What are you listening to now?

[vandermolen]

Great to read that Jeffrey. I thought that I had lost you on our meanderings as I have not seen you down here in Memory Lane for some time 

Haha - yes, it's a magnificent work. I especially like that classic Stokowski version. Together with the Pathetique Symphony it is my favourite work by Tchaikovsky.

Thread duty: Two very enjoyable scores:

[Daverz]

I am not the greatest fan of solo piano music but one work that stands out for me in that genre is Mussorgsky's original version of Pictures at an Exhibition. Of the versions that I have heard my favourite, by a long way, is Richter's which is less than a perfect presentation but an immense performance. So I understand where you are coming from here.

Ah, yes, the version for piano and bronchial choir. 

[Mandryka]

Goodness.... sounds like something I must have... 

Q

Federico del Sordo has a big baroque discography, some of it obscure like this, but also Frescobaldi, Merulo and Bach. He often uses excellent instruments. Here's a site I just found with a bit about him.

https://sites.google.com/site/delsordofederico/biografia-e-curriculum

I was particularly intrigued by this

He is devoted to research in the social sciences applied to music and philology of musical repertoire of the Baroque

[SonicMan46]

Crusell & Weber - some clarinet this afternoon -    Dave

 

[pjme]

A couple of minutes ago on RTBF radio Musiq'3/ https://www.rtbf.be/musiq3/grille-programme:

Mittwoch, 19. Juni 2019, 20 Uhr
Kulturpalast Dresden

Sakari Oramo Dirigent
Kirill Gerstein Klavier
Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Klavierkonzert d-Moll KV 466

Dmitri Schostakowitsch
Symphonie Nr. 11 g-Moll »Das Jahr 1905«

The Mozart concerto was extremely beautiful. Gerstein and Oramo in perfect sync: happy, gentle, effortless, smooth & smiling.
I'm not much of a Chostakovich lover, but the wonderful sound of the Staatskapelle drew me in.

An excellent concert.
P.

[Que]

Federico del Sordo has a big baroque discography, some of it obscure like this, but also Frescobaldi, Merulo and Bach. He often uses excellent instruments. Here's a site I just found with a bit about him.

https://sites.google.com/site/delsordofederico/biografia-e-curriculum

I was particularly intrigued by this

Thanks, I browsed his discography. 

Q

[ChopinBroccoli]

I am not the greatest fan of solo piano music but one work that stands out for me in that genre is Mussorgsky's original version of Pictures at an Exhibition. Of the versions that I have heard my favourite, by a long way, is Richter's which is less than a perfect presentation but an immense performance. So I understand where you are coming from here.

Yup!  The classic live one from 1958... titanic ... I can't even listen to anyone else playing it, everything is so tepid by comparison

[SymphonicAddict]

I suspect that I'm the most guilty one with the 'non-positive' opinion of RS. I tend to prefer the music of composers who are said to have been influenced by him, such as Vitezslav Novak, to that of RS himself. I do quite like 'Don Juan' and there's a work for organ and orchestra which I like (sorry, can't remember title). However, I recently bought 'An Alpine Symphony' and found it tedious. Novak's 'In the Tatras' for example, is a much shorter and IMO much more memorable work which I think very highly of.

PS Festival Prelude is the work for organ and orchestra by RS which I like.

No problem at all, Jeffrey! I consider one doesn't have to like everything. Tastes are as many as people exist, and differences (including in music) are what make this world interesting.

[SymphonicAddict]

Heresy 
I cannot believe that such opinions are allowed on these boards 

I can only put your temporary derangement down to the election of Boris and the impending Brexit 

Such an opinion against the Alpine should be banned indeed! 

[SymphonicAddict]

That Piano Quintet is not bad, either. Sgambatti is that rarest of the rare birds: a 19C Italian who focused on chamber and orchestral music. His piano music (4-CD worth performed by the indefatigable Pietro Spada) is excellent too.

Indeed! Both piano quintets were a revelation for me two years ago. Giuseppe Martucci was another Italian composer who focused more on chamber, instrumental and orchestral music rather than opera.

[SymphonicAddict]

New arrival.

Dmitri Kabalevsky.

String Quartets No. 1, opus 8 in A minor, & No. 2, opus 44 in G minor.

Stenhammar Quartet.

Already very familiar with Kabalevsky at an early age, these string quartets sound as if an extension of all the orchestral works I have. He is not underrated, but neither much respected, whatever reason for this, his musical qualities are not into question. I love the intensity and passion in the SQ. It's powerful, energetic and with a forward trust that makes you admire the composer behind it all. And the melodies are fitting to my mood at all times.
The Stenhammar's played them as if their life depended on it. Precise as a razor, driven on perfection, and felt with a vengeance.
Excellent recording too.

Wonderful quartets. Jeffrey and Kyle will agree too.

[Muzio]

From 1987, this is the first of an eventual series that would reach some 10 albums of american pop ballads (Johnny Mercer, Alec Wilder and other masters of the genre). I own 8 of them and treasure every single track. Farrell's mastery of word-pointing, perfect diction and incredible control of soft dynamics (very hard to achieve for such a huge voice) are a pure delight. Everything is so clear that there is no need for the texts, they can be written down straight from her singing them. One of the most surprising career twists among the legendary operatic divas.

Eileen Farrell -- never heard of her.    What a history!  Qobuz has several of her albums, both contemporary and classical. 

[SymphonicAddict]

Symphony No. 8: A lively and spirited rendition as it couldn't be less so. Still today it remains like my most beloved Dvorák symphony. Inspiration had absorbed and possessed Dvorák when wrote it, sheer brilliance. The fragment from 3:29 to 5:32 in the 4th movement is one of my very favorite moments in classical music.

[Kontrapunctus]

[Karl Henning]

Richter playing Brahms' second concerto

[André]

Eileen Farrell -- never heard of her.    What a history!  Qobuz has several of her albums, both contemporary and classical. 

Indulge yourself, then !  if you can find her disc of Alec Wilder songs, don't miss it !

[HIPster]

Gorgeous sounds from this italian ensemble as well as from organist Lorenzo Ghielmi and oboist Paolo Grazzi. The latter in particular surprises with the creaminess of his tone, far from the nasal, narrow oboe sound from german oboists. Outstanding.

Hi Andre!

Great to see. 

I have the first volume and it is sublime.  Volume 2 is certainly high on my wishlist.  You've nudged me closer to a purchase with this review. 

And Grazzi definitely rocks!

Cheers!

TD:
[asin]B000VOEI7G[/asin]

[Que]

Morning listening:

[asin]B007WB5CWG[/asin]
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2013/Apr13/Cabezon_tientos_8572475.htm

More great stuf.... 

Q

[vandermolen]

Wiren:





Improvisations Op. 35 [Bojsten]
Theme with Variations Op. 8 [Bojsten]

These are both interesting and engaging works for solo piano.

Rather tempting indeed. I like the cover art too. I enjoy Wiren's music.

[Harry]

New arrival.


The Hidden Music of Leonardo da Vinci.

Music by:
Frater Petrus: Ave Maria
Cara: Ave Maria; Tante volte si si si
Desprez: Planxit autem David
Patavino: Donne venete al ballo
Heritier: Ave Mater Matris Dei
Piacenza: Bel fiore
Spinacino: Recercare
Obrecht: Agnus Dei aus "Missa Fortuna Desperata"
Anonymous: Fortuna desperata, Lucrecia pulchra

Doulce Memoire, Denis Raisin Dadre.

This is easily one of my favourite acquisitions of 2019. There is so much to enjoy in music, and the fantastic book going with it, that it keeps amazing me, that such projects are still done. The line up in terms of composers and performers is impressive. The era comes across quite forcefully, as if being in the time itself. The colours from the music and the paintings seem to flow together, and the result makes me happy, which it should, right?
Doulce Memoire is delivering an outstanding image. I could not be more satisfied as with this release.
A fine recording.