What are you listening to now?

[Mandryka]

Op. 130/133

I forget who here liked this cycle (Brian?). I'm not feeling the exaggerated pauses in the first movement to be honest, but will see how the rest goes. The recording certainly sounds much better through the fb2k Mac port than through iTunes (has actual user adjustable DSPs), though the port doesn't yet have enough library organisation features for me to implement it as my iTunes alternative.

edit: This is a very slow "Alla danza tedesca". Not sure how I feel about that either.

edit 2: The "Grosse Fuge" is very good though and comparatively less over-interpreted than the rest.

You know that the days of iTunes are numbered?

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/apple-is-finally-killing-itunes-842750/

[Irons]

Among his finest, certainly. I see it as a journey from darkness to light, from lamenting the paradise lost to celebrating the paradise regained.

Well put. In my view K.563 is the essence of Mozart. Everything about the man is encapsulated in a "Divertimento" for a string trio.

[Florestan]

Well put. In my view K.563 is the essence of Mozart. Everything about the man is encapsulated in a "Divertimento" for a string trio.

If you want another surprising Mozart gem, try the 12 Variations in E major on the French song "La belle Françoise", KV 353. The innocuous title is just as misleading as KV 563's.

[Harry]

Federico Maria Sardelli, 6 Sonate a tre. Trio Sonatas)

Stefano Bruni, Battista Scarpa, Violins.
Lorenzo Parravicini, Bettina Hoffmann, Cellos.
Paola Talamini, Organ.

Highly original baroque music, written in the 21 century, but not distinguishable from what was written in the early 18 century. I am a great admirer of what Sardelli is doing, the man is a living genius. These 6 trio sonatas prove that amply. The sheer originality, is at times overwhelming. Excellent sound, and a performance that makes me want for more of the same!

[Sergeant Rock]

Mozart Divertimento for string trio in E-flat major K.563 played by Kremer, Kashkashian and Ma




Sarge

[Florestan]

Mozart Divertimento for string trio in E-flat major K.563 played by Kremer, Kashkashian and Ma




Sarge

And...?

[Sergeant Rock]

And...?

A magnificent beast

Sarge

[Florestan]

A magnificent beast

Mozart had a knack for witing such beasts. 

[Sergeant Rock]

Shulman Theme and Variations for Viola and Orchestra (recommended by kyjo)

https://www.youtube.com/v/tyUTRdstJow&feature=youtu.be


Sarge

[Que]

Sonatas op 24 and 41 by Costantino Mastroprimiano. Marvelous. Beethoven's musical library was rather sparse, but he had scores of all the Clementi sonatas. The kinship is obvious in the way ideas are spun out - until sonata 8, say.

Halfway through that 18 disc box. The fortepiano gives a twang to the sound that Pietro Spada's modern piano doesn't quite achieve - although I love that set, too. I'm glad to have both.

I recall us discussing that set., I'm glad you like it as much as I do. 
Halfway through is when things get really interesting IMO.

Q

[Mandryka]

This is now streaming on Qobuz in the UK.

The transfers were done by the same people who did the transfers of the Juilliard Quartet box. So far I've only listened to some of the Schumann and I'd say that while it's perfectly listenable, it's not quite as good as the amateur transfer which I have already. It may be that the same transfer values that were applied in the Juilliard box are applied here.

If anyone wants my transfers they can PM me.

[Traverso]

If you want another surprising Mozart gem, try the 12 Variations in E major on the French song "La belle Françoise", KV 353. The innocuous title is just as misleading as KV 563's.

I listened to it recently played by Haebler and it is very nice indeed.

[Florestan]

I listened to it recently played by Haebler and it is very nice indeed.

That's a very fine set, complemented by this one:

[Traverso]

That's a very fine set, complemented by this one:

Of course I have the piano concertos  with Brendel and Ashkenazy.
The Haebler set is very expensive at the moment.I used the wrong image,the pianosonatas I have is on the decca label.

[kyjo]

Divertimento for string trio in E-flat major, K. 563

This work has a special appeal. I feel it somewhat introspective in some parts, it's different to other works I know by him. A work of the highest caliber.

Totally agree. It's without a doubt one of my favorite Mozart works, perhaps my very favorite. Its depth of invention is astonishing considering the rather limited medium of the string trio. It's obvious that Mozart really poured his heart and soul into this work.

[kyjo]

Good morning all

Starting George Lloyd - symphony no.4 (lyrita)

A magnificent work! What did you think of it?

[kyjo]

Symphony No. 5 in D major L'Allegro ed il Penseroso

This is such a radiant piece, imbued with a noble feeling. It sounds so fresh and placid. The slow movement is to die for! That was something really special. The 4th movement contains some Brahms gestures, but I don't care for it to be honest, this sounds so splendid. In this movement appear some truly uplifting and glorious passages almost at the ending. This symphony is undoubtedly one of his greatest utterances.

I haven't listened to this symphony yet, but I've been steadily exploring Stanford's output recently and have been really pleasantly surprised by it, considering how much his music seems to divide opinion. I'd have to disagree with our good friend Jeffrey who calls much of his music a "sub-Brahmsian bore". I'd be much more inclined to apply that label to his compatriot Parry, whose music I've been much less impressed by (even his celebrated 5th Symphony).

[SonicMan46]

Bach, JS - English Suites & French Suites w/ Masaaki Suzuki (recorded in 2016 and 1999-2002, respectively) on a Willem Kroesbergen harpischord (Utrecht, 1982) after enlarged Ruckers 2 manuals - reviews attached for those interested.  Dave

 

[kyjo]

Shulman Theme and Variations for Viola and Orchestra (recommended by kyjo)

https://www.youtube.com/v/tyUTRdstJow&feature=youtu.be


Sarge

Nice! What did you think?

[vandermolen]

I haven't listened to this symphony yet, but I've been steadily exploring Stanford's output recently and have been really pleasantly surprised by it, considering how much his music seems to divide opinion. I'd have to disagree with our good friend Jeffrey who calls much of his music a "sub-Brahmsian bore". I'd be much more inclined to apply that label to his compatriot Parry, whose music I've been much less impressed by (even his celebrated 5th Symphony).

Actually, I forgot to mention that Symphony 5 is the only other symphony I like by Stanford, other than Symphony 3 'Irish' and Irish Rhapsody No.4 and PC No.2.

Is it fair to say that Stanford and Parry were great teachers (VW, Holst etc) but not great composers? I have this theory that the greatest composers were never great teachers and second-rate composers were often great teachers. The problem with great composers, or artists for that matter, is that they tended to suffocate their students originality and produce puppets of themselves. Overgeneralised of course but I think that there is a basis of truth in it.