What are you listening to now?

[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

[kishnevi]

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

Have you ever heard Rostropovich's recordings of DSCH 8 and 11 on LSO Live (not the earlier ones from his NSO cycle)?
They get the same sort of reaction from me.

TD
Both CDs

[Mirror Image]

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

"What a night!" indeed!

[André]

[Mirror Image]

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

My turn, do you know Frank Martin's Ballade for Cello and Small Orchestra or the Cello Concerto? I think you'll dig both of these works.

[TheGSMoeller]

Schubert: Symphony No 9, D 944
Jonathan Nott/Bamberg Symphony Orchestra

[kyjo]

My turn, do you know Frank Martin's Ballade for Cello and Small Orchestra or the Cello Concerto? I think you'll dig both of these works.

No, I don't, but I'm sure I'll dig both of them Everything I've heard by Martin so far has really impressed me.

[Mirror Image]

No, I don't, but I'm sure I'll dig both of them Everything I've heard by Martin so far has really impressed me.

Check this out when you have time:

https://www.youtube.com/v/2GeE9IC8tCw

https://www.youtube.com/v/6zoFv6UcIpA

https://www.youtube.com/v/ZkQQMe-2Hlw

[LKB]

Have you ever heard Rostropovich's recordings of DSCH 8 and 11 on LSO Live (not the earlier ones from his NSO cycle)?
They get the same sort of reaction from me.

TD
Both CDs

I haven't heard Rostropovich with the LSO, no. But considering his reputation with Shostakovich, it wouldn't surprise me at all if his more recent 8 & 11 were outstanding. 

And I spy with my little eye Cantata 140, an old friend indeed. I played the oboe part back when l was an active oboist, and sung the bass solos a few years later. I've not heard the Gardiner though.

Respectfully,

LKB

[Mahlerian]

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

That sounds wonderful.  I got to hear Haitink conduct the Boston Symphony in Mahler's Second about 10 years ago at Tanglewood.  It was a great night all around.

TD, more of that heavy Germanic diet:

Mozart: Fantasy in C minor, Sonata in C minor
Mitsuko Uchida
[asin]B0000501PH[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

Now:



These CDs come free with BBC Music Magazine. I haven't heard this Pärt one yet. Sounds quite nice so far.

[TheGSMoeller]

Saariaho: Grammaire des reves

[asin]B006O8K3YK[/asin]

From the above box set, originally from this release...

[Mirror Image]

Saariaho: Grammaire des reves

[asin]B006O8K3YK[/asin]

From the above box set, originally from this release...

Saariaho is still a composer I struggle with, but I'd love to know how you get on with her music, Greg. Maybe I'm missing something?

[Dancing Divertimentian]

TD
Both CDs

+1. The more I hear of Gardiner's pilgrimage the more I love it.