What are you listening to now?

[Mirror Image]

Martinu's Three Piano Trios, recorded by the Smetana Quartet on Supraphon

[asin]B01AJ0JK7O[/asin]

I already knew the first trio in a recording by the Bekova Trio, but this is my first hearing of the other two. In my first exposure, I got the most pleasure from the Third Trio in C major. It reflects Martinu's style contrasting restless moto perpetuo passages with more lyrical material. In the first Trio (more of a suite than an sonata) I really enjoy the first movement, then my interest seems to flag. The second Trio will take more time to absorb. An initial listen won't cut it.

A great disc indeed, but, surely, you meant the Smetana Trio and not Quartet, right?

[Todd]

[Florestan]

For an opera buffa (more like a intermezzo buffo, actually) this performance is rather understated and frankly quite boring. And it's a pity because the music is great. At the very beginning, what seems to be a sad, mournful cantilena turns out to be Pulcinella's serenade. Priceless.

[ritter]

For an opera buffa (more like a intermezzo buffo, actually) this performance is rather understated and frankly quite boring. And it's a pity because the music is great. At the very beginning, what seems to be a sad, mournful cantilena turns out to be Pulcinella's serenade. Priceless.

Looks very interesting, Andrei.

You mean the cantilena is the on used by Stravinky in his ballet? "Mentre l'erbetta, la pastorella..."?

[Sergeant Rock]

Very nice, Sarge. What did you think of the performance?

I agree with you and Josquin13: a very moving performance. However, I still prefer the way Albrecht and Segerstam handle the central section (beginning at 22:23 in the Segerstam performance). Both are slower than Comissiona, showing a deeper wound but a certain stoicism too. But overall I like Comissiona a lot, enough to purchase the CD.

Sarge

[Mirror Image]

I agree with you and Josquin13: a very moving performance. However, I still prefer the way Albrecht and Segerstam handle the central section (beginning at 22:23 in the Segerstam performance). Both are slower than Comissiona, showing a deeper wound but a certain stoicism too. But overall I like Comissiona a lot, enough to purchase the CD.

Sarge

Excellent, I hope you can find a copy of it for a good price. I bought mine years ago, but I recently looked up what it's going for and all I can say is "Ouch!" Also, Segerstam's performance of the 7th is still my reference. I agree that Comissiona doesn't quite dig deep enough.

[Sergeant Rock]

Pettersson Symphony No.11. Unusual for Pettersson: the pain and anguish last only 24 minutes 




Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Excellent, I hope you can find a copy of it for a good price. I bought mine years ago, but I recently looked up what it's going for and all I can say is "Ouch!"

Found a German seller on Amazon DE. 100% positive reviews and only 18 Euro. Like new (he claims).

Sarge

[SonicMan46]

 

That must be good.

Hi Karl - both CDs above are worth exploring; I've owned then for a while and enjoy tremendously; in the Mozart concerto, Frost plays a basset clarinet - attached are reviews of each recording, if interested.  Dave

[Mirror Image]

Found a German seller on Amazon DE. 100% positive reviews and only 18 Euro. Like new (he claims).

Sarge

Not a bad deal given how rare this recording is now.

[Papy Oli]

Good evening.

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[Florestan]

Looks very interesting, Andrei.

You mean the cantilena is the on used by Stravinky in his ballet? "Mentre l'erbetta, la pastorella..."?

No. I mean Gioia de st'arma mia.

https://www.youtube.com/v/Z5Z8OVhYKvg

I mean, Pulcinella as the main character of this Paisiello opera. You know, my friend, there's more Pulcinellas than the Stravinsky one --- which actually came very late to the party. 

[aligreto]

Beethoven: Missa Solemnis [Kvam]....





This is an exciting, powerful, assertive, electric and very engaging interpretation and performance. The weight of the orchestra is a little light but an increase in volume will assist here; this aspect also helps with transparency of lines. It is packed with drama and energy. The singing, both individually and especially chorally, is very fine indeed. If you have not heard this version it is definitely worth investigating.

[Mirror Image]

Sinfonia Antarctica & Symphony No. 8:

[Todd]

[aligreto]

Haydn: Nelson Mass [Hickox]....





Buoyant, jubilant and celebratory, it sounds wonderful and it is always a pleasurable listen.

[Mahlerian]

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 "Babi Yar"
WDR Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, cond. Barshai
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[André]

Andre writes, "Josquin13: re, Petterson's 7th symphony. I agree with everything you wrote. What a work, and what a composer!"

Yes, he is.  Apart from Pettersson's 7th, do you have other favorite works by him?

Sarge writes, "Thanks for the links. I have Albrecht, Segerstam and Dorati but have never heard the Comissiona before."

My pleasure. Comissiona was Pettersson's choice to premiere a number of his symphonies.  Comissiona's 8th is exceptional too.  IMO, Comissiona gets just the right orchestral sound for Pettersson's music.  I recently read two critical reviews of the 5 recordings of the 7th, and interestingly, both reviewers put Comissiona as their #1 "desert island" choice, with Segerstam as their 2nd choice.  That's my view as well.  It's a shame that Comissiona's recordings aren't more readily available on CD. 

The problem with Dorati's 7th is that he inexplicably silences the horns on page 68 of the score.  It's an odd omission considering that Dorati gave the work's premiere in the 1960s, and presumably worked closely with Pettersson.  It's hard to imagine that Dorati's omission of the brass in the central section of the score came from Pettersson, especially since the recording was made months after the concert premiere.

Mirror Image writes, "Pettersson's 7th is the only work from him that I have actively liked and have been moved by. Those moments of heartbreaking lyricism is exactly why I rate this symphony so highly. He achieved such a unique balance of beauty and sheer agony. The only other symphony from him that comes close to achieving this kind of balance IMHO is the 6th. I need to revisit that Comissiona performance. My current top choice is the Segerstam's."

Yes, the Comissiona & Segerstam 7ths are easily my two favorite recordings, though I would consider Comissiona's 7th to be the more moving experience of the two (while Segerstam has the better sound engineering). I've been slowly making my way through Pettersson's recorded opus over the past couple of years, and still have a ways to go.  I've yet to hear the 6th--so thanks for the tip. I think the 4th is easily accessible too, and I was very impressed by Pettersson's 8th Symphony and Violin Concerto No. 2 (the Isabelle van Keulen recording), as well. I've also heard that Pettersson's songs (on CPO) are worthwhile, but have yet to get to them. 

It seems to me those that characterize Pettersson's symphonies as uniformly bleak and anguished are doing him a disservice.  Pettersson's symphonies are clearly about both darkness and light.  Granted, there can be harshness, chaos, a jarring turmoil, anguish & suffering, but there is also beauty, light, serenity, and peace.  Much the same as life on this planet.  Though I confess I occasionally can find some of his symphonies go on too long for the breadth of their ideas.  And, sometimes their progression strikes me as a bit awkward from one idea to the next.  In other words, I find his 'stream of consciousness' approach is more successful in some symphonies than others.   But he certainly knows how to compose impressively for an full orchestra.   

I enjoy the 2nd violin concerto most - in the original, unrevised version - on Caprice. I find it radically different from the simplified version recorded by van Keulen - could be the violinists' different personalities, too. Haendel is scorching, van Keulen soothing.

Also, symphonies 6-11 (all of them). I have an immense fondness for the Mesto from his 3rd string concerto. This is the piece that started me on Pettersson 20-something years ago (coupled with the 2nd symphony).

[I'm on vacation this week, so I might miss on some interesting conversations  ]

[Turner]

Pettersson´s 8th is among his most immediately captivating works, IMO (I wouldn´t go for Segerstam there as a first choice).

I´d also listen to Ida Haendel/Blomstedt in the 2nd Violin concerto, actually concentrating on the 2nd half of the piece for a start.

[André]

The 8th is also the only one that is cast in 2 equal movements. It's a beautiful work, Pettersson almost at peace with his daemons - although to be sure, they're never far from the surface (reminds me of the Harry Potter sequence in which the dead rise from the lake).