What are you listening to now?

[Florestan]

A great wallow of a piece! It came on my local radio recently and I was convinced it was the Scriabin PC (which I hadn't listened to in a while) and eventually found out it was the Marx (which I actually had listened to about 6 months ago).

Possibly / probably the most lushly orchestrated, most sensual piano concerto ever. The ultimate Late Romantic PC, imo.

[Mandryka]

Thinking about Michelangeli with Traverso reminded me of this 1967 Chopin recital, which was the first recording I heard which made me see that he was a very great musician - a musician who really makes all criticism irrelevant - you may not share his vision, but you can't argue with it.  I remember being gobsmacked years ago, it's years since I last heard it, and it still leaves me silenced, amazed. The concentration and intensity in the funeral march is just astonishing. Not the best sound, but not bad either, it must have been one hell of a concert. 

At the time I remember going to so much trouble to get it, you had to write to the Tourist Office in Prato I think, and then it was complicated to make a bank transfer, and the whole thing was expensive because of the bank charges. Now you just download it from presto! 

[Florestan]

Lyapunov's idol was Liszt, or so says the booklet (complementing what I already knew). Yet Florian Noack chooses a more Chopinian approach to the music, downplaying the virtuosity and flashiness and showcasing the lyricism and poetry. My impression is that he plays at slower tempos than the original markings (save possibly for the Tarentelle), which only enhances the effect --- much to my liking. I highly recommend this disc and mark it with Florestan's Stamp of Approval.

[Traverso]

Thinking about Michelangeli with Traverso reminded me of this 1967 Chopin recital, which was the first recording I heard which made me see that he was a very great musician - a musician who really makes all criticism irrelevant - you may not share his vision, but you can't argue with it.  I remember being gobsmacked years ago, it's years since I last heard it, and it still leaves me silenced, amazed. The concentration and intensity in the funeral march is just astonishing. Not the best sound, but not bad either, it must have been one hell of a concert. 

At the time I remember going to so much trouble to get it, you had to write to the Tourist Office in Prato I think, and then it was complicated to make a bank transfer, and the whole thing was expensive because of the bank charges. Now you just download it from presto!

True words,silenced,amazed,astonishing,a hell of a pianist,this was my experience listening to "Gaspard" Tokyo recital 1973

[Florestan]

Thinking about Michelangeli with Traverso reminded me of this 1967 Chopin recital, which was the first recording I heard which made me see that he was a very great musician - a musician who really makes all criticism irrelevant - you may not share his vision, but you can't argue with it.

The mark of a truly great artist indeed.

[Artem]

Anastenaria

[asin]B00009VGD1[/asin]

[aligreto]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 [Jochum]





This is a robust, powerful performance which is tightly controlled yet not rigid in any way.

[Artem]

Gubaiulina's String Quartet No. 2 played by Arditti String Quartet at 10:41 and Stamic Quartet at 8:03.

[aligreto]

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue [Bernstein]





This is a strong, assertive, buoyant, jaunty and powerful performance of this fine work. Bernstein himself is at the piano. It is a really well driven and exciting performance.

[JBS]

I have not heard a recording on either LP or CD that compares with the Maggini's Elgar Quartet. They take this work to a higher level. I will seek out their Britten and Rubbra.

Don't forget RVW!

Possibly / probably the most lushly orchestrated, most sensual piano concerto ever. The ultimate Late Romantic PC, imo.

[Re Marx "Romantic Piano Concerto]

I have to confess to not having heard of the work before now

Of course, Marx himself has only been on my radar for a short time now

[ritter]

Listening to this delightful curiosity :

[asin]B005FMQBBU[/asin]
Paul Le Flem's Aucassin et Nicolette is a hybrid, but thoroughly enchanting piece. This chantefable from 1909, conceived  as a chamber opera for puppets (or rather, as a shadow play) in some aspects reminds the listener of a perennial favourite of mine, Falla's El retablo de Maese Pedro (which is from ca. 15 years later). The first chords and choral phrases, with their archaising and rather stern sound, seem right out of Frank Martin's Le vin herbé (which is from about 40 years later), but then we are plunged into vocal writing clearly inspired in Pelléas et Mélisande (it seems that Le Flem was obsessed with Debussy's opera, and attended 29 performances of its first run), combined with a tenderness and delicacy in the scoring which is almost Ravelian. Wonderfully performances by the soloists, conductor Nicolas Chalvin and his Savoyard forces. Highly recommended.

[aligreto]

Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 [Tuxen]





This is a more relaxed, expansive and less aggressive version than others I have heard. There is a fine tension and an uneasy undercurrent in the first movement. The brass are not as effective as others that I have heard. The slow movement starts off in a hesitant mode and ultimately makes a fair effort in terms of delivery. I find the performance to be a little pedantic here. The third movement has the necessary energy in its delivery but the performance of the brass section, a key element here, is a major disappointment. My overall assessment of this presentation is one of latent potential. One feels that is a performance that is fine in itself but that is about to explode and it takes its time in almost getting there.

[Mandryka]

Well it's at least five years since I last heard Sokolov play Chopin op 25. It is astonishing music making - he was such promising pianist, Did ever reached the heights of this performance of etudes again?

Even in sound terms it's remarkable, especially given that it's live.

[The new erato]

Great recording and performance of some attractive music:

[asin]B01LDZ58KM[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

Bruckner
Symphony #8
Berlin Phil
HvK

[André]

Well it's at least five years since I last heard Sokolov play Chopin op 25. It is astonishing music making - he was such promising pianist, Did ever reached the heights of this performance of etudes again?

Even in sound terms it's remarkable, especially given that it's live.

My ! Boris Johnson is a pianist ? 

[André]

The symphony is a beautiful piece, elegant and transparently scored. I don't understand its reputation as a 'difficult' work.

[Maestro267]

Reger: Hiller Variations
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Konwitschny

[Traverso]

My ! Boris Johnson is a pianist ? 

[ritter]

My ! Boris Johnson is a pianist ? 

And apparently a very talented one...