What are you listening to now?

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Vocalise and the 3rd. Incredible performances.

[Kontrapunctus]

I drove 400 miles to hear Daniil Trifonov and the LA Phil with Dudamel perform Rachmaninoff's 3rd Concerto--wow! I have 7 or 8 recordings and have heard it live many times, but never as thrillingly as last night! Not only was the bravura all one could ask for, but Trifonov brought out all sorts of inner voices/counterpoint that I've never heard before. He played the more massive cadenza and made it sound orchestral. It was a bit slower than some play it, but I think it gained intensity and drama in the process. The audience went wild at the end, and he favored us with Medtner's Fairy Tales Op.20 No.2 "La Campenella" as an encore, also stunning. I met him afterward--charming and friendly as ever. He said upcoming recordings include all of Rachmaninoff's Concertos (1 and 4, then 2 and 3), the Piano Trios with Gidon Kremer (didn't mention the cellist), then Chopin's Concertos. We have a lot to look forward to!

The second half consisted of Prokofiev's "Scythian Suite" (The second movement was brutal beyond belief!), and concluded with Scriabin's "Poem of Ecstasy." Whoa. I don't think I've ever heard a louder orchestral finale--the hall's organ sounded awesome.

I really don't get why some people don't like Dudamel. The loud and intense parts of every score I've heard him conduct are as loud and intense as anyone would want, and the more delicate parts are beautifully phrased and interpreted. Professional jealousy, perhaps?

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to the 13th. Sounds great so far. This is shaping up to be the best Shostakovich cycle in my collection. I'm pretty sure I own all of the symphony cycles now. Well, actually I just remembered I'm missing the one on the German MD&G label, but I don't have any interest in this particular cycle.

[SimonNZ]

"Carmina Gallica: Latin Songs Of The 12th Century" - Diabolus In Musica

[Mirror Image]

I just received it today, I'm giving disk two a spin first. I'm now onto Apparitions 

A fantastic box set and my first exposure to Ligeti. That box is a goldmine of great stuff.

[mc ukrneal]

I drove 400 miles to hear Daniil Trifonov and the LA Phil with Dudamel perform Rachmaninoff's 3rd Concerto--wow! I have 7 or 8 recordings and have heard it live many times, but never as thrillingly as last night! Not only was the bravura all one could ask for, but Trifonov brought out all sorts of inner voices/counterpoint that I've never heard before. He played the more massive cadenza and made it sound orchestral. It was a bit slower than some play it, but I think it gained intensity and drama in the process. The audience went wild at the end, and he favored us with Medtner's Fairy Tales Op.20 No.2 "La Campenella" as an encore, also stunning. I met him afterward--charming and friendly as ever. He said upcoming recordings include all of Rachmaninoff's Concertos (1 and 4, then 2 and 3), the Piano Trios with Gidon Kremer (didn't mention the cellist), then Chopin's Concertos. We have a lot to look forward to!

The second half consisted of Prokofiev's "Scythian Suite" (The second movement was brutal beyond belief!), and concluded with Scriabin's "Poem of Ecstasy." Whoa. I don't think I've ever heard a louder orchestral finale--the hall's organ sounded awesome.

I really don't get why some people don't like Dudamel. The loud and intense parts of every score I've heard him conduct are as loud and intense as anyone would want, and the more delicate parts are beautifully phrased and interpreted. Professional jealousy, perhaps?

Glad you had such a positive experience!

I can only speak for myself on Dudamel. I have only heard him in a few recordings (and never live), and nothing recent (all at least 3-4 years old), so perhaps he has changed. But some of those earlier recordings are horrible. Take his Tchaikovsky 5, and you will near nothing of what you described. Rather, you will hear one-dimensional and superficial performances that lack good phrasing. But those also were with his Simon Bolivar orchestra and it is also possible they were not able to execute - perhaps not to the level of the LA Philharmonic. It may be that Trifinov helped push him as well. I'm happy to hear they are doing some great performances - I hope it continues.

[Mirror Image]

Definitely!  Though it's missing Lux Aeterna and some of my favorite works (like Etudes and Le Grand Macabre)   

Well, it's not a grab-all Ligeti set. I enjoy the set for what it contains not what it doesn't.

[Mirror Image]

Yeah, I don't disagree. It's a great set, I'm enjoying it very much! 

Good to hear!

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

I just watched online that performance of stravinsky's op. 5. Great work. I loved it! And it's very special knowing that one is hearing it for the first time in so many years.

[Madiel]

Medtner, Four Pieces, op.4

[asin]B006RN4OB0[/asin]
Really fine late Romantic pieces from a composer still only in his mid-20s. Medtner most definitely knew how to write for piano.

[Madiel]

Brahms, Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel

[asin]B0000041AH[/asin]
Apparently, it's exactly 7 years since the last time I listened to this work. And no, I wasn't aiming for the anniversary. I just thought it was time to pick it up again.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

#morninglistening to #Munich composer #OrlandoDiLasso on @outheremusic's #Ricercar label w... http://ift.tt/2fS1F6E

[Que]

Morning listening:



PS After listening to this again, I feel that I am growing weary of Peres' "Byzantine" approach in post Medieval music...
Even if regardless this is a wonderful recording, perhaps it is time to look for another, more state-of-the-art approach... 
I wouldn't mind if this was on the recording list of the  Ensemble Musica Nova under Lucien Kandel...

Q

[aligreto]

Vivaldi: Concerto RV 93 for 2 Violins, Lute and basso....





Fine playing but once again on this disc we have a recording imbalance, this time in the opening movement between the lute and basso with the lute being sometimes overwhelmed.

[Que]

Vivaldi: Concerto RV 93 for 2 Violins, Lute and basso....





Fine playing but once again on this disc we have a recording imbalance, this time in the opening movement between the lute and basso with the lute being sometimes overwhelmed.

Thanks for the heads up. I guess Biondi is hard act to follow.....

This is why I didn't buy the complete Brilliant set, just do some cherry picking...

Q

[SimonNZ]

Andrew Norman's Play - Gil Rose, cond.

Grawemeyer 2017, I've just learned

[Que]

Moving to the 2nd of the Grigny discs:

[asin]B014LGRADI[/asin]

Q

[aligreto]

Thanks for the heads up. I guess Biondi is hard act to follow.....

This is why I didn't buy the complete Brilliant set, just do some cherry picking...

Q

Absolutely on Biondi.
There is fine playing overall on the CD but one cannot but feel a little disappointed with the engineering coupled with a dry acoustic. This one could have been a real winner.
Your comments are also interesting regarding the set. Do you have many of them? I have a number of these Guglielmo CDs on my List but I am now reluctant to buy any more. Do you have any suggestions as to what to avoid?

[Madiel]

Barber, Souvenirs (orchestral ballet version). First listen.

[asin]B00005RT4V[/asin]

[aligreto]

Bax: Northern Ballad....





A fine work with sweeping strings, interesting harmonies and counterpoints.