What are you listening to now?

[schnittkease]

I have started to quite like his Symphony no 7.

What do you think of Symphony #5 "L'allegro ed il penseroso?" Although it tends to drag like his other orchestral stuff, it's the critics' consensus that this is his greatest symphony. There's also the Irish rhapsodies, which I prefer to the symphonies any day. Do you have this? (It's good!):

[asin]B000025S1N[/asin]

[Kontrapunctus]

Mind-blowing playing and wonderful sound.

[Mandryka]

Hey, Papy. I'm pleased to see you call the music Richter's WTC because, according to some of our HIPsters, that isn't Bach 

Sarge

I suppose ever since Socrates philosophy has led people to surprising and unintuitive conclusions.

[Zeus]

Gesualdo: Tenebrae Responsoria
La Compagnia del Madrigale
Glossa

[asin] B00I102C7U[/asin]

[vandermolen]

What do you think of Symphony #5 "L'allegro ed il penseroso?" Although it tends to drag like his other orchestral stuff, it's the critics' consensus that this is his greatest symphony. There's also the Irish rhapsodies, which I prefer to the symphonies any day. Do you have this? (It's good!):

[asin]B000025S1N[/asin]

Not directed at me but it's my favourite alongside No.3
All the others I find rather boring.

[vandermolen]

Alkan - Grand Duo Concertant for violin and piano:

[asin]B00002631G[/asin]

This is a really impressive work, and very ahead-of-its time for 1842! Witness the subterranean growlings of the opening of the second movement (titled L'Enfer). It's one of the most epic and symphonic violin sonatas I've heard. I really ought to check out Alkan's solo piano music now! BTW, what strange cover art


Diamond - Symphony no. 3:

[asin]B00008V5ZU[/asin]

A wonderful symphony, with a distinct Coplandesque "outdoorsy" flavor but not without an individual voice. The energetic, percussion-laden (including a prominent piano part) opening is really fantastic, and the elegiac, resigned quality of the slow finale is quite moving.


Gipps - Symphony no. 2:

[asin]B00000JF7D[/asin]

This symphony, in a pastoral RVW-like mode with occasional Baxian echoes, has some very fine moments, but is a bit too episodic to be completely successful IMO. I particularly liked the march-like section with the prominent snare drum about 3/4 of the way through. I'm certainly looking forward to the upcoming Chandos release of this and her 4th Symphony, reputedly her finest work.



Hindemith - Konzertmusik for Brass and Strings:

[asin]B07894WLW6[/asin]

As usual with Hindemith, this is a highly satisfying work, expertly written but without any academic "dryness" that Hindemith is sometimes accused of.


Dohnányi - Harp Concertino:

[asin]B0002X4TV6[/asin]

My, this is absolutely gorgeous music! You would hardly guess it was written in 1952, for it shows no signs of modernism or war-torn angst. Anyone who loves Alwyn's Lyra Angelica (composed two years later) is bound to like this as well, as both works share an ecstatically enchanting lyricism.

Great choices Kyle. Diamond's No 3 is his greatest I think and the topic of my fan letter to him.

Dohnanyi's Second Symphony is a very fine work as well.

[Daverz]

I like the deliberate pace since this is not an easy to follow symphony.  Excellent sonics.

20:43 17:38 14:41 27:39 = 80:55 total

[asin] B0000060D5[/asin]

The Irish orchestra sounds great to my ears.  I wonder what how they felt about these sessions.

[Zeus]

Music for Emperor Charles V
Matthias Gerchen, Katharina Bäuml, Capella de la Torre
Coviello

[asin] B01ASHY14A[/asin]

Mostly ceremonial wind music; some singing.

[SymphonicAddict]

I've sometimes been critical of Stanford's orchestral music (what do I know?! ) but I can't fault this music. It really is rather magnificent. Glorious music! Although,the cd I'm listening to is,actually,the one included in the emi box set,'The Lighter Elgar'. I am warming to some of his orchestral music,though. I have started to quite like his Symphony no 7. I gave the cd to my late mother,so it got kept,unlike the others. But the piece on that cd that grabbed me most of all was the Concert Piece for Organ and Orchestra Op. 181. The organ in the Chandos recording really is quite thrilling........and thunderous! I was quite impressed!

I'll have to check the Concert Piece for organ and orchestra. Fortunately I have that Chandos recording!

[Maestro267]

Penderecki: Kosmogonia
Soloists, Warsaw Philharmonic Choir
Warsaw PO/Wit

Ginastera: Cello Concerto No. 2
Kosower (cello)/Bamberg SO/Zagrosek

Ives: Symphony No. 4
Cleveland Chorus
Cleveland Orchestra/C. Dohnányi, Ling

[Mahlerian]

Schoenberg: Die Jakobsleiter
BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, cond. Boulez
[asin]B00AK3X3U6[/asin]

As with Moses und Aron, the work may be incomplete, but what we have is so powerful that to not perform it in its unfinished state would be a loss to 20th century music.

[Kontrapunctus]

Listening to Daniil Trifonov's new Piano Quintet--world premiere on MediciTV. Very powerful piece.

https://www.medici.tv/en/concerts/world-premiere-daniil-trifonov-quintet-piano-and-strings/?utm_source=Mainlist

[kyjo]

Great choices Kyle. Diamond's No 3 is his greatest I think and the topic of my fan letter to him.

Dohnanyi's Second Symphony is a very fine work as well.

Yes, Dohnanyi's 2nd Symphony is a great work. His catalogue is full of treasures - I also recently discovered his moving and often magical Piano Quintet no. 2 through a really fine live performance.

[Malx]

Harrison Birtwistle, Earth Dances & Panic - Ensemble Modern Orchestra, Pierre Boulez & BBC Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis.

I really like 'Panic' in part because of the adverse reaction it received at its premiere at the Last Night of the Proms in 1995.
As much as I like the Proms and think it a wonderful celebration of music, which still has the ability to draw new listeners to Classical Music with concerts showcasing world class musicians at reasonable prices, I just can't bring myself to condone the faintly jingoistic elements of the Last Night. Just my opinion.

[kyjo]

Penderecki: Kosmogonia
Soloists, Warsaw Philharmonic Choir
Warsaw PO/Wit

Ginastera: Cello Concerto No. 2
Kosower (cello)/Bamberg SO/Zagrosek

Ives: Symphony No. 4
Cleveland Chorus
Cleveland Orchestra/C. Dohnányi, Ling

I generally love Ginastera's music, but I can't say I was too enthused by his Cello Concerto no. 2 (I haven't heard no. 1). I found it to be interesting for the first five minutes or so, but after that it just seemed to recycle the same psychedelic, atonal "jungle noises" ( ) over and over. As far as Ginastera's later works go, I find his Glosses sobre temes de Pau Casals, for instance, to be a much more interesting work. Maybe I just need to give the concerto another go (I listened to the Santiago Cañón Valencia performance on YT). What are your thoughts on the work?

[vandermolen]

Harrison Birtwistle, Earth Dances & Panic - Ensemble Modern Orchestra, Pierre Boulez & BBC Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis.

I really like 'Panic' in part because of the adverse reaction it received at it's premier at the Last Night of the Proms in 1995.
As much as I like the Proms and think it a wonderful celebration of music, which still has the ability to draw new listeners to Classical Music with concerts showcasing world class musicians at reasonable prices, I just can't bring myself to condone the faintly jingoistic elements of the Last Night. Just my opinion.

Totally agree with you.

[kyjo]

Listening to Daniil Trifonov's new Piano Quintet--world premiere on MediciTV. Very powerful piece.

https://www.medici.tv/en/concerts/world-premiere-daniil-trifonov-quintet-piano-and-strings/?utm_source=Mainlist

Interesting - thanks for bringing this to our attention. I've heard Trifonov's Piano Concerto (in E flat minor  ), which, although enjoyable and accessible, struck me as having very little structural integrity and being somewhat of a rehash of Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev. His Piano Quintet may very well be better!

[Sergeant Rock]

Holst The Planets, the composer conducting the LSO (1926)




Sarge

[Kontrapunctus]

Interesting - thanks for bringing this to our attention. I've heard Trifonov's Piano Concerto (in E flat minor  ), which, although enjoyable and accessible, struck me as having very little structural integrity and being somewhat of a rehash of Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev. His Piano Quintet may very well be better!

I saw Trifonov play his Concerto with Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orch last year--the visual spectacle of him lunging all across the keyboard made up for some lack of structure! I agree--his new Quintet seems better in that respect.

[SymphonicAddict]

A work of vast proportions. Despite its length (82 min), the work could maintain the structure and held my attention. At first I thought it was going to be dull and diffuse, but it never happened. Bruckner is clearly his main influence. Perhaps the 1st movement could go faster, that would give more dynamism and allure. All in all, it was very good.