What are you listening to now?

[Florestan]

Discs 1 and 2.

Rossini's music is an inexhaustible treasure trove of catchy melodies and toe-tapping rythms wrapped in sparkling orchestration. Marriner and ASMF give the overtures ebullient performances in excellent sound. Besides the warhorses (which I never tire of, anyway) I particularly enjoyed Maometto II, imho one of his finest, and Ricciardo e Zelmira, scored almost exclusively for winds and brass and with a chorus as coda. Brilliant. Magical. Exhilarating. No Rossiniste should be without this set. Nobody else should be without it, either.

[Karl Henning]

Rossini's music is an inexhaustible treasure trove of catchy melodies and toe-tapping rythms wrapped in sparkling orchestration.

Absolutely!  That's why I had the cheek to do this:

http://www.youtube.com/v/vI2K5V7C49I

[Florestan]

Absolutely!  That's why I had the cheek to do this:

http://www.youtube.com/v/vI2K5V7C49I

I can't listen to it properly right now but I'm sure I'm in for a treat. Will listen tomorrow and report.

[Mandryka]

The Liberation of the Gothic. Florid polyphony by Thomas Ashwell (c.1478-c.1527) and John Browne (c.1480-c.1505) singing the Virgin á Anglaise.
Graindelavoix, Bjorn Schmelzer.

To start with, no on, absolutely no one has an inkling how vocal renaissance music was performed, and so it's anybody's guess. So it is whether you like a certain style of singing or not. And I like Graindelavoix style with all my heart. Having all my life sung in many different choirs, and yes also with renaissance repertoire, I feel their approach is most akin to me.
Breathtakingly beautiful, perfect balance of voices, intonation and phrasing is superb, they listen very carefully to each other and get in return a gorgeous harmony. There is also a high degree of precision, and this is something you do not hear so often at such a level. And the music, not to forget, is mesmerizing too. It reached every part of my heart. A state of the art of recording, you hear all the voices separately, and the soundstage has a depth that is absolutely stunning.
Sure I recommend it.

I understand what you're saying and I too enjoyed hearing it.

[toledobass]

Yo Yo Ma's recent cello suites recording on vinyl showed up on my doorstep on Monday. I've been taking my time and really absorbing his playing and expression of the first suite.

[Brian]

I went on a Francaix binge, some years ago. Brilliant. Completely belies the canard that light joyful works cannot be profound.

Glad to see another Françaix enthusiast. What can I say. We all have exquisite taste.

[bhodges]

Yo Yo Ma's recent cello suites recording on vinyl showed up on my doorstep on Monday. I've been taking my time and really absorbing his playing and expression of the first suite.

How are you liking this? I got the CD last week, but haven't dipped in yet.

--Bruce

[Florestan]

Glad to see another Françaix enthusiast. What can I say. We all have exquisite taste.

Sorry to spoil the party but the only Françaix I've heard is the Clarinet Concerto and it didn't quite make me eager to further explore his music. 

[aligreto]

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1 [Markevitch]





This is a red blooded performance of the opening movement of Symphony No. 1, almost aggressive in places. It is almost a case of keep moving quickly or freeze out here; however it is very exciting to listen to. The second movement is quite a contrast as it is almost dreamlike in its interpretation. It is delightful in its elegance, poise and lyricism. The Scherzo is like waking from the dream and with the introduction of the final movement is also like gathering the forces for the onslaught of the final assault. The intensity of the first movement returns and we gradually build up to a stirring conclusion. A version definitely worth hearing.

[aligreto]

Re: Stanford No 6! I think that will be the Stanford symphony I'll add to my collection next (when I do!)? As I mentioned before,I had the whole lot and got nowhere with them. I gave the Seventh to my mother and after she died I got the cd back! Not a happy way to retrieve a cd;but suddenly the music "clicked" with me! I agree,with your earlier enthusiasm for his Fourth. That was the one I wanted to hear again,the most,after the Seventh. I remembered that opening theme. I love the clarity of his orchestration. I think I might actually prefer his symphonies to Elgar's?!!!!  

Yes, indeed, I remember you recounting that story. Stanford 6 is a wonderful and very accessible work and I definitely agree with you on his orchestration. Interesting comment on Elgar.

[aligreto]

I definitely want to get Stanford 5 at some point. The finale sounds gorgeous!

Stanford 5 is a wonderful work and most definitely worth having in your collection.

[Cato]

Yo Yo Ma's recent cello suites recording on vinyl showed up on my doorstep on Monday. I've been taking my time and really absorbing his playing and expression of the first suite.

Look who is back in action!!!  Our favorite Double Bassist!

[Brian]

Sorry to spoil the party but the only Françaix I've heard is the Clarinet Concerto and it didn't quite make me eager to further explore his music. 

I guess not all of us have exquisite taste 

Not sure that I have heard the Clarinet Concerto - which is a bit funny since I love many of his concertos (piano, two pianos, guitar).

[listener]

VIEUXTEMPS  Viola Sonatas
Roberto Diaz, viola     Robert Koenig, piano

And more familiar: CHOPIN: Piano Concerto 1, Andante Spinato et Grande Polonaise
Variations on 'La ci darem la mano
Alexis Weissenberg, piano     Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, cond.
Paris Conservatoire Orch.
and finally I was not bored with the concerto!   

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Sorry to spoil the party but the only Françaix I've heard is the Clarinet Concerto and it didn't quite make me eager to further explore his music. 

There's a clarinet concerto?

[Kontrapunctus]

I just downloaded (24 bit/96k) FLAC files of an 8-CD set (9.5 hours of music for $27!), and so far, it's wonderful.





Here's a link with the tracks and further information: eClassical.com High Resolution FLAC & MP3 Classical Music Download Store

[aligreto]

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring [Salonen]





The Philharmonia Orchestra under Salonen really play very well. The performance is well recorded and there is a good balance between the strings and the brass and woodwinds. They also capture both the sense of excitement and menace very well and they produce a great dynamic range. Salonen has everything under control and directs a tight performance of controlled aggression which definitely adds to the energetic atmosphere of excitement. A notable performer in this recording is the timpanist who does a great job in helping to create atmosphere. The pace of this performance, at just over 32 minutes, is well judged and as the music is continually moved along [but never rushed] this adds to the sense of drama, expectation and excitement.

[aligreto]

VIEUXTEMPS  Viola Sonatas
Roberto Diaz, viola     Robert Koenig, piano

That is a very fine CD.

[aligreto]

There's a clarinet concerto?

And a very playful and captivating work it is too.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

#morninglistening to #Mendelssohn's #Paulus w/#HelmuthRilling & #GächingerKantorei on @HaensslerMusic

: http://a-fwd.to/4w86qG0

Terrific singers; excellent performance!! Easily the best St. Paul Oratorio.

#choralworks Reference #Elija (#SymphonyNo2 not quite top notch) #Psalms
#classicalm... https://ift.tt/2MMnsgp