What are you listening to now?

[Karl Henning]

This isn't the first time you've expressed this, but I do always find it a little amusing that you consider Nielsen to still be finding his footing 20 years into his career. I do understand why, but it's kind of funny when, by the time of the 3rd Symphony and Violin Concerto we're talking about a man in his mid-40s.

This is what you get with my increased chronological awareness...

Thanks for the reminder.  And no, not at all like L'oiseau de feu, then  0:)

[Madiel]

Having heard positive things about this set multiple times here, I just listened to Une barque sur l'océan...

[asin]B017TBVQL4[/asin]
And was left completely unmoved.

Alborada del gracioso works better with Chamayou's sense of propulsion. But I'm still not all that excited.

*switches tracks*

Okay, Le Gibet has something.

Still, I don't think I'm going to be rushing out to add this to my Pascal Roge set.

[Todd]

Roberto Plano's take on the Benediction.  Plano takes a fairly broad approach at just over eighteen minutes.  He starts the Moderato slowly but then picks up the pace slowly and almost imperceptibly.  The rolled chords are bright and vary in volume, never sounding overbearing, and Plano takes full advantage of the Fazioli in building up to a massive but perfectly controlled climax that envelopes the listener, and his playing afterward, right through to the Andante, sounds ethereal.  Plano lets the Moderato fade away before starting in on the Andante, in which he lets melody dominate, and much of the accompaniment is gently but clearly dispatched.  The transition to the Piu sostenuto is handled very well indeed, with the pause of just the right length, and then his playing assumes a most attractive clarity and steadiness, almost making the music sound fugal.  The return of the rolled chords are alternatively to the fore and subdued, and once again Plano builds up to a powerful but controlled climax, followed by right hand playing that almost mimics water effects in some other famous pieces.  He then fades away to the coda with contemplative playing.

To call the sound SOTA is to understate its quality.  The Fazioli sounds absolutely beautiful.

[Mirror Image]

The 3rd:

[HIPster]

J.S. Bach harpsichord concertos
Egarr/AAM

[asin]B00005UEQ1[/asin]

Have not played this in some time.  Beautiful interpretations by Richard Egarr and the Academy. 

This amazon review sums it up nicely:

Bach's keyboard concertos--some original compositions, others adapted from the Brandenburgs or string concertos--herald the genesis of the modern keyboard concerto as we know it, a genre later picked up and perfected by his son J.C. Bach. Until these stunning works were written, the harpsichord was used either as a continuo instrument or simply in a solo or chamber context. One reason for this is that the harpsichord doesn't possess the volume to cope with a sizable orchestra as a solo force. Richard Egarr knows this limitation, but he doesn't bestow any more amplification on his harpsichord than on the strings and wind. Fair enough, but there are a few frustrating moments when the primary, solo writing is sometimes lost beneath the less important orchestral counterpoint in the outer movements. That said, the balance in the slower movements works well due to the thinner textures, and overall the tempi are beautifully judged without the extreme speeds so often found in "authentic" performances. The phrasing and articulation are also well thought through, and these intimate performances display a joie de vivre lacking in most other recordings. Superb playing throughout. --Oliver Condy

[Vinbrulé]

Beautiful instrument. It's the first thing that strikes you !!
Years ago I fell in love with Moroney's Kunst der Fuge, with the last Contrapunctus completed by him.
Some agogic oddities (IMHO) , easily metabolized the second time you listen the disc.  Happiness !
.

[kyjo]

TD:
  Neither this composer nor conductor get much love around here .  I like this quite a lot, personally. Regarding the cover, it seems to me it would be hard to make something that bad without actually trying...

[asin]B0000006YF[/asin]

Pounds the table! Hanson gets plenty of love around here from me, at least Fortunately, Naxos has reissued Schwarz's Hanson recordings with much better cover art!

[Mirror Image]

The 4th:

[San Antone]

Berg

[LKB]

Stockhausen - Gruppen

A masterpiece in space, both aesthetically and physically 

The Hubble Space Telescope? Absolutely! ( Sorry, not familiar with the Stockhausen  )

Looking upward,

LKB

[Todd]

[Mahlerian]

Debussy: Children's Corner
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
[asin]B00742LLKU[/asin]

Norman: Try
Boston Modern Orchestra Project, cond. Rose
[asin]B00NNEL9DC[/asin]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E-flat
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Tennstedt
[asin]B004OUFSOA[/asin]

[HIPster]

Hi HIPster - I own about a half dozen CDs of Dufay, including the one added above (Motets, V. 1 w/ Quadrivium) - assume that is what you mean above - will take a look at V. 2 and also need to re-listen to the one I already own - thanks.  Dave

ADDENDUM: I just ordered the CD recommended in your post!

Excellent, Sonic! 

You've inspired me to play some Dufay this morning:

[asin]B002AHJUP2[/asin]

La Reverdie is such an amazing group! 

[LKB]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E-flat
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Tennstedt
[asin]B004OUFSOA[/asin]

How was the Bruckner? My preferences are Boehm/WP/Decca, and von Karajan on DG, but l am always open to alternative views of Bruckner.

Wondering,

LKB

[Mahlerian]

How was the Bruckner? My preferences are Boehm/WP/Decca, and von Karajan on DG, but l am always open to alternative views of Bruckner.

Wondering,

LKB

The Karajan was my first Fourth, and I've heard the Bohm as well.  I remember that you don't like Tennstedt's Mahler much, while he's my favored Mahler conductor generally, but in case you're still interested in my view, I think that Tennstedt's version with Berlin holds up quite well, despite a few mistakes in the brass and one awkward transition in the finale (which is difficult to pull off in any case).

[Todd]

[Que]

.[asin]B00400B1KY[/asin]

Q

[aligreto]

Mahler: Symphony No. 1 [Horenstein]....





This is my favourite version of M1; it has been so for a very long time.

[aligreto]

Morning listening:

[asin]B0000060D7[/asin]
Gorgeous! 

Q

Yes, I knew that you would like it   
Did you buy Vol. 2?

[aligreto]

Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 2 [Halstead/Hogwood]....