What are you listening to now?

[André]

No.1 was quite a discovery for me. I prefer it to the better known 'Facetter'. It has a rather fine ending of grim determination if I remember correctly.

Thread duty:
Symphony 8
A moving wartime performance complete with US radio announcement at the start:

+1

A terrific - and terrifying - performance. The musicians certainly earned their pay that evening. The sound is surprisingly good for the vintage.

[Harry]

New arrival.

August Joseph Norbert Burgmuller.

CD 3.

SQ No. 1, opus 4, in D minor & No. 3, opus 9, in A flat major.

Mannheimer Streichquartett.

Licensed from MDG.

As with the previous on which the SQ No. 4 & 2 were recorded, this disc recorded 2 years later is as magnificent as the previous one from 2000. Burgmuller"s music is special, emotionally moving, and deliciously honest. I would call this pure music, which is a very personal statement and therefore subjective, but there it is...pure.
The Mannheimers are a very able body, and they get right at the heart of this music.
Superb recorded.

[André]

Concerto « for wood, brass and gut » (1946)
Concerto for trumpet and orchestra (1948)
Concerto for trombone and orchestra (1950)
Concerto for viola, oboe and orchestra (1956)

A nicely varied combo of works here. The first one is a Theme and variations, 9-movement work. I particularly liked the trumpet concerto, an instrument I'm not usually attracted to. Invention allied to simplicity is the name of the game in these concertos, following a pattern first espoused by Telemann and Haydn and continued with Hindemith. Highly stimulating stuff.

[Muzio]

CD 17 of 20. "Guitarra Romantica."  Narciso Yepes: The Complete Solo Recordings.

[Harry]

New arrival.

August Joseph Norbert Burgmuller.

CD IV.

Piano Sonata opus 8 in F minor.
Duo for Clarinet and Piano, opus 15 in E flat major.

Hiroko Maruko, Piano, Piano.
Dieter Klocker, Clarinet.

Licensed by MDG.

Two beautiful pieces, well recorded and performed.

[Traverso]

Beethoven

Symphony No.8

Concertgebouw Orchestra Bernard Haitink

 

[SonicMan46]

Mozart, WA - Symphonies w/ Hogwood/Schröder and the Academy of Ancient Music - purchased back in 2010 and not listened to in a while, so my weekend project - may not get through all 19 CDs but starting from the first disc -   Dave

[André]

Despite the less than sumptuous sound, this is a uniquely eloquent interpretation of the Nocturnes. François reminds the listener that Mozart and Bellini were two of Chopin's musical gods.

[Que]

Mozart, WA - Symphonies w/ Hogwood/Schröder and the Academy of Ancient Music - purchased back in 2010 and not listened to in a while, so my weekend project - may not get through all 19 CDs but starting from the first disc -   Dave

What a coincidence! 

The other day I was contemplating to revisit that set soon.

Q

[SonicMan46]

What a coincidence! 

The other day I was contemplating to revisit that set soon.

Q

Well, it is a commitment - believe I did the entire box on initial purchase and then a few 'partial' selections - Dave

[SymphonicAddict]

I haven't heard Arcana, but I know the Sonata concertante for cello and piano also contained on that disc and it is quite a powerful work with a memorably defiant, "barely triumphant" ending. Escher's Musique pour l'esprit en deuil for orchestra is an even more marvelous work which, if I recall correctly, portrays the composer's reaction to the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands. His music, while individual, should definitely appeal to admirers of, say, Honegger.

Quite interesting, Kyle. Sounds like I should enjoy them. You piqued my interest. I'll be getting both works. Thank you.

[Karl Henning]

Concerto « for wood, brass and gut » (1946)
Concerto for trumpet and orchestra (1948)
Concerto for trombone and orchestra (1950)
Concerto for viola, oboe and orchestra (1956)

A nicely varied combo of works here. The first one is a Theme and variations, 9-movement work. I particularly liked the trumpet concerto, an instrument I'm not usually attracted to. Invention allied to simplicity is the name of the game in these concertos, following a pattern first espoused by Telemann and Haydn and continued with Hindemith. Highly stimulating stuff.

Very nice!

[vandermolen]

+1

A terrific - and terrifying - performance. The musicians certainly earned their pay that evening. The sound is surprisingly good for the vintage.

Totally agree André.

[SymphonicAddict]

A rather different opera than I was used to with this composer thus far. The many Intermezzi throughout the work were a remarkable highlight. Such lovely music.

[kyjo]

Pettersson: 6th Symphony.



A wonderful performance of a magnificent symphony that incredibly is not issued on CD and after a performance as good as this, Okko Kamu - a conductor I will look out for - only recorded this single Pettersson symphony.

Bit naff to describe a musical work as a "journey" but the 6th is, and I most unexpectedly was on board. Being Pettersson there is the odd moment with an element of alarm for the listener as the composer digs deep into the human condition but all unease is dispelled at the end of this single movement symphony. The coda breaks out in a musical image of peace, simplicity and goodwill which I found most moving.

Interesting Pettersson quote included in the notes -

"Someone has said that I compose out of self-pity. Like hell I do. How does anyone think you can write music if you're all wrapped up in yourself? When you create, you have to stand outside and above such. Sympathetic feeling, yes, sympathy for everyone who suffers. In my childhood we were taught to love - but we also learned to hate....."

Yes, a deeply moving and involving "journey" of a work indeed. That ending could hardly be more cathartic.

[Madiel]

Various orchestral bits and pieces this morning.

Mendelssohn, Psalm 114, op.51
Schumann, The Bride of Messina overture, op.100
Dvorak, The Water Goblin, op.107

First 2 on streaming as first listens. The Water Goblin I apparently haven't listened to for over 4 years. The part where the bells ring and the goblin comes knocking is pretty great.

[Muzio]

French Violin Sonatas: Midori, violin
Robert McDonald, piano (Sony Classical)
Works by Poulenc, Debussy, and Saint-Saens

Seemingly unequaled talent when she began her professional career as a pre-teen.  Haven't heard anything about her several years.  Hope she is doing well.

[SymphonicAddict]

Overture on Russian and Kirghiz Folk Themes: Playing another rare Shostakovich work. I like what I hear. It's very folksy indeed.

[JBS]

CD1 of this three disc set
[asin]B07RG2XJNW[/asin]

[vandermolen]

No doubt she has your best interest at heart 

Haha most definitely Fergus. The two of them (wife and daughter) are constantly threatening to pack me off. I'm not sure that they are joking.


I seem to have missed several pages of this thread - the trouble is that if you blink the thread has moved about five pages on!