What are you listening to now?

[NikF]

Rachmaninov: Symphony Number 3 - Jansons/St Petersburg Philharmonic.

[prémont]

I would also agree with you in relation to what you have said regarding the Suzuki approach. Sterile always springs to my mind but, to be fair, I think that too strong a term. Lack of warmth or soul is probably more to my way of hearing Suzuki's Bach.

The words, which spring to my mind, are intellectual and controlled, but certainly neither sterile nor lack of soul.
Some of his harpsichord recordings however are surprisingly emotionally expressive.

[Spineur]

In anticipation of seeing he opera in the theatre next sunday:

[asin]B0040Y7EY2[/asin]
Great performance (pity about the cuts in the score, though  )..

A Bellini favorite, with Norma of course.  I decided to listen to it here at the foothills of the Tatras mountains.  The version I have on my Plenue is the 1973 one with the LSO under R. Bonynge with Sutherland Pavarotti&Ghiaurov.  At home,  I have also another version directed by Riccardo Chailly which is quite punchy.
Actually I have never heard a "bad version" of this opera, which is quite well written for the singer.
IMHO, it just lacks a decent ouverture and it takes almost half of the first act to get really moving.

[Sergeant Rock]

Fourth time listening to English composer Frederic Cliffe's Symphony No.1 in C minor. Fascinating music, reminiscent of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Wagner, Dvorak, Bruckner...even Mahler (although Cliffe couldn't have known that composer at the time of composition). And yet that melting pot of influences produces an individual work that wouldn't be mistaken for any of those composers.




Sarge

[NikF]

Schmitt: Chamber Music - Prague Wind Quintet/Czech Nonet.

[asin]B0000560NP[/asin]

[EigenUser]

Scriabin's Mysterium -- Prefatory Action: I. Universe

[asin]B000027PGP[/asin]

Is it bad taste if I say this is my favorite Scriabin? I guess I could go with either the 9th piano sonata or Prometheus, too, but this one is really special.

[aligreto]

Liszt: Hungaria and Hamlet....

[TheGSMoeller]

.[asin]B001TN0VLU[/asin]

Didn't have this Blomstedt/Leipzig 6th for blind listening, I wish I did though, it's become a favorite. I've always had high praise for Blomstedt's 6th with San Fransisco, mostly for the interpretation, although the orchestra is of the highest caliber. But the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra has such a warm and robust sound it just seems to fit better to my ears.

Unfortunately the reviews on Amazon are for the Van Zweden recording of the 6th, an error on Amazon's part for sure.

[Todd]

Whoa Nelly!  Here's a Liszt sonata unlike any other I've heard.  At times eccentric, at other times purportedly a stickler to the score (eg, the pizzicato bass octaves in the Allegro energico), the performance is mesmerizing and backed up by superb playing.  The sonata comes after the First Mephisto Waltz, itself superbly well played, and one can hear the thematic connections more than normal.  The disc closes with a selection of splendidly performed transcriptions.  Here is Liszt playing of not a little distinction and insight.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Now:



Listening to San Francisco Polyphony. If I was only allowed to take one Ligeti recording to that desert island, this would be the one.

Gosh...I could never be that certain when it comes to Ligeti! I would need his entire oeuvre really.

[aligreto]

Finishing off this wonderful disc with music by A. Scarlatti; Arie con Tromba Sola and Su le sponde del Tebro....

[EigenUser]

Gosh...I could never be that certain when it comes to Ligeti! I would need his entire oeuvre really.

And don't forget the scores, too!

Seriously though, San Francisco Polyphony is among my favorite Ligeti.

[Todd]

Disc 4.  Nice Haydn Variations and Nanie, but it's the superb Fourth that makes the disc worth hearing.

[Madiel]

Honestly, this is the first time I've ever come across a criticism of Suzuki's Bach of being too good.

[Madiel]

Op.18/6 for breakfast.

[asin]B000003FBJ[/asin]

[Kontrapunctus]

The Violin Sonata and Piano Trio today--both are superb.

[André]

.[asin]B001TN0VLU[/asin]

Didn't have this Blomstedt/Leipzig 6th for blind listening, I wish I did though, it's become a favorite. I've always had high praise for Blomstedt's 6th with San Fransisco, mostly for the interpretation, although the orchestra is of the highest caliber. But the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra has such a warm and robust sound it just seems to fit better to my ears.

Unfortunately the reviews on Amazon are for the Van Zweden recording of the 6th, an error on Amazon's part for sure.

I must have that. I have extremely fond memories of Blomstedt playing the 2nd here in Montreal some 5 years ago. Plus recordings and concerts of 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9. But no 6th or 8th. Obviously this has to be remedied.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Time for some much older music for me! Octet in E flat major for 2 each of oboes, clarinets, horns and bassoons op. 103, March in B flat major for 2 each of clarinets, bassoons and horns WoO29, Duo for clarinet and basoon no. 1 in C major WoO27, Sextet in E flat Major op. 71 for the same instruments as the March.

[André]

Fourth time listening to English composer Frederic Cliffe's Symphony No.1 in C minor. Fascinating music, reminiscent of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Wagner, Dvorak, Bruckner...even Mahler (although Cliffe couldn't have known that composer at the time of composition). And yet that melting pot of influences produces an individual work that wouldn't be mistaken for any of those composers.




Sarge

I must have that, too. I'll try to locate a copy. Thanks for the info and advocacy !

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

And don't forget the scores, too!

Seriously though, San Francisco Polyphony is among my favorite Ligeti.

Absolutely it is brilliant!