Topic: What are you listening to now?

[Mirror Image]

I happened to listen to this performance last week and I had 2 abiding thoughts.... 1) I think this is RVW's most original and most powerful symphony of all - a genuine work of individual genius and 2) I felt the Chandos sound/recording did not 'support' the mood of the work... too literal.  But I rather liked Thomson's quite weighty/earthy approach and I also thought Yvonne Kenny's voice suited the off-stage soprano part very well.

Thomson’s RVW cycle is exemplary, but I haven’t heard A Pastoral Symphony in quite some time, so perhaps I more or less was trying to find my way into the music again, which, perhaps, is why I didn’t give Thomson completely high marks.

Thread duty -

Arnold
Guitar Concerto, Op. 67
Eduardo Fernández (guitar)
English Chamber Orchestra
Barry Wordsworth, conductor

[aligreto]

Rachmaninov: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom [Minin]





This is a rich, profound and very rewarding listening experience. The performance is very contemplative and atmospheric and is always most understated and engaging. It has the requisite gravitas, intensity and presence for this most powerful work. The choir sing with passion and conviction.

[aligreto]

A legendary performance - one of the best.

A very fine performance indeed and highly recommended.

[aligreto]

Mozart

Symphony No.29, from childhood on I cherish this symphony.

I have so many fine recordings from these symphonies but these ones with dear Otto remain very attractive to me.

Yes, Symphony No. 29 is also a very dear favourite of mine. I share your joy in this work.

[Todd]

The anti-Volodos.  Superb for what it is.  Fine transfers.

[Sergeant Rock]

Vaughan Williams Flos Campi, Hickox conducting the Northern Sinfonia




Sarge

[vandermolen]

A London Symphony - an excellent performance:

[Mirror Image]

I think I’m done with British music for awhile...a little goes a long way with these composers I’m afraid...

Thread duty -

Debussy
Études
Momo Kodama, piano



Breathtakingly gorgeous work. Certainly one of my favorites from Debussy (my numero uno).

[SymphonicAddict]

I'm really impressed how tastes change over the time. I remember not liking these symphonies, but now, they make much more sense to me. I can find enjoyment in them, and I rather like that gray atmosphere they depict.

[SymphonicAddict]

Thread duty:
Symphony 5. Best performance of Bax's most integrated symphony (like VW's 5th Symphony dedicated to Sibelius) along with Leppard's magnificent version on Lyrita.

Indeed, the Thomson performance sounds more epic than others. It's my 2nd favorite after the No. 1, also performed by Thomson on Chandos.

[Todd]

As sort of prep work for Lucchesini's upcoming Schubert twofer, I popped for the high res download of this disc.  I had previously streamed via my phone, but proper listening yielded even better results - and results were fantastic before.  The proper sound and playback gear yielded entirely more satisfying Scarlatti, with ample rhythmic swagger.  And Lucchesini owns Berio's music.  (Literally in the case of the pieces written for the pianist and his wife as a wedding present.)  It would take someone of the stature of YES or Volodos or Anderszewski to challenge Lucchesini here.

But the Schubert, well, that is what I really wanted.  The Moments Musicaux are sublime, on par with any recordings out there.  In the case of the Air russe, I am hard pressed to think of a better version.  The Widmann works are better than expected, too.  Lucchesini alternates between Scarlatti and Berio to start, and Schubert and Widmann to end, and some may dislike this approach, but it works fantastically well.

[André]

Sibelius symphony no 4, multiple versions. Comments in the Sibelius 4 thread.

[JBS]

Finishing this set  today. At the moment,  PC 23 K488



This was one of the bargains I got from Arkivmusic's Warner clearance. It was worth the price I paid, but I am not sure if it is worth more than that. Sound is sometimes too dry or too compressed, interpretations very mainstream, and KV 503 is split between two CDs. Nothing seriously wrong with it, but nothing is seriously outstanding, either.
I have Engel's Mozart sonata cycle awaiting its turn in the listening pile.

[Mirror Image]

Enescu
Piano Suites Nos. 1-3
Luiza Borac, piano

[Mandryka]

The playing and sound more than make up for the lackluster cover.

There’s another Partita 6 he recorded on the same label, celestial harmonies, it’s part of a live concert. In my opinion it’s one of the great modern piano Bach recordings. The whole concert is inspired (Debussy, Chopin) The one on your CD I can’t remember.

[Mandryka]

The anti-Volodos.  Superb for what it is.  Fine transfers.

The intermezzi are so fast and non-nostalgic and so different (I think) from his other recordings, I wonder what was going on. But yes, it is anti-Volodos and it is superb in its way.

[vandermolen]

Vaughan Williams Flos Campi, Hickox conducting the Northern Sinfonia




Sarge

What do you think of Riders to the Sea Sarge?

[vandermolen]

I'm really impressed how tastes change over the time. I remember not liking these symphonies, but now, they make much more sense to me. I can find enjoyment in them, and I rather like that gray atmosphere they depict.

Once again were in agreement Cesar although Symphony 4 is my favourite by Kokkonen.

[vandermolen]

Indeed, the Thomson performance sounds more epic than others. It's my 2nd favorite after the No. 1, also performed by Thomson on Chandos.

Yes, indeed. I think my order of favourite Bax symphonies would be 3 and 5 together in first place followed by 4 and 1 together and then 7 and 2 together and then 6. However, as in the VW symphonies ,I love them all!

Thread duty:
Symphony 8

[Toccata&Fugue]

There’s another Partita 6 he recorded on the same label, celestial harmonies, it’s part of a live concert. In my opinion it’s one of the great modern piano Bach recordings. The whole concert is inspired (Debussy, Chopin) The one on your CD I can’t remember.

Thanks for the tip--I just ordered that live recording.