What are you listening to now?

[jlaurson]

A. Bruckner
Sacred Choral Works
Jochum / BRSO et al.
DG 4CDs
German link - UK link

A bit of Bruckner in the morning(ish).

These performances in the best sound available. Though the Te Deum, to which I am listening now, doesn't sound horrible on the DG Originals issue, either (as opposed to the Masses, on the other DG Originals Twofer).  Also much better spacing of the Masses across the CDs. (No mid-mass break.)

[Karl Henning]

Because, face it: Haydn in the morning is always good:

"Papa"
String Quartet in E, Op.54 № 3 (H.III/59)
Endellion Quartet

[Karl Henning]

“Papa”
String Quartet in g minor Op.74 № 3 « The Rider » H.III/74
Endellion Quartet

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

The 2 disc from this set.

Symphony No. 2, ( Awakening of the spring) for Soprano solo and orchestra.
Inger Dam-Jensen, Soprano.
Danish National SO, Thomas Dausgaard.

Langgaard writes beautiful music, there is no doubt about that. The second movement "Lento religioso quasi adagio" is a point in case. Hauntingly beautiful, in fact one of the most beautiful movements I have ever heard! Religioso indeed, its a elevating emotion that powered these very notes. But, and yes there is always a but, if something so fine passes your ears, inevitably there comes something nasty around the corner, and in this case for me, that is the following movement. Not because of the instrumental music, no, not that, but the disaster comes in the form of a Soprano that sings with a vibrato that leaves a long trail of superficiality, and makes me almost choke with indignation. For the life of me, I do not understand why Langgaard wrote this into the work, but he did, and that bares me from ever playing this movement again. Natural vibration is okay, but what Jensen is producing shows her limited abilities as a singer, and covering it up this way. Nevertheless the first two movements are exceptionally beautiful, and this is what consist for me the complete Symphony. Sound is good.

[jlaurson]

J. Brahms
Symphonies
Paavo Berglund / COE
Ondine
German link - UK link
Symphony No.2

Now... oh... another Second Symphony.


Henri Rabaud
Symphony No. 2 et al.
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra / N.Couton
timpani
German link - UK link

[Karl Henning]

The 2 disc from this set.

Symphony No. 2, ( Awakening of the spring) for Soprano solo and orchestra.
Inger Dam-Jensen, Soprano.
Danish National SO, Thomas Dausgaard.

Langgaard writes beautiful music, there is no doubt about that. The second movement "Lento religioso quasi adagio" is a point in case. Hauntingly beautiful, in fact one of the most beautiful movements I have ever heard! Religioso indeed, its a elevating emotion that powered these very notes. But, and yes there is always a but, if something so fine passes your ears, inevitably there comes something nasty around the corner, and in this case for me, that is the following movement. Not because of the instrumental music, no, not that, but the disaster comes in the form of a Soprano that sings with a vibrato that leaves a long trail of superficiality, and makes me almost choke with indignation. For the life of me, I do not understand why Langgaard wrote this into the work, but he did, and that bares me from ever playing this movement again. Natural vibration is okay, but what Jensen is producing shows her limited abilities as a singer, and covering it up this way. Nevertheless the first two movements are exceptionally beautiful, and this is what consist for me the complete Symphony. Sound is good.

So much wonderful music in that box, Harry!

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

And as a follow up

Symphony No. 3, "The Flush of Youth", for Piano solo, orchestra and Choir.
Per Salo, Piano

Basically this is a piano concerto, that gives with the first notes the impression that you landed in a Grieg concerto, but that impression quickly fades, for in its place comes out a highly original work, at times brilliant, with some lapses in conventional writing, but all in all I enjoyed this work very much. The choir has some insignificant role in the proceeding, and luckily very short it is. Again I feel to see why he wrote this into it, for he could have doubled the Violins too and have the same effect, and better. My two cents of course, I doubt that our highly trained musicians on GMG will agree with me. The music however is quite wonderful. It could have been better recorded though.

[mahler10th]

Tintagel from this.  It is so good that my hair is growing back from baldness to hear it.   

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

So I needed some respite from all the lovely sounds of Langgaard, and this is what I came up with.

Josef Rheinberger.

String Quintet, opus 82 in A minor.
Piano Quintet in C major, opus 114.
Sonare Quartet, with Horst Gobel on the piano.

What if I would say that he is on par with Brahms, would that raise eyebrows? If so I have to insist he is however a match for the great man. I do not say that lightly, no, not at all, I came to this conclusion after listening very attentively, and with the sounds of the Hyperion Brahms box still in my ears, yes he is indeed a worthy companion for Brahms, for Rheinberger's music is devastatingly beautiful, one note after another of supreme excellence. You can not really love the music of the one, and pass the other. There is not a moment that your attention wanders off, it keeps you firmly involved on all counts, certainly with such dedicated musicians at work.
This music will go on my diet, no doubt about that. Intimate sound and maximum involvement. Recommended.

[Fafner]

Franz Schubert - Symphony No. 8 & 9
St. Petersburg Academic Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Dmitriev

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

So now I am lingering in my listening room with this composer.

Eduard Franck.

Piano Trio in E flat major.
Cello Sonata in F major.
Violin Sonata in A major.

What first comes to mind is the fact that these are old fashioned musicians, from a bygone era. They are giving us a highly romanticized and thoroughly warm performance, that reminds me of the old masters in the trade. Nothing wrong with that. The music is beautiful, as Dave told me before of some full price recordings he bought. These are not the best sound recordings around, the first movement of the Piano trio sounds like it is recorded in the toilet of the recording studio. Further on it gets better but not much. However the performance is a dedicated one, and this is bringing rewards. Definitively a composer I keep on my radar. Cannot recommend it though, for I know that there are better recordings around. Chip Reardon the engineer should be ashamed of himself for delivering such a non effort.

[Brian]

Cannot recommend it though, for I know that there are better recordings around. Chip Reardon the engineer should be ashamed of himself for delivering such a non effort.

Oh, thank you for that warning, I was thinking about that disc but I will start with the chamber music on Audite.

[SonicMan46]

Bach, JS - streaming my 'personal Bach' internet channel off Pandora @ the moment which is providing a wide variety of Baroque & Classical era music - now listening to a Salieri Piano Concerto w/ Staier & Concerto Koln - anyone own that CD? 

 

[Que]

Bach, JS - streaming my 'personal Bach' internet channel off Pandora @ the moment which is providing a wide variety of Baroque & Classical era music - now listening to a Salieri Piano Concerto w/ Staier & Concerto Koln - anyone own that CD? 

 

I do - it is included in this box set:

[asin]B000V07IVI[/asin]

Q

[listener]

something familiar to start the day:
BRAHMS   Symphony 4, 'Tragic' Overture
Columbia Symphony Orchestra       Bruno Walter, cond.
Johann and Josef STRAUSS: the 2 'big' waltzes (Blue Danube, Vienna Woods) and several polkas and marches
Cincinatti Pops Orchestra     Erich Kunzel, cond.
and not familiar
J. MARX: Romantic Piano Concerto     KORNGOLD: 'Left Hand Piano  Concerto
Marc-André Hamelin, piano   BBC Scottish Symphony Orch.   Osmo Vänskä, cond.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Hiawatha yet again. This whole recording is fantastic.

[Lisztianwagner]

Alexander Glazunov
Symphony No.4

http://www.youtube.com/v/iXIPQiu_xj0

[huntsman]

[Brian]

Nicolas Altstaedt plays Pierne, Boulanger, and d'Indy cello sonatas: a cello recital which, if you like the instrument or French music, deserves a place on your radar.

[TheGSMoeller]

Bruckner: No. 7
Venzago/Basel Symphony Orchestra

This is a great 2-fer. Venzago and Company bring out a lot of detail with their unique presentation of these two fine Bruckner pieces. Their 4th is one of the best I've heard, mostly because I personally favor swifter tempi with the 4th, which they provide, and Venzago releases many nuances I haven't heard before. The 7th here is equally as lovely, but does not leave the initial impact of hearing this piece with new breath as Venzago accomplished with the Romantic. But it's not a throw away by any means, and will sit nicely underneath the likes of Chailly and Herreweghe.