What are you listening to now?

[Sergeant Rock]

Klemperer's recording of Mahler Symphony no 7. What not to enjoy?!

Nothing to not enjoy...it's all good 

Sarge

[cilgwyn]

Klemperer's recording of Mahler Symphony no 7. What not to enjoy?!

Sarge......it's grrrreeeeat!!

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to PC2. Great stuff.

[aligreto]

Mozart: Missa in C, K167 "Trinitatis-Messe"....





Despite the cover, the credits for this particular work are:

Wiener Philharmoniker
Wiener Staatsopernchor
Karl Munchinger

[San Antone]

I am very keen on the recording led by René Clemencic, which uses two tenors and two basses. The singing is of a raw quality without being overdone, and vibrato is sparse.

https://www.amazon.de/Machaut-Messe-Notre-Dame-Rene-Clemencic/dp/B000K2QL1K/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1480860859&sr=1-1&keywords=machaut+clemencic

I have been aware of that recording but never heard it.  It is hard to find - thanks for the link to the German Amazon; I might try ordering from the site, or try finding it somewhere a bit closer..

[cilgwyn]

Now:



Listening to PC2. Great stuff.

Had to find out who the artwork was by!

Head of a Peasant
(detail) by Kasimir Malevich (1878–1935)

[Mandryka]

I have been aware of that recording but never heard it.  It is hard to find - thanks for the link to the German Amazon; I might try ordering from the site, or try finding it somewhere a bit closer..

One thing I really love about that Clemencic recording is the stuff that comes between the sung mass: an astonishingly raw (premont's word is spot on, it's so raw it's almost hoarse) Marian song; bits of organ music and stuff on had-bells;  evocative call and response stuff with a little congregation; a passionate and psychedelic piece with hurdy-gurdy and voice. It's a real event, a real experience when you listen to the whole thing.

Some of it is live, maybe all of it, the sound engineers have caught the sense of an an occasion very well.  In the mass itself there's this feeling of a handful of blokes enjoying singing responsively together, which is cool.

If I have a reservation it is to do with tempo - I've started to enjoy the Machaut mass taken more slowly than Clemencic does. But that's just me.

Let me know if you can't get the recording and I'll upload it for you. I'm totally sure you'll find it well worth hearing.

[San Antone]

One thing I really love about that Clemencic recording is the stuff that comes between the sung mass: an astonishingly raw (premont's word is spot on, it's so raw it's almost hoarse) Marian song; bits of organ music and stuff on had-bells;  evocative call and response stuff with a little congregation; a passionate and psychedelic piece with hurdy-gurdy and voice. It's a real event, a real experience when you listen to the whole thing.

Some of it is live, maybe all of it, the sound engineers have caught the sense of an an occasion very well.  In the mass itself there's this feeling of a handful of blokes enjoying singing responsively together, which is cool.

If I have a reservation it is to do with tempo - I've started to enjoy the Machaut mass taken more slowly than Clemencic does. But that's just me.

Let me know if you can't get the recording and I'll upload it for you. I'm totally sure you'll find it well worth hearing.

Thanks; I just ordered  a used/VG copy from Amazon USA third party seller for $7.50.  Will let you know if this is the "one" I've been looking for.  Although, the aspects you describe, are not a plus, IMO.

[Harry]

I'm absolutely certain your expertise in choral music exceeds my limited knowledge as a listener by far, Harry.

I understand from your response that you like the Byzantine/ Orthodox vocal style by Graindelavoix, which to my ears sounds similar to Peres' Ensemble Organum.

Q

Yes that too Que! But that is just one aspect I like about them.
And it is very similar to Peres, a recording I cherish too.
It is not so often that I hear such sublime singing as a choir and individual voices.

[aligreto]

Cortege for Orchestra
Mediterranean

[Mahlerian]

Webern: Cantata No. 1, Variations for Orchestra, Cantata No. 2
Halina Lukomska, John Alldis Choir, London Symphony Orchestra, cond. Boulez


Ockeghem: Missa Quarti Toni
Hilliard Ensemble

[andolink]

J.S. Bach:  Partita No. 5 in G major, BWV 829
Peter Watchorn, harpsichord



W. A. Mozart:  Piano Trio in C major, K. 548
Linda Nicholson, fortepiano
Monica Huggett, violin
Timothy Mason, cello

[HIPster]

Morning listening ~
[asin]B00004YYPV[/asin]

[André]

This is the May 31, 1953 performance (live, of course). Quite simply the best remastering of any Furtwängler performance. Amazingly lifelike. The performance is unique. Furtwängler treats us to his usual mad scramble in the coda. I've never been able to take to it. Other than that, an indispensable document.

Available on Youtube and in various cd incarnations.

[Mirror Image]

Had to find out who the artwork was by!

Head of a Peasant
(detail) by Kasimir Malevich (1878–1935)

Yes, it's quite a striking painting for sure.

Now playing Act I from this recording:



And then the 4th from this set:

[Todd]

Some old school Wagner preludes.

[aligreto]

Tristan und Isolde: Prelude

[HIPster]

Machaut : Messe
Ensemble Gilles Binchois, Domenique Vellard



I still await a recording of this work which I find perfect.  I like the restraint Vellard's group displays with the singing and melodic interpretation but I prefer to lower pitching by Peres.  Hilliard is too pure vocally, no edge, as well as being pitched very high.

Who knows, maybe somebody will put one out that is the best of both worlds someday.

While I really like Peres/Ensemble Organum in the Machaut Mass, the one by Musica Nova is probably my favorite:

[asin]B003ZWPAYQ[/asin]

Currently playing ~

[asin]B008QDCZ6A[/asin]

My go-to recording of Bach's motets. 

Superb, detailed sound.  The instrumental accompaniment fits like a glove with the gorgeous voices.

[Mirror Image]

A little change in listening plans...

Now:



A new acquisition. Listening to Symphony No. 1, Op. 7. I haven't heard this symphony in ages. The last time I heard it was through the Botstein recording, which was good, but I suppose not authoritative enough for me. This is shaping up to be great performance. A bit rawer overall, which is more to my liking in Russian/Soviet music.

A little background to Popov:



The son of gifted musicians, Gavriil Popov was a wild talent who always sparked critical and ideological argument. Although he was an active member of all the musical organizations in Leningrad, including the Union of Composers, and won many state prizes and honors, he was also regularly condemned by various authorities, beginning when he was purged from the Leningrad Conservatory as a "hopeless" student in 1924. He composed six important symphonies and a substantial body of piano music - he was a virtuoso performer himself - as well as major theater and film scores.

[Sergeant Rock]

Miaskovsky Symphony No.7 B minor op.24




Sarge