What are you listening to now?

[aligreto]

Schubert: Mass D.950 [Jordan]....





A very fine interpretation of a wonderful work.

[kyjo]

This autumn weather has me in a Brahms mood, so listening to the Clarinet Trio from this recording:

[asin]B000C847KO[/asin]

[Kontrapunctus]

He certainly makes a heroic effort, and some parts work well, such as the fugue in the 3rd movement, but large stretches just call out for orchestral colors. Good sound.

[LKB]

Well, l couldn't locate any worthy version of a Bach Brandenburg on kazoo...which may be just as well.

I did come across something for us Beatles fans though...

https://youtu.be/94lr1BTsZxg

<runs and hides>,

LKB

[kyjo]

Sibelius' Two pieces for cello and orchestra from this recording:

[asin]B000005IG5[/asin]

Absolutely beautiful stuff. I'm really surprised these two pieces aren't better known, especially the first (Cantique).

[André]

[LKB]

Sibelius' Two pieces for cello and orchestra from this recording:

[asin]B000005IG5[/asin]

Absolutely beautiful stuff. I'm really surprised these two pieces aren't better known, especially the first (Cantique).

Just listened to these on a different recording via YouTube. They are both worth hearing, though I prefer the second.

https://youtu.be/VQRaBs70XJU

Orchestra is ok except for the timpani being out of tune in a couple of places, cello soloist is better.

Cheers,

LKB

[Mirror Image]

Now playing:

[Mirror Image]

Sibelius' Two pieces for cello and orchestra from this recording:

[asin]B000005IG5[/asin]

Absolutely beautiful stuff. I'm really surprised these two pieces aren't better known, especially the first (Cantique).

I love that work! I do not know that particular recording, though. I have it in the Sibelius Edition: Orchestral Music BIS set.

[Todd]

[Kontrapunctus]

Happy birthday, Maestro. There's no one quite like you.

[LKB]

Now playing:

I've got that one, and I'll probably never want any other version of DS8. Spectacular engineering from Decca and near-perfect execution from the COA under Haitink ( although, the percussionist on snare drum during the third movement should have been more alert ).

The passacaglia of Movt. 3 moves through some deep waters... Towards the end, the wandering, muttering clarinet solo is nearly lost beneath the strings as they arpeggiate around g#, but then re-emerges to lead the orchestra into the finale... Very will done, and folks needing a Shostakovich 8 should consider this if they haven't already  heard it.

Cheers,

LKB

[Mirror Image]

I've got that one, and I'll probably never want any other version of DS8. Spectacular engineering from Decca and near-perfect execution from the COA under Haitink ( although, the percussionist on snare drum during the third movement should have been more alert ).

The passacaglia of Movt. 3 moves through some deep waters... Towards the end, the wandering, muttering clarinet solo is nearly lost beneath the strings as they arpeggiate around g#, but then re-emerges to lead the orchestra into the finale... Very will done, and folks needing a Shostakovich 8 should consider this if they haven't already  heard it.

Cheers,

LKB

Indeed. It's one of the finest Shostakovich 8th performances I know. I rate Rozhdestvensky's 8th on Melodiya very highly as well. I also rate Haitink's 4th, 6th, 11th, 13th, and 15th extremely high.

[LKB]

Indeed. It's one of the finest Shostakovich 8th performances I know. I rate Rozhdestvensky's 8th on Melodiya very highly as well. I also rate Haitink's 4th, 6th, 11th, 13th, and 15th extremely high.

I agree completely. The recording of no. 11 was made eight months after l witnessed them performing Mahler's 7th, which was the greatest concert experience for me to date ( that was in 1982 ). Their DS11 may not be the most idiomatic, but for orchestral sonority and power, l can't imagine any conductor/orchestra combination ever exceeding it... The sense of impending vengeance in the final measures makes my hair stand on end! 

Cowering,

LKB

[Mirror Image]

Honegger's VS1 from this set:

[Mirror Image]

I agree completely. The recording of no. 11 was made eight months after l witnessed them performing Mahler's 7th, which was the greatest concert experience for me to date ( that was in 1982 ). Their DS11 may not be the most idiomatic, but for orchestral sonority and power, l can't imagine any conductor/orchestra combination ever exceeding it... The sense of impending vengeance in the final measures makes my hair stand on end! 

Cowering,

LKB

Shostakovich's 11th sure does get me in a happy mood I must say just for the sheer adrenaline rush I get from it. Although, I'd wager a 'happy mood' wasn't ol' Dmitri's intention for this symphony. I bet that Mahler 7th was something not of this earth! You're quite fortunate to have seen Haitink in his prime, too.

[kyjo]

Honegger's VS1 from this set:

That looks like a great set, John. Have you heard Honegger's Cello Sonata?

[Mirror Image]

That looks like a great set, John. Have you heard Honegger's Cello Sonata?

I do know Honegger's Cello Sonata indeed. A great piece for sure.

[Mirror Image]

The whole disc:



An astonishing disc from start to finish.

[LKB]

I bet that Mahler 7th was something not of this earth! You're quite fortunate to have seen Haitink in his prime, too.

Right you are on both counts. This was my first exposure to one of the world's great orchestra/conductor partnerships, and I was astonished at the refined ensemble and balanced power. The opening bar was riveting, with complete coordination in the violins, sounding the notes as written, no sense of tremolo whatsoever... And it just got better from there...

At the end, after a C-Major peroration seemingly as cosmic as anything else in Mahler, l leapt from my seat, punched my fist in the air ( l was a young man, after all ), and yelled, " YEAH!!! "

The ovation went on for a good five minutes. Haitink finally grabbed the concertmaster by the arm and led him offstage, with the orchestra following.

What a night!

Grinning,

LKB