What are you listening to now?

[North Star]

Debussy
Divers Études
Pollini

Hmm, and why not all of them? 

[aligreto]

Vieuxtemps: Violin Concerto No. 7 [Langley/Davin]





Passion, pathos, lyricism and virtuosity all equally coexist happily together in this work; such is the skill, for me, of Vieuxtemps' compositional skills. The performance here [from all concerned] lacks nothing in any of these departments.

[aligreto]

Fresh from the mail for First-listen Friday
Mozart
Horn Concertos
Bassoon Concerto
Louis-Philippe Marsolais (horn), Mathieu Lussier (bassoon, direction)
Les Violons du Roy
[asin]B06WLH6SM8[/asin]

How did you find the Horn Concertos Karlo?

[listener]

PIAZZOLLA: Concerto for Bandoneon, Percussion and String Orch.
ROTA: Concerto for Strings    WAXMAN: Sinfonietta for String Orch. & Percussion
HEIDEN: Concertino for String Orch.
Lothar Hensel, Bandoneon   Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss
Johannes Goritzki, cond.

HARTMANN: Concerto funebre  STRAVINSKY: Concerto in D
PENDERECKI: Capriccio    SCHNITTKE : Suite in the Old Style
PROKOFIEV: Overture on Hebrew Themes
Moscow Virtuosi    Vladimir Spivakov, cond. & violin

[aligreto]

Holst: Indra, Symphonic Poem [Atherton]





A wonderful version where the textures of the scoring are brought out to full advantage. Tension and drama are served well as the music is very well driven. A wonderful work.

[Traverso]

Schönberg

WIEN,WIEN,NUR DU ALLEIN   

[North Star]

How did you find the Horn Concertos Karlo?

Oh, I've heard some of them before of course
They're all mature Mozart so what's not to like? There's little of virtuoso display here compared to Mozart's other concertos, there's a greater resemblance of operatic arias perhaps. And Mozart was always good at writing for the winds..

[Que]

Vieuxtemps: Violin Concerto No. 7 [Langley/Davin]





Passion, pathos, lyricism and virtuosity all equally coexist happily together in this work; such is the skill, for me, of Vieuxtemps' compositional skills. The performance here [from all concerned] lacks nothing in any of these departments.

I'm seriously tempted..... 

Q

[kyjo]

Holst: Indra, Symphonic Poem [Atherton]





A wonderful version where the textures of the scoring are brought out to full advantage. Tension and drama are served well as the music is very well driven. A wonderful work.

A really enchanting score; one of my favorite "non-Planets" Holst works.

[Karl Henning]

Hmm, and why not all of them? 

Time was short  0:)

[aligreto]

Telemann: INO [Goebel]





INO is a secular cantata and it is very well played by Musica Antiqua Koln and excelently sung by Schlick. There is drama and tension in the music and performance from the very beginning.

[aligreto]

Oh, I've heard some of them before of course
They're all mature Mozart so what's not to like? There's little of virtuoso display here compared to Mozart's other concertos, there's a greater resemblance of operatic arias perhaps. And Mozart was always good at writing for the winds..

And what about the specific performances? Did you enjoy them? Are they worthwhile?

[aligreto]

I'm seriously tempted..... 

Q

I would, seriously. A highly recommended set 

[aligreto]

A really enchanting score; one of my favorite "non-Planets" Holst works.

Agreed; a wonderfully inventive and engaging work in terms of music, scoring and orchestral textures. Definitely one to explore for those who do not know it.

[kyjo]

Rorem - Symphony no. 3:

[asin]B0000ACY0V[/asin]

This highly enjoyable symphony is written in 5 movements - the slow ones have a pensive, lyrical character and the fast ones are bright, exuberant and rhythmic. Anyone who likes American orchestral music ought to give Rorem's three symphonies a listen. Interestingly, Rorem is still alive at the hearty age of 94, but he hasn't attempted any more symphonies since the 3rd, which was written in 1959!


Bloch - Concerto Grosso no. 1 for string orchestra and piano:

[asin]B0000057L3[/asin]

I love this work! It opens with a strikingly declamatory Prelude then moves to dolefully expressive Dirge, followed by the atmospheric and tuneful Pastorale and Rustic Dances and closing with a masterfully written Fugue. I particularly like the way Bloch augments and colors the sound of the string orchestra with the piano part. The Eastman-Rochester Orchestra under Hanson play with tremendous body and vigor, and the recorded sound is remarkably good for 1959.


Vaughan Williams - In the Fen Country:

[asin]B00004YA0V[/asin]

A brooding and atmospheric tone poem dating from early in VW's career.


Bax - Cello Concerto:

[asin]B0000C83YV[/asin]

This is often described as one of Bax's lesser works, though I've read some rave reviews of it. As with some of his lesser symphonies, it's strong on atmosphere but rather short on cohesion and memorability. That said, the cello's dramatic entrance and the thunderous timpani strokes in the first movement, as well as the charming, "Celtic" secondary theme in the finale, stick in the memory. Wallfisch plays with great gusto and passion.


Bartók - String Quartet no. 5:

[asin]B000ZBPPWC[/asin]

I generally really like Bartók's orchestral works (the piano concerti, Divertimento for strings, and Music for SP&C), but for some reason his widely-heralded quartets leave me cold (that said, I do recall rather liking no. 6). They're undoubtedly masterfully written and innovative, but they are often unremittingly harsh and angular  - and everything seems a bit calculated, to my ears. I will concede that there are some pretty cool rhythmic passages here and there, but nothing that draws me in emotionally. Despite my reaction towards the music, I can't find anything to fault about the Belcea Quartet's performance.

[North Star]

And what about the specific performances? Did you enjoy them? Are they worthwhile?

I enjoyed the performances very much, though I can't offer a comparison with another recording.

[Mahlerian]

Takemitsu: November Steps for shakuhachi, biwa, and orchestra
Katsuya Yokoyama, Kinshi Tsuruta, Saito Kinen Orchestra, cond. Ozawa

[Traverso]

Telemann: INO [Goebel]





INO is a secular cantata and it is very well played by Musica Antiqua Koln and excelently sung by Schlick. There is drama and tension in the music and performance from the very beginning.

This is my  "INO"  sung by Gundula Janowitz,an old Archive lp. The singing is heavenly.....

[Harry]

I'm seriously tempted..... 

Q

It is a fine set Que, so far the best I have heard, well worth your money.

[milk]