Topic: What are you listening 2 now?

["Harry"]

Alexander Moyzes.

Symphony No. 7, opus 50.
Symphony No. 8, "21-08-1968", opus 64.

Slovak Radio SO, Ladislav Slovak.

Again a CD with symphonies that are totally beguiling, mesmerizing even. Just savour the third movement of the 7th symphony "Largo", which took my breath away, Moyzes at its best. But then again the 7th is a masterwork. This kind of orchestration is rare, unique, and full of colours. The work is dedicated to the memory of the composer's daughter Martha who died tragically young. It expresses deep sorrow.
That also goes for the 8th symphony, which is based on a totally different framework, "the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union". This work was his protest.
There has never been a public performance to this day. It is scored for a very large orchestra.
The performances are first rate, and the recording quite good.

[Stürmisch Bewegt]

While true that conductors should not wallow in Franck's D minor Symphony, nor should they attempt to break the world's land speed record like Ashkenazy does here.  Not that the results are uninteresting - they are compelling at points - but the sum total for me is that Ashkenazy felt like he had to "kick this warhorse up a notch" either to distinguish it from other recordings or because he disagrees with its composer on how it should be played... Well-engineered in any case, and Psyché and Les Djinns are as fine recordings as I have of those.

["Harry"]

British Violin Concertos.
CD I.

Arnold Bax-Violin concerto.
George Dyson-Violin concerto.

Lydia Mordkovitch, Violin.
London PO & City of London Sinfonia, Bryden Thomson & Richard Hickox.

Mordkovitch is definitively one of my favourite violinists, and its a bloody shame she died in 2014. I cannot remember a single disc with her that I did not enjoy, and I am still enjoying both Violin concertos on this disc, a worthy remembrance of a great artist. She simply had magic in her fingers!
Sublime Chandos sound.

[Que]

On Spotify:

[Que]

I love these works. First heard them played by the Raphael Ensemble on Hyperion. This Juilliard recording has some criticism online, but seems ok.

I prefer them to the Raphael, which is my favourite in the sextets.

[SonicMan46]

Bach, CPE - Solo Keyboard Works w/ Ana-Marija Markovina on piano (Bösendorfer), a box of 26 discs - now I do have CPE solo KB works on other instruments (see snippet from my database at bottom - click to enlarge); Schornsheim on a tangent piano, Belder (8 discs) on harpsichord, and 4 of Spanyi's recordings on clavichord - now he deserves the honors of recording the MOST, i.e. 20 volumes of KB Concertos and 39 volumes of solo works on various instruments - more information at the BIS Website; now that is about 60 discs!  I bought my four cheaply at BRO and if BIS boxes these recordings, I'm not sure that I would be a buyer; in all honesty if I had to listen to hours of these solo works, Markovina on piano would be my choice, BUT 'to each his own' as they say -    Dave



 

[vers la flamme]

The Monteux performance of it is the benchmark of Franck's masterpiece IMO. It opened my ears to that work. I thought the 1st movement is a masterpiece unto itself. Very impressive overall.

I'll have to track it down. I do love those Living Stereo recordings.

[vers la flamme]

Maurice Ravel: Piano Trio in A minor; Violin Sonata in G major. Renaud and Gautier Capuçon, Frank Braley

Happy birthday to Ravel, one of my favorite composers. It's good to revisit this recording; it's been some time since I've heard any of it.

[Que]

I'll have to track it down. I do love those Living Stereo recordings.

Yes, Monteux is the one.... 

Sometimes these "iron recommendations" are outdated, but not here.

[ritter]

I'll have to track it down. I do love those Living Stereo recordings.

FWIW, I’ve never cared much for the Franck Symphony, but when I listened to the Monteux recording, I really enjoyed the piece...

[Que]

[...] in all honesty if I had to listen to hours of these solo works, Markovina on piano would be my choice, BUT 'to each his own' as they say -    Dave

I'm shocked, Dave, I'm shocked...

 

[Artem]

I prefer them to the Raphael, which is my favourite in the sextets.

Will definitely try to do a side by side comparison between the two ensembles at some point.

[OrchestralNut]

I'll have to track it down. I do love those Living Stereo recordings.

I also want to get the Monteux recording of the Franck symphony after listening to that version on YouTube.

[SonicMan46]

I'm shocked, Dave, I'm shocked...

 

Hey Que - thought that would get a response from someone -    But I must say that the measly 4 discs (of 60!) that I have of Spanyi on the clavichord would be a tough choice (depending on my mood - ) - Dave

[aukhawk]

Some of the Spanyi discs are on tangent piano and those are delicious.

[Traverso]

Koechlin

CD 7 and te last one from this fine set