Jerzy Semkow conducts M3.

[sbugala]

Hey fellow Mahler fiends and friends,
      I kinda have a soft spot for Jerzy Semkow's conducting since he used to be music director for the Saint Louis Symphony in the 1970s. He's done a pretty nice Schumann cycle, and some assorted Beethoven works for Vox, plus some other stuff.  I've only heard him conduct here live on one occasion when he delivered the best night of Beethoven I think I've ever heard, after I had more or less sworn off hearing most Beethoven live because of indifferent performances.  (For lack of a better phrase, it was very "old school.")  I recently read he's released a Bruckner 7th and a Mahler 3rd on the Dux label.

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2009/Apr09/Mahler_3_dux0664.htm and http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2009/Apr09/Bruckner7_Semkow_dux0668.htm

Has anyone heard these performances?  I'd expect the playing of the Sinfonia Varsovia isn't word class, but I'm half-tempted to give one or both a try.


Steven  

[barry guerrero]

Amoeba Records in San Francisco carries this recording, and I've been wondering about it myself. It's really cheap! Since I like Mahler 3 so much, I think I'll pick it up when I next visit there. It's at the end of Haight Street, as in Haight/Ashbury, just before the start of Golden Gate Park.

[sbugala]

I'll look forward to your thoughts on it, Barry, even if it's not so great.

[akiralx]

The Bruckner 7 got good reviews but I haven't heard it.

[sbugala]

Revisiting this topic: did anyone get to hear this recording? I'd imagine the playing may not be top notch, but I hope I'm wrong.

[barryguerrero]

Welllll, quite obviously, 11 years later, I never did pick up that copy at Amoeba Music in S.F. I don't think I've seen this at Spotify, but I'll have a look.

[sbugala]

I didn't even know I started it that long ago! Wow. I've checked Youtube and Primephonic, with no luck.