What are you listening to now?

[kyjo]

Now:



Listening to Don Quixote. An electrifying performance from Tortelier/Kempe/Staatskapelle Dresden.

Please keep us posted with your re-evaluation of Strauss in his individual composer thread! I'd be most interested to hear your comments. I haven't revisited Don Quixote yet.

[Mirror Image]

Please keep us posted with your re-evaluation of Strauss in his individual composer thread! I'd be most interested to hear your comments. I haven't revisited Don Quixote yet.

Well, this work, now that I'm re-listening to it after a few years or so, reveals what a madman not only Quixote was but Strauss as well! There is one section (I'll have to go back and find the name of it) that just completely comes apart at the seams. Utter craziness! I really do enjoy this work more this time around.

[TheGSMoeller]

Please keep us posted with your re-evaluation of Strauss in his individual composer thread! I'd be most interested to hear your comments. I haven't revisited Don Quixote yet.

Well, this work, now that I'm re-listening to it after a few years or so, reveals what a madman not only Quixote was but Strauss as well! There is one section (I'll have to go back and find the name of it) that just completely comes apart at the seams. Utter craziness! I really do enjoy this work more this time around.

Quixote might be the epitome of Strauss' tone poem genius. The visuals created from the score, the storytelling, the individual voices, the sheep! All just perfect.
I think I'll join the party 

[kyjo]

Well, this work, now that I'm re-listening to it after a few years or so, reveals what a madman not only Quixote was but Strauss as well! There is one section (I'll have to go back and find the name of it) that just completely comes apart at the seams. Utter craziness! I really do enjoy this work more this time around.

Yeah, many passages in Strauss' music simply burst apart at the seems with energy. Try Kempe's madcap performance of Till Eulenspeigel and you'll see what I mean!

[Mirror Image]

Quixote might be the epitome of Strauss' tone poem genius. The visuals created from the score, the storytelling, the individual voices, the sheep! All just perfect.
I think I'll join the party 

Indeed, Greg. It's certainly a fine work no question about it.

[Mirror Image]

Yeah, many passages in Strauss' music simply burst apart at the seems with energy. Try Kempe's madcap performance of Till Eulenspeigel and you'll see what I mean!

I'll have to listen to again at some point, Kyle. I think I'm going to listen to Joseph's Legend next. I remember enjoying this work when I first heard but I probably haven't even listened to it in 3 or 4 years.

[listener]

I don't often join in but I have the disc and score handy and can hear it live in a couple of weeks (Raphael Wallfisch on cello) so I'll abandon my usual non-conformist image...
R. STRAUSS   Don Quixote
Paul Tortelier, cello   Leonard Rubens as Sancho Panza on the viola
Royal Philharmonic O.,   Beecham, cond.
also on the disc: TCHAIKOWSKY:  Rococo Variations, FAURÉ: Élégie
DEBUSSY: Cello Sonata   and TORTELIER: Burlesque:Le Pître
short set of notes with this disc but it does give the Cervantes titles for each variation in Don Quixote.  The Kalmus score only labels the individual variations.

[kyjo]

I'll have to listen to again at some point, Kyle. I think I'm going to listen to Joseph's Legend next. I remember enjoying this work when I first heard but I probably haven't even listened to it in 3 or 4 years.

I listened to the Sinopoli recording of Josephslegende on DG a couple months ago, but my experience was marred by the obnoxious stage noises. I was so annoyed by them that I had to eject the CD. I simply couldn't stand it. I'll have to check out the Fischer recording on Channel Classics or the Jarvi on Chandos in hope that stage noises will be absent or at least less audible.

[Mirror Image]

I listened to the Sinopoli recording of Josephlegende on DG a couple months ago, but my experience was marred by the obnoxious stage noises. I was so annoyed by them that I had to eject the CD. I simply couldn't stand it. I'll have to check out the Fischer recording on Channel Classics in hope that stage noises will be absent or at least less audible.

I bought the Jarvi recording, so hopefully it's free of such distractions. It's a Chandos production, so I'm sure it is.

[kyjo]

I bought the Jarvi recording, so hopefully it's free of such distractions. It's a Chandos production, so I'm sure it is.

I simply can't believe no reviews of the Sinopoli recording that I've read mentioned the bothersome stage noise! I'm experiencing the same frustrations with the Gergiev set of Rimsky operas.

[Mirror Image]

I simply can't believe no reviews of the Sinopoli recording that I've read mentioned the bothersome stage noise! I'm experiencing the same frustrations with the Gergiev set of Rimsky operas.

I know what you mean, Kyle. I had the same experience with Barenboim's Ring cycle and, while the performances were simply top-notch, the stage noise kept me from enjoying the music completely. Thankfully, this stage noise doesn't plague his other Wagner recordings or at least to my knowledge.

BTW, have you at least heard The Ring once in your life?

[Wakefield]

Listening to the weekly Pergolesi's Stabat Mater:



Via Deezer.

[Mirror Image]

Kyle, are you avoiding my question?

[kyjo]

Kyle, are you avoiding my question?

The only Ring in my collection is Karajan's, and I feel it's all I need. A magnificent achievement for all involved. I may not talk about Wagner that much but man, do I love his music!

[Mirror Image]

The only Ring in my collection is Karajan's, and I feel it's all I need. A magnificent achievement for all involved. I may not talk about Wagner that much but man, do I love his music!

Excellent! Karajan's is my favorite. I own five Ring cycles. Karajan and Solti are my two favorites while the rest are trailing very far behind (Janowski, Levine, and Barenboim). I'm probably going to get rid of them at some point. I only need the Karajan and Solti.

[Brahmsian]

Excellent! Karajan's is my favorite. I own five Ring cycles. Karajan and Solti are my two favorites while the rest are trailing very far behind (Janowski, Levine, and Barenboim). I'm probably going to get rid of them at some point. I only need the Karajan and Solti.

Hmm, I should get the Karajan Ring at some point.  I've always been mesmorized by the Solti Ring.

[Mirror Image]

Hmm, I should get the Karajan Ring at some point.  I've always been mesmorized by the Solti Ring.

Karajan certainly nailed this music, Ray. Magnificent performances.

I just couldn't take Strauss any longer! Now playing:



Listening to On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring. Speaking of being mesmerized.

[kyjo]

I just couldn't take Strauss any longer! Now playing:



Listening to On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring. Speaking of being mesmerized.

Ah yes, Delius. The perfect antidote to Straussian bombast! I'll need to get that recording, because On Hearing.... hasn't worked its magic on me yet.

[Brian]

The perfect antidote to Straussian bombast!

...is arguably J.S. Bach or S.L. Weiss

[kyjo]

...is arguably J.S. Bach or S.L. Weiss

Fortunately, there are indeed many antidotes.....