What are you listening to now?

[TheGSMoeller]

How is this?

Hey, Geo, sorry for the late reply. My first experience wasn't as high as I had hoped. The music is wonderful, but at times the playing is a bit obtrusive. It's as if the microphones were placed way too close to the instruments. There were also plenty of moments where Manze drowns out Egarr and I would have liked the keyboard lines to be more audible. But there is a noticeably good amount of individuality put into these works.
A much different first impression than my last years purchase of Uchida and Steinberg's sonatas, which was almost immediately placed on repeat, although both recordings only share one piece.
But that is my first reaction with Manze and Egarr, in most cases these will alter with more listens.

[Geo Dude]

Hey, Geo, sorry for the late reply. My first experience wasn't as high as I had hoped. The music is wonderful, but at times the playing is a bit obtrusive. It's as if the microphones were placed way too close to the instruments. There were also plenty of moments where Manze drowns out Egarr and I would have liked the keyboard lines to be more audible. But there is a noticeably good amount of individuality put into these works.
A much different first impression than my last years purchase of Uchida and Steinberg's sonatas, which was almost immediately placed on repeat, although both recordings only share one piece.
But that is my first reaction with Manze and Egarr, in most cases these will alter with more listens.

Thanks for the thoughts on it.  If your feelings don't improve I strongly suggest trying Podger/Cooper.

[TheGSMoeller]

Thanks for the thoughts on it.  If your feelings don't improve I strongly suggest trying Podger/Cooper.

Great, thanks for the rec, Geo. 

[Wakefield]

Yes, I meant the piece, not the performance so much.

Then we agree about Soler's Fandango: it's a work totally unique. 

Now playing:

Scarlatti - The Keyboard Sonatas
Disc 30: Sonatas, Kk 485-500
Scott Ross, harpsichord

[Wakefield]

Hey, Geo, sorry for the late reply. My first experience wasn't as high as I had hoped. The music is wonderful, but at times the playing is a bit obtrusive. It's as if the microphones were placed way too close to the instruments. There were also plenty of moments where Manze drowns out Egarr and I would have liked the keyboard lines to be more audible. But there is a noticeably good amount of individuality put into these works.
A much different first impression than my last years purchase of Uchida and Steinberg's sonatas, which was almost immediately placed on repeat, although both recordings only share one piece.
But that is my first reaction with Manze and Egarr, in most cases these will alter with more listens.

I think it's a fair review, Greg. I have enjoyed another collaborations between Egarr & Manze (Bach's violin sonatas, for instance), but this wasn't one of them, principally because of the reasons that you have pointed out.

It's a shame that Uchida & Steinberg only recorded this disc of Mozart's violin sonatas. It deserved to be a long-term partnership. 

[HIPster]

This splendid new arrival :

[asin]B000EQHRVA[/asin]

Listening and watching, of course. . .

[Wakefield]

This splendid new arrival :

[asin]B000EQHRVA[/asin]

Listening and watching, of course. . .

Excellent acquisition!

Only quibble: German ensembles aren't so attractive to watch like, for instance, Italian ensembles. 

Now listening to Zelenka:

[asin]B00006C74S[/asin]

Disc 1, right now - for second time tonight - the delighful and highly complex Concerto à 8 concertanti in G major ZWV 186 for oboe, Violin, 2 Violins in ripieno, Viola, Violoncello, Bassoon and B.c.

[Lisztianwagner]

Johannes Brahms
Piano Concerto No.1

[asin]B000068QRT[/asin]

[Sergeant Rock]

Kurt Atterberg Symphony #7 "Sinfonia Romantica" Ari Rasilainen conducting the RSO Stuttgart




Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Ernst Krenek Piano Sonata #3 op.92/4 played by Glenn Gould




Sarge

[madaboutmahler]

Just 10 more exams to go!

Had a nice break from revision yesterday afternoon, finishing off my first listens to the incredible Tennstedt Mahler cycle.

[asin]B004OGDW4M[/asin]

The live 7th. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! Brilliant performance. This cycle has been absolutely outstanding, my new favourite Mahler cycle!

[prémont]

Only quibble: German ensembles aren't so attractive to watch like, for instance, Italian ensembles. 

Feel free to close your eyes and enjoy the music. 

[Karl Henning]

Feel free to close your eyes and enjoy the music. 

Judge Mathis could learn from you!

[Sadko]

Mussorgsky: Pictures of an exhibition
Scriabin: Vers la flamme / 5 Preludes op. 74 / Sonata no. 5
Arkadiev: Feuersonate / Eine kleine Zaubermusik

Mikhail Arkadiev



A more quiet, introspective interpretation of the war horse.

[prémont]

No doubt.
I have a soft spot for the harpsichord concertos, usually not a first choice for Bach's lovers. I recall when some years ago I bought my current musical system these concertos by Leonhardt and his gang were my selection to inaugurate it.  It's the same with the flute sonatas, I feel that my devotion to them isn't the usual. Obviously this means a lot of versions of both groups. 

I think I recognize this pattern from myself. The music that drew me to Bach in the first hand was the Brandenburg concertos and the WTC, but rather soon even the harpsichord concertos. This was before the Leonhardt recordings were available, so I had to make do with Rolf Reinhardt and Ralph Kirkpatrick. Later but still on an early stage the flute sonatas with Fernand Caratge and Ruggero Gerlin.

[Sergeant Rock]

Adalbert Gyrowetz Symphony F major op.6/3, Bamert conducting the London Mozart Players




Sarge

[Todd]

[Karl Henning]

What are they like, Todd?

[Todd]

What are they like, Todd?

The word (?) Bartokian comes to mind, though they are not quite as dense as Bartok's quartets can be.  That's not to say that they are unoriginal or derivative; there's much to savor.  I must say, they are very good, as is everything in the CPO Saygun series.

[Karl Henning]

Thank you, sir.