What are you listening to now?

[Traverso]

Boulez

Beautiful...............

Dérive I
Dérive II

[Harry]

Lute Music, from Ottaviano Petrucci's Collections, (Venice 1507-1508)

Music by:

Francesco Spinacino & Joan Ambrosio Dalza.

Paolo Cherice, Lute/Vihuela.

Must be an all time favourite with me. This is such a beautiful recording.

[ChopinBroccoli]

That is certainly Klemperer's interpretation.

Agree completely

Should be the most "fun" of the Brahms symphonies... I'm all in on the Szell/Cleveland version... Brahms is so painstakingly constructed; Szell's Clevelanders were extremely adept at articulating all the layers because of their ensemble precision  ... ideal match

[jwinter]

I kind of figured so. In any case, his vision for this music has helped me to finally "get" Brahms, whose symphonies have never made much sense to me.

I've recently picked up a big Furtwängler box set on EMI that contains a full Brahms cycle (alongside a full Beethoven cycle and much more), and I'll be looking forward to delving into that next. Between these two Germanic conducting titans, I don't think I'll have much need (or much room) for any more Brahms in the collection any time soon.

Do you have Klemperer's German Requiem?   Now that will properly melt your speakers...  I have about half a dozen different versions on the shelf, but I could easily be content with just the Klemperer.. his Denn Alles Fleisch, Es Ist Wie Gras is downright chill-inducing....

[Biffo]

Beethoven: Symphony No 9 in D minor Choral - Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Singverein & soloists (1963) - fine conclusion to an excellent cycle.

[Tsaraslondon]

Big Lyrita and Boult fan but this is NOT his finest disc.  Not sure Bax was really Boult's thing.  November Woods lacks the neurosis of the best versions and Tintagel is rhythmically slack throughout the opening pages.  Its a small detail but one that bothers me every time;  Bax writes quite clearly in the fanfare figurations a demi-semi-quaver in the trombones and trumpets - Boult (and other conductors too it has to be said) allow a fairly long semi quaver.  Bryden Thomson excels here as elsewhere in this work - for me that award-winning Chandos version remains one of the very best

Maybe my affection has more to do with me being brought up on the original Lyrita LP of this CD release (minus November Woods). I remember it was a top recommendation in the Penguin Guide, though the Bryden Thomson versions hadn't yet been released. Merely seeing the original cover brings back a flood of memories.

[Harry]

Azzolino Bernardino Della Ciaja.

Six sonatas for Harpsichord, opus 4.

Attilio Cremonesi, Harpsichord made by Gianfranco Sacchini Ravenna 1992.

I have my doubts about this recording.

[Traverso]

Beethoven

Symphony No.7

[prémont]

Azzolino Bernardino Della Ciaja.

Six sonatas for Harpsichord, opus 4.

Attilio Cremonesi, Harpsichord made by Gianfranco Sacchini Ravenna 1992.

I have my doubts about this recording.

Why? I do not think Cremonesi's excellency can be doubted. But I agree that the music isn't first class all through. So I listen often only to the toccatas.

[Harry]

Why? I do not think Cremonesi's excellency can be doubted. But I agree that the music isn't first class all through. So I listen often only to the toccatas.

No Poul, nothing about the excellence of Cremonesi, he is an excellent harpsichord player. My problem is with the music itself. Like you said not first class throughout.

[aligreto]

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 [Ancerl]





This is an ardent, assertive, intense presentation in a compelling and powerful performance of this great work.

[aligreto]

That's as marvellous recording, my favourite I think of the 1936 version. The current edition of BBC Music Magazine features a proms performance of A London Symphony by Andrew Manze as the cover disc. I haven't heard it yet.

Thank you for the response Jeffrey. I did enjoy the Previn version and I am always interested in your opinion, particularly on Vaughan Williams.

[ChopinBroccoli]

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 [Ancerl]





This is an ardent, assertive, intense presentation in a compelling and powerful performance of this great work.

I enjoyed that one, too... underrated conductor and orchestra

[Traverso]

Beethoven

Symphony No.7

I just listened also to my LP of this symphony and guess what,  my 1970s LP pressing suffers from the notorious Decca clicks of the time. But the breadth and width of the soundstage still put the digital equivalents to shame. 

[Tsaraslondon]

Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony [Previn]





This is a strong but lyrical and contemplative version of this work and I like Previn's vision of the music.

Memories, what memories.

I used to have that set on LP. I remember the London Symphony was particularly good.

[aligreto]

Schubert: Impromptus Op. 90 [Perahia]

[aligreto]

I enjoyed that one, too... underrated conductor and orchestra

Cheers, it is a fine performance indeed. I also agree with you that the orchestra/conductor are also very fine. A wonderful version and a recommendation for those who do not know it.

[aligreto]

Memories, what memories.

I used to have that set on LP. I remember the London Symphony was particularly good.

I am glad that you got a buzz from the nostalgia. Others here also get that from time to time when I post my vinyl. Yes, Previn does give a very fine performance and interpretation of the London Symphony.

[Wakefield]

I can't avoid remembering Rod Corkin when I see that image. 

[Tsaraslondon]

Schubert: Impromptus Op. 90 [Perahia]

I had this one too.