What are you listening to now?

[Moonfish]

That series seems to have stalled... Did you collect all volumes issued so far? 

Q

Yes, yes, oh yes...and I have been looking for the next release in the series for years now. Hmm, did Barto have a change of heart or did he run out of Weiss sonatas to record(not likely)?  I thought these releases were fantastic - all the recordings in the series were close to stellar in quality and performance as far as I am concerned.  Hmm, there was a Hagen disc and then eleven recording of Weiss sonatas. The last one was released in 2012. SIX YEARS AGO!!!   
Maybe he had to stop recording due to life issues? Too bad - a great lutist and in his elements when it comes to Weiss. I wasn't even familiar with these amazing sonatas before I came across Barto's recordings.

I actually prefer Barto over Cardin - I wonder of it is the tone of the instrument or the recording itself... 
Do you have a preference, Que?

[Florestan]

Love it, but I can't help thinking that if I hadn't known who wrote it, I'd have believed it was an undiscovered Sibelius symphony. 

The fillers are charming, too.

[Mookalafalas]

Damn. How will I ever listen to anything else?

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[king ubu]

The Mozart disc from the Chen package, which remains highly intriguing although I'm really not sure how good it all is ... it makes me think, and that by itself is good. Now first spin of the ABM Berne 1975 Recital - Mozart Op. 26, three pieces from Debussy's "Images", and Schubert's D 537.

[North Star]

The Barber, Berg and Hartmann concertos. The last two make a great pair, natural discmates so to speak. And yet I think this is the only such coupling. Everything here is superbly interpreted, rising to a higher level of inspiration than in the Stravinsky and Britten works that occupy the other disc - good as they are: Shaham makes them sound almost like 'easy' music. Altogether this is a superb pair of cds.

The Hartmann and Berg have indeed appeared on disc together before.
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[Karl Henning]

Hmm, where is Mirror Image...?   

He's in a prog-immersion phase of his listening.

[Traverso]

François Couperin

CD 3

Premier livre de pièces de clavecin

[amw]

Op.18 from the Berliners is a little on the slow side (vs their extremely fast Op.36) but very well played, if somewhat "old-fashioned" by modern standards (but then, so are some modern ensembles, eg the Mandelring Quartet & allies). Very anti-autumnal Brahms.

I now have 10 recordings of the two string sextets, which may be a little bit excessive.

[Florestan]

Mozart Op. 26

[Madiel]

I now have 10 recordings of the two string sextets, which may be a little bit excessive.

There are certainly worse things to have 10 recordings of.

[Madiel]

I decided it's vocal night.

Bach: Der Friede sei mit dir, BWV 158

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The notes on this recording comment on the doubts that this is a complete cantata, and it does seem plausible that it consists of bits and pieces shoved together by another hand.

But the main movement, where a bass and violin perform an aria while a soprano and oboe perform a chorale, is a winner.

[king ubu]

Uhm, yeah ... and for me, the Beethoven sonata is clearly the highlight of the disc!

[Madiel]

Now streaming: Mendelssohn, Paulus

[asin]B00ARWDRFG[/asin]

First listen as far as I'm aware. My vocal night might not get any further than this, if I listen to the whole thing.

[cilgwyn]

Playing here,right now. I've been listening to a few recordings of The Beggar's Opera,recently,and this one certainly gets top marks for the liveliness and quality of the acting;and very importantly,clarity of sound and diction! I did enjoy the Bonynge recording,though! Fun! What's the harm in turning it into a sort of West end musical? This one beats it,though,imho! Excellent! Tom Jones for a fill-up! I hope he's not going to be singing,Delilah?!!

[vandermolen]

Love it, but I can't help thinking that if I hadn't known who wrote it, I'd have believed it was an undiscovered Sibelius symphony. 

The fillers are charming, too.

That's a great work Andrei and I agree that the sibelian influences are strong, especially in the Tapiola-like storm episode in the last movement. The chords at the end show, I think, the influence of the ending of Sibelius's 5th Symphony. Walton's First Symphony ends in much the same way and shows similar influences. I have known this work for 40 years + and its appeal has never diminished. I wonder if you know the Cello Concerto and 'Sinfonietta' (in many was a Second Symphony).

[Florestan]

That's a great work Andrei and I agree that the sibelian influences are strong, especially in the Tapiola-like storm episode in the last movement. The chords at the end show, I think, the influence of the ending of Sibelius's 5th Symphony. Walton's First Symphony ends in much the same way and shows similar influences. I have known this work for 40 years + and its appeal has never diminished. I wonder if you know the Cello Concerto and 'Sinfonietta' (in many was a Second Symphony).

I love the Cello Concerto, I haven't heard the Sinfonietta.

[Mahlerian]

What's it like? I have this CD but never listened to it! Must rectify that.

Takemitsu's style in general, or this particular disc of his music?  His music is generally reflective, turning over simple ideas repeatedly in ever shifting shimmering garb.  The works on this CD come from throughout his career, and so there are some differences in style, but the basic aesthetic is more or less the same.

[king ubu]

Io la musica son ... a programme of prologues sung by soprano Francesca Aspromonte, and of course starting with Monteverdi's "L'Orfeo" ... lovely packaging (similar to what I found to be one of the very best of last year's releases, Ann Hallenberg's "Carnevale 1729" (a double disc, also with Il pomo d'oro, but at that time directed by Stefano Montanari) with notes by Aspromonte, Onofri, and "proper" liner notes, as well as all sung texts in more languages than needed (learn languages, you english speakers ... that inglorious 'merikin secretary of miseducation has just visited Switzerland, maybe someone told her languages are more useful than guns, bibles and dollars?).

[vandermolen]

I love the Cello Concerto, I haven't heard the Sinfonietta.

As you like the Symphony I'm sure that you'd like the Sinonietta which is a very engaging and tuneful work.

[vandermolen]

Takemitsu's style in general, or this particular disc of his music?  His music is generally reflective, turning over simple ideas repeatedly in ever shifting shimmering garb.  The works on this CD come from throughout his career, and so there are some differences in style, but the basic aesthetic is more or less the same.

Very helpful - thank you.