What are you listening to now?

[cilgwyn]

Wyn Morris conducting the Ninth! Oh yes,I'd forgotten about that! Wyn Morris' cycle included all..........ten!!!

           

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Walton
Belshazzar's Feast (1937)

[asin]B00005YW0X[/asin]

Well?

[Karl Henning]

Well?

I love it, unreservedly.

[Karl Henning]

For no really good reason, quite possibly a first listen:

Walton
Suite from Henry V (1944)

[asin]B00005YW0X[/asin]

[Jaakko Keskinen]

I love it, unreservedly.

Great to hear! 

[Judith]

Just listened to Rachmaninov Symphony no 1 performed by RPO,conducted by Andrew Litton. Curious to know why it was a flop at its premiere??? With a final movement like this work, can't understand!! The rest of it was lovely as well and was all beautifully performed.

[Karl Henning]

For no really good reason, quite possibly a first listen:

Walton
Suite from Henry V (1944)

[asin]B00005YW0X[/asin]

The big-bandification of L'homme armé is perhaps a heavy-handed device;  but for a film which is a shrewd amalgam of Art and Propaganda, probably just the device for the task.

[Mahlerian]

Chopin: Scherzo No. 4 in E
Emanuel Ax
[asin]B0000026NW[/asin]

[cilgwyn]

Ooh that Wyn Morris Ninth really was fiery! Now for this recording. I've actually got the Sony (slimline) box set of the Szell cycle,not this cd. This is the first time I've listened to his Ninth!!!! I've listened to all the others.

[Karl Henning]

Just listened to Rachmaninov Symphony no 1 performed by RPO,conducted by Andrew Litton. Curious to know why it was a flop at its premiere??? With a final movement like this work, can't understand!! The rest of it was lovely as well and was all beautifully performed.

Glazunov was blotto when he conducted it, an indication that he did not much relish the task.  The combination of artistic disaffection, and intoxication, pretty much sabotaged the premiere.

[aligreto]

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons [Koopman]





These are polished performances from both the soloist and the orchestra. All of the outer movements are full of energy and drive and they lilt along. Manze plays delightfully throughout the work. I do not know what size the orchestra is but they play well for Koopman and the sound is very full; It is also a warm recording and it is a well recommended version.

[aligreto]

Playing,now. The Wyn Morris Beethoven cycle continues. Dubbed the "Welsh Furtwangler". There was a time when you seemed to find these IMP cd's in places like Woolworths and WH Smiths. I like André's description of Wyn Morris'  conducting. "A potent mix of big, bold playing, allied to interpretive gruffness. Splendidly recorded, too". Very fiery. Yet,I like the more serene passages in the Sixth symphony. I think Wyn Morris could have been a much more famous conductor? (We'll never know!) His biographies and obituaries make very interesting reading. His personality seems to have been as gruff and fiery as his Beethoven. He seems to have destroyed his own career by rubbing everyone up the wrong way. He also got some publicity,I remember,for getting Margaret Thatcher to narrate a recording of Copland's Lincoln Portrait. I don't want to get into politics here,but I think I will give that one a miss! Some of the Beethoven cd's can be found very cheaply,indeed. I'd recommend trying,say,the cd of 4 & 5 or 7 & 8,first (you get two for your money) but No 3 is often very cheap. Leave No 6,to last,maybe? Collect that one if you warm to his approach? You can also get a box set,I believe? I've got the original cd's. There does seem to be a renewal of interest in his work,recently. His conducting got rave reviews and critical acclaim at the time. It was all downhill,then! The only Mahler recording I have by him is of No 5. I like that very much. I remember the s/h cd I bought had scratches and scuff marks all over it,but always seems to play! There does seem to be a bit of a renewal of interest in his conducting,lately. Most of the comments I've read are very positive. I have read that he used modern orchestras,but had a HIP approach. I wouldn't know about that;but I like what I'm hearing!

Thank you very much for that; much appreciated.

[Christo]

Not exactly the thing to be singing in hot Summer: nevertheless that's what we're doing:

[Karl Henning]

I need to try that again.  That was the program on the only concert of Bach I have walked out of, in all my life.  My soul hurt to reflect on it

[Ken B]

Debussy
Various bits for piano
Pommier

[Karl Henning]

Debussy
Various bits for piano
Pommier

From the Debussy—All the Bits box!

[Ken B]

From the Debussy—All the Bits box!

And such small portions!

[aligreto]

Ravel: Shéhérazade [Crespin/Ansermet]

[Zeus]

Sances: Dialoghi Amorosi
Scherzi Musicali, Nicolas Achten
Ricercar

[asin] B076LF4HND[/asin]

Couperin: Les Muses Naissantes
Emmanuelle De Negri, La Chambre Claire, Brice Sailly
Ricercar

[Harry]

Sances: Dialoghi Amorosi
Scherzi Musicali, Nicolas Achten
Ricercar

[asin] B076LF4HND[/asin]

Couperin: Les Muses Naissantes
Emmanuelle De Negri, La Chambre Claire, Brice Sailly
Ricercar

Both recordings are firm favorites of mine. A balm for the ears.