What are you listening to now?

[Mirror Image]

Sibelius:
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 4

Wiener Philharmoniker/Maazel

Digging into the Sibelius pile. Hmm, I liked these quite a bit more than Maazel's Pittsburgh renditions!

[asin] B0000041Z3[/asin]

Many people prefer Maazel's Vienna cycle to his Pittsburgh one, but I'm not completely onboard with either cycle. I may need to plan a revisit of the Vienna one. What other cycles do you own, Peter?

Sibelius: Pelléas och Mélisande            Jakobsson/Lahti SO/Vänskä

This performance is addicting. A slow pace dominates the work, but its genuine warmth and intimacy definitely weaves a spell. A keeper!

A gorgeous work and performance. Definitely a keeper as you say.

[Camphy]

Disc 1, P & F 1-13



String Quartet #2

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Tod und Verklärung, Op. 24. Wonderful!

[jlaurson]

K.A. Hartmann, M. Weinberg, D. Shostakovich,
Concerto funebre, Concertino op.42,
Rhapsody on Moldavian Themes op.47/3*,
Unfinished Sonata for Violin & Piano*
Linus Roth / Ruben Gazarian / Würtemberg CO Heilbronn
Challenge Records SACD
German link - UK link

(not available in the US yet)

[SonicMan46]

Schumann, Robert - finishing up on several discs of Chamber Works and then onto piano - Dave

 

 

[Que]

.[asin]B002JP9I1G[/asin]
Love it!

Q

Edit: seeeeeeeriuously goooooood!  Sprightly!

[Moonfish]

Many people prefer Maazel's Vienna cycle to his Pittsburgh one, but I'm not completely onboard with either cycle. I may need to plan a revisit of the Vienna one. What other cycles do you own, Peter?

Yes, I have yet to get a feel for Maazel's recordings overall. He seems to have a reputation for being uneven. I am curious about his early recordings on DG. Have you heard any of those recordings? Sibelius: If I recall correctly the Pittsburgh cycle is a bit glacial for me, but some listeners argue that it brings out new aspects in the music. Perhaps Maazel's Pittsburgh cycle is the Celibidache version of Sibelius?  At this point I prefer the Wiener Philharmoniker cycle out of the two.  In terms of Sibelius cycles - way too many at about 15/16, but few compared to your 25 cycles (or is it 26 now?  ).  In my mind Lahti/Vänskä rules although I would like to hear the Minnesota recordings (1/4 & 2/5).      Still, it is hard to choose among so many great cycles (as I am sure you are well aware).

On a different note: did you ever listen to Vänskä's Beethoven with the Minnesota Orchestra?

[Todd]

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

Always liked Elgar's VC.  This recording makes me love it beyond reason!  Some critics fault Hahn here for her "coolness."  I call it melancholic resignation.

[asin]B0002CX4Q8[/asin]

[HIPster]

Playing a new arrival~
[asin]B000067FFV[/asin]

[kishnevi]

CD 1

Todd's comments seem very on target so I will merely quote him.
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,24836.msg898467.html#msg898467

The D817 Hungarian Melody gets things off to a good but great start.  Part of the issue is getting used to the sound.  The Brodmann seems to produce no high treble at all.  It produces a dull sound.  However, the closely miked recording also reveals all manner of little details throughout.  But the piece, not my favorite to begin with, never jells.  Things pick up in D894.  The instrument definitely lacks the power or sustain of a modern grand, but Schiff more than period specialists I've heard, manages to play with a good amount of power where needed, and the instrument ends up being more about quiet playing, allowing for all manner of subtlety in the slow movement.  Schiff is just the guy to bring it out.  The Moments Musicaux that end the first disc ends up being the highlight of the set.  The lack of sustain allows Schiff to play some passages with a soft bluntness, lending a darker hue at times, but he also manages to make some of the pieces sound quite lyrical, despite the instrument. 

[king ubu]

@HIPster: that one's just arrived on my piles as well - good?

Here, a new arrival as well:

[asin]B00V6AH13C[/asin]
First impression. this is great!

[Moonfish]

Always liked Elgar's VC.  This recording makes me love it beyond reason!  Some critics fault Hahn here for her "coolness."  I call it melancholic resignation.

[asin]B0002CX4Q8[/asin]

+1
One of my favorite Elgar VC recordings! Hahn is a fantastic violinist! 

[Moonfish]

Sibelius:
Symphony No. 3

Wiener Philharmoniker/Maazel

Such a contrast between the 3rd and the 4th symphonies! Personally, I favor the darker 4th!

[asin] B0000041Z3[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

Now beginning my traversal into Saraste's Sibelius symphonic cycle (w/ other works):



Listening to Serenade No. 2, Op. 69b. Sounds great. Next up: Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39.

[Brian]

@HIPster: that one's just arrived on my piles as well - good?

Here, a new arrival as well:

[asin]B00V6AH13C[/asin]
First impression. this is great!

I just listened to this for the second time - it is indeed great!

Another new release, now:

[Brian]

Berlioz + Munch!

[aligreto]

Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé....

[king ubu]

another new arrival:

[asin]B004GX91RK[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Now onto Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 105. Really enjoyed Saraste's performance of the 1st and this one sounds equally as good so far.