What are you listening to now?

[Daverz]

How does it compare sonically and interpretively to others you own/have heard?

It's going to take me a long time to form an opinion.  In the meantime, here's a Musicweb review:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2018/Jul/Shostakovich_sys_4835220.htm

[pi2000]

Brahms-Malcuzynski from this CD
[asin] B01G4DC1Y4[/asin]

[prémont]

Do you not listen to Schubert's String Quartets still?

No, all in all I listen to very little romantic music any more, Beethoven being the only exception. He was my first musical love, and you know the first love will carry a special importance for ever.

[Harry]

CD 8 from the 50 years box DHM (1958-2008) Three works from both J.S. Bach and Antonio Vivaldi, performed by the Freiburger Barockorchester, Thomas Hengelbrock, all sublimely performed, recorded in very detailed sound, and with marvelous soloistic contributions, especially from the woodwinds. Vividly performed with brisk tempi, and a deep awareness of expression. Bach's "Sinfonia from the Cantata, Am abend aber desselbigen Sabbath", BWV 42, is an example of the said excellence in terms of the woodwind playing. Seldom did I hear it so well performed. The Freiburgers are also in great form in Vivaldi's concerto in B minor, opus 3, No. 10 for 4 Violins, Strings and BC, from L'Estro Armonico". The Violin section is really ravishing with cutting edge tempi, which I consider just right for Vivaldi's music. The easy flow of Bach's Concerto for 3 Violins, strings and BC BWV 1064 is simply amazing in its expression. A marvelous CD from this box, no doubt about that.

[pi2000]

Menuhin :Beethoven Violin Concerto 1962 Moscow
from this CD
[asin]B001MRMSY6[/asin]

[SurprisedByBeauty]

#morninglistening to the #Bach #GoldbergVariations w/@miraopalinska on @elevenkinds

: http://a-fwd.to/6p1RwZ6

Opening shot of a listening-session to half a dozen new Goldberg recordings.

#BWV988

[Traverso]

Mozart

Lovely music and old school playing,"Wienerisch"and entertaining.

Serenata Notturna K239
Divertimento K334
"Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" K522

[Florestan]

No, all in all I listen to very little romantic music any more, Beethoven being the only exception. He was my first musical love, and you know the first love will carry a special importance for ever.

I'm curious: what is it about romantic music that you don't like anymore? I ask because Schubert and Beethoven are early romantics / Romantics so there's plenty of things still classical in their music.

[vandermolen]

Shostakovich, quartets 12 & 14, Danel.

I think that's my favourite photo of Shostakovich.

[Harry]

Barroco Español Volume II, "Ay Amor"-Zarzuelas.
Composers: Antonio de Literes and Sebastian Duron. Anonymous.
Al Ayre Español, Eduardo Lopez Banzo.
Martha Almajano, Mezzo.

CD 11 from this box.
Well recorded and a sublime performance. Almajano has a characteristic and expressive voice, well suited to this kind of music. Never for a moment her voice gets harsh or too loud. The instrumental parts are riveting, superb done.

[Karl Henning]

Today on It's Only Midi:

Avrohom Leichtling, Symphony № 7, Op.104 (2002)

http://www.youtube.com/v/sAPGPJ4nGQM

Avrohom is a resident of New York State;  he wrote the alto flute/clarinet duet Bárðarbunga dreymir undir ísnum (Bárðarbunga dreams beneath the ice) for Peter H. Bloom and yours truly, which we premièred in April.  His music is vividly characterful, expertly composed, gratifying for both performer and listener, and deserves a wider audience.

[prémont]

I'm curious: what is it about romantic music that you don't like anymore? I ask because Schubert and Beethoven are early romantics / Romantics so there's plenty of things still classical in their music.

I have often put myself a similar question, and I wish I were able to answer it. It is not that I don't like Romantic and Vienna classical music, but it doesn't do that much for me any more. It has lost the thrill it exerted upon me in my teenage years. And there are so many other composers I rather would listen to, first and foremost Bach of course but also a long row of Baroque, Renaissance and Medieval age composers and a few 20/21th century names.

[Florestan]

I have often put myself a similar question, and I wish I were able to answer it. It is not that I don't like Romantic and Vienna classical music, but it doesn't do that much for me any more. It has lost the thrill it exerted upon me in my teenage years. And there are so many other composers I rather would listen to, first and foremost Bach of course but also a long row of Baroque, Renaissance and Medieval age composers and a few 20/21th century names.

Thanks for your answer. I think it might be one of those cases of outgrowing one's youthful self. 

Personally, I'm still a teenager at heart, I guess. My first musical love was also Beethoven and Romanticism generally. Some thirty years later, Beethoven is still in my top 10 and the thrill I get from Romantic music is as strong as ever.

Different strokes for different folks. 

[Florestan]

Avrohom is a resident of New York State;  he wrote the alto flute/clarinet duet Bárðarbunga dreymir undir ísnum (Bárðarbunga dreams beneath the ice)

Why the Icelandic title?

[Karl Henning]

Why the Icelandic title?

Av is an amateur volcanologist.  He writes:

The 10th in a series of one-movement compositions entitled Fantasy Piece, generally for solo instrument, which exploit the materials of its openings in free development such as its base title implies. They are normally brief pieces, between 5 and 10 minutes duration. The present work, a duo for clarinet in A and alto flute, is exceptional but only to the extent that is not a solo piece. The fifth in the series is, by the way, a one-movement work for large symphony orchestra, and was written as a memorial to Bernard Herrmann. The present work's Icelandic title means Bárðarbunga dreams under the ice.  Bárðarbunga is one of the largest underwater volcanoes in Iceland, presently (12/2017) in a state of perilous quiescence. Lullabies for sleeping volcanoes are not exactly the usual sort of fare – so the present work ought properly to be considered unusually anomalous. The composer has had a lifelong interest in geology and volcanology – and Iceland is, of all the places on Earth, the ideal location for such study. One might say it was inevitable that such a piece as this would eventually be written, all things considered.

[Florestan]

Av is an amateur volcanologist.  He writes:

The 10th in a series of one-movement compositions entitled Fantasy Piece, generally for solo instrument, which exploit the materials of its openings in free development such as its base title implies. They are normally brief pieces, between 5 and 10 minutes duration. The present work, a duo for clarinet in A and alto flute, is exceptional but only to the extent that is not a solo piece. The fifth in the series is, by the way, a one-movement work for large symphony orchestra, and was written as a memorial to Bernard Herrmann. The present work's Icelandic title means Bárðarbunga dreams under the ice.  Bárðarbunga is one of the largest underwater volcanoes in Iceland, presently (12/2017) in a state of perilous quiescence. Lullabies for sleeping volcanoes are not exactly the usual sort of fare – so the present work ought properly to be considered unusually anomalous. The composer has had a lifelong interest in geology and volcanology – and Iceland is, of all the places on Earth, the ideal location for such study. One might say it was inevitable that such a piece as this would eventually be written, all things considered.

Most illuminating, thanks. For a moment, I thought "Oh, no, not another fancy title just for the sake of it!" 

Is the performance available somewhere?

[Karl Henning]

Most illuminating, thanks. For a moment, I thought "Oh, no, not another fancy title just for the sake of it!" 

Is the performance available somewhere?

Of "our" duet?—

http://www.youtube.com/v/1H6O4OSTmJY

[Florestan]

Of "our" duet?—

http://www.youtube.com/v/1H6O4OSTmJY

Beautiful. Thank you.

[Karl Henning]

Thanks for listening.

[Florestan]

Thanks for listening.

I really liked it --- and the whole idea of lullaby for a volcano. Nice.