What are you listening to now?

[prémont]

Enst PEPPING: Organ Works  (2 Partitas,4 Fugues and a Concerto for solo organ)
Wolfgang Rübsam, Schuke organ of the Oberste Stadtkirche in Iserlohn, Germany

The cover says Wolfgang Stockmeier.

[Harry]

First listen. TD. CD 1.
Madrigals & Songs, The Silver Swan, English Madrigals.
Orlando Gibbons, The first set of Madrigals and Motets, 1612.
John Wilbye, First set of Madrigals, 1598.
The consort of Musicke, Anthony Rooley.

I remember clearly when I bought all the recordings done by this group of dedicated musicians, and afterwards bought all what came onto the market. Now I have them all in a box, and enjoy all over again. The freshness of Emma Kirkby's voice, and a very young Poppy Holden twittering like a little bird,, the vivacious Evelyn Tubb, it brings back treasured memories aplenty. Recordings go as far back as 1975, and are sometimes a bit overbearing in the top range, but nothing that will mar the sound seriously. Happy days indeed.

[aligreto]

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 [Mavrinsky]





This is a dark, wonderfully taught, powerful and sweeping performance.

[aligreto]

Dvorak: Sonata for Flute, Viola & Harp [Storck/Schwegler/Ruf]

[Harry]

TD Second listen. CD 9.
Johann Sebastian Bach, The complete Organ works.
Andre Isoir plays on a Jurgen Ahrend organ 1975, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

I love all the organs the great Jurgen Ahrend created. They always sound right. Always based on North German principles. They sound as if they were built in Bach's time. this instrument from 1975, is an ugly organ to look at, but it sounds gorgeous.

[Madiel]

Sibelius, 5 pieces for piano (Flowers), op.85



Utterly charming.

[vandermolen]

Holst: First Choral Symphony

It was after the first take on this that Richard Hickox fell ill and died.
Possibly Holst's masterpiece:

[pjme]

"Nach dem Sturm" for two soprano's and orchestra. Poem by Herman Hesse: Blumen nach einem Unwetter.


Two of Hosokawa's earlier works—Neben dem Fluss ("Next to the River") for solo harp and his trumpet concerto Im Nebel ("In the Mist")—took their inspiration from poems by Hermann Hesse. Nach dem Sturm is the first work in which the composer has set Hesse's words directly to music. The text for this work comes from "Blumen nach einem Unwetter" ("Flowers after a Storm"), for which Hesse painted an accompanying watercolor. Hosokawa uses the poem for the second part of the 20-minute work; this is preceded by a violent storm, using the full force of a large orchestra and an extensive battery of Japanese percussion. Nach dem Sturm is one of several of works that Hosokawa has written in response to the devastating Tohoku Earthquake of 2011. He explains:

For me, musical expression used to be a method to find harmony between humans and nature; however, since the Tohoku earthquake in 2011, I began to reconsider the role of music. Music is a type of Shamanism; people pray by music, and calm the spirit of the deceased, creating a bridge between this world and the afterlife. The two sopranos represent Mikos [shrine maidens] in this piece. The first half of the music is an expression of a storm using only the orchestra. In the second half, the two sopranos sing Hermann Hesse's poem, a depiction of a flower gradually finding light again in the aftermath of a storm.

[Madiel]

Sibelius, Musik zu einer Szene (1904)



Which later became the Dance-Intermezzo, but the original piece is actually quite a bit more involved.

[Harry]

TD. Second listen, CD1.
George Lloyd, Symphony No. 4 in B, (1945-46)
Philharmonia Orchestra, Edward Downes.

I totally forgot how brilliant a composer Lloyd is, but I am now reminded by hearing the Fourth Symphony. What a gorgeous work this is, and the orchestration....sublime! I have the Fifth and the eight still to go, but I now know that I have to collect his other works too. Recommendations are welcome.
Superb sound, it is well engineered.
(I ordered the sixth and seventh symphonies from the same forces as above.) So how are the works on Albany, apart from being very expensive!

[ritter]

Ernest Ansermet conducts Paul Dukas's La Péri.



From the big box:

[asin]B00DT2322E[/asin]

What a seductive score this is....

[Mirror Image]

I love the ending of the Requiem. I have an old EMI recording.

Yes, it's pure magic, Jeffrey, but I'm afraid this Hickox version is much better than the Davies performance. The audio quality alone is top-notch.

[aligreto]

Mahler: Symphony No. 2 [Walter]





The first movement portrays a restraint which is delicately graceful and poised but which can also be dark and brooding. The second movement contains some wonderful, delicate and graceful playing. The third movement is a wonderfully menacing and sometimes eerie performance. The fourth movement is a very earnest performance of a very delicate piece of music. The first half of the final movement is both bold and powerful and the second half brings wonderful singing from both choir and soloists which is almost operatic in execution and delivery. It is a great performance culminating in a house shuddering, magnificent finale.

[Mirror Image]

Reger
Klavierkonzert in F moll, Op. 114
Michael Korstick (piano)
Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Ulf Schirmer



I've heard this work about a year or so ago and really enjoyed. Rather enjoying it now as well. Great performance, too.

[aligreto]

Holst: The Planets [Stokowski]





This is a great performance with a wonderful dynamic range. Mars was particularly wonderful with bite while both his Venus and Neptune are gentle, delicate and very fine. His Jupiter is big without being flamboyant and his is a noble Saturn. The conclusion of this Neptune is quite haunting.

[Harry]

TD. Second listen. CD 3.
John Field, Piano concertos No 4 & 6.
London Mozart players, Matthias Bamert.
Miceal O'Rourke, piano.

Quite lovable works, at places No 6 is a rambling sort of work, in which there are many ideas but not quite worked out, rather rough and ready. No. 4 fares better with a beautiful be it short adagio. The recording has a bit too much resonance, and is short on details, but this could be Bamert's choice. He is generally going for a all round sound, in which certain desks are not getting their full due, but out of it he creates a "well being" sound. There is a booming effect amongst the celli and basses and timpani when the going gets tough and loud. But tis enjoyable nevertheless. Not great works though.

[SonicMan46]

Elgar, Edward - Falstaff Symphonic Study, Enigma Variations, et al on the two discs below - reviews attached w/ some 'mixed' comments on the Zinman performances - Dave

 

[aligreto]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 [Klemperer]





This work contains some very lyrical music and there is drama there too. I find that it is not unlike Mahler's music, but Mahler at peace.

[Mirror Image]

Test-Drive Mondays!

Marx
Quartetto in modo antico
Thomas Christian Ensemble



Immensely enjoyable so far. Lovely music.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 [Klemperer]





This work contains some very lyrical music and there is drama there too. I find that it is not unlike Mahler's music, but Mahler at peace.

This is turning into a site for vinyl nuts! 

Maybe I'll get an old 8-track player off ebay and start posting pictures of cartridges!