What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[marvinbrown]

  For the past 2 weeks every morning I have been listening to the Sacred Cantatas of J.S. Bach from the 60 CD Leonhardt/Harnoncourt set.  My second time around I have decided to break the set in half. I started with CD 31 (Cantatas 100 onwards) and am currently listening to CD 50 Cantata no. 168. I will take a break once I am done with CD 60 and then return to CD1 to complete the cycle.  So many highlights its difficult to write them down.  This is the set I am talking about:

 

  I never thought after listening to all 60 CDs in Jan/Feb of this year I would ever crave going back to these works but here I am, once again, craving, wanting more of Bach.


  marvin

[Harry]

Wiener Music, Volume VI.
Johann Strauss Jr.
Wiener and Berliner Symphoniker, Robert Stolz.
Recorded 1970-1971.

For me this music and performance is a piece of heavenly manna.

[rubio]

5th Symphony

I loved the transparency and power of this recording. I heard things (entire phrases in spots) in this symphony that I had never heard before. One thing I also noticed, perhaps because of the faster tempos the overall structure was more apparent, was that the last 1/3 or so of the fourth movement really goes on and on and on. When you think you are at the final chords, it just keeps going. I also recalled that I have always loved the first movement a great deal more than the rest of the work. I think it was written better, with a tight sense of form missing in the other movements. I realize I sound like a newbie who only listens to the "hits," but I have tried numerous times to enjoy this entire symphony and each time I notice that my enjoyment drops after the first movement. I should mention that I don't have this experience with many of his other works that contain famous movements, such as the Pastoral symphony or the Moonlight Sonata.  

I have this same "problem" with the last two movements of the Eroica, but not with the 5th. I'm looking forward to hearing your further comments on the Immerseel set, as I have been tempted by Elgarians earlier comments .

[George]

I have this same "problem" with the last two movements of the Eroica, but not with the 5th. I'm looking forward to hearing your further comments on the Immerseel set, as I have been tempted by Elgarians earlier comments .

Will do, I plan to listen to the 6th at lunch time. 

[SonicMan46]

Beethoven, LV - Symphonies - still working on this excellent box w/ Blomstedt, and just put in an order for the Immerseel set (both will nearly double by LvB Symphony cycles!) -  

Mendelssohn, Felix - Piano & Violin Concertos w/ Serkin & Stern; obviously 'historic' recordings released in 1959/60, but outstanding performances and much better than expected re-mastering; certainly a consideration if wanting all of these FM concertos on one disc.

 

[George]

Mendelssohn, Felix - Piano & Violin Concertos w/ Serkin & Stern; obviously 'historic' recordings released in 1959/60, but outstanding performances and much better than expected re-mastering; certainly a consideration if wanting all of these FM concertos on one disc.
 

So glad you like that one, Dave! 

[SonicMan46]

So glad you like that one, Dave! 

Good morn George - yep, thanks for the recommendation; Stern is just finishing up (Susan is out of the house so I have the volume really UP!) - sounds like Issac is in the room w/ me; just don't hear any 'background hiss' - excellent!  Dave 

[Opus106]

Ah, I see we're talking LvB at this hour...

My current forum name-sake - Friedrich Gulda

(Just in case I change that name to something else in future: I was referring to Beethoven's Op. 106)

I don't listen to much anything these days except for trash that I have no choice but to put up with for a couple of hours each day. I'm sure listening to the fugue of the last movement will keep my mind busy and 'clean'.


P.S.: Oh, and those Chopin-esque moments of the second movement still gets me out of the blue in this work. In this recording it starts at ~2:20 and lasts for about 10 seconds. It returns about 6 minutes later.

[Harry]

Some more Johann Strauss.

Im Krapfenwald'l
Von der Borse
Freuet Euch des Lebens
Tausend und eine Nacht
Indigo Marsch
Wiener Blut
Bei uns z'haus
Fledermaus Quadrille
Wo die Citronen Bluh'n
Tik-Tak
Du und Du
Cagliostro Walzer

Unzuweiter.......

[George]

My current forum name-sake - Friedrich Gulda

(Just in case I change that name to something else in future: I was referring to Beethoven's Op. 106)

Yes, his Op. 106 is one of the very best IMO. He stays pretty close to the indicated tempos on the score and has the technique to do so well.

[Opus106]

Yes, [Gulda's] Op. 106 is one of the very best IMO. He stays pretty close to the indicated tempos on the score and has the technique to do so well.

How many other pianists that you know of have managed to do that on record? I read that most performers, beginning somewhere in the 19th century(?), slowed things down so that they could play it more easily/comfortably.

[George]

How many other pianists that you know of have managed to do that on record? I read that most performers, beginning somewhere in the 19th century(?), slowed things down so that they could play it more easily/comfortably.

I seem to recall that Taub did it at tempo and a few others, but can't recall them now. I am sure Todd could help out. He's quick at returning PMs. 

[Opus106]

Thanks.

[karlhenning]

Now playing WTC Book 1 Disc 1 by Christiane Jaccottet from this set, part of my Bach collection ...

I really like that box, Stuart; certainly Jaccottet's components.

[karlhenning]

Thread duty:

Schubert
Symphony № 5 in B-flat Major, D.485
Staatskapelle Dresden
Davis

[karlhenning]

Schubert
Symphony № 6 in C Major, D.589
Staatskapelle Dresden
Davis

[George]

6th Symphony

This one sounds too fast to me in the first movement, as I like it a bit more leisurely taken. The dynamic range really stood out in this symphony for me, for pianissimo moment achieved a chamber-like quality. Then when the storm came, it came with full force, leaving a big impression.

[SonicMan46]

Paganini, Nicolo - Caprices, Op. 1 w/ Tanja Becker-Bender playing on a violin by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu (Cremona, 1728) - yet another youthful female violinist; seems like all of my recent violin acquisitions have been perfomances by ladies! 

Over the years, I've owned (and 'culled out') a number of discs of these oft recorded solo violin pieces; currently, I own several older performances w/ Salvatore Accardo & Michael Rabin, the latter being one of my favorites after years of listening to these 'devilish' compositions.

So, I was not planning to add yet another disc of these works, but recently read an excellent review in the American Record Guide (July-August 09 issue) on the disc below; then checked for other reviews - a Gramophone Editor's Choice & a superb write-up also in Fanfare (both reprinted HERE); well, I though I must have a listen -    Plan to do some 'comparison' listening w/ the older Rabin recording.

BTW - the painting on the front cover is modern (done in 1997) - called Salieri's Dream - artist's Website HERE - 

 

[Opus106]

BTW - the painting on the front cover is modern (done in 1997) - called Salieri's Dream - artist's Website HERE -  

I was just about to enquire. Thanks.

As for the Devil Incarnate's works, I have just the first two concerti(Accardo/DG). It was one of the earliest CDs I bought and have loved it since. I have not explored his works beyond those two, however.

[jlaurson]

Paganini, Nicolo - Caprices, Op. 1 w/ Tanja Becker-Bender playing on a violin by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu (Cremona, 1728) - yet another youthful female violinist; seems li
BTW - the painting on the front cover is modern (done in 1997) - called Salieri's Dream.

 

What a ghastly piece of trash. I can't believe it's not a Danielle Steel romance novel cover. (With just a hint of "Andre Rieu as he sees himself" thrown in.)

On the other hand: well chosen for the repertoire. :-)