What are you listening to now?

[Karl Henning]

No surprise:

Ives
Symphony № 2
Dallas Symphony
Litton

[asin]B000I8OIH0[/asin]

[cilgwyn]

I've just about finished with this one. Side 2,I mean. I don't mean it like that way,actually........I just wouldn't recommend this version to anyone. In fact,I suppose I really shouldn't say anything good about it,at all! But it's quite good fun listening to Anneliese Rothenberger,Brigitte Fassbaender and Nicolai Gedda  singing Offenbach. Rothenberger had begun to sound a little matronly,by the time this recording was made;but I'm not complaining! That said,it's probably the main problem. Unless you like you're Helene's matronly?!! The orchestra and recording have that electrola operetta polish you expect from this series. So,something a bit different,maybe? Offenbach meets Strauss,perhaps?! If you are desperate for Offenbach in German,electrola's Orpheus and Pariser Leben (which surprise,surprise,I have in my collection) are superior.



For some reason that cover photo makes me think of Cyd Charisse in a Warlords of Atlantis!

I must admit I didn't have Les Brigands in my collection,so I've given into temptation and all the reviews and bought it! The fact that it may (was?) the source of inspiration for The Pirates of Penzance,and Gilbert translated it made my purchase even more of a necessity! My shelves are groaning (perhaps,literally?!) with G &S! Thanks for this suggestion!

Yes,I've seen some criticism levelled at the Plasson recording of La belle Hélène;but I must admit,listening to it this time around;what not to like? Yes,the Leibowitz has more of that French sound of years gone by;but the Plasson makes you realise what a beautiful score it really is;and Jessye Norman is superb. A lovely recording,imho!

[cilgwyn]

Another French operetta composer,now. This one is of a more romantic inclination.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Toccata Concertante
Notturno for Strings & Harp
Serious Song
Blue Towers
Diversions for Orchestra
Symphony



Not a bad disc so far. The opening piece Toccata Concertante doesn't really have much of a distinctive compositional voice. Blue Towers and Diversions for Orchestra are in a lighter vein, but enjoyable nevertheless. I'm on the Symphony now and it's quite good if a little grey in mood --- it's a serial work, but not really at the masterful level of Schoenberg, Berg, or Webern.

[TheGSMoeller]

No surprise:

Ives
Symphony № 2
Dallas Symphony
Litton

yee-ha! Very good performance. Lookout for that raspberry at the end! 

[Drasko]

[Karl Henning]

yee-ha! Very good performance. Lookout for that raspberry at the end! 

Part of me still wants to roll the eyes at the "Gwine to Run All Night" bits . . . .

[Karl Henning]

yee-ha! Very good performance. Lookout for that raspberry at the end! 

Take THAT!

[Spineur]

César Franck, Mélodies.  Beautiful songs on wonderful poems.
Francesca Scaini has a very nice mezzo voice, but her french diction leaves somewhat to be desired

[asin]B00EZCVEY0[/asin]

If you like lieders or César Franck or simply nice french poems, this is a fine disc.

[Karl Henning]

Игорь Фëдорович [ Igor Fyodorovich (Stravinsky) ]
Свадебка (Les noces)
The composer conducting

[mc ukrneal]

I've just about finished with this one. Side 2,I mean. I don't mean it like that way,actually........I just wouldn't recommend this version to anyone. In fact,I suppose I really shouldn't say anything good about it,at all! But it's quite good fun listening to Anneliese Rothenberger,Brigitte Fassbaender and Nicolai Gedda  singing Offenbach. Rothenberger had begun to sound a little matronly,by the time this recording was made;but I'm not complaining! That said,it's probably the main problem. Unless you like you're Helene's matronly?!! The orchestra and recording have that electrola operetta polish you expect from this series. So,something a bit different,maybe? Offenbach meets Strauss,perhaps?! If you are desperate for Offenbach in German,electrola's Orpheus and Pariser Leben (which surprise,surprise,I have in my collection) are superior.



For some reason that cover photo makes me think of Cyd Charisse in a Warlords of Atlantis!

I must admit I didn't have Les Brigands in my collection,so I've given into temptation and all the reviews and bought it! The fact that it may (was?) the source of inspiration for The Pirates of Penzance,and Gilbert translated it made my purchase even more of a necessity! My shelves are groaning (perhaps,literally?!) with G &S! Thanks for this suggestion!

Yes,I've seen some criticism levelled at the Plasson recording of La belle Hélène;but I must admit,listening to it this time around;what not to like? Yes,the Leibowitz has more of that French sound of years gone by;but the Plasson makes you realise what a beautiful score it really is;and Jessye Norman is superb. A lovely recording,imho!

Sorry! But I don't think you will regret it (Brigands) - it's really quite good.

Do you have any of the Offenbach on Opera Rara? They are all good. One of my favorite discs in my collection is the Entre Nous collection, which has scenes from numerous operettas, most of which have not been recorded. If I could only have one Offenbach, that would probably be it. Great choices of music and some great singing,
[asin]B000TT1QR8[/asin]

[Todd]

Disc three, Symphonies 2 & 6.  Järvi and his band screech out the opening passages of the Second, generating a much more satisfying level of intensity than Kosler, though finer orchestral details go missing.  The trade off is worth it.  Järvi lightens up only a bit in the theme and variations.  Sure, there are some fleetingly playful or attractive passages, but the playing never lets up on the forward momentum.  This is far more to my liking than Kosler's overall.

The Sixth follows.  It is certainly possible to say that Järvi does not lead an especially nuanced reading of this symphony, but then it is also possible to say this is not an especially nuanced symphony.  Okay, maybe someone like Slatkin ekes out a bit more subtlety, but Järvi keeps the piece tense and biting and exciting throughout, even in the Largo. 

A knockout disc.

[Mirror Image]

Revisiting this great disc:

[Karl Henning]

Disc three, Symphonies 2 & 6.  Järvi and his band screech out the opening passages of the Second, generating a much more satisfying level of intensity than Kosler, though finer orchestral details go missing.  The trade off is worth it.  Järvi lightens up only a bit in the theme and variations.  Sure, there are some fleetingly playful or attractive passages, but the playing never lets up on the forward momentum.  This is far more to my liking than Kosler's overall.

The Sixth follows.  It is certainly possible to say that Järvi does not lead an especially nuanced reading of this symphony, but then it is also possible to say this is not an especially nuanced symphony.  Okay, maybe someone like Slatkin ekes out a bit more subtlety, but Järvi keeps the piece tense and biting and exciting throughout, even in the Largo. 

A knockout disc.

I appreciate your reports, thanks.

[Camphy]

[NikF]

Stravinsky/Prokofiev/Webern/Boulez - Pollini.

[asin]B000001GQK[/asin]

[Turner]

Marcelle Meyer plays Ravel - Sonatine, Gaspard de la Nuit, Miroirs (3 of the pieces), Valses Nobles et Sentimentales (2 complete recordings).

One of the best CDs in that box (=CD no.3). There´s another one with more Ravel, including the complete Miroirs, Le Tombeau ... , Pavane, Jeux d´Eau, etc.

I wish she had recorded more large-scale, "serious" or "Germanic" works; the box is really loaded with small miniatures/pleasantries.

Bigger pieces include Mozart Concertos 20 & 23, Strauss´ Burleske, Espla´s Sonate del Sur;
bigger, goodie sonata works only include 1x Haydn and 3x Mozart, 1x Stravinsky.
And there ´s a fine amount of Debussy, including the two sets of preludes & two sets of Images. Plus a lot of nice, lively Chabrier. And a good deal of more substantial Bach.

No Satie though, in spite of her being famous as an interpreter of his works, with his approval.

Overall, a nice box however, and I´m looking forward to listening more to many of the items.

[Todd]

[North Star]

Okay, let's put this to the test!

Сергей Сергеевич [ Sergei Sergeyevich (Prokofiev) ]
Violin Concerto № 2 in g minor, Op.63
Kyung Wha Chung, vn
LSO
Previn

And?


Thread duty - First-listen Friday
Sculthorpe
Kakadu
From Oceania
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
James Judd
[asin]B00068CVKI[/asin]

[Mahlerian]

Bach Violin and Voice
Hilary Hahn, Matthias Goerne, Christine Schaefer


This collection of arias from Bach cantatas (plus a pair from the St Matthew Passion and one from the B minor Mass) is far from the typical violin soloist-oriented disc.  Hahn doesn't dominate too much in her obbligato parts, either, though her tone is still quite easily recognizable.  One might wish for the added variety that exists within the respective works themselves, but these arias make for perfectly acceptable miniatures on their own.