What are you listening to now?

[eljr]

Kronos Quartet
Henryk Górecki: String Quartet No. 3

Release Date 2007
Duration50:15
Genre
Classical
Styles
Chamber Music

[Todd]

My impression of this CD improved significantly as I listened further. Yes, the early "bits and pieces" are of not much more than curiosity value, I'd say (and not particularly pleasant, at that), but then you get to fragments that lead up to the Three Piano Pieces, op. 11, and some interesting discarded material appears. And so it is with the rest of the CD: each "official" piano work is surrounded by fragments and sketches, many of which are well worth getting to know IMHO.

Ms. Chen is analytical and persuasive, as always, with a very clean tone and an excellent feeling for the music. I did get bothered by some excessive pedal in some bass lines, e.g. in the second piece of op. 11 (btw, what a piece that is, and even if it's only 7 minutes long, it takes on mammoth proportions given its density--and also in comparison to Schoenberg's other piano music).

A strong contender in a field where the competition is stiff (Pollini and Jacobs being my go-to CDs.), and as a result of the innovative programming, actually it's hors concours.

Thanks


TD:

[Karl Henning]

The weirdly fascinating experience of hearing 2 arias that Beethoven wrote for insertion into someone else's singspiel called "The Shoemaker's Wife".

[asin]B000001GZ6[/asin]
Somehow, all those grand instrumental works didn't prepare me for a little ditty about how important it is to get a shoe to fit properly.

Not even Ludovico spent all his musical time shaking a fist at the Fates.

[Karl Henning]

Again!

Mieczysław Weinberg
Symphony № 10, Op.98 (1968)
Kremerata Baltica

Possibly my very favorite Weinberg score thus far.

[Florestan]

Op. 142 in G minor

Now that I've listened to all of them, I can safely say that, while Spohr's piano trios are no match for Mendelssohn's, let alone Schubert's or Beethoven's, they are enjoyable and genial and make for a pleasing and mildly interesting listening experience. There is a reason for them not being widely known, but there is no reason for them being neglected completely.



Ditto with respect to his Lieder: no match for Schubert's, Loewe's or Mendelssohn's (the latter's output in the field is his best kept secret, imo) but enjoyable on their own terms, and the addition of violin or clarinet is an interesting and welcome feature.

[Ken B]

Op. 142 in G minor

Now that I've listened to all of them, I can safely say that, while Spohr's piano trios are no match for Mendelssohn's, let alone Schubert's or Beethoven's, they are enjoyable and genial and make for a pleasing and mildly interesting listening experience. There is a reason for them not being widely known, but there is no reason for them being neglected completely.



Ditto with respect to his Lieder: no match for Schubert's, Loewe's or Mendelssohn's (the latter's output in the field is his best kept secret, imo) but enjoyable on their own terms, and the addition of violin or clarinet is an interesting and welcome feature.

He's best in the larger ensemble chamber pieces, octets etc. There his interplay of voices and groups is always appealing and interesting.

TD Ravel Mellarme poems

[Florestan]

He's best in the larger ensemble chamber pieces, octets etc. There his interplay of voices and groups is always appealing and interesting.

I have yet to listen to his string quartets, string quintets, double quartets, symphonies, violin concertos and operas. Where should I start?

[ritter]

Prompted by comments in the "Unpopular Opinions" thread, listening to this outstanding Ravel CD:

[asin]B000005IVX[/asin]

I've had to listen to Entre cloches three times so far...   

[Karl Henning]

Some notable recent listening whereof I have not yet here made note:

Toch
Symphony № 1, Op.72 (1950)
. . . so, composed when he was 62.  I may not be the "late starter" I feared!
Berlin Radio Symphony
Francis

[asin]B000EQHRYC[/asin]

Stravinsky
Canticum sacrum
Greg Smith Singers & al.
Orchestra of St Luke's
Craft

Stravinsky
Canticum sacrum
Christian Eisner, Rudolf Rosen
SW German Radio Vocal Ensemble of Stuttgart
SW German Radio Symphony
Gielen

[asin]B001FXSN5A[/asin]

When I first heard the Toch (some while ago, and – I am only half-guessing – thanks to our Cato), I liked it immediately and warmly.  But now, I am hearing it with even-better-focused ears, and the music's riches and strength are much clearer to me, and my enthusiasm is cubed.

My expectation was that I should find both of these accounts of Canticum sanctum more musical than that in the Stravinsky's Own box (much as we do like the box, and are generally grateful for it).  Not surprisingly, the Gielen is a shade warmer, more lyrical – an appraisal which seems likely to suggest preference.  But in fact I like both these performances very much, and am unsure that I could express any preference.

[North Star]

G'day, Karl & Rafael!

Prompted by comments in the "Unpopular Opinions" thread, listening to this outstanding Ravel CD:

[asin]B000005IVX[/asin]

I've had to listen to Entre cloches three times so far...   

I have to confess I'm not familiar at all with Sites auriculaires - time to fix that now.
Jacques Février & Gabriel Tacchino, from the Decca Complete Ravel.
And might as well throw in the Kontarskys' Frontispice (don't know whose is the fifth hand).

[Madiel]

First (streaming) listen to Brahms Piano Sonata No.3

[asin]B01BWIVH14[/asin]
EDIT: Some reading during the 1st movement is giving me an idea of what an epic this is going to be.

[North Star]

Test-drive Tuesday
d'Amor Ragionando: Neo-stilnovo Ballate in Italy, 1380-1415
Mala Punica
Disc 2 from "Vertu Contra Furore - Musical Languages in Late Medieval Italy, 1380-1420"
[asin] B00H9KERSA[/asin]

[ritter]

G'day, Karl & Rafael!I have to confess I'm not familiar at all with Sites auriculaires - time to fix that now.
Jacques Février & Gabriel Tacchino, from the Decca Complete Ravel.
And might as well throw in the Kontarskys' Frontispice (don't know whose is the fifth hand).

Good day, Karlo!

Well, "all" the Sites auriculaires are just two: the Habanera (later orchestrated and incorporated into the Rhapsodie espagnole) and Entre cloches.

I must confess I much prefer the Habanera in this piano duet version that in its orchestral guise (I'm not really that keen on the Rhapsodie respagnole, to be honest--can't really say why, though).

Cheers,

[Mahlerian]

My impression of this CD improved significantly as I listened further. Yes, the early "bits and pieces" are of not much more than curiosity value, I'd say (and not particularly pleasant, at that), but then you get to fragments that lead up to the Three Piano Pieces, op. 11, and some interesting discarded material appears. And so it is with the rest of the CD: each "official" piano work is surrounded by fragments and sketches, many of which are well worth getting to know IMHO.

Ms. Chen is analytical and persuasive, as always, with a very clean tone and an excellent feeling for the music. I did get bothered by some excessive pedal in some bass lines, e.g. in the second piece of op. 11 (btw, what a piece that is, and even if it's only 7 minutes long, it takes on mammoth proportions given its density--and also in comparison to Schoenberg's other piano music).

A strong contender in a field where the competition is stiff (Pollini and Jacobs being my go-to CDs.), and as a result of the innovative programming, actually it's hors concours.

I'm actually writing a full analysis of the fragment from 1925 right now.  It was interesting to really dig into it and see the momentary thoughts of a great master, thinking about why he might have abandoned them.

[ritter]

I'm actually writing a full analysis of the fragment from 1925 right now.  It was interesting to really dig into it and see the momentary thoughts of a great master, thinking about why he might have abandoned them.

Sounds to me like a very approachable piece, that 1925 fragment, with a very seductive ländler start. If it weren't for the abrupt ending, you could think it's finsihed. One of the more interesting of the fragments presented, I'd say. Look forward to reading your analysis, if you care to share it.

Regards,

[North Star]

Good day, Karlo!

Well, "all" the Sites auriculaires are just two: the Habanera (later orchestrated and incorporated into the Rhapsodie espagnole) and Entre cloches.

I must confess I much prefer the Habanera in this piano duet version that in its orchestral guise (I'm not really that keen on the Rhapsodie respagnole, to be honest--can't really say why, though).

Cheers,

It's a while since I heard Rhapsodie espagnole, but it's not in my top 10 Ravel pieces, either. I definitely tend to prefer the piano (solo/duo) music he transcribed in its original guise, so that's not all that surprising.
As for 'all' of Sites auriculaires, I meant that I'm not at all familiar with it.


Thread-duty - Test-drive Tuesday
Schönberg
String Quartet No. 2 in f-sharp minor, Op. 10
Sandrine Piau
Quatuor Diotima
[asin]B01872MKD2[/asin]

[ritter]

...
As for 'all' of Sites auriculaires, I meant that I'm not at all familiar with it.
...

Quite right. You wrote "at all", and I misread that as "with all"...apologies!  Do listen to them, they're quite wonderful (all of them  )...

[North Star]

Quite right. You wrote "at all", and I misread that as "with all"...apologies!  Do listen to them, they're quite wonderful (all of them  )...

Did already, twice.

[aligreto]

Gorecki: Symphony No. 3 [Wit]....





This was my first of three versions that I own and it is still my favourite one. The performance is haunting and I believe that this one gets to the essence of the work.

[aligreto]

Handel With Care 

[asin]B00WTJK28U[/asin]

Splendid music making by The Lautten Compagney.

Among the finest instrumental Handel releases I've heard. 

Noted