What are you listening to now?

[Madiel]

Seeing I just pulled it out of the letterbox, let's go with Symphony No.1, 'Microsymphony'

[asin]B000BZDG1E[/asin]

Slightly different from what I expected from the slightly later pieces I know (a fraction more dissonant)... but I like it!

EDIT: On second listen, I really like it. A very satisfying 11 minutes.

[mc ukrneal]

Listening to disc 2 of this Lyapunov set. Very entertaining music...
[asin]B009RXGC2G[/asin]

[knight66]

Worth hearing for Fassbaender at least. Weirdly, here she reminds me of Verrett at her best, though normally I'd consider them miles apart.

I am not exactly a fan of Guilini's later recordings; but this is one I would never be without. It is just so musical, so beautiful and unlike the Haitink Don Carlo, it retains drama. Plowright is at her very best, the technical side for once is really secure. Fassbaender ensures that her duets with Domingo are raised beyond melodrama and become memorable.

Again, as so often, Greg and I are in accord, the order of my favourite recordings is
Karajan Callas,
Giulini
And then another tettific set:
Mehta with Leyontine Price

I don't usually seek Mehta's recordings out, reliable but often generalised. However, in Opera, this and the Sutherland Turandot are both terrific.

I have just obtained a live Otello with Giuseppe Giacomini and Margaret Price conducted by Lombard, reviews were very encouraging, I am looking forward to some time to concentrate on it.

Mike

[Florestan]

Andras Schiff plays Schubert on a 1820 Brodmann fortepiano.

[SimonNZ]

Tristan Murail's Ethers - Charles Bruck, cond.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Just listened to Kossuth for the first time.....I think I'll need a few more listens for it to grow on me. I also listened to the Transylvanian Dances which were awesome.



Earlier today I listened to the Bagatelles for Wind Quintet and now I think I'll be listening to Boulez's rendition of the Chamber Concerto......

[Madiel]

Rather enjoying Shostakovich's Odna (Alone) film score so far.

[asin]B000ZJVI5C[/asin]

A little more mellow than the works of a couple years earlier, as I keep exploring chronologically. I was going to just skip all the film and incidental music (there's rather a lot of it), but right now I'm glad I decided to at least sample each opus. Might listen to the whole of this one.

Thanks to the plot of the film, there's even a throat singer.

A pity a section of the actual film is lost.

[Tsaraslondon]

I am not exactly a fan of Guilini's later recordings; but this is one I would never be without. It is just so musical, so beautiful and unlike the Haitink Don Carlo, it retains drama. Plowright is at her very best, the technical side for once is really secure. Fassbaender ensures that her duets with Domingo are raised beyond melodrama and become memorable.

Again, as so often, Greg and I are in accord, the order of my favourite recordings is
Karajan Callas,
Giulini
And then another tettific set:
Mehta with Leyontine Price

I don't usually seek Mehta's recordings out, reliable but often generalised. However, in Opera, this and the Sutherland Turandot are both terrific.

I have just obtained a live Otello with Giuseppe Giacomini and Margaret Price conducted by Lombard, reviews were very encouraging, I am looking forward to some time to concentrate on it.

Mike

I agree with this 100%, Mike

Incidentally, the sound on the Callas/Karajan is very much improved in Warner's recent remastering.

What impressed me most when I listened to it again recently, was Karajan's conducting, which has an elegance and a rhythmic drive that I don't quite hear in other performances. I think it one of the best things he did on disc. Callas too, though the voice is starting to show signs of deterioration, sings with such aristocratic style, with such inevitability of line, such stunning accuracy in the many coloratura passages usually glossed over by less technically gifted singers, that I find it one of her greatest recorded performances.

[Madiel]

And now for something exotic...

[asin]B000005J0T[/asin]

Ravel, Stravinsky and Delage getting Eastern, in works that were actually performed together back in 1914. Plus others of similar mood.

I've just heard the start of the first of Ravel's Mallarme songs, and I'm astounded. I honestly didn't imagine anyone had written music sounding like that until much, much later.

[Tsaraslondon]

And now for something exotic...

[asin]B000005J0T[/asin]

Ravel, Stravinsky and Delage getting Eastern, in works that were actually performed together back in 1914. Plus others of similar mood.

I've just heard the start of the first of Ravel's Mallarme songs, and I'm astounded. I honestly didn't imagine anyone had written music sounding like that until much, much later.

A lovely disc, possibly my favourite out of all Upshaw's recital discs.

[Madiel]

A lovely disc, possibly my favourite out of all Upshaw's recital discs.

Well, I'll just add that to the customer reviews on Amazon. 

It's the program that grabs my attention more than anything. Something very specific and a bit unusual.

[Karl Henning]

Putting my ears where my mouth is...so to speak! Listening to some more Arnold instead of complaining about not listening to him enough. This time listening to English, Scottish, Irish, and Cornish Dances. Delightful disc!
[asin]B000000AL5[/asin]

Maybe I've said before . . . had the greatest time playing a symphonic band arrangement of the Scottish Dances back when I was in, oh I don't remember, 9^th or 10^th grade.

[Karl Henning]

"Your playing is too safe. It needs more fatalities!"

(* chortle *)

[Karl Henning]

Rather enjoying Shostakovich's Odna (Alone) film score so far.

[asin]B000ZJVI5C[/asin]

A little more mellow than the works of a couple years earlier, as I keep exploring chronologically. I was going to just skip all the film and incidental music (there's rather a lot of it), but right now I'm glad I decided to at least sample each opus. Might listen to the whole of this one.

Thanks to the plot of the film, there's even a throat singer.

A pity a section of the actual film is lost.

Yes, I was very agreeably surprised by this 'un.

[EigenUser]

Earlier today I listened to the Bagatelles for Wind Quintet and now I think I'll be listening to Boulez's rendition of the Chamber Concerto......

The Ligeti Chamber Concerto is such a cool piece. I love how each movement is like its own surreal "painting". Third movement is like this:

[mc ukrneal]

Maybe I've said before . . . had the greatest time playing a symphonic band arrangement of the Scottish Dances back when I was in, oh I don't remember, 9^th or 10^th grade.

I can just imagine so. They are skillfully crafted pieces. I want to listen to a symphony next.

[Tsaraslondon]

Well, I'll just add that to the customer reviews on Amazon. 

It's the program that grabs my attention more than anything. Something very specific and a bit unusual.

Yes. I agree with you. Extremely well thought out.

[bhodges]

A lovely disc, possibly my favourite out of all Upshaw's recital discs.

Mine, too. The whole program is terrific, but I especially love the Earl Kim cycle, Where Grief Slumbers.

--Bruce

[Harry]

New acquisition. And pretty perfect too, especially on this dreary afternoon, and needed something uplifting.

http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2016/02/weckmann-matthias-1615-1674-conjuratio.html?spref=tw

[Madiel]

I just sampled a couple of other versions of the opening of "Soupir" from likely candidates, and they didn't quite match Upshaw and her ensemble.

The other individual song that really stood out was Delage's "Lahore". But yes, the Earl Kim cycle also sounded really good.

Looks like it's going on the shopping list (I was only streaming).