What are you listening to now?

[Mirror Image]

And then, some VW, maybe even a VW week.

I certainly may be right there with you.

[Brian]

Diving headfirst into my new arrivals!

Beethoven - Sonata No. 27 - Francois-Frederic Guy
Poulenc - Figure humaine etc. - Swedish Radio Choir, Peter Dijkstra
Roussel - Bacchus et Ariane (complete) - ORTF, Jean Martinon

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

Ralph Vaughan Williams - Sea Symphony (#1)
Halle Orchestra / Sir Mark Elder
Katherine Broderick
Roderick Williams

I have known and loved this work since for decades during which I have had (and still have) recordings by Sir Adrian Boult, Vernon Handley and Bernard Haitink, with the Handley being my version of choice for a long time.  Well now this new recording goes up to the top of the list ... or at least tied for first.  Amazingly, this performance, which was recorded live in the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester earlier this year, is the first time that Elder has conducted the work!  The first time maybe, but he clearly understands it and leads a marvelous performance which has been captured in excellent sound (which btw, is my one gripe about my Handley recording - the rather recessed soloists).  A very strong recommendation.

I think that this is the greatest sounding Sea Symphony I've ever heard as well. All of the textures are clearly captured and the recording is neither too recessed nor miked too upfront. Such stellar sound engineering makes it very warm and natural sounding and fun to listen to when actively engaged in doing chores around the house.

I like the reading- its a very brisk one- and the Elder's enthusiasm for the music is self evident.

But when it comes to the Sea Symphony in terms of majesty and nobility, the Hickox/Philharmonia performance still takes the cake for me.

[Mirror Image]

I think that this is the greatest sounding Sea Symphony I've ever heard as well. All of the textures are clearly captured and the recording is neither too recessed nor miked too upfront. Such stellar sound engineering makes it very warm and natural sounding and fun to listen to when actively engaged in doing chores around the house.

I like the reading- its a very brisk one- and the Elder's enthusiasm for the music is self evident.

But when it comes to the Sea Symphony in terms of majesty and nobility, the Hickox/Philharmonia performance still takes the cake for me.

I really ought to give this Elder/Halle a listen as it remains still sealed in its shrinkwrap.

[North Star]

Zelenka
Miserere in C minor (Psalm 50), ZWV 57
Monika Frimmer
Il Fondamento
Paul Dombrecht
[asin]B00004TAZL[/asin]

[SonicMan46]

Couperin, Francois (1668-1733) - Les Nations w/ Juilliard Baroque - my purchase prompted by a Jerry Dubins review (attached) who also compares the present release to an earlier 1983 recording by Jordi Savall (which I also own) - amazing the Naxos 2-CD set was recorded in 2013 - Monica Huggett was on the violin in both performances - this is an excellent period instrument presentation w/ great up-front sound - recommended.  Dave

 

[Sadko]

Rachmaninov

Symphonic Dances

Simfonichesky orkestr Vsesoyuznogo Radio
Aleksandr Gauk

[bhodges]

Couperin, Francois (1668-1733) - Les Nations w/ Juilliard Baroque - my purchase prompted by a Jerry Dubins review (attached) who also compares the present release to an earlier 1983 recording by Jordi Savall (which I also own) - amazing the Naxos 2-CD set was recorded in 2013 - Monica Huggett was on the violin in both performances - this is an excellent period instrument presentation w/ great up-front sound - recommended.  Dave

 

Dave, a great recording. I also wrote about it earlier this year:

http://www.juilliard.edu/journal/1505/juilliard-baroques-debut-cd-imaginative-recital-zorman

--Bruce

[SonicMan46]

Dave, a great recording. I also wrote about it earlier this year:

http://www.juilliard.edu/journal/1505/juilliard-baroques-debut-cd-imaginative-recital-zorman

--Bruce

Hi Bruce - great to hear from you and thanks for the link - an excellent review, as usual!  At the moment, I'm finishing up the second disc of the Naxos set and for comparison have the 1983 Savall performance coming up next - Dave

[listener]

SIBELIUS  and ADÈS    Violin Concertos
Augustin Hadelich, violin    Hannu Lintu, cond.  Royal Liverpool Philh.
BRUCKNER: Quintet in F, Intermezzo in d
String Quartet in c
Fitzwilliam String Quartet

[Que]

Just in:

[asin]B005P3N0QI[/asin]
Charming and authentic!

Q

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

I really ought to give this Elder/Halle a listen as it remains still sealed in its shrinkwrap.

Stacks of cd's in queue, infinitely and endlessly- the story of your life too, huh?

<Clink. Clink.>

Cheers.

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

Just in:

[asin]B005P3N0QI[/asin]
Charming and authentic!

I need this!

Do you know what time period the recordings are from?

I have a Melodiya Svetlanov cd with a similar cover- which has the most whiplash-and-charging-and-Satanic Night of Bald Mountain that I've ever heard which is from 1974. . . well, actually I'd tie it with Abbado's LSO endeavor- but you get the idea.

I imagine the performances on this are great as well.

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

From The Essential Sibelius

Sibelius
songs
Monica Groop & Lowe Derwinger / Jorma Hynninen, Jorma Panula & Gothenburg SO

I imagine Jorma Hynninen is fantastic- as Sibelius is definitely his ken (I love his Kullervo with Salonen on Sony with the LAPO)- but how's Monica Groop on this cd?

[North Star]

I imagine Jorma Hynninen is fantastic- as Sibelius is definitely his ken (I love his Kullervo with Salonen on Sony with the LAPO)- but how's Monica Groop on this cd?

Splendiferous.

Thread duty
Sibelius
Pohjola's Daughter, Op. 49 (1906)
Sinfonia Lahti
Osmo Vänskä

[Todd]

Disc 40.  More Brahms.

[Que]

I need this!

Do you know what time period the recordings are from?

I have a Melodiya Svetlanov cd with a similar cover- which has the most whiplash-and-charging-and-Satanic Night of Bald Mountain that I've ever heard which is from 1974. . . well, actually I'd tie it with Abbado's LSO endeavor- but you get the idea.

I imagine the performances on this are great as well.

Recordings are all from 1970.
I  can already tell that performances are awesome, (sound is excellent), exactly what I expected from Svetlanov in repertoire like this.

Q

[North Star]

Just in:

Charming and authentic!

Q

That does look good. . .

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

Splenderifious.

Thread duty
Sibelius
Pohjola's Daughter, Op. 49 (1906)
Sinfonia Lahti
Osmo Vänskä

Thanks for that, North Star.

I'll definitely check it out. . .

I have to be candid though: I'm not a fan of Vanska's Sibelius cycle or Kullervo at all- as they are entirely too laid back and attenuated for my tastes (although I think he does a tolerably-well dramatic job on parts of his Origin of Fire).

So I can only imagine how he approaches Pohjola's Daughter.

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

Recordings are all from 1970.
I  can already tell that performances are awesome, (sound is excellent), exactly what I expected from Svetlanov in repertoire like this.

Q

Merci.

- I'm there.