What are you listening to now?

[aligreto]

Pettersson: Symphony No. 5 [Francis]





This is an interesting work for me. I like its mood, its tone and its pace. The musical language is, as ever, interesting and I reiterate that I like Pettersson's scoring and the effects that he achieves from it. Yes, there is a lot of anxiety and tension in this work but it is well portrayed and documented in a valid way. There is quite a measure of drama thrown in here too for good measure. There is something of a resolution at the conclusion of the work but it is not in any way definitive.

[aligreto]

I hope that you liked that set.

[Judith]

Mozart Piano Concerto no 20
Murray Perahia
English Chamber Orchestra

The box set of Piano Concertos arrived today.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

#morninglistening to #FranzSchubert #StringQuartets on @harmoniamundi/@piasclassicsusa

: http://a-fwd.to/3pIYZPC

w/@cuartetocasals in superb performances of #SQ4ts #D887 & D87 ♡♡♡

[Traverso]

I hope that you liked that set.

Well, it is quite a difference with the Zurich String Trio ( Brilliant) The Zurich Trio is more Wienerisch while the Italiano play with much ,more vigour, which was a surprise.I like both but I had to open my ears to let it pas (erase) the imprint of The Zurich Trio.
I recieved this afternoon the complete text of the Bach cantatas,a volume with 1037 pages!    ;)Have a nice day.

[Sergeant Rock]

Crumb Black Angels played by the Kronos




Sarge

[aligreto]

Well, it is quite a difference with the Zurich String Trio ( Brilliant) The Zurich Trio is more Wienerisch while the Italiano play with much ,more vigour, which was a surprise.I like both but I had to open my ears to let it pas (erase) the imprint of The Zurich Trio.
I recieved this afternoon the complete text of the Bach cantatas,a volume with 1037 pages!    ;)Have a nice day.

Thank you for that and I am sure that you will have a nice day with your new book 

[Traverso]

Mahler

Das Klagende Lied

[Roasted Swan]

Partly in response to a mention of Ormandy and Shostakovich I've been listening to:
[asin]B000025H7D[/asin] and [asin]B000024QV5[/asin].  Even these old "Sony Essentials" discs have come up sounding very well in comparison to the murky dreadfulness I remember of so many CBS LP's in the 1970's.  Symphony No.5 gets a good but very 'straight' performance - perhaps a bit literal and without the irony that you expect to hear in the Post-Testimony world.  A staright-forward 2nd movement Landler and a beautifully played Largo but without the angst some find and a finale without much potential equivocation.  As such it works well but I do think there are darker layers to this piece. 

I really liked the performance of No.1 - very brash and brilliant - emphasising the youthful bravura of the piece - here the slightly strident recording adds to the occasion.  My real surprise on this disc were all the fillers from Andre Kostelanetz and "his orchestra".  The orchestra I take to mean the New York PO and they play with ridiculous brilliance.  These are little snippets of inconsequence from Shostakovich's pen but when played with the fizz and vigour and virtuosity they are here its pretty irresistible.

[Spineur]

I have not been listening to Bach cello suites in a year !  Time to fix this !

[asin]B000T2OMX0[/asin]

[André]

'Gran Cassa e Piatti' as the score asks for are missing 

Thanks for posting the score page!

Glad you could point out the missing instruments !

As for me I was intrigued by the mention of the « cimbasso » in the brass section. It appears to have seen the light of day around 1815 and been used extensively in italian opera houses. Here's one contemporary to Bellini's time:


And


Variously described as a bass horn, contrabass trombone, its shape has evolved over the years. Here's the modern version:

[Spineur]

Some of these ancient brass instrument are quite interesting and bizarre.  In the baroque era, this instrument "Le serpent" was used as a bass brass instrument.  Apparently it isnt difficult to play, but there are no serpent aka snake classes in conservatories.

[aligreto]

Brahms: Sonata in F minor for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 120 No. 1 [Berkes/Jandó]





A wonderful work played with great verve here but, unfortunately, recorded in a very dry acoustic which registers the clarinet on the harsh side.

[Turner]

Lots of early evening birdsong.

Am having a short vacation in a small house with sea view, in the old car-free island village of Nyord, with an adjoning bird reserve. Lovely, sunny spring weather.

[Traverso]

Bach

[aligreto]

Brahms: Clarinet Sonata in E flat major Op. 120 No. 2 [King/Benson]





The first thing that I notice in the Helios CD in comparison with the Naxos version of these two works is the much warmer recording acoustic which registers the clarinet's tone much warmer. The other noticeable difference is that the two instruments are much more balanced in the Helios recording.

As a result the Naxos CD above will now be culled from my collection.

[aligreto]

Lots of early evening birdsong.

Am having a short vacation in a small house with sea view, in the old car-free island village of Nyord, with an adjoning bird reserve. Lovely, sunny spring weather.

Sounds wonderful 

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Lots of early evening birdsong.

Am having a short vacation in a small house with sea view, in the old car-free island village of Nyord, with an adjoining bird reserve. Lovely, sunny spring weather.

Enviable, indeed! Free Messiaen. 

[aligreto]

JC Bach: Symphonies Op. 6 Nos. 1 & 2 [Halstead]

[Baron Scarpia]

Brahms: Clarinet Sonata in E flat major Op. 120 No. 2 [King/Benson]





The first thing that I notice in the Helios CD in comparison with the Naxos version of these two works is the much warmer recording acoustic which registers the clarinet's tone much warmer. The other noticeable difference is that the two instruments are much more balanced in the Helios recording.

As a result the Naxos CD above will now be culled from my collection.

If you get the de Peyer you will never have to cull again.

[asin]B000000AGC[/asin]