Ron Chaplin writes concerning Bach's St. Matthew Passion:

>Right now, with my car player, I'm listening to the recording conducted
>by Otto Klemperer with Pears, Fischer-Dieskau, Schwarzkopf and Ludwig
>(EMI ZDMC 7 63058 2).  Even though I am not familiar at all with the
>words, the singing and the accompaniment is very beautiful.
>
>I'm wondering how this recording stacks up against other recordings.

This can be a loaded subject.  At one extreme are many folks who consider
the Klemperer version about the best ever recorded.  On the other side
are those who find it bloated and ponderous.  As it happens, I'm in the
preparation stage of reviewing the Klemperer along with a few period
instrument sets.  Klemperer's performance is very slow, and a perfect
example is the opening chorus (over 11 minutes).  Of course, it's all a
matter of personal taste.  I tend to prefer quicker readings and have a
great deal of affection for the first Herreweghe recording on Harmonia
Mundi.

Mats Norrman writes of my list of favorite music:

>I always wondered when people produce lists, like Mr.  Satzes, how
>temporary they actually are.  Was it the list of the day or does the
>list roughly look the same 2 months later.

My favorites haven't changed much over the past 10 years or so, although
I'm sure I can be as inconsistent as the next person.  The only music I
really go for these days that I wouldn't have listened to at all a few
years ago would be romantic-era chamber music from composers such as Dvorak
and Faure.  Also, my enthusiasm for orchestral music in general has
declined.

Don Satz
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