What are you listening to now?

[king ubu]

Last night the "Watts Recital" (amongst other things with Haydn's Hob. XVI:52, which I pretty much enjoyed) and then the Chopin disc (with Sonata No. 2). Four discs in - all solo ones - I don't think Watts is the most distinguished and distinctive pianist I've heard by a measure, but there's nothing wrong about any of what I heard, either. Looking forward to exploring the discs dedicated to Liszt and Schubert next, and then dipping into some of the concertos (looking forward most to Brahms 2 with Bernstein there).



Now finishing my first, slow run through the Haydn box by Ekaterina Derzhavina - consider me a fan! She plays these pieces in such a fitting style and with such a modest "music first" attitude, I really love the results! I guess you could say she uses the steady sound of the modern instrument, but she never overdoes it, rarely makes the piano roar, and if so only for those few moments when, were it played on a fortepiano, you'd be afraid the instrument would fall apart any moment now.

[Turner]

Gubaidulina: Concertos for Percussion & Violin, No.2 / BIS

Well played, good sound. The Percussion work is, perhaps, less captivating, though I might revise my opinion later.

[Autumn Leaves]

Today's listening:



Continuing with various works by Stravinsky - Too lazy to list them all so here's what's included in the box (click to enlarge):



Petrouchka currently playing (2 versions of this work in the box - listening to the earlier account which is in Mono).

[Spineur]

Also listening to some Haydn keyboard works, waiting for Francesco Corti Harpsicord CD to show up

Right now CD 1 from Brendel 4 CD box

[asin]B001JJX7ME[/asin]

[aligreto]

Philip Martin: Beato Angelico [de Roo]....





This short work was inspired by a visit by the composer to see some Fra Angelico paintings in Italy.

[aligreto]

I got this cycle recently! Didn't have a Bruckner complete set before. Plan to report on it when it arrives.

I, for one, look forward to that 

[Autumn Leaves]

Now playing:



Symphony #16 (Aviation Symphony)
Symphony #18

[aligreto]

Stanford: Sonata Celtica, No. 4 [played by Joseph Payne]....





A very fine work which, for me, is much more interesting and accessible than both his Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3.

[amw]

I got this cycle recently! Didn't have a Bruckner complete set before. Plan to report on it when it arrives.

It's here! I am still sans computer but I do have a CD player. For first impressions I'm checking out the first movement of No. 6 (slow and not very dynamically impactful -- articulation is not particularly strong -- but reverential, with a sense of majesty, the very characteristic dark Gewandhaus sound with vibratoey Soviet Bloc trumpets, and the long first movement coda being almost perfect although needs more timpani presence and a shorter final chord >_>) and the last movement of No. 8 (could practically see Darth Vader and the Imperial Stormtroopers lining up <_< lil Ewok flute solos, Death Stars moving into position to the accompaniment of ominous string lines, Princess Leia and Han Solo making solemn vows to one another as they go off into battle, etc.... ok but it's really good honestly. I heard a lot of details that are buried in most recordings, and Blomstedt's ability to shape a coherent trajectory of intensity and narrative through the movement is exceptional. Also. Maybe the best coda to Bruckner's 8th that I have ever heard in my entire lifetime. I'll have to head-to-head with Jochum's 1982 St. Florian recording later. Also-also I'm surprised that my ancient CD player accepted an 85 minute CD but apparently it likes me today)

My expectations are pretty high, will listen to some full symphonies when I have time.

[Florestan]

Monteverdi - Orfeo





What confuses me is how much I love this opera, considering how early it is written. It's not an absurd opera, so why do I like it so much? it's like a mesmerizing fantasy    0:)

Well, Orpheus was famous for taming wild beasts with his music... 

[Mandryka]

Xenakis - Epicycles




One of my favorite chamber pieces, it's so beautiful and has an amazing contrast between something majestic/ethereal and something really intense.
<3 <3

Arne Deforce is very good. You may also like his recording of Advaya (Jonathan Harvey.)

[aligreto]

It's here! I am still sans computer but I do have a CD player. For first impressions I'm checking out the first movement of No. 6 (slow and not very dynamically impactful -- articulation is not particularly strong -- but reverential, with a sense of majesty, the very characteristic dark Gewandhaus sound with vibratoey Soviet Bloc trumpets, and the long first movement coda being almost perfect although needs more timpani presence and a shorter final chord >_>) and the last movement of No. 8 (could practically see Darth Vader and the Imperial Stormtroopers lining up <_< lil Ewok flute solos, Death Stars moving into position to the accompaniment of ominous string lines, Princess Leia and Han Solo making solemn vows to one another as they go off into battle, etc.... ok but it's really good honestly. I heard a lot of details that are buried in most recordings, and Blomstedt's ability to shape a coherent trajectory of intensity and narrative through the movement is exceptional. Also. Maybe the best coda to Bruckner's 8th that I have ever heard in my entire lifetime. I'll have to head-to-head with Jochum's 1982 St. Florian recording later. Also-also I'm surprised that my ancient CD player accepted an 85 minute CD but apparently it likes me today)

My expectations are pretty high, will listen to some full symphonies when I have time.

Interesting read. I would be interested in your verdict following your head to head later.

[aligreto]

Frank Corcoran: Symphony No. 2 [Pearce]....





Symphony No. 2 has an interesting form. The first movement is largely unstructured whereas the second movement, using the same material, attempts to impose structure onto the proceedings. The composer refers to the struggle between Chaos and Order. The musical language, the resultant sound world and orchestral colours and textures are undoubtedly very interesting but very challenging for me.

[aligreto]

Perotin: Viderunt Omnes [Tonus Peregrinus]....





One is completely submerged in overlapping waves of sound while listening to this.

[Bogey]

A little Rach to start my Sunday.

[Camphy]

[aligreto]

Dufay: Sanctus and Benedictus, Agnus Dei & Gloria from this fine disc....

[Maestro267]

Messiaen: Méditations sur le mystère de la Sainte-Trinité
Olivier Messiaen, organ of La Trinité Church, Paris

[Harry]

Now finishing my first, slow run through the Haydn box by Ekaterina Derzhavina - consider me a fan! She plays these pieces in such a fitting style and with such a modest "music first" attitude, I really love the results! I guess you could say she uses the steady sound of the modern instrument, but she never overdoes it, rarely makes the piano roar, and if so only for those few moments when, were it played on a fortepiano, you'd be afraid the instrument would fall apart any moment now.

Agreed, superb set. Played the whole box three times.

[aligreto]

Ockeghem: Missa Mi-Mi [Wickham]....