Your Ultimate favorite

[karlhenning]

Easy this SACD which has been my current favorite for two years since first released, it was written in 2003.  I would not want to live without it.

There's good stuff in there, Teresa. I confess I am not so enthusiastic about it, though, as you!

Thread duty: Impossible, certainly.  Some days, though, I am inclined to answer the Shostakovich Opus 43 c minor symphony.

[Brahmsian]

Some days, though, I am inclined to answer the Shostakovich Opus 43 c minor symphony.[/font]

Gasp!  I expected Stravinsky's Agon, Monsieur Karl!    Though I'm also not surprised you listed Shosty's 4th.

[karlhenning]

Say, have you warmed so to Agon, Ray? I am impressed!

[WI Dan]

This one.

[schweitzeralan]

Bach's complete WTC.  What's yours?

I was most curious to learn what other listening aficionados would name and define the intellectual, aesthetic, compositional methodologies which determined which would be the one musical piece chosen to listen to if one were told that was the only option he/she could choose.

It was difficult for me, because I had undergone so many different "periods" or styles; notably romantic, impressionistic, neoclassical; or, certain national perspectives or styles in representative works: American (Barber, Hanson, Harris, Creston), for example.  Decades since I convinced myself that my favorites were the Czech Martinu; the English Bax, Scott, VW, Howells, plus many others.  The list grew.  I continued to play or listen to those symphonic or instrumental works that seemed to trasform my blase existence.

I simply lusted  after that particular style representative of: Sibelius, Rachmaninoff, or Debussy, Ravel, Gliere, as well as those who composed works similar to those of the "superstars."

When I continued listening to what I now considered my ultimate favorite, I feel as if I were transformed, or, rather "absorbed" by this particular work.  I sense that I am a part of it, even  though I obviously did not create it. I felt this way when I listened to other musical works, to be sure. Yet I would admit now the one surviving piece that for some reason I never tire of is the "Mysterium" of both Scriabin and Alexander Nemptin. It is truly a transcendental experience for me.  Quite personal.

[Wendell_E]

Berg's Lulu.

[greg]

There's good stuff in there, Teresa. I confess I am not so enthusiastic about it, though, as you!

Thread duty: Impossible, certainly.  Some days, though, I am inclined to answer the Shostakovich Opus 43 c minor symphony.

"Impossible, certainly..." I knew you'd say that.
But, nice to hear you mentioned Shostakovich's 4th!  I actually used to have the first movement of that one playing whenever you'd open my myspace page (now, it's the second item on the playlist). Possibly my favorite DSCH symphony, as well.

[karlhenning]

"Impossible, certainly..." I knew you'd say that.
But, nice to hear you mentioned Shostakovich's 4th!  I actually used to have the first movement of that one playing whenever you'd open my myspace page (now, it's the second item on the playlist). Possibly my favorite DSCH symphony, as well.

Nice! I need to find out what my password is to myspace . . . .

[greg]

Nice! I need to find out what my password is to myspace . . . .

MUSIC MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE.

[marvinbrown]

  After 6 years of serious, hardcore classical music (and nothing but!) listening.....with approximately 850 CDs in my collection spanning centuries of music this work AND this recording of this work tower above all else.  I have numerous versions of this work both on CD and DVD but this recording is truly my ultimate favorite:

 

  Flagstad is the perfect Isolde, Furtwangler is the perfect conductor for Wagner and the whole recording comes to together. like........... MAGIC!  

  marvin

 

 

[schweitzeralan]

  After 6 years of serious, hardcore classical music (and nothing but!) listening.....with approximately 850 CDs in my collection spanning centuries of music this work AND this recording of this work tower above all else.  I have numerous versions of this work both on CD and DVD but this recording is truly my ultimate favorite:

 

  Flagstad is the perfect Isolde, Furtwangler is the perfect conductor for Wagner and the whole recording comes to together. like........... MAGIC!  

  marvin

 


[/quote
]Now that is indeed a favorite.  A favorite is that magical musical epiphany a dedicated listener simply cannot do without.  Come what may!

[greg]

  After 6 years of serious, hardcore classical music (and nothing but!) listening.....with approximately 850 CDs in my collection spanning centuries of music this work AND this recording of this work tower above all else.  I have numerous versions of this work both on CD and DVD but this recording is truly my ultimate favorite:

I actually have that CD now, because you mentioned before that it was your favorite. Very good choice, btw- excellent recording for an excellent opera. 

[karlhenning]

Richard Wagner- I love this man!!

That conjures up visions of a pig at the end of the classic Looney Tunes short, "The Great Piggy Bank Robbery" — I love that man!!

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

That conjures up visions of a pig at the end of the classic Looney Tunes short, "The Great Piggy Bank Robbery" — I love that man!!

Come to think of it - why does Marvin refer to Brahms as his "unsung hero"? Seems to me Brahms is sung just about everywhere.

[Sergeant Rock]

marvin

Marvin, I could have bet my life on your pick...and I'd still be alive 

Sarge

[karlhenning]

Hah!

[prémont]

My Gould WTC comes on four CDs but I just checked the timings: between 51 and 54 minutes per disc. So yeah, easily fits on three.

Sarge

A recording of the WTC which fits on three discs would never become my favorite. The tempi would be too fast.

My favorite work is The Art of Fugue, - but I can not say which recording of it, as there is a large number of outstanding recordings of this work.

[Sergeant Rock]

A recording of the WTC which fits on three discs would never become my favorite. The tempi would be too fast.

Which is why I also own Barenboim's WTC: five  discs 

Sarge

[Valentino]

K. 466. And Mozart is not overrated, James! 

Recording? My current fave is Andsnes. Heia Norge, I guess.

[offbeat]

Berg's Lulu.

Yes - in a photo finish with Wozzeck