Top 5 Favorite Martinů Works

[Mirror Image]

Oh, I very much like the other Martinu symphonies! The 1st is my current favorite, but by no means do I prefer it to the others by a landslide (unlike I may have made it seem).

That's good to hear. How about trying your hand at voting here:

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,27588.0.html

[Dancing Divertimentian]

If you don't mind a flat recording with no dynamics, then I guess it does sound rather good.

You are taking a disturbingly militaristic attitude towards this issue. Breathe deep and understand this:

OTHER PEOPLE AREN'T HAVING THE PROBLEMS YOU ARE WITH THE SOUND!!!!!!!!!

[Parsifal]

I must admit, Belohlavek's is the only recording of the 1st that I've heard. Even so, the audio quality didn't bother me. I think I was too swept up in the sheer joy of the work and the performance to notice anything

Time to do some comparisons then!

To solve the problem of being swept up in the joy of the work?

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

OTHER PEOPLE AREN'T HAVING THE PROBLEMS YOU ARE WITH THE SOUND!!!!!!!!!

I just listened to 1 & 2. I don't have a problem with the sound either. Maybe not quite as ambient as I would like, but "no dynamics"? No way.

[Mirror Image]

You are taking a disturbingly militaristic attitude towards this issue. Breathe deep and understand this:

OTHER PEOPLE AREN'T HAVING THE PROBLEMS YOU ARE WITH THE SOUND!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like you're getting bent out-of-shape for nothing, DD. I meant 'do some comparisons' as in check out other performances. Despite my own reservations about the Belohlavek set, the performances themselves are good.

[Mirror Image]

Yeah, John, I don't understand why you seem to think it's "wrong" for someone to have a different opinion than you do about this particular issue. Let people enjoy what they enjoy...

Umm....no sir. That isn't what I was talking about. You have only heard one performance of the 1st symphony, I trying to point you towards another.

[Gurn Blanston]

OK, so now we're going to move on. You've made your positions clear, and now so have I.

Have a pleasant Sunday, gentlemen. I'm going back to my writing.

[Mirror Image]

I'm not sure what my list of 'Top 5 Favorite Works' would look like today, but I'm sure The Epic of Gilgamesh will be on it since later on tonight I'll be listening to this beauty:

[Mirror Image]

Double (Violins) Concerto (1950)

I must revisit this work soon. I recall it being excellent.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I'm not sure what my list of 'Top 5 Favorite Works' would look like today, but I'm sure The Epic of Gilgamesh will be on it since later on tonight I'll be listening to this beauty:

I just pulled the trigger on that one. I already have a Gilgamesh in Czech (Kosler), but I want this English-language version too - that's how I heard it a couple of years ago.

[Parsifal]

I've landed on the 3rd in my re-exploration of the Martinu symphonies. It is immediately obvious that this work is in Martinu's 'expressive' style, and a poetic work with dark themes. It took me three listens to each of the movements before I felt I could start to understand the complex musical/emotional journey of the work. Vaclav Neumann demonstrates his mastery of this composer's idiom. His interpretation is both robust and sensitive, I don't think I could ask for a better recorded performance. The late 70's analog recording is vibrant and natural.

I think I will arrive at No 5 next.

[Mirror Image]

I just pulled the trigger on that one. I already have a Gilgamesh in Czech (Kosler), but I want this English-language version too - that's how I heard it a couple of years ago.

Great, Archaic. I think you'll enjoy this performance immensely.

[Mirror Image]

I've landed on the 3rd in my re-exploration of the Martinu symphonies. It is immediately obvious that this work is in Martinu's 'expressive' style, and a poetic work with dark themes. It took me three listens to each of the movements before I felt I could start to understand the complex musical/emotional journey of the work. Vaclav Neumann demonstrates his mastery of this composer's idiom. His interpretation is both robust and sensitive, I don't think I could ask for a better recorded performance. The late 70's analog recording is vibrant and natural.

I think I will arrive at No 5 next.

Neumann's performance is indeed special. Glad you enjoy it!

[Mirror Image]

Today's list (in no particular order):

String Trio No. 2, H 238
String Quartet No. 3, H 183
Rhapsody-Concerto, H 337
On Tourne, ballet in 1 act, H 163
Études rythmiques, H 202

[Mirror Image]

My list for today (in no particular order):

String Sextet, H 224
Suite concertante for violin & orchestra, H 276
Tri Ricercari for chamber orchestra, H 267
Field Mass, cantata for baritone, male chorus and orchestra, H 279
Le Raid merveilleux, a mechanical ballet, H 159

[vandermolen]

I'll be very interested to hear what you guys think of the new 'Gilgamesh' on Supraphon. I found it all very moving - well, the end especially ('I saw...I saw..etc') and that places a kind of retrospective glow over the rest of the work. Sometimes that end section is not quite chilling enough but here I thought it worked well and I even revised upwards my opinion of Simon Callow!

[Mirror Image]

I'll be very interested to hear what you guys think of the new 'Gilgamesh' on Supraphon. I found it all very moving - well, the end especially ('I saw...I saw..etc') and that places a kind of retrospective glow over the rest of the work. Sometimes that end section is not quite chilling enough but here I thought it worked well and I even revised upwards my opinion of Simon Callow!

It's a stunning recording, Jeffrey. For me, it's the best performance, of the four, that have been recorded. And it's nice to have it restored to it's original language, English. All of the vocalists, Honeck, the Czech Philharmonic, and, yes, even Simon Callow were top-notch. In fact, I'll probably revisit it today.

I see that the reviews for this new recording have been quite positive and praise it, which is always great to read. I do hope that Honeck records more Martinu in the future. I know he basically filled in for Belohlavek who was set to perform this original version, but passed away before he got the chance.

Presto Classical interviewed Honeck about this recording and Martinu's music, so check this out when you have time:

https://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/classical/articles/1936--interview-manfred-honeck-on-the-epic-of-gilgamesh

[vandermolen]

It's a stunning recording, Jeffrey. For me, it's the best performance, of the four, that have been recorded. And it's nice to have it restored to it's original language, English. All of the vocalists, Honeck, the Czech Philharmonic, and, yes, even Simon Callow were top-notch. In fact, I'll probably revisit it today.

I see that the reviews for this new recording have been quite positive and praise it, which is always great to read. I do hope that Honeck records more Martinu in the future. I know he basically filled in for Belohlavek who was set to perform this original version, but passed away before he got the chance.

Presto Classical interviewed Honeck about this recording and Martinu's music, so check this out when you have time:

https://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/classical/articles/1936--interview-manfred-honeck-on-the-epic-of-gilgamesh

Thank you John and I'm delighted that you liked the new recording - as I thought you would. Yes, would be great if Honeck recorded some more Martinu. On a separate note I wish that Supraphon would release a new recording of Novak's masterpiece 'The Storm'.