What are you listening to now?

[Mirror Image]

Symphony no. 2. I haven't really listened to these works properly in a few years, so I guess it is time to revisit them.

I really like Lutoslawski's 4th, but I haven't warmed to the other symphonies. For me, and I've said this a zillion times here on GMG already, but my favorite works of his are his song cycles. Exquisite stuff. His orchestration ability is amazing. The guy knew his way around an orchestra that for sure. I also like Musique funebre, Little Suite, Dance Preludes, Chain I & II, and the Piano Concerto.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

I really like Lutoslawski's 4th, but I haven't warmed to the other symphonies. For me, and I've said this a zillion times here on GMG already, but my favorite works of his are his song cycles. Exquisite stuff. His orchestration ability is amazing. The guy knew his way around an orchestra that for sure. I also like Musique funebre, Little Suite, Dance Preludes, Chain I & II, and the Piano Concerto.

Yep, the 4th is on here as well and I plan to listen to it later today.
I don't know any Lutosławski outside the symphonies, piano concerto, cello concerto, partita, dance preludes and concerto for orchestra. What song cycle should I start with?

[Mirror Image]

Yep, the 4th is on here as well and I plan to listen to it later today.
I don't know any Lutosławski outside the symphonies, piano concerto, partita, dance preludes and concerto for orchestra. What song cycle should I start with?

Start with Silesian Triptych. An early work, but still has that individualistic sound that Lutoslawski would later become better known for.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Start with Silesian Triptych. An early work, but still has that individualistic sound that Lutoslawski would later become better known for.

Thanks. I'm more a fan of the later works than the early ones, but I'll check it out.

[SimonNZ]

Telemann's Tafelmusik - Ludwig Guttler, cond.

[anothername]

Alun Francis conducting: Donizetti- Maria Padilla

[NikF]

Fauré: Orchestral Works - Tortelier/BBC Philharmonic.

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[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

[Que]

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[Harry]

Such an impressive release with piano trios. New acquisition. I am impressed. From the Ligia haul.


http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2016/11/castillon-alexis-de-1838-1873-piano.html?spref=tw

[Harry]

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Q

What is your impression so far Que?

[amw]

I haven't listened to these two pieces in a couple of years and chose a recording that's unfamiliar to me. I do like it so far although not sure it would be a first choice.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Nice review in De Gelderlander

Violist Linus Roth kiest voor verdieping

...Intiem
De grootste verrassing vind ik ondertussen de vertolking van het concert van Tsjaikovski. Supermelancholisch komt het begin over dat langzamer dan normaal gaat. Woh, hier ruil ik zelfs mijn favoriete opname met Kyung Wha Chung en André Previn (Decca) voor in. Linus Roth kiest voor zijn cd voor de oerversie, zoals uitgegeven door Henle - met afwijkende frasering en soms andere noten. Je oren worden er door gespitst, net als door het spelen van het hele tweede deel (en niet slechts de eerste 40 maten) met een demper. Het resultaat? Een Canzonetta, ongekend intiem van uitstraling.

Bijwerking
En er is sprake van een overrompelende bijwerking: na het zo ingehouden vertolkte tweede deel bruist de finale als nooit tevoren. Roth gaat met stoere bravoure te werk en die fonkelende, vurige passages heeft Challenge Classics optimaal in super audio klank vastgelegd. Bij dit album zijn trouwens bijzonder lezenswaardige teksten van Jens F. Laurson bijgevoegd.

Liefhebbers van magistraal vioolspel hebben met deze cd hun cadeau voor de feestdagen gevonden.

TD:
#morninglistening to #Bach w/#KetilHaugsand & Peter Holtslag in sonatas for flute & #harps... http://ift.tt/2gK5osM

Very nice, esp. given that these are the Bach works I least love. But the traverso is soooo much easier on the ear than a modern flute.

My other favorite of course, being with the flute, actually, but two guitars:
Bach is Next to Godliness, the Flute Not

Also:


#morninglistening to @berlinphil on @dgclassics in #Wagner's Parsifal, conducted by #Herbe... http://ift.tt/2gCd0wI

This turned out to be a reminder why HvK's Parsifal, despite undeniable gorgeousness, does not make my Top 5 among Parsifal recordings.
The violins sound great... almost great, namely artificial and the females engage in a vibrato orgy (Flowermaiden Sextet is quite hard on the ears) and Kundry isn't the last word.

[Que]

What is your impression so far Que?

It's a very nice set in very good, idiomatic performances. Also, apart from the Requiem, there are no alternative recordings of this very worthy music.
Performance wise I feel it is slightly below the level of a Herreweghe, Niquet, Christie or Rousset.

But this Stephen Midgley in his excellent reviews linked below has no so reservations whatsoever:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2WT4ESOPXU4XX/

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3KK69CZRVK4Y3/

I can definitely recommend it.

Q

[Harry]

It's a very nice set in very good, idiomatic performances. Also, apart from the Requiem, there are no alternative recordings of this very worthy music.
Performance wise I feel it is slightly below the level of a Herreweghe, Niquet, Christie or Rousset.

But this Stephen Midgley in his excellent reviews linked below has no so reservations whatsoever:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2WT4ESOPXU4XX/

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3KK69CZRVK4Y3/

I can definitely recommend it.

Q

I am listening to disc 1 and I find it fantastic, but have some minor reservations too. I will put them in my blog review. Thanks Que for the links.

[Monsieur Croche]

These Gems...
Darius Milhaud ~ Six Petites Symphonies
(Chamber Symphonies -- brevity itself -- for varied instrumental groups)
playlist (from a terrific Ytube channel):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJKziU8yEt4&list=PL85v3ho5sSTZlpYDHGALCQFHXqClxCMqi
These little symphonies are between 109 to 93 years old ~ Enjoy :-)

1.) piccolo, flute, clarinet, oboe, harp, 2 violins, viola, cello
2.) flute, English horn, bassoon, violin, viola, cello, bass
3.) flute, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, 'cello, bass
4.) 4 violin, 2 viola, 2 'cello, 2 bass
5.) piccolo, flute, oboe, English horn, Bb clarinet, B bass clarinet, two bassoons and two horns
6.) 4 voices (wordless soprano, contralto, tenor, bass), oboe, 'cello

Best regards

[Harry]

New acquisition, very much praised already on GMG, and I add my praise too. First ever listen, and a new composer in my collection.

http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2016/11/gilles-jean-1668-1705-requiem-motet.html?spref=tw

[Madiel]

Medtner, Three Improvisations, op.2

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These "improvisations" are fairly substantial pieces. The one that caught my attention on a first listen was op.2/2, "A Reminiscence of a Ball".

EDIT: On a second listen, the others are also making a good impression.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Henze: Symphony no. 5

[Que]

New acquisition, very much praised already on GMG, and I add my praise too. First ever listen, and a new composer in my collection.

http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2016/11/gilles-jean-1668-1705-requiem-motet.html?spref=tw

Nice write-up, Harry. 

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