What are you listening to now?

[Madiel]

Petrenko's take on the 13th.  Much more satisfying than Jansons' take.  More intense, more biting, darker in musical feel, if a tad lighter in sound.  The only quibbles I have are with the perhaps slightly too prominent soloist, and the low strings are a bit undernourished.  Overall, it rivals Temirkanov.

Yes, loved this. The 13th was one of only a couple of the symphonies I knew properly before getting the Petrenko set, and I found the performance very satisfying.

THREAD DUTY: Eben, Piano Trio.

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Really rather good on a first listen. The best recommendation I can give is that I perceived the strong contrast between the piano and the strings before reading in the liner notes that the composer's stated intention was to create a strong contrast between the piano and strings rather than attempt to blend them. Mission accomplished, Sir!

[springrite]

p.s. Babbitt has some of the most cleverly provocative titles for pieces   

This reminds that I have not experienced The Joy of Sex(tet) for a long time. Time to revisit.

[San Antone]

A worthy early music release from '16

Western Wind : Music By John Taverner & Court Music For Henry VIII
Andrew Parrott, Taverner Choir

[neoshredder]

Listening to Brian

[Madiel]

Nielsen, first listen to Pan and Syrinx.

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And what a vivid little piece it is. Full of different moods and sounds. As good a tone poem as you'll find, in less than 9 minutes.

[Karl Henning]

Nielsen, first listen to Pan and Syrinx.

[asin]B005FF2U2Q[/asin]
And what a vivid little piece it is. Full of different moods and sounds. As good a tone poem as you'll find, in less than 9 minutes.

Exquisite.

[Madiel]

Barber mucking about with Christmas carols in Die Natali.

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Frankly I find it underwhelming, for me it's probably the least interesting thing in the box so far. Tick off the obvious tunes as they stroll by, and observe the slightly exotic effects/harmonies used in an attempt to spice them up. One for the American holiday season market.

[Karl Henning]

There may have been an occasion for which it was asked.  It's not any Wellingtons Sieg, is it? 

[Karl Henning]

(That said, I can easily imagine finding Die natali rather watery as compared to Pan og Syrinx.)

[Madiel]

There may have been an occasion for which it was asked.  It's not any Wellingtons Sieg, is it? 

The liner notes say that it was commissioned for the Koussevitzky Music Foundation, was dedicated to the memory of both Serge and Natalie Koussevitzky and premiered just before Christmas.

What it doesn't really explain is why they would've wanted a Christmas piece. Koussevitzky was Jewish.

[Karl Henning]

The liner notes say that it was commissioned for the Koussevitzky Music Foundation, was dedicated to the memory of both Serge and Natalie Koussevitzky and premiered just before Christmas.

What it doesn't really explain is why they would've wanted a Christmas piece. Koussevitzky was Jewish.

There must be a story behind there, and possibly an interesting story at that.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Do you mind if I borrow?  Now listening to those on Spotify.

Terrific pieces aren't they?

Currently I am listening to Lutosławski's 3rd symphony



I can't really sleep tonight for some reason.....i need mre music. Le marteau sans maître ought to calm me I think...

[Mahlerian]

There may have been an occasion for which it was asked.  It's not any Wellingtons Sieg, is it? 

Thankfully, few things are.

[Mirror Image]

Takemitsu's Nostalghia - Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin, Seiji Ozawa, cond.

Live: 1 October 2016, Suntory Hall, Tokyo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j465rSC5p1c

I was just listening to this work the other day. So gorgeous. I'll have to check out this performance as it's Mutter and Ozawa. Can't go wrong there.

[Todd]

I've been checking out what there is of Ciccolini's Harmonies on Youtube. No doubt his technique is phenomenal - flowing and graceful. But I sense a certain willingness to let his technique shine in place of where the poetry should be. Not that that's overly bothersome (his technique IS beautiful, after all) but I feel his approach misses somewhat the mystical qualities of Amoyel.

Have you by chance heard Ciccolini? Any thoughts?

Yes, I've heard Ciccolini, and as with Annees, there's a lot to enjoy, but there are more powerful proponents of a virtuosic approach (Korstick first and foremost), and as you describe, others who revel in the more spiritual aspects of the music better.  Ciccolini is one of those pianists I always enjoy hearing, but I can't really think of anything where he is a favorite.

[Karl Henning]

(Could just be one of those days where the only non-Henning I listen to, is Liszt.)

Liszt
Les Jeux d'eau à la Villa d'Este (S.163 № 4)
Bolet

[Karl Henning]

Liszt
Sursum corda (S.163 № 7)
Brendel

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[San Antone]

Late Liszt
Adrienne Krausz



Nice.

[Karl Henning]

Late Liszt
Adrienne Krausz



Nice.

Aye, I pulled the trigger on that one right away.

[Brian]

First-ever listen to Viktor Kalabis.



Symphony No. 2 (Kosler)
Violin Concerto No. 1 (composer conducting)
Symphonic Variations (Neumann)