Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Castle

Symphonic Addict · May 01, 2024, 02:37:03 PM

Quote from: calyptorhynchus on May 01, 2024, 01:57:19 PMIt's been a long time since Naxos released anything interesting.

I remember about 10 years ago they suddenly hiked the price of downloads from $6 (Australian) to $12, saying they were providing 'better customer experience'. I wrote and asked them exactly how doubling their prices was providing a better customer experience, but they didn't reply.

Funnily enough though since that time they have barely issued anything I want to try anyway.

Fortunately all of the Naxos releases devoted to Castelnuovo-Tedesco have been noteworthy, something I'm grateful for.

Symphonic Addict · May 01, 2024, 02:43:21 PM

Speaking of him and Naxos, recently I gave the recording of the 2nd Violin Concerto 'I Propheti' a listen. That work is the bee's knees in terms of cinematic sumptuousness and colourful luxury, absolutely tremendous. Love it. I echo Kyle's words about the chivalrious element that is perceived in some of his works, I felt that feature in that concerto. The 1st Violin Concerto is not half bad either. The two Piano Concertos, on the other hand, are not as powerful and vivid, but they are pretty good, nevertheless.

Bachtoven · May 06, 2024, 12:30:32 PM

Quote from: Rons_talking on April 10, 2015, 03:39:38 PMHis Guitar Concerto is one of the finest in the idiom. I'll have to give him a listen. I nearly wore out the concerto disc (it's often coupled with the Rodrigo, John Williams soloist). His other music is unfamiliar to me, but I'll check out the Violin Concerto.

He wrote two. This recording is superb:

Bachtoven · May 06, 2024, 12:33:05 PM

These are very good:

kyjo · May 08, 2024, 07:55:37 AM

Quote from: Symphonic Addict on May 01, 2024, 02:43:21 PMSpeaking of him and Naxos, recently I gave the recording of the 2nd Violin Concerto 'I Propheti' a listen. That work is the bee's knees in terms of cinematic sumptuousness and colourful luxury, absolutely tremendous. Love it. I echo Kyle's words about the chivalrious element that is perceived in some of his works, I felt that feature in that concerto. The 1st Violin Concerto is not half bad either. The two Piano Concertos, on the other hand, are not as powerful and vivid, but they are pretty good, nevertheless.

Agreed, the VCs nos. 1 and 2 showcase the composer at his very best. The VC no. 1 Concerto Italiano is hardly any less impressive or appealing than the (slightly) more famous No. 2. Interestingly, there is a VC no. 3 but it is only with piano accompaniment (it's been recorded recently by Naxos). And yes, the two PCs are not quite on the same level, but they're quite delightful all the same. In some ways, it's the "filler" on the below Naxos CD which steals the show - the Four Dances from Love's Labour's Lost:

The first dance, the Sarabande for the King of Navarre, is particularly memorable in its regal, stately character.

Symphonic Addict · June 15, 2024, 11:15:33 AM

Just listened to this fresh release. Nothing particularly revelatory or pretentious, just music for pleasure. Most of it possesses a lovely rustic charm, albeit the 2nd SQ in F minor sounds a tad more troubled. Months ago I had already listened to the 3rd SQ on the Da Vinci Classics label finding the performance there (featuring the Ensemble Mark Rothko, a subpar team I must say) little polished. This rendition, however, does more justice to the piece. Nice to have these quartets even when they're not properly essential, or at least they are to me, to an obsessive completist.

ChamberNut · December 10, 2024, 05:16:39 AM

Quote from: Symphonic Addict on June 15, 2024, 11:15:33 AMJust listened to this fresh release. Nothing particularly revelatory or pretentious, just music for pleasure. Most of it possesses a lovely rustic charm, albeit the 2nd SQ in F minor sounds a tad more troubled. Months ago I had already listened to the 3rd SQ on the Da Vinci Classics label finding the performance there (featuring the Ensemble Mark Rothko, a subpar team I must say) little polished. This rendition, however, does more justice to the piece. Nice to have these quartets even when they're not properly essential, or at least they are to me, to an obsessive completist.

Thanks for your review. I just watched David Hurwitz' favourable review on this disc. Probably will add this disc to my wish list.

foxandpeng · December 10, 2024, 03:19:18 PM

Quote from: Symphonic Addict on June 15, 2024, 11:15:33 AMJust listened to this fresh release. Nothing particularly revelatory or pretentious, just music for pleasure. Most of it possesses a lovely rustic charm, albeit the 2nd SQ in F minor sounds a tad more troubled. Months ago I had already listened to the 3rd SQ on the Da Vinci Classics label finding the performance there (featuring the Ensemble Mark Rothko, a subpar team I must say) little polished. This rendition, however, does more justice to the piece. Nice to have these quartets even when they're not properly essential, or at least they are to me, to an obsessive completist.

Listed for listening, thank you 😊 🙏

ChamberNut · December 17, 2024, 04:12:23 PM

I listened to about only 30 seconds of clips for sampling and IMMEDIATELY plopped it into the shopping cart.

ChamberNut · December 26, 2024, 05:00:40 AM

Quote from: Bachtoven on May 06, 2024, 12:33:05 PMThese are very good:

Hi @Bachtoven I am listening to this for the first time and am supremely enjoying it!

I'm looking forward to doing a greater deep-dive into his music in 2025, including the guitar works. I'll probably jump into listening to the String Quartet recording by Quartetto Adorno I just received next, as I was thoroughly impressed with the brief sound samples I listened to.

kyjo · December 26, 2024, 07:25:28 AM

Quote from: Bachtoven on May 06, 2024, 12:30:32 PMHe wrote two. This recording is superb:

A few days ago I was listening to the absolutely delightful Concerto for Two Guitars from this disc. I think I like it even better than either of the two solo guitar concerti! Of course it's quite old-fashioned considering it was written in 1962, but that should hardly matter. The finale is a Rondo mexicano (complete with maracas!) which couldn't fail to lift anyone's spirits!