What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD1 from this set, which arrived a few weeks ago from Presto Classical for a first listen ...

[Scarpia]

Now playing CD1 from this set, which arrived a few weeks ago from Presto Classical for a first listen ...

That set is very good.  It's been out of print for a long while, it is good to see that it has been reissued. 

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Another composer Boulez knows like the back of his hand. I love this recording.

[kishnevi]

Have that in HM's budget re-issue format, and like it a lot.  But you've reminded me that it's been a while since I've listened to it.

[Coopmv]

Now playing SACD1 from this set, which arrived from Presto yesterday.

[listener]

another assorted collection
Robert PRINCE: Ballets U.S.A. -N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz
BERNSTEIN: Dances from West Side Story           Warner Bros. Studio orch., Robert Prince cond.
BRAHMS:  Symphony 1      Philharmonia Orch.,   Otto Klemperer, cond.
Frank MARTIN: Harpsichord Concerto  - Christiane Jaccottet;
Ballade for Trombone & Orch.  - Armn Rosin
Ballade for Piano & Orch.    - Sebastian Benda
Lausanne Chamber Orch.    composer coducting

[Sid]

Last night, Debussy's Violin Sonata, which I'll be seeing live tonight. This morning, some Steve Reich to start the day - Vermont Counterpoint, New York Counterpoint, Eight Lines (that was enough, I couldn't stomach Four Organs on the same disc, after all that). Next I want to get into some Schumann (esp. Cello Concerto) as I'll be seeing it live in September...

[Mirror Image]

Last night, Debussy's Violin Sonata, which I'll be seeing live tonight. This morning, some Steve Reich to start the day - Vermont Counterpoint, New York Counterpoint, Eight Lines (that was enough, I couldn't stomach Four Organs on the same disc, after all that). Next I want to get into some Schumann (esp. Cello Concerto) as I'll be seeing it live in September...

Reich's Music for 18 Musicians is still one of the finest works he composed I think. From here, a lot of his music pretty much sounds the same with the same techniques employed over and over again. I mean even works like Different Trains or City Life try to break this mold by incorporating recorded train and city noises, but it still can't hide that underlying feeling I get that I've heard all of this before.

This, of course, is just an observation of mine. I own a lot of his music and probably need to re-examine his output.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Concerto for the Left-hand right now with the great Pascal Roge at the piano.

Next, something different:

[kishnevi]

George Onslow
String Quartets Opp. 54-56
Quatour Diotima

Thank you to whichever GMGers posted about this recording.  Stands comparison to Mendelssohn and Schubert, and,  if not late period Beethoven (in response to which these quartets were written, according to the liner notes), at least middle period Beethoven.

Can anyone suggest other Onslow recordings?  I have one already, of the piano quintet Op. 76, which shares CD space with quintets by Hummel and Dussek (by the Nepomuk Fortepiano Quintet, on Brilliant--PI, as the ensemble's name suggests) which probably impressed me less but certainly wasn't bad.

[DavidRoss]

Another of my favorite conductor/orchestra combos in Sibelius, less polished than the bigger names but offering fully committed, seemingly spontaneous music-making that rarely fails to command my attention:

[Mirror Image]

Another of my favorite conductor/orchestra combos in Sibelius, less polished than the bigger names but offering fully committed, seemingly spontaneous music-making that rarely fails to command my attention:

I own all Sakari's Sibelius series and they're all still sealed in cellophane. I need to listen to these!

[Harry]

On this rainy and darkish Monday morning, I put music in my player that will match the day.

Villa-Lobos.
Piano Trios No. 1 and 3.

Antonio Spiller, Violin.
Monique Duphil, Piano.
Jay Humeston, Cello.

This Marco Polo recording from 1989 is very good, in terms of performance as well in recording. The musicians has just the right amount of emotion put in these trios. Lucid and a detailed approach, coupled with a excellent handling of the instruments, this recording is a winner for me. Slowly but surely I am extending my collection of this composer. I hope Marco Polo has also the rest of these trios.

[Harry]

George Onslow
String Quartets Opp. 54-56
Quatour Diotima

Thank you to whichever GMGers posted about this recording.  Stands comparison to Mendelssohn and Schubert, and,  if not late period Beethoven (in response to which these quartets were written, according to the liner notes), at least middle period Beethoven.

Can anyone suggest other Onslow recordings?  I have one already, of the piano quintet Op. 76, which shares CD space with quintets by Hummel and Dussek (by the Nepomuk Fortepiano Quintet, on Brilliant--PI, as the ensemble's name suggests) which probably impressed me less but certainly wasn't bad.

You might look at his symphonies, currently very cheap on CPO.

[George]

Interesting.  Are those studio or live recordings, and from when?

Studio. 1973 (Op. 2) and 1971 (Op. 5)

OOP though.

[mc ukrneal]

Has the day that I thought would never come...has it finally come?!? Hot on the heals of Mahler 7 Kondrashin, I thought I'd give a long unlistened to CD another chance. It is Mahler 3 Horenstein (on Unicorn), and I am enthralled.  Am I becoming a Mahlerite? This is a symphony that did not resonate the way 4 and 5 did (or 2 or . Add 7 and 3, and I am now 2/3 of the way there (liking 6 of 9)...scary stuff...but I am still not a huge fan of #1 (odd isn't it?).  I hope I can keep the buying impulses under control, as it appears to affect Mahlerites hardest of all! I understand there is no cure!

As to the recording, very nice indeed (I have Chailly and Bertini to compare to eventually). The sound from lows to highs is excellent, and I love how i can hear so many inner details. So much is going on that I don't fully grasp yet. There is such a range of music here - delicay, bombast, pastorale, dread, etc. I think I am going to enjoy this one a lot in the coming days!

[Lethevich]

I own all Sakari's Sibelius series and they're all still sealed in cellophane. I need to listen to these!

If you're not burned out on the piece, maybe give his Lemminkäinen Suite a shot, it's quite swashbuckling musicmaking

[Harry]

Czeslaw Marek.
Orchestral Works, Volume I.

Suite for Orchestra opus 25.
Meditations opus 14.
Sinfonia opus 28.

The Philharmonia Orchestra, London, Gary Brain.

This is the first Volume in this series, recorded in 1996, but there never came a second Volume, which is a pity, for his music is highly approachable, and is at times extremely dreamlike. It is well composed, with a open orchestral structure that makes it possible to hear all the inner detail. Well recorded too. The works range from Highly romantic, to Neo Classical.

[karlhenning]

Listened to Prokofiev symphonies 2 and 3, Jarvi's recording on Chandos.  Neither made a terribly good impression after a few listenings.

Symphony No 2 has an odd two movement form, the first movement unrelenting harshness, the second a very extended theme and variations (sort of like Beethoven's last piano sonata, as is pointed out in the notes).  There were striking sonorities and orchestral effects throughout, but I it didn't grab me.  Maybe in the future I will try a different recording.

Hmm; is this a reversal, Scarps?—

. . . Prokofiev, Symphony No 2, First movement.  Jarvi.  Now we're getting somewhere.  Quite a dense and cacophonous work, a lot of raw sonorities, but interesting.  Didn't have time to listen to the second (and final movement) but am looking forward to it.

Not that you aren't entitled to change your mind (you are, of course).

Symphony No 3 was assembled from fragments of Prokofiev's Opera "The Fiery Angel."  Again, seemed episodic, like a suite.  Despite striking effects, orchestration, etc, I missed a sense of symphonic development of themes.  Perhaps I'm just missing it.  Again, someday I'll revisit with a different recording.

I was decades 'missing' this;  it's really only just clicked for me this year.  YMMV, of course.

[karlhenning]

Thread duty:

Some sound samples of Hindemith piano music