What are you listening to now?

[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]

[Wakefield]

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.

About the Emersons: I totally agree, I am even tempted to suggest that their Mendelssohn is -with some distance- one of the best recordings that they have done.

[SimonNZ]

on the radio:

Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.1 - Diedre Irons, piano, Marc Taddei, cond.

[jochanaan]

on the radio:

Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.1 - Diedre Irons, piano, Marc Taddei, cond.

Well?

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Luonnotar, Op. 70. Great stuff.

[Todd]

[SimonNZ]

Well?

It's really very good, actually. But of course the top shelf of superb Beethoven PC recordings is so crowded now that its hard to say that yet another is an essential purchase. And this one doesn't try to have some unique angle or interpretation - its "just" a respectful, even fun, traditional-style performance of a high standard. But if somehow someone had only this recording they'd actually be well served.

(Diedre Irons is a local and teaches at the University here, and I've seen her live many times, and its always been a delight, even if not a "revelation")


playing now, on the radio:



William Herschel's Symphony No.2 - Matthias Bamert, cond.

the announcer said he was also a renownded astronomer and discoverer of the planet Uranus

[Brian]

   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    

OK, and thanks for your post too. I skipped D959 actually - it's a work I do not know well at all yet; I've only heard maybe 1-2 performances. But you can bet that when I sit down, some afternoon soon, and listen to Richter, Badura-Skoda, and A. Schiff play D959, and get really familiar with the piece, then right after that, Irina Lankova will be next!

Most definitely will be looking out for her in new release lists.

[Brian]

Penderecki Horn Concerto




Sarge

How'd'ja like?

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Hindemith
Kammermusik
Members of Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Abbado

[asin]B00008MLTZ[/asin]

This stuff is really cool, but the conductor is Chailly, no?

[Todd]

But you can bet that when I sit down, some afternoon soon, and listen to Richter, Badura-Skoda, and A. Schiff play D959, and get really familiar with the piece, then right after that, Irina Lankova will be next!

You may want to consider Brendel and Lupu and Kovacevich and Pollini and Endres and Zacharias and Serkin, too.  Just sayin'.  (Maybe even Paul Lewis.  I've not heard his recording, but in person he was superb.) 

[Que]

.[asin]B00005KGMO[/asin]

This Couperin was a cousin of François, just in case anyone was wondering.

Q

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

I've been listening to this recently. Some really wonderful music here, and stuff I am again very unfamiliar with!

[Tsaraslondon]

Disc 20 of the Schwarzkopf box finds her paired with Fischer-Dieskau and Moore in music ideally suited to their gifts.