Pieces that have blown you away recently

[Mirror Image]

Martinu - Double Concerto for Two String Orchestras, Piano and Timpani

What a piece this is!  I can only imagine for the Conductor it would be so difficult to get right, and for the players a bit of a nightmare.  Full of tempo changes, amazing strings, joy, tragedy, tension, brilliant piano...it's all in here.  What an outstanding work.

It's great to see you again, John! I hope all is well with you. And I fully concur with your admiration of Martinů's Double Concerto. What a piece! Also, I really like that Mackerras performance. If you ever get the chance and have access to it, the Bělohlávek performance on Chandos is top-notch, too.

[foxandpeng]

Schnittke. Cello Concertos. Still getting my head around them. Otherworldly.

[Mirror Image]

Schnittke. Cello Concertos. Still getting my head around them. Otherworldly.

Nice! Love those works.

[Symphonic Addict]

Nice! Love those works.

+1

[Karl Henning]

+1

+ 2

[Maestro267]

+3

[The new erato]

Since it seems that I may have started this with my post on this disc in the listening thread some days ago:

+4

[Symphonic Addict]

More cello and orchestra:

Largo for cello and orchestra

I did remember it was great, but not that great!! I'm very impressed. It's Penderecki at many of his facets as a composer. Very kaleidoscopic.

[kyjo]

Schnittke. Cello Concertos. Still getting my head around them. Otherworldly.

+5 I need to revisit the 2nd Concerto, but the 1st is really something else. The "redemptive" final movement is incredibly moving. And those performances by Alexander Ivashkin are superb - he's a great cellist in Russian repertoire.

[vers la flamme]

+5.5 for Schnittke (never heard the 2nd concerto but I can certainly vouch for the 1st)

[relm1]

I'm really loving George Szell's Prokofiev 5 and Bartok Concerto for Orchestra recording.  Such a fabulous conductor who merges detail, expressivity, and long structure.  That's so rare!

[kyjo]

Two relatively brief tone poems (11:30 and 9:30 respectively) which I had heard before, but recent re-listens confirmed that they appeal to my tastes so well:

Avshalomoff: Hutungs of Peking



https://youtu.be/TxbQaI4_SBQ

One of the most colorfully exotic works I know. Avshalomoff captures the hustle and bustle of the city streets with a wonderfully vibrant flair. There's a section about 5 minutes in which is terrifyingly imposing (complete with a gong crash) - it's like entering the court of some powerful ancient emperor!


William Lloyd Webber: Aurora



https://youtu.be/S-DRoD4Jh2A

Depicting the Roman goddess of dawn, this sensually beautiful and atmospheric piece has a swoon-worthy main theme that won't soon be forgotten once heard. There's also rather Sibelian dramatic tension at times which gives the piece a substantial feel despite its relatively brief length. It's a pity W. Lloyd Webber was never compelled to write any larger-scale works!

[relm1]

Two relatively brief tone poems (11:30 and 9:30 respectively) which I had heard before, but recent re-listens confirmed that they appeal to my tastes so well:

Avshalomoff: Hutungs of Peking



https://youtu.be/TxbQaI4_SBQ

One of the most colorfully exotic works I know. Avshalomoff captures the hustle and bustle of the city streets with a wonderfully vibrant flair. There's a section about 5 minutes in which is terrifyingly imposing (complete with a gong crash) - it's like entering the court of some powerful ancient emperor!

His sons, Jacob and David Avshalomov are also fine composers.   I've met David and played in the premiere of one of his concert works where he conducted.  Very kind man.  Here is a fine work of his brother's: Jacob Avshalomov's "The Taking of T'ung Kuan" you might also enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UflLGcY4ZZk

[kyjo]

His sons, Jacob and David Avshalomov are also fine composers.   I've met David and played in the premiere of one of his concert works where he conducted.  Very kind man.  Here is a fine work of his brother's: Jacob Avshalomov's "The Taking of T'ung Kuan" you might also enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UflLGcY4ZZk

Thanks, I'll check it out!

[Symphonic Addict]

Two relatively brief tone poems (11:30 and 9:30 respectively) which I had heard before, but recent re-listens confirmed that they appeal to my tastes so well:

Avshalomoff: Hutungs of Peking



https://youtu.be/TxbQaI4_SBQ

One of the most colorfully exotic works I know. Avshalomoff captures the hustle and bustle of the city streets with a wonderfully vibrant flair. There's a section about 5 minutes in which is terrifyingly imposing (complete with a gong crash) - it's like entering the court of some powerful ancient emperor!


William Lloyd Webber: Aurora



https://youtu.be/S-DRoD4Jh2A

Depicting the Roman goddess of dawn, this sensually beautiful and atmospheric piece has a swoon-worthy main theme that won't soon be forgotten once heard. There's also rather Sibelian dramatic tension at times which gives the piece a substantial feel despite its relatively brief length. It's a pity W. Lloyd Webber was never compelled to write any larger-scale works!

I know Avshalomov's two symphonies which are colourful and exotic aplenty. This should be interesting to hear too.

I remember being quite fond of the Lloyd Webber. A work that has a similar character is Ludomir Rozycki's Mona Lisa Gioconda. A tender musical picture, and it's so lovely, subtle, enchanting. A very nice piece.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Two relatively brief tone poems (11:30 and 9:30 respectively) which I had heard before, but recent re-listens confirmed that they appeal to my tastes so well:

Avshalomoff: Hutungs of Peking



https://youtu.be/TxbQaI4_SBQ

One of the most colorfully exotic works I know. Avshalomoff captures the hustle and bustle of the city streets with a wonderfully vibrant flair. There's a section about 5 minutes in which is terrifyingly imposing (complete with a gong crash) - it's like entering the court of some powerful ancient emperor!


William Lloyd Webber: Aurora



https://youtu.be/S-DRoD4Jh2A

Depicting the Roman goddess of dawn, this sensually beautiful and atmospheric piece has a swoon-worthy main theme that won't soon be forgotten once heard. There's also rather Sibelian dramatic tension at times which gives the piece a substantial feel despite its relatively brief length. It's a pity W. Lloyd Webber was never compelled to write any larger-scale works!

Your description of both of those works has intrigued me.  I'll listen to the Lloyd Webber work in a bit.  I hadn't heard of William before now, but wasn't surprised to learn that he was the father of Andrew and Julian.   

PD

[kyjo]

I know Avshalomov's two symphonies which are colourful and exotic aplenty. This should be interesting to hear too.

I remember being quite fond of the Lloyd Webber. A work that has a similar character is Ludomir Rozycki's Mona Lisa Gioconda. A tender musical picture, and it's so lovely, subtle, enchanting. A very nice piece.

I look forward to exploring Avshalomov's two symphonies and the Rozycki work, neither of which I know!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Two relatively brief tone poems (11:30 and 9:30 respectively) which I had heard before, but recent re-listens confirmed that they appeal to my tastes so well:

William Lloyd Webber: Aurora



https://youtu.be/S-DRoD4Jh2A

Depicting the Roman goddess of dawn, this sensually beautiful and atmospheric piece has a swoon-worthy main theme that won't soon be forgotten once heard. There's also rather Sibelian dramatic tension at times which gives the piece a substantial feel despite its relatively brief length. It's a pity W. Lloyd Webber was never compelled to write any larger-scale works!

Listened to the William Lloyd Webber piece a short while ago--lovely!  Has a bit of that romantic bitter-sweet feeling that I love.    I read that he studied composition with Vaughan Williams.  Any idea how long of a time period that would have been for?  Just curious.

PD

[kyjo]

Listened to the William Lloyd Webber piece a short while ago--lovely!  Has a bit of that romantic bitter-sweet feeling that I love.    I read that he studied composition with Vaughan Williams.  Any idea how long of a time period that would have been for?  Just curious.

PD

Glad you enjoyed it! It appears that he studied with Vaughan Williams while he was a student at the Royal College of Music.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Glad you enjoyed it! It appears that he studied with Vaughan Williams while he was a student at the Royal College of Music.

Yes, I had read that too.  I don't know how long do compositional studies go on for?  Or does one change teachers each semester or year?  Just curious here.   

PD