What are you listening to now?

[SimonNZ]

Haydn's Symphonies 22, 24 and 30 - Adrian Shepperd, cond.

[ritter]

4 x Nous n'irons plus au bois  , as viewed by Claude Debussy, from this set:

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1890: La belle au bois dormant - Véronique Dietschy (sop.), Emmanuel Strosser (p)
1894: Quelques aspects de "Nous n'irons plus au bois" parce qu'il fait un temps insupportable (Images oubliées, No. 3) - Zoltán Kocsis (p)
1903: Jardins sous la pluie (Estampes, No. 3) - Zoltán Kocsis (p)
1905-1909: Rondes de printemps (Images pour orchestre, No. 3) - The Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (cond.)

The catchy traditional childrens' song Nous n'irons plus au bois shows up in these four pieces, composed over a span of almost 20 years. In the mélodie La belle au bois dormant, it is used very effectively in the piano part. The Image oubliée is a rather humourous take on the song (starting by the title  ). The third number from Estampes is a much more subtle treatment. Finally, Rondes de printemps can almost be viewed as a set of orchestral variations on the tune (with a brief apparition of Do do, l'enfant do). I found it really worthwhile (and highly enjoyable) to listen to these compositions in chronological order... 

And as a bonus, Marc- André Dalbavie's homage to Debussy; an arrangement for counter-tenor and ensemble of the three popular songs used by Debussy in his orchestral Images (the two mentioed above in relation to Rondes de printemps, and The keel row used in Gigues).

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Marc-André Dalbavie: Trois chansons populaires - Yuriy Mynenko (counter-tenor), Orquestra Gulbenkian, conducted by the composer.

[aligreto]

Mozart: Piano Quartet in E flat major K.493....

[Kontrapunctus]

I bought this strictly for "Seeing," which is basically a piano concerto. Very powerful.

[king ubu]

Not too big on András Schiff so far (don't ask why, it is how it is) ... starting with disc two (the fortepiano disc, adding the Bagatelles op. 126 at the end) was maybe a mistake, as this sounded somewhat dry and un-engaging (hey, it's my problem, I get that!), while disc one is really gorgeous - Schiff is heard with the final sonata, Op. 111, and then the Diabelli variations again, playing a 1921 Bechstein once placed at the exclusive disposal of Backhaus for concerts and recordings, that ended up in the late seventies in a piano store in the sleepy small town where I went to high school ten years later ... actually that piano store goes by the name my mother bore before getting married, but there's no relation as far as I know, have to ask her when we meet for the Buchbinder recital on Monday.

[Ken B]

Virgil Thomson
The Feast of Love
Mason/Mann

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Wow...that's all I'll say right now.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, "Rhenish," Op. 97. Sounds great!

[Todd]

Disc 1.  Excellent.

[Mookalafalas]

All Cello, all the time. 

[Ken B]

All Cello, all the time. 

You should seek out Glass's Symphony for 8. It's an arrangement of a piece for 8 cellos.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, "Rhenish," Op. 97. Sounds great!

I've forgotten how much I liked Schumann's symphonies. I definitely will revisit his orchestral music, but I'm also going to be digging into his chamber works as well. Really lovely music with enough pathos to keep one interested and wondering 'what's going to happen next?'

[Mookalafalas]

You should seek out Glass's Symphony for 8. It's an arrangement of a piece for 8 cellos.

  Wishlisted

TD:
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[Dancing Divertimentian]

Prokofiev, 10 pieces Op.12, Chiu.

It's not wise to take ANY work by Prokofiev for granted. At any time in any work minutes can go by lit up by little more than the impression that the music is in need of a contextual center when suddenly as if a switch is flipped the sweet spot is uncorked and lightening strikes!! That "flip moment" here is the seventh movement Prelude and continues on until the end of the piece. Some mighty impressive Prokofiev.

Put another way, the work might be criticized for being bottom-heavy, with a weak-ish first half. But I don't hear it that way. I hear it as a deliberate buildup to the goodness that follows.



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[aligreto]

Mozart: Piano Quartet in G minor K.478....

[Que]

Morning listening:

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Superb disc. 

Q

[Que]

  Wishlisted

TD:
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Excellent disc! One of Staier's succesful ones...

Q

[The new erato]

Excellent disc! One of Staier's succesful ones...

Q

Interesting. I haven't followed the discussion, but often find Staier too "relentless" in what he does. I'm no expert in the instrumental repertoire though, being much more a fan of the vocal music of the period.

[Autumn Leaves]

Friday evening listening:



Kullervo - I don't listen to this work very often. Its pretty cool for sure but it is awfully long (and does take a while to get going too).
I have another version now (in the Sibelius Edition) so may give that a spin sometime soon too.

Listened to a few of the Tone Poems from the box as well - very good set actually: it should be re-issued.

[Mandryka]

Morning listening:

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Superb disc. 

Q

Yes, the anonymous mass is magnificent, as are the motets by Leonal Power.