What are you listening to now?

[Wakefield]

W.A. Mozart: Flute Concertos [K. 315, K. 299]
Frans Vester, transverse flute(s) [Grenser, Dresden (1796); from the collection of Gemeentemuseum, The Hague; Millhouse London (c. 1800) (K. 299)]
Edward Witsenburg, harp [Sebastian Erard, London 1802 (K. 299)]
Mozart-Ensemble Amsterdam
Frans Brüggen

I thought our Florestan will enjoy this statement from the old liner notes (these are early 70s recordings):

A lot of trouble has been taken to make these performances sound as authentic as possible (the pitch throughout is about a semitone lower than modern pitch), and for devotees of Mozart's flute music... who want to hear it as it would have sounded in Mozart's day, the set will undoubtedly have its attractions.

[Kontrapunctus]

Mend well & quickly!

Thank you. Going to the bathroom is an eye-watering experience (they shattered it with a laser and had all sorts of equipment in a place it didn't belong...), but that should become less excruciating in a day or so. Still, that's going to be a long day or so!

[Karl Henning]

"Wolferl"
Quintet for piano, oboe, clarinet, horn & bassoon

Care of WCRB, almost incredibly

[Madiel]

Agree ... I have the same set and Szell and the CO get as much as you can out of Schumann's symphonies... like you said, exquisite playing ... There's some good melody and harmony writing in all 4 symphonies but I think the problem with them is down to two things, one big and one small...

The small problem is none of them exactly function as Symphonies in the classical sense;  they're almost more like orchestral suites ... but really that's more of a picky and formal complaint... Tchaikovsky, IMO, was quite successful in his 4-6 symphonies largely rebelling against form, for example

The BIG problem is orchestration... Similar (though not as bad) to the problems with Chopin's Piano Concertos... the tone colors are bone dry and completely unimaginative... Those are certainly not adjectives you'd associate with his piano music.  It's kind of astonishing that he didn't seek out more assistance.  He certainly had a who's who of talented orchestrators he could've called on for help.  For whatever reason, he apparently didn't and so what you're left with are orchestral works that would probably work better with piano four hands.  It's a shame, because there's great music in there but it just wasn't well-rendered for large ensemble

Complaints about Schumann's orchestration are common, but that is partly a function of the orchestra being used not being in line with the orchestra Schumann was using in various ways.

I'm not claiming they are his greatest works, but neither are they duds.

[ChopinBroccoli]

Complaints about Schumann's orchestration are common, but that is partly a function of the orchestra being used not being in line with the orchestra Schumann was using in various ways.

I'm not claiming they are his greatest works, but neither are they duds.

I never stated they were duds

The criticism of the orchestration is common because it's valid criticism

[Karl Henning]

Zemlinsky
String Quartets
The Schoenberg Quartet

[jwinter]

Dvorak 8 & 9, familiar yet always a pleasure...

[André]

This is the earliest (1977) and the swiftest of the half-dozen extant recordings of the Ninth by Wand. Although later recordings are slightly broader, the range of timings is 51-54 minutes (no first or last movements repeat or second repeat in the scherzo). This indicates a rather broad take on the work, but upon listening the impression that grows and stays with me the most is that of firmness of design and immense concentration in the execution. Wand said that the music of Mozart and Schubert was  « a kind of proof of the existence of God ». He also said something along those lines when asked about his relationship with Bruckner's music. Making music is no light matter with conductors like Wand, Klemperer or Böhm. A very German thing, this kind of musical priesthood.

[mc ukrneal]

I never stated they were duds

The criticism of the orchestration is common because it's valid criticism

I don't like that statement. Those of us who like the music do not hear a problem with the orchestration. We don't think that oh, that would be great music if only he had orchestrated it well. We think it's great music. Period. Full stop. The orchestration thing is, in my opinion, used by those who don't like his music as an excuse to show him in a lesser light. But I'm not sure arguing over a topic that's been argued for nearly 200 years will lead to a different result.

[JBS]

From the Naxos 30 CD Early Music Collection


Ensemble Unicorn makes this music sound like Celtic folk music.

[Ken B]

Beethoven
Symphony 1
LSO Wyn Morris

This is an excellent cycle. It was a 99 cent download on Amazon, and might still be.

Sibelius
En Saga
RPO Ole Schmidt
Another excellent performance and recording from a 99 cent special

Haydn
Quartet 56
Griller Quartet
Vox recordings from the 50s. Not likely to be anyone's favorite, but better than the Aeolian at least. Yes, from another mega box for 99 cents.

[listener]

Franz SCHMIDT: Variations on a Hussar's Song, Fantasia for Piano and Orch. In B^b
Chaconne for Orch. In g
Jasminka Stančul, piano    Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz,
Alexander Rumpf, cond.
Over-long, as if he wants to be mistaken for Bruckner
HÉROLD  (remember Zampa?)  Piano Concertos 1 & 2  (and 3 & 4 tomorrow)
Angéline Pondepeyre,  piano   WDR Radio O.  Köln,   Conrad Van Alpen, cond.

[mc ukrneal]

Franz SCHMIDT: Variations on a Hussar's Song, Fantasia for Piano and Orch. In B^b
Chaconne for Orch. In g
Jasminka Stančul, piano    Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz,
Alexander Rumpf, cond.
Over-long, as if he wants to be mistaken for Bruckner
HÉROLD  (remember Zampa?)  Piano Concertos 1 & 2  (and 3 & 4 tomorrow)
Angéline Pondepeyre,  piano   WDR Radio O.  Köln,   Conrad Van Alpen, cond.

We really like the Herold. It's light, but enjoyable nonetheless. It never fails to put us in a good mood!

[SimonNZ]

[Irons]

J S Bach: Six Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord.



Double LP in leatherette slipcase. A later set recorded in Paris by Suk and Ruzickova.

[SimonNZ]

[Que]

Morning listening: (hope I get this post through....)

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It has been a while, but it's gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous...

Q

[SimonNZ]

I hadn't heard Purcells "Sound the trumpet, beat the drum" before. That should be one of his greatest hits.

[Mookalafalas]

this


  from this
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[Que]

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Q