What are you listening to now?

[Wanderer]

.[asin]B0184UDN2E[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

Elizabeth Maconchy
String Quartets Nos. 5 - 8
Bingham String Quartet

There isn't a lot of choice of recording for these fine Maconchy quartets which date from 1948 to 1967 - this is it, as far as I know. Fortunately the Bingham quartet bring them off well, but the disc from 1990 has deteriorated, unfortunately, making the 8th quartet recording somewhat incomplete.

I forget just which of the quartets I have listened to, but I remember them being excellent music.

[aligreto]

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique [Monteux]....





Taut, tension filled and atmospheric yet quite a lyrical performance.

[Karl Henning]

What peculiar cover art for the Berlioz! 

[aligreto]

What peculiar cover art for the Berlioz! 

I always thought that it was quite eye catching.

[Karl Henning]

I always thought that it was quite eye catching.

Yes, I'm just not sure what the veiled lady has to do with the piece!  (The noose arguably fits, although I always thought the end of the Marche au supplice was to a slicing, rather than a hanging.)

Really the frightfully interesting thing is that, maybe a week before Hallowe'en, I was listening for a couple of days to the Boulez recording (which is very good) . . . so, I'm in:

Berlioz
Symphonie fantastique, Op.14
SFSO
Monteux
Recorded 27 Feb 1950

[Karl Henning]

Curiously, Monteux was more determined to drive Un bal harder than does Boulez.  Interesting, I find it, that the modern lets the piece have an easier grace.

[Wanderer]

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[NikF]

Harty: Orchestral Works - Proinssas O'Duinn/National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.

[asin]B000053W49[/asin]
Another disc from my fairly recent Naxos order purchased in an attempt to hear the work of composers unknown to me (although I understand the vast majority of members here will be familiar with them) or more modern, which up to this point has been a rewarding pursuit. The music on this one is so far fairly lightweight and in places even folksy. And it's very Irish and charming - both of which are much like myself. 

[Madiel]

Earlier today: Sibelius 1st

[asin]B0000042GV[/asin]

The more I listen to this symphony, the more I love it. Commentary to the effect that it's not yet the "true" Sibelius does the work a great disservice I think. To me it's as fine a 1st as any.

[Karl Henning]

Earlier today: Sibelius 1st

[asin]B0000042GV[/asin]

The more I listen to this symphony, the more I love it. Commentary to the effect that it's not yet the "true" Sibelius does the work a great disservice I think. To me it's as fine a 1st as any.

Cool, and agreed.

[aligreto]

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 [Cluytens]....





A good performance but the weakest of the overall cycle.

[aligreto]

Yes, I'm just not sure what the veiled lady has to do with the piece!  (The noose arguably fits, although I always thought the end of the Marche au supplice was to a slicing, rather than a hanging.)

Perhaps she represents the "idée fixe"?
However, I always think of Carmen for some reason when I see her 

[aligreto]

Curiously, Monteux was more determined to drive Un bal harder than does Boulez.  Interesting, I find it, that the modern lets the piece have an easier grace.

Interesting comment Karl. I find that a lot with the "older guys" which is why I constantly dig into my vinyl vault - just to hear those "different" interpretations.

[aligreto]

Harty: Orchestral Works - Proinssas O'Duinn/National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.

[asin]B000053W49[/asin]
Another disc from my fairly recent Naxos order purchased in an attempt to hear the work of composers unknown to me (although I understand the vast majority of members here will be familiar with them) or more modern, which up to this point has been a rewarding pursuit. The music on this one is so far fairly lightweight and in places even folksy. And it's very Irish and charming - both of which are much like myself. 

....and you certainly appear to have the "gift of the gab" too   
You know, if the Brexit thing gets a bit rough on you guys, there is a nice, fun loving, relatively empty island off your west coast where you just might fit in 

[aligreto]

Earlier today: Sibelius 1st

[asin]B0000042GV[/asin]

The more I listen to this symphony, the more I love it. Commentary to the effect that it's not yet the "true" Sibelius does the work a great disservice I think. To me it's as fine a 1st as any.

I too always liked Ashkenazy's Sibelius 1 & 2. I always found that they emphasise the drama in those works. These are beautiful recordings made in a lovely warm acoustic.

[Karl Henning]

Perhaps she represents the "idée fixe"?
However, I always think of Carmen for some reason when I see her 

Well, but I think Carmen was rather too sassy for any veil.

[Madiel]

I too always liked Ashkenazy's Sibelius 1 & 2. I always found that they emphasise the drama in those works. These are beautiful recordings made in a lovely warm acoustic.

Yes, Ashkenazy's recordings are passionate ones. They're in fact the only recordings I know (picked them up years ago, possibly it was a Penguin Guide recommendation), but I've no real desire to look for others. Certainly 1, 2 and 4 all have some blazing moments. And most reviews of the cycle indicate I've got a pretty good one!

[Florestan]

Well, but I think Carmen was rather too sassy for any veil.

[anothername]

Zubin Metha conducts: Puccini- Tosca.