDs in 3 years.

Again, for the Goldberg Variations, I'll pay full price for Perahia on Sony. For the Well-Tempered Klavier, Angela Hewitt on Hyperion was worth every penny. Podger's two discs of the sonatas and partitas was a steal at Eur 19,00

But for most symphonic works, a "pretty good" recording by an obscure East European orchestra suits me fine. And for less essential chamber works, like the Naxos recordings of Mozart's piano sonatas.

[shrugs]

you can avoid it all you want.
Nonesuch, MHS and Vox are not reference recordings with a few exceptions.
And for Goldberg, go to Goodwill and get the Gould lp for a buck.
FWIW, I paid less than $30 for 7 boxes and around 10 lp's recently.

[Alex]

For the record, I also like another budget line, Harmonia Mundi's digipack editions.

The Akademie fuer Alte Musik Berlin recording of the Brandenburg Concertos would be worth a full price edition. At Eur 9,99, it's a freakin' steal.

Ditto for the Michel Portal recording of Mozart's Clarinette Quintett, at a mere Eur 4,99

Please don't start with some "for a good vinyl recording at only 50 cents."

I don't by vinyl. It's clunky, non-portable, I don't own a record player, and would rather not drop the cash to buy one when I could spend it on better things, like rent, food, books, and CDs (and the occasional live show).

[shrugs]

I understand, I was just interested in these gosepl truths you laid down.

re:turntables

It's a shame that more people don't own one because the amount of classical available on vinyl for cheap as all get out is sickening. The sets I bought the other day were good labels too! Phillips(Holland), Telefunken, Archiv and l'Ouseau Lyre. The latter has the wonderful Fitzwilliam quartet's recordings of the Shostakovich String Quartet's. I only one one of the lp's but am sure I will find the lp boxset one day.
And to think of everyone who passed up the vinyl blowouts when cd came around.......

and please don't start with no money for a turntable. Do what I did. Work your ass off and save for 8 years.

[walto]

I started collecting LPs back when I was in high school. Bought mostly Hungaratones, Supraphons, Voxes, Odysseys, Wergos, Maces, stuff like that. There have always been and, God willing, always will be lots of great budget labels. Discovered lots of great pieces, orchestras, etc. that way. FWIW, I've always been in the Alex school about not bothering to try to get "the best" recording of most pieces. I wouldn't know it if I had it, anyway.

That said, I do think you should upgrade your Bruckner!

[Monte Smith]

There is so much stuff out there in the classical world, and getting up to speed to be a conversant fan is enough so that no beginner should be a purist or zealot about only buying the "best" to begin with. You have to educate your mind and your ears first. S'good to know there is more than one budget-friendly approach.

Alex has a unique advantage to this effect in being in Germany. I've travelled around the country just a little, but damn--if I lived there! I'd be at a different baroque church every weekend glomming on to a free or inexpensive performance on an ancient organ, or a legendary choir, etc etc.

Have you ever thought about embracing evangelical Lutheranism, Alex? You gotta seize the totality of the aesthetic experience.

[walto]

I don't know. I was amazed how expensive classical records were in Bavaria when I was there last year.

[Dr Dave]

Naxos is great! Nonesuch is great! Great music, cheap!

[Dr Dave]

Originally posted by shrugs
you can avoid it all you want.
Nonesuch, MHS and Vox are not reference recordings with a few exceptions.
And for Goldberg, go to Goodwill and get the Gould lp for a buck.
FWIW, I paid less than $30 for 7 boxes and around 10 lp's recently.

Gould's Goldberg sucks! Andras Schiff's version rules! on London! Yeah!

[Fred K]

I love Naxos. For the most part I tend to stay away from the major composers, but the Haydn and Schubert String Quartets (by the Kodaly Qt.) are as good as anything on the major labels. I only have Bruckner's 2nd Symphony by Tintner, but that cycle is well reviewed. I've really enjoyed their British series -- Finzi, Bax, Bliss, Moeran and especially the Walton series. I still learning early music and the low prices have allowed me to sample composers (Victoria, Lassus, Obrecht, Ockeghem) that I probably would have ignored if I had to pay $18 to $20 for a Gimell release.

I agree about the abundance of other bargain releases. I would much rather have Szell's Beethoven on Sony than either of the Naxos cycles. David Zinman has a very nice recent bargain Beethoven cycle on BMG Arte Nova with the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra that's better reviewed than either of the Naxos sets. But if I'm filling in missing symphonies, concertos, etc. (like I did with the Bruckner 2nd) that I can't find anywhere else, Naxos is perfect.

[lazarus]

The serie of Witold Lutoslawski´s complete orchestral works (seven volumes so far) is very recommended! Top class!

[shrugs]

Of course many libraries also contain a lot of classical cd's for check out. A great way to hear some of the older performances for free.

[shrugs]

Originally posted by Dr Dave
Gould's Goldberg sucks! Andras Schiff's version rules! on London! Yeah!

I happen to like most Gould. Haven't heard the Schiff. Is it on piano?