What are you listening to now?

[EigenUser]

Mahler 2. I only listen to the scherzo  . I should be ashamed, but I'm not. Mahler is too long to hold my short attention span. I love some of the scherzos of his symphonies. Great pieces on their own right.
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[EigenUser]

Okay, I've heard enough Mahler for the week. Time for Adams' "Short Ride in a Fast Machine" and "Shaker Loops"! If I play "Short Ride" twice, does that make it a "Long Ride in a Fast Machine"? 
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[DavidW]

Inspired by DavidW's post about Zinman/Tonhalle's performance of the 2nd I decided to check out the 3rd, what I like to call Mahler's Universe Symphony. A recording that is just fine to my ears, very nice sound and respectable playing, perhaps not as extreme or expansive sounding as Bernstein's on DG or as polished and refined as Boulez also on DG (my two favorite 3rds), but Zinman offers the perfect flow and pacing from movement to movement for a wholly satisfying 3rd.

Cool I'll have to listen to that one next.  Maybe underdog marathon: Zinman Mahler and Davies Haydn.

For me I had to start with Mozart piano concertos #25-26 and am following that with Kodaly's string quartets.

[Mandryka]

Michel Block plays Albeniz's Iberia, Jerez.

My initial impression is that it well deserves its reputation - mostly colourful, lyrical and fiery playing, yet he can be rapt and inward too, particularly memorable in Jerez. And he tells a really good story with the complex music in Bk 3 and Bk 4, so the drama makes sense and you can't stop listening.

[Cato]

For Holy Week with my Latin students:



No longer available on Amazon: while this is a good performance, it is a scandal that a CD by a major orchestra with this work is not readily available..

[Ken B]

This is actually an excellent set. I had no major expectations at first, but now I am starting to very much appreciate Markovina's performances. 

CPE Bach: The Complete Works for Piano Solo    Markovina   

CD 7 from:

EDIT: as well as CD 8

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Drafting Fish's wake: disc 6.

[Ken B]

Yes, he's really stretching beyond the image of a slight charmer in this one.

Yes. I was quite surprised when I found Poulenc's chamber music. It is often quite ardent. Masterly stuff much of it.

[listener]

Marc-André Hamelin as accompanist to Jody Karin Applebaum in a collection of cabaret songs
Serious Fun!    including some FLANDERS & SWANN, Vernon DUKE, Lord BERNERS and Tom LEHRER
then SARASATE  violin and piano collection
Mark Kaplan, violin   Bruno Canino, piano

[Brian]

So at long, long last, I finally get to hear a recording by the Alexander Quartet. And, yup: they are really really good.

[asin]B00HT3NKEY[/asin]

This is going to be hard to review because I'll be tempted to just write "I really like this one!" and hit submit.

[Todd]

Rach 2 and the Paganini Rhapsody, teamed with Lenny and the NYPO.  One of the few Graffman recordings that has stayed in print.  It's easy to hear why.  Big, beefy readings of both works.  Everyone is in their element.

[Brian]

So at long, long last, I finally get to hear a recording by the Alexander Quartet. And, yup: they are really really good.

[asin]B00HT3NKEY[/asin]

This is going to be hard to review because I'll be tempted to just write "I really like this one!" and hit submit.

My resolution to not buy any CDs in 2014 is being sorely tested by an urge to buy everything the Alexander Quartet has done on Foghorn Classics.

[Moonfish]

Trying to stay ahead of Ken....   

CPE Bach: The Complete Works for Piano Solo    Markovina   

CD 9 from:

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Sibelius: Symphony No 1      Hallé Orchestra/Barbirolli

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[Pat B]

My resolution to not buy any CDs in 2014 is being sorely tested by an urge to buy everything the Alexander Quartet has done on Foghorn Classics.

If they're that good, then just re-invoke the "...unless it's a bargain so good I'd be stupid not to" clause.

[Ken B]

Trying to stay ahead of Ken....   

CPE Bach: The Complete Works for Piano Solo    Markovina   

CD 9 from:

[asin] B00IGJP0Q6[/asin]

Sibelius: Symphony No 1      Hallé Orchestra/Barbirolli

[asin] B00003ZKRM[/asin]

I was about to remark, I might be gaining on you. But nope!

[Ken B]

If they're that good, then just re-invoke the "...unless it's a bargain so good I'd be stupid not to" clause.

That's some catch, that catch-22.

[amw]

I didn't even know this existed until a few days ago (thanks Octave). Not cheap if you only care about the 4th, but it is the best 4th I've ever heard... hmm.

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[North Star]

Some beautiful henningmusick for the morning

The trio                                                                                            And the quartet:

http://www.youtube.com/v/OAp3w15ISl4   http://www.youtube.com/v/E0_-CTvtSS8

[Wanderer]

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[Harry]

Good morning all.

Did not play discs 13-20 from this set, for obvious reasons. Disc 21 however is top notch.

http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2014/04/lumieres-music-of-enlightenment-18th_16.html?spref=tw

[EigenUser]

Well, this isn't now, but I have a flight this morning and I plan to listen to John Adams' "Short Ride in a Fast Machine" as the plane takes off. Usually at takeoff I listen to Ligeti's "Clocks and Clouds" ( ) or the scherzo to a Mahler symphony.