A Few Updates

And thank you to my subscribers!

Hello to all subscribers and readers! I want to say thank you again for supporting my writing here on Substack. Each of you are important to me, and I want to let you know that if you have any suggestions, questions, comments, or ideas, please feel free to send me a message.

A few updates to recent posts:

1. Luca, one of my loyal readers, pointed out to me that conductor Yuri Temirkanov had recorded Rachmaninoff’s Symphony no. 2 back in 1978 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for EMI, a recording which seems to be inexplicably out of print. It is a superb recording, every bit as good as his later recording in St. Petersburg, and in some ways better. As Luca pointed out, you may be able to pick up a used copy somewhere, and I was also able to listen to it on YouTube. I have updated my recent post on the symphony with this recording added to the recommended list.

2. In doing research on my upcoming post on Johannes Brahms’ epic Violin Concerto, I came across a 1953 HMV recording with Polish British violinist Ida Haendel and the London Symphony Orchestra led by Sergiu Celibidache. My most recent post for paid subscribers profiles Celibidache, and this recording of the Brahms concerto with Haendel fully deserves a mention. I have updated my post to reflect it, and although I had a hard time finding the recording, you can hear it on YouTube.

3. Finally, as I mentioned I am currently working on my next post featuring Brahms’ Violin Concerto, and similar to the concertos from Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, it is an immense task. There are nearly 300 recordings on streaming services, and I am making my way through many of them. I will let you know my recommendations will be a “selected” list, meaning I don’t anticipate being able to listen to every recording. I appreciate your patience while I spend a few more days sampling various recordings.

Until next time, keep listening to some great music and once again thank you for all your support!