What are you listening to now?

[Madiel]

Condolences, Andrei.

I had noticed you weren't around, but of course had no idea why. I'm sorry it was for such a difficult reason.

[Karl Henning]

Symphony No. 2

[asin] B019STIIHA[/asin]

This is near my ideal for this symphony.  Beautiful, colorful playing by the LSO, and the sonics hold up very well.  The dynamic range isn't up to modern digital standards, but I find this makes it easier to listen to in my living room.

...The coupled Concerto Academico for violin, a work I had not previously paid much attention to,  is very finely played by James Buswell. 

Some day, I must likely revisit that set.

[Karl Henning]

Second listen confirms, possibly upgrades my previous impression. This is a performance that is, if not top tier, very close to it.
[asin]B07GW4CM3S[/asin]
Zinman is tops in seeing the finale as a serene ascent into Heaven, Maderna and now this are not far behind.

Nice!

[Karl Henning]

A gentle, mellow, almost lullaby-like Requiem --- to the memory of my beloved mother who unexpectedly passed away two weeks ago.

Very sorry, Andrei.

[Madiel]

Schumann, Konzertstück for 4 horns & orchestra

[Karl Henning]

Schumann, Konzertstück for 4 horns & orchestra

Fun piece!

[Madiel]

Brahms, the op.76 piano pieces



I always find it a bit curious that there are such large chronological gaps in Brahms' solo piano output. He certainly wrote fine pieces when he returned to the genre.

I have an inevitable soft spot for no.4, which I learned to play. 7th grade AMEB, I think.

[Karl Henning]

I always find it a bit curious that there are such large chronological gaps in Brahms' solo piano output. He certainly wrote fine pieces when he returned to the genre.

Perhaps that is the key.  He returned when his batteries were recharged for that genre, with something fresh to say.

[mc ukrneal]

A gentle, mellow, almost lullaby-like Requiem --- to the memory of my beloved mother who unexpectedly passed away two weeks ago.

So very sorry to hear this indeed. It's hard to help ease the pain on a forum like this (which can be so removed in many ways), but if you'd like to share anything with us, we'd be happy to lend an ear.

[Traverso]

A gentle, mellow, almost lullaby-like Requiem --- to the memory of my beloved mother who unexpectedly passed away two weeks ago.

My condolences, Andrei.sorry to hear this,I wish you and your family strenght in these days.

[North Star]

A gentle, mellow, almost lullaby-like Requiem --- to the memory of my beloved mother who unexpectedly passed away two weeks ago.

My condolences, Andrei


Thread-duty
Debussy
Préludes, Premier Livre
Aimard
[asin]B077TR4QSX[/asin]

[Traverso]

Bach

CD 12

[Madiel]

Perhaps that is the key.  He returned when his batteries were recharged for that genre, with something fresh to say.

A good perspective.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

A gentle, mellow, almost lullaby-like Requiem --- to the memory of my beloved mother who unexpectedly passed away two weeks ago.

Extremely sorry to hear about this! My condolences to you!

[Biffo]

What a great, unhackneyed program!

There are some interesting concerts available in the Berlin Philharmonic Digital Concert though you usually have to pay for them. Just listened to this one -

Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Francois-Xavier Roth

Igor Stravinsky: Symphonies d'instruments à vent (1947 version)
Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra - with Carolin Widmann (violin)

Claude Debussy: Images pour orchestre: No. 1 Gigues
György Ligeti: Lontano for large orchestra
Claude Debussy: Images pour orchestre: No. 3 Rondes de printemps
György Ligeti: Atmosphères
Claude Debussy: Images pour orchestre: No. 2 Ibéria

Fine performances of all works though I am not sure the interleaving of Debussy and Ligeti worked

[Malx]

Mahler's Sixth this morning, two recordings that take very different approaches to this daunting work:

Firstly Pappano with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia a big boned romantic reading that ultimately lost my concentration.

Much better, in my view, is an unfortunately hard to acquire BBC cover disc from about 2006 with the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Charles MacKerras. Some may feel MacKerras is at times a little hard driven but I enjoy this symphony best when the first movement has a pulse and forward propulsion - MacKerras omits the exposition repeat like another conductor whose recording I listened to yesterday (Barbirolli).
Both MacKerras & Barbirolli opt for the Andante - Scherzo middle movement combo whereas Pappano opts for the reverse.
MacKerras also fairly whips up a storm at times during his Scherzo - positively exciting.

If you care for Szell's live Cleveland recording I suspect this may be one you would enjoy - Pappano, MacKerras and Szell are all Live recordings.

[Karl Henning]

From August:

http://www.youtube.com/v/Kobv4P_m_Do

[steve ridgway]

From August:

http://www.youtube.com/v/Kobv4P_m_Do

I like this one, a very spirited performance .

[aligreto]

Haydn: L'isola disabitata [Dorati]





This is not an overly long opera; at least it does not seem that way as it is a very pleasant listen. There is no major drama or tension in the work nor is there a very wide range of dynamics employed but it still holds one's interest. It is very lyrical in terms of the music. The vocal performances from all concerned are very good here.

[aligreto]

A gentle, mellow, almost lullaby-like Requiem --- to the memory of my beloved mother who unexpectedly passed away two weeks ago.

Let me also offer my condolences to you in this sad time. To lose a loved one is difficult enough but to lose them unexpectedly must be very much more difficult.