What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[karlhenning]

What will everyone be listening to for the final day of 2008?   

Yikes, hadn't thought of it in quite those terms!

Again, I'm remote, and dependent upon my trusty 4gb Sansa Fuze;  and while I have not yet loaded it full, it currently contains (what it is programmed to label) 427 "songs" (The Miraculous Mandarin is split into, I dunno, some ten "songs," e.g. . . . although Le sacre is one "song" each for Parts I & II).

Knowing it for the last of 2008, tomorrow I'll plan to listen to:

Bartók, six quartets (again, w/score . . . God help me, I do love them so!)
Stravinsky, Orpheus
Prokofiev, five piano concerti
Nielsen, Sinfonia espansiva
Henning, The Mousetrap
The odd Zappa bit
The odd Bonzo Dog bit
Prokofiev, L'enfant prodigue
Sibelius, The Oceanides
Shostakovich, The Execution of Stepan Razin

[karlhenning]

Right at the moment:

Sibelius
En saga, Opus 9
LSO
Doráti

[Kullervo]

Stravinsky, Orpheus

Listened to that as well yesterday. Some of my favorite Stravinsky.

[Lethevich]

Stravinsky, Orpheus

Hehe, that reminds me, I will play Offenbach's Orphée aux enfers overture to celebrate the new year. Anything else would be insufficiently... festive 0:)

[Lilas Pastia]

That's on my shopping list.

From the following boxset...

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
Aase Nordmo Lövberg, soprano; Christa Ludwig, mezzo-soprano; Waldemar Kmentt, tenor; Hans Hotter, baritone
Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus
Otto Klemperer, cond.
EMI (Disc #6 of 9)
Several weeks ago on another message board, there was a very brief tête-à-tête concerning this recording of Beethoven's Ninth wherein it was suggested by a poster that it's comparable to Karajan's vaunted '63 recording.  At the time I wondered if that "suggestion" was merely a misunderstanding on my part since I've always felt the Klemperer to be miles removed from Karajan in almost every conceivable way.  I promised myself a reassessment; it came this morning.  However, there's no use pretending it's an actual reassessment since my feelings remain unchanged -- this is a plodding, hardened, overall schlerotic performance devoid of the "joy" that's supposedly this work's raison d'etre.  Klemperer effected strict, deliberate tempi throughout, albeit exposing a great deal of orchestral detail that's captured impressively by the EMI recording dating from 1957.  The vocal soloists are at best adequate and likewise captured, if the chorus leaves something to be desired in the way of clarity and sonic vibrancy.  I could make the ameliorating attempt to pinpoint certain "highlights" in Klemperer's rendition whereby his approach may be justified, but there's no use in thinking that it would in any way preclude my suggestion to novice listeners to avoid this recording until one is well-versed in this great work's wonderful mysteries and utter joys as promulgated by any number of great recorded performances...Karajan's included.

This is pretty much my own opinion, but I do find redeeming features in the finale which goes at a normal clip. The scherzo though is, as you say, sclerotic, and I should add dyspeptic, arthritic and geriatric. I honestly fait to find any justification for this comatose rendition, least of all the dismal coda.

Renfield mentions a live performance and IIRC that was reviewed somewhat favourably.

[PaulR]

Beethoven:  Piano Sonata #8 in C minor "Pathetique"  Pollini

Haven't listened to this in a while.  Decided to give it a spin

[PaulR]

Peterson-Berger:  Symphony #5 "Solitudo" Jurowski/Norrköping Symphony Orchestra

[Brian]

Just found out George is back (a bit late on that perhaps), so I'm playing some Chopin recordings by Ivan Moravec. Richter recitals next  0:)

[Daverz]

Orchestral works that tend to be on the contemplative side.  The ondes martenot is used sparingly and evocatively, and sounds like music on the seashore of another planet.

[springrite]

Schubert Quartets #12-#15 (Brandis Quartet)

[pjme]

Orchestral works that tend to be on the contemplative side.  The ondes martenot is used sparingly and evocatively, and sounds like music on the seashore of another planet.

Ah! Great - it is a beautiful disc. " Vers la voüte étoilée" has a "German/romantic" heart, I think ( Bruckner/Mahler come to mind). "Fabricius" is -indeed- a vast meditation on the mysteries of Nature & Man.
Let's hope Holliger can perform& record the symphonies aswell.

Peter

[Que]

 

Prelude and Fugue for Organ in C major, BWV 547
Leipzig Chorales (BWV 659 - BWV 668)
Prelude and Fugue for Organ in B minor, BWV 544

Heinrich Gottfried Trost Organ, Stadtkirche " Zur Gotteshilfe", Waltershausen (built 1724-30)

I'll start my day with one disc from this set (Jesu, der du meine Seele BWV 78, Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ BWV 33, and Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich BWV 17, to be specific.)

A particular favourite of mine.

Q

[Harry]

Since you are advertising the Alan Bush Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2, Harry, as your 'favourite disc' I shall start a thread about Bush in the next few days and hope that you will comment more about the works.

Absolutely wonderful Colin, I will tell my bit, as a staunch trooper. 

[George]

Just found out George is back (a bit late on that perhaps), so I'm playing some Chopin recordings by Ivan Moravec. Richter recitals next  0:)

Yo, Brian! 

Happy New Years Eve, everyone! Be safe tonight!

[Que]

Q

[Renfield]

If you are still in Edinburgh I hope that you are either listening on headphones or have very indulgent neighbours

The 1812 is pretty loud for 1.30 in the morning

After 23:00, I switch to more discrete means of listening. Especially since I often do a lot of symphonic listening as late as 0:00-1:00!


Will be listening to, in just a bit:

Charles Munch conducting Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique, via Boston Symphony Orchestra on RCA. At last!


(And that's "last day of the year listening", as well.)

[jlaurson]

Updated

Karl Richter - 75 Cantatas - Archiv
I'll start my day with one disc from this set (Jesu, der du meine Seele BWV 78, Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ BWV 33, and Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich BWV 17, to be specific.)

Then I shall finish listening to

KBE (hon) Bernard Haitink CH (hon) - Ring Cycle - EMI  - just one more disc to go.
Yep... Eva Marton is a liability in an otherwise beautifully lean (though not necessarily fast) Ring.

I've moved on. Apart from listening to the Desprez set that came through the door, earlier, I gave this another listen while putting the finishing touches on a review.


Bach - Cantatas BWV 54, 169, 170, J.Bowman / R.King / King's Consort
helios CDH 55312

(Review here)

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Surprisingly good, really. I am grateful for Don's recommendation.

Yes, excellent music! Listening to it while I write.

[Keemun]

[AnthonyAthletic]

Pleasuring myself, again.