What are you listening to now?

[LKB]

If you like HvK (which I do), then you should definitely hear the rest of this cycle. You'll enjoy it I imagine.

I'll definitely seek out the remaining recordings, thx for the recommendation.   

And l do like HvK, indeed for the first few years after committing myself to music l listened to his recordings almost exclusively. It wasn't until l went to work at Tower that the vast selection there ( coupled with the employee discount ) enabled and empowered my discovery and collecting of the other significant conductors and ensembles from that era and earlier.

But in 1978, l was as big a fanboy of HvK as anyone alive.   

Conducting with eyes closed,

LKB

[Mirror Image]

I'll definitely seek out the remaining recordings, thx for the recommendation.   

And l do like HvK, indeed for the first few years after committing myself to music l listened to his recordings almost exclusively. It wasn't until l went to work at Tower that the vast selection there ( coupled with the employee discount ) enabled and empowered my discovery and collecting of the other significant conductors and ensembles from that era and earlier.

But in 1978, l was as big a fanboy of HvK as anyone alive.   

Conducting with eyes closed,

LKB

Excellent. As mentioned in my previous post, this set is my favorite:

[Mirror Image]

First-listen Sunday (to the recording, not the work):



Sounds absolutely exhilarating thus far. I'll probably listen to it twice in a row.

[aligreto]

Canteloube: Songs of the Auvergne, extracts [Handley]....





It is always a joy to hear Gomez singing these songs.

[Kontrapunctus]

A wonderful recording of unfamiliar music. The playing is great, and the sound is spectacular—the musicians are practically in my listening room!

[aligreto]

Grieg: Peer Gynt Music [Fjeldstad]....


   


This is quite an assertive and buoyant interpretation and is quite enjoyable. These are rich and robust interpretations of these appealing melodies.

[Todd]

[Mirror Image]

Le festin de l'araignee (The Spider's Banquet), Op. 17
Padmavati Suites Nos. 1 & 2



A thrilling disc!

[SonicMan46]

Listening now - from "The Real Chopin" set:

 

So now and then I like to dip into this set.
The general level of Chopin interpretation is really excellent with what seem to be handpicked performers.

Hi Que - I've looked at that Real Chopin box for a number of years but just could not find a decent price (for me, at least - ) - inserted above is the current offering on Amazon USA - might consider the collection at half that price - if anyone knows a MUCH better offering, please post - thanks. Dave

[Todd]

if anyone knows a MUCH better offering, please post - thanks. Dave

You can get it for about $130 from Amazon Germany marketplace, shipping included. 

[SymphonicAddict]

Nielsen: Symphonies 5 & 6



Two real achievements of orchestral music in the 20th century. Simply there are no enough words to describe my fascination with the 5th symphony. This work is claimed as my favorite Nielsen's symphony and one of my all-time favorites. The 5th is a majestic construction in every sense of the word.

Additionally, I realized of the importance of the 6th symphony. It can easily be his best symphonic work. It has an engaging mystery and enigma that make this work so singular, also because of his orchestration. I think the 6th inherites some elements of the 5th symphony in terms of percussion and atmosphere.

This performance has been very satisfying to my ears. I like the very ending of the 5th symphony in this recording because it's not so fast, it allows appreciate more the grandeur/resolution of the conflicts presented through the work.

[Kontrapunctus]

After listening to this staggering display of virtuosity, I couldn't bring myself to play the piano today! Good, if slightly thin sound.

[Mirror Image]

Nielsen: Symphonies 5 & 6



Two real achievements of orchestral music in the 20th century. Simply there are no enough words to describe my fascination with the 5th symphony. This work is claimed as my favorite Nielsen's symphony and one of my all-time favorites. The 5th is a majestic construction in every sense of the word.

Additionally, I realized of the importance of the 6th symphony. It can easily be his best symphonic work. It has an engaging mystery and enigma that make this work so singular, also because of his orchestration. I think the 6th inherites some elements of the 5th symphony in terms of percussion and atmosphere.

This performance has been very satisfying to my ears. I like the very ending of the 5th symphony in this recording because it's not so fast, it allows appreciate more the grandeur/resolution of the conflicts presented through the work.

Agree with every word about these two symphonies. Two very special works. Rozhdestvensky's performances, while not my own preference, are worthwhile and allow you to hear all of the details within the writing to maximum effect. The Sarge rates Rozhdestvensky's cycle highly.

[kishnevi]

Over the last day or so, I've been giving a first listen to Enescu's symphonies
[asin]B071V62PL9[/asin]
Now doing the Third.

Will need a couple more listens to get a handle on what I think of them.

[LKB]

Excellent. As mentioned in my previous post, this set is my favorite:

Mission accomplished, I've just finished listening to HvK's 1963  recordings of Beethoven's Symphonies 1,2,7&8.

I think 2 & 8 came off the best. Having said that, l prefer his later analog recordings in all four symphonies ( but not in 3-5 or 9 ).

Even while l was finding fault in places, l couldn't help thinking how fortunate Karajan was in having the Jesu Christe Church available for this cycle. The timpani sound is not ideal, but Hermanns et. al. did DG proud otherwise.

Thx again to MI for prodding me to give these recordings a hearing, it was definitely time not wasted. 

Regards,

LKB

[Mirror Image]

Mission accomplished, I've just finished listening to HvK's 1963  recordings of Beethoven's Symphonies 1,2,7&8.

I think 2 & 8 came off the best. Having said that, l prefer his later analog recordings in all four symphonies ( but not in 3-5 or 9 ).

Even while l was finding fault in places, l couldn't help thinking how fortunate Karajan was in having the Jesu Christe Church available for this cycle. The timpani sound is not ideal, but Hermanns et. al. did DG proud otherwise.

Thx again to MI for prodding me to give these recordings a hearing, it was definitely time not wasted. 

Regards,

LKB

Great! Glad you enjoyed them!

[André]

All told, one of the top 3 versions I know (*). Tension increases with each movement, orchestral playing and recording are spectacular and, more to the point, Farberman nails the character of each movement unerringly. His account of the scherzo is simply unimpeachable. All others I know fail to some degree here. Although the timing is on the slow side (87 minutes), the performance itself is not: weightily accented yet very sharply characterized.

(*: other two: Benjamin Zander and Vladimir Ashkenazy. Honourable mention to Barbirolli's studio account).

...


Songs by Reger, Grieg, Brahms, Wolf and Schubert. Curiously, the use of Reger's plush orchestrations makes the non-Reger songs sound very much similar to one another. None the less, this is an imaginatively planned and well executed recital. The use of  3 voices (mezzo, tenor and baritone) provides a welcome variety of tone and character.

[Mirror Image]

All told, one of the top 3 versions I know (*). Tension increases with each movement, orchestral playing and recording are spectacular and, more to the point, Farberman nails the character of each movement unerringly. His account of the scherzo is simply unimpeachable. All others I know fail to some degree here. Although the timing is on the slow side (87 minutes), the performance itself is not: weightily accented yet very sharply characterized.

(*: other two: Benjamin Zander and Vladimir Ashkenazy. Honourable mention to Barbirolli's studio account).

My dad has this Farberman account in his collection (he's the Mahler collector in the family). You're enthusiasm here has me interested. According to Amazon, Farberman has also recorded the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 10th. Have you heard any of these, Andre?

[Mirror Image]

Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No. 1, Op. 98 -

[Mirror Image]

The 3rd: