What are you listening to now?

[The new erato]

The Scriabin disc is also good, but it ends with 15 minutes of absolute capital-G Greatness, an incredibly well-articulated, eerie, unsettling Sonata No. 9 + an etude encore (Op. 8 No. 12) that's just absolutely riveting, the best performance I've ever heard - sorry Horowitz, Richter, Sudbin, and Perrotta.

I would buy it if it was available on CD.

[Sergeant Rock]

Lloyd Symphony No.4 in B major, Downes conducting the Philharmonia




Sarge

[North Star]

Hindemith
Kammermusik
Members of Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Chailly

[asin]B00008MLTZ[/asin]

[Brian]

I would buy it if it was available on CD.

Ugh, yeah; there are a couple used copies at Amazon.DE, though.

[The new erato]

Ugh, yeah; there are a couple used copies at Amazon.DE, though.

Thanks, but 12 Euros P&P isn't very tempting....

Now listening to first 2 discs in this:

[ASIN]B004JKDXUG[/ASIN]

[Sergeant Rock]

I know and love No. 4.
It is that one and no. 8 which I have been particularly find of, but I haven't yet explored the others very much.

Like minds...4 & 8 have been my favorites for...gosh, fifty years 

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

The best Rach 2nd I've heard? [Svetlanov] Very, very possible.

Considering how often our likes mesh, I may have to pick this up.

Sarge

[San Antone]

Andrew Parott/Taverner Choir sing John Taverner's Missa Gloria Tibi Trinitas.,

This is a magnificent recording, the best Taverner CD I've heard, maybe the best CD of British choral music.  It's human, you sense real individuals, with real characters. Everything is full of human passion, both the Taverner mass and the chant. There is a lot of chant, but for me that's not a hardship when the chanting is as thrilling as this. Everything is clear. The interpretation sounds just right to me, the intonation, tempos and phrasing.

Even from the point of view of sound quality it's perfect. Truthful - you feel like you're in the best seat in the cathedral, just the right distance from the singers. The way the engineers have created a sense of place is exceptional.

The mass is less wild than Taverner's Missa Corona Spinea, but is no less inspired. It's also less dominated by virtuoso music for high voices - so Parrott's voice leading is much appreciated.

I am not surprised that this is a good recording.  Andrew Parrott is one of my favorite directors, favoring single voices, and good singers.  I will try to find it.

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

Stravinsky: The Firebird (Sir Colin Davis / Concertgebouw) [/color] - The last few years I've been listening to versions of this with Gergiev/Kirov and Jansons/Oslo (nothing wrong with either), but forgot about this one. My loss: it's great (and excellent sound on this version, despite being recorded in 1978).

--Bruce

Oh yeah!

That Davis/Concertgebouw Philips Firebird is my all time favorite performance. Davis' accents just fall like thunderbolts with that Russian rhythmic musical asymmetry in the "Infernal Dance." 

SO exciting. I just LOVE it.

The engineered sound is phenomenal in both its clarity and its punch.



However, the clearest and most pristine sounding Firebird I've ever heard in terms of audiophilia is definitely the Andrew Litton on BIS.

[SimonNZ]

I own that Parrott Tavener disc, and I've pulled it out for another listen later when I can really focus on it.

but right now, on the radio:



Offenbach's Cello Concerto - Jérôme Pernoo, cello, Marc Minkowski, cond.

[Sergeant Rock]

Penderecki Horn Concerto




Sarge

[SimonNZ]

on the radio:

Finzi's Clarinet Concerto - Michael Collins, clarinet/cond.

[aligreto]

Onslow: Piano Trio Op.3 No. 1....

[SimonNZ]

on the radio:

Schubert's Death And The Maiden quartet - Pavel Haas Quartet

[The new erato]

Disc 2 from this set with the op 44 1/2 and op 80 quartets. Absolutely outstanding.

[asin]B00VKWZKHA[/asin]

[Mookalafalas]

The Schubert disc is good, sometimes very good. What it's missing is a hushed otherworldliness to the second piece D. 946 and the third impromptu D. 899 - an extra layer of poetry that comes from Schubert being so far out at the edge of the emotional universe.

The Scriabin disc is also good, but it ends with 15 minutes of absolute capital-G Greatness, an incredibly well-articulated, eerie, unsettling Sonata No. 9 + an etude encore (Op. 8 No. 12) that's just absolutely riveting, the best performance I've ever heard - sorry Horowitz, Richter, Sudbin, and Perrotta.

Only 10 minutes into the Chopin disc now. Lankova starts with one of my bottom-5 Chopin pieces, the Fantasy-Impromptu, but I'm looking forward to hearing the rest. Very moody Ballade No. 1, so far.

Would rate the Schubert good for Schubert-heads, and the Scriabin borderline essential.

   Wow, you do jump in with both feet   I'm glad you found stuff that impressed you.  Regarding the Schubert, I'm listening to her D959 again now.  For me it's all hers, like Schubert wrote it for her and all the other versions are interlopers. I've always liked Schubert, but at some level his Sonatas have been opaque to me; now, suddenly, Lankova takes me inside.
  No doubt opinions that extreme aren't likely to be widely shared. Anyway, I appreciate your giving her a shot    

[Wakefield]

Disc 2 from this set with the op 44 1/2 and op 80 quartets. Absolutely outstanding.

[asin]B00VKWZKHA[/asin]

After my deep disappointment with their Shostakovich, my appreciation of them was deadly hurt. But very recently their Janáček was a sort of revelation, so maybe I will try their Mendelssohn too.

[asin]B0041UG6BC[/asin]

Brilliant, deeply felt and emotive interpretations in SOTA sound quality.

[SonicMan46]

After my deep disappointment with their Shostakovich, my appreciation of them was deadly hurt. But very recently their Janáček was a sort of revelation, so maybe I will try their Mendelssohn too.



Brilliant, deeply felt and emotive interpretations in SOTA sound quality.

Now Gordo - looking at the statement in bold above, the Mandelring's performances of the Shosty SQs seemed to have been fairly well received in this forum - I own the set (along w/ the Borodin & the Pacifica Quartet) - looking on the Fanfare Archive, a number of their reviewers have written some 'mixed' comments, although our own Jens gave a 'thumbs up' on one of the volumes (PDF attached).  So will be curious to see if others comment on their thoughts on this set.

Concerning the Mandelrings & the Mendelssohn string works, I'm considering - already own the Pacifica & the Emersons - Jerry Dubins seems to be rather negative in his opinion (see other PDF) of these recordings, so again I'll 'hold off' a purchase until some more comments appear - Dave

[Wakefield]

Now Gordo - looking at the statement in bold above, the Mandelring's performances of the Shosty SQs seemed to have been fairly well received in this forum - I own the set (along w/ the Borodin & the Pacifica Quartet) - looking on the Fanfare Archive, a number of their reviewers have written some 'mixed' comments, although our own Jens gave a 'thumbs up' on one of the volumes (PDF attached).  So will be curious to see if others comment on their thoughts on this set.

Concerning the Mandelrings & the Mendelssohn string works, I'm considering - already own the Pacifica & the Emersons - Jerry Dubins seems to be rather negative in his opinion (see other PDF) of these recordings, so again I'll 'hold off' a purchase until some more comments appear - Dave

Yes, I'm aware of this, Dave, even I think I exchanged some comments with Jens (or maybe Sarge) about the Mandelrings performing Shostakovich. My main complaint about them is that they deliver the less "Russian" interpretations that I have heard ever. Bland and unemotional. But this is only my opinion and I can perfectly understand that other people can see other kind of virtues here. If they had played Shostakovich like they play Janáček, I would be an unredeemed fan of their cycle.

[kishnevi]

Yes, I'm aware of this, Dave, even I think I exchanged some comments with Jens (or maybe Sarge) about the Mandelrings performing Shostakovich. My main complaint about them is that they deliver the less "Russian" interpretations that I have heard ever. Bland and unemotional. But this is only my opinion and I can perfectly understand that other people can see other kind of virtues here. If they had played Shostakovich like they play Janaceck, I would be an unredeemed fan of their cycle.

A not so Russian approach is a nice alternative, and while the MQ cycle is not my favorite...or even top tier...I am glad to have it.

But also this:  I have the Emerson Mendelssohn cycle and liked it enough to never feel the need for any alternate.

TD
[asin]B00BK6HRGI[/asin]