What are you listening to now?

[HIPster]

Some Lassus to start the day ~
[asin]B002JP9HLM[/asin]

[Madiel]

Some Szymanowski to end the day. Op.14 Fantasy

[asin]B000002ZNG[/asin]

I must say, I am getting a kick out of my current Szymanowski exploration (this is the only disc I own, other works I'm using online streaming). I might still be in "early" territory as I'm going chronologically, but it would be a misconception to think that the music is weak. There are some excellent pieces already, and this is one of them.

[Karl Henning]

As suggested by our Greg:

Mahler
Symphony № 2, « Resurrection »
Lee Venora, soprano
Jennie Tourel, mezzo
Collegiate Chorale
NY Phil
Lenny

[Todd]

[Mirror Image]

Some Szymanowski to end the day. Op.14 Fantasy

[asin]B000002ZNG[/asin]

I must say, I am getting a kick out of my current Szymanowski exploration (this is the only disc I own, other works I'm using online streaming). I might still be in "early" territory as I'm going chronologically, but it would be a misconception to think that the music is weak. There are some excellent pieces already, and this is one of them.

Szymanowski is a very interesting composer, orfeo. His early works were inspired by Richard Strauss while his middle period had a Debussy/Scriabin feel to the music and his last period was inspired by Bartok and folk music he had heard in the Tatra Mountains. One interesting aspect of his music is it's harmonic unsteadiness and the music's almost stubborn resistance to resolve itself almost as to always conclude a piece with a question mark. Certainly a fascinating figure in 20th Century Poland.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



A new acquisition. Finishing Symphony No. 3, 'Sinfonia espansiva,' FS 60. A thoroughly disappointing performance. The audio quality is regrettable. So many details are lost and the general lack of clarity in the development of the music is confounding. These may be highly praised performances, but I certainly don't share these people's views. I'll stick with Bernstein, Schonwandt, and newcomers Oramo and Storgards.

[Cato]

Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto Evgeny Kissin with Colin Davis and London Symphony.

Kissin's playing is marvelous, especially in the cadenza and the middle movement.  I am not so sure I go for some of the orchestral playing, especially in the opening movement: lackluster too often, and at times most of the cellos and basses seem to have gone outside for a chewing gum break.   

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Giving this recording another listen. So much superb music. Excellent performances from all involved.

[Todd]

[SonicMan46]

Just received the July-August issue of Fanfare and was reading a review by Jerry Dubins on the Bach JS Flute Sonatas and just wondered what I already owned - well, 3 different 2-CD sets shown below w/ Lisa Beznosiuk (have the pre-Dyad release) on a period flute, Hansgeorg Schmeiser on a modern flute, and Marina Piccinini also on a modern instrument but w/ the non-flute music arranged for two guitars.  Now, there are plenty of other choices in this music, but I'll just stick w/ these recordings at the moment - Dave

   

[Brian]

This is exciting! Just starting to listen:

[Wakefield]

I hadn't listened to Nikolai Medtner never before, so I don't have a point of comparison:



http://www.amazon.com/Medtner-N-Forgotten-Stimmungsbilder-Sonaten-Triade/dp/B003HBFJ6O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436293071&sr=8-1&keywords=derzhavina+medtner

... but what I have heard sounds "true" and I have enjoyed it. 

Two interesting reviews on Amazon: one by the well-known (and respected) J. Scott Morrison expresses a high degree of disappointment; but his review probably should be contrasted with Yves A. Feder, who aptly replies Morrison (at least his reasoning sounds quite plausible). 

[Wakefield]

Just received the July-August issue of Fanfare and was reading a review by Jerry Dubins on the Bach JS Flute Sonatas and just wondered what I already owned - well, 3 different 2-CD sets shown below w/ Lisa Beznosiuk (have the pre-Dyad release) on a period flute, Hansgeorg Schmeiser on a modern flute, and Marina Piccinini also on a modern instrument but w/ the non-flute music arranged for two guitars.  Now, there are plenty of other choices in this music, but I'll just stick w/ these recordings at the moment - Dave

   

BTW, for those interested, my personal favorite (Marc Hantaï's version) is now available via Apple Music, Spotify and, I guess, other music streaming services... Just in case. 



http://www.amazon.com/Hantai-Zweistra-Jerome-Pierre-Hantaï/dp/B000TPXMZG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1436294109&sr=8-2&keywords=marc+hantai+bach

[SonicMan46]

BTW, for those interested, my personal favorite (Marc Hantaï's version) is now available via Apple Music, Spotify and, I guess, other music streaming services... Just in case. 



http://www.amazon.com/Hantai-Zweistra-Jerome-Pierre-Hantaï/dp/B000TPXMZG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1436294109&sr=8-2&keywords=marc+hantai+bach

Thanks Gordo - just checked Spotify on my iPad and indeed the recording above is listed (along w/ many others) will take a listen this afternoon!  Dave

[Camphy]

Haydn, Op. 20, String Quartets 1, 5 & 6, played by the Quatuor Mosaiques

[Mirror Image]

Now:





Listening to The Isle of the Dead, Op. 29 from this fantastic box set.

[Brian]

This is exciting! Just starting to listen:

There are moments which reveal an amateur composer, definitely, and there are many moments which signal "comedy soundtrack," but overall it's legitimately astonishing what a great score this is, and how good a composer Charlie Chaplin is. Modern Times is one of my favorite movies ever, and what blows my mind every time is that the clown being force-fed his factory lunch is the same guy who wrote the film...and produced it...and directed it...and choreographed it...and edited it...and scored it.

[Moonfish]

Mozart: Great Mass in C minor                  Hendricks/Perry/Schreier/Luxon/Wiener Singverein/Berliner Philharmoniker/Karajan

[Brian]

This is exciting! Just starting to listen:

There's an entire minute in track 7 that is a SPOT-ON imitation of Petrushka. Or maybe it's just plagiarism! Anyway, if you're gonna steal, steal from the best!

[Moonfish]

Now:





Listening to The Isle of the Dead, Op. 29 from this fantastic box set.

+1
I always loved that symphonic poem! Intense and haunting!