What are you listening 2 now?

[Harry]

Jean Sibelius.
The Symphonies.
CD 1.
Symphony No.1, in E minor, Op. 39 (1898–99, rev. 1900).
Symphony No.4, in in A minor, Op. 63 (1909–11)
Lahti Symphony Orchestra Okko Kamu.
Recorded, 2012 & 2014 at the Sibelius Hall, Lathi, Finland.

Another set of Sibelius Symphonies I am interested in. SACD sound is top notch, and the performances are totally different from say the Vänskä set. Interesting. There is also a lot of criticism about it being emotionless, not true. A very valid take, and I like it very much. It lands in my top 5 of complete sets.

[Florestan]

[vers la flamme]

Kubelik's Mahler 8 is on my queue for today.

Haven't made it there yet but I'm excited as the 8th is my favorite.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

You're quite right. It's an uninspiring part of the background story. I've just bought a biography of Respighi and am interested to read what it says about Respighi's connection with Mussolini (I recently read the dispiriting suggestion that Respighi's Romans on the Appian  Way, the highlight of 'Pines of Rome', referenced Mussolini's 'March on Rome' (1922)). Britten's 'Sinfonia da Requiem' was also written for that Japanese commemoration but was rejected due to its religious overtones.

Good morning Jeffrey! I didn't know about Pines of Rome. Shocking. I read somewhere that Dallapiccola was Mussolini's favorite composer though I'm not very sure. Have a great week!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Poulenc: Animaux Modeles Suite and Sinfonietta. Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra/Jonathan Darlington.

[Steinway D]

He's a little more understated than Lazar Berman, but he still plays with considerable flair.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Jean Sibelius.
The Symphonies.
CD 1.
Symphony No.1, in E minor, Op. 39 (1898–99, rev. 1900).
Symphony No.4, in in A minor, Op. 63 (1909–11)
Lahti Symphony Orchestra Okko Kamu.
Recorded, 2012 & 2014 at the Sibelius Hall, Lathi, Finland.

Another set of Sibelius Symphonies I am interested in. SACD sound is top notch, and the performances are totally different from say the Vänskä set. Interesting. There is also a lot of criticism about it being emotionless, not true. A very valid take, and I like it.

That was a set that I was tempted to buy, but then the price jumped too high (I probably dithered too long).

PD

[DavidW]

Haven't made it there yet but I'm excited as the 8th is my favorite.

You won't be disappointed!  It is sublime.

[Brian]

Had high hopes for this new Osborne Debussy record. They are met!

[Linz]

Bruckner Symphony No. 8 in C Minor, 1890 Version. Ed. Leopold Nowak, Zubin Mehta

[vandermolen]

Good morning Jeffrey! I didn't know about Pines of Rome. Shocking. I read somewhere that Dallapiccola was Mussolini's favorite composer though I'm not very sure. Have a great week!

Good afternoon Danny 
I hope to know more when I have read the biography of Respighi.

[Harry]

British Violin Sonatas.
Volume 2.
Frank Bridge, Sonata for Violin and piano in E flat major.
John Ireland, violin sonata, No.1 in D minor.
Arthur Bliss, Violin sonata, F 192.
Vaughan Williams, Romance and Pastorale.
Lloyd Webber, The Gardens at Eastwell.

Tasmin Little, Violin.
Piers Lane, Piano.
Recorded 2015 at Potton Hall, Dunwich, Suffolk.

This series is dear to me. Volume II is as refreshing as the first volume, and well performed. For years I underestimated these chamber works, but I know better now. Tasmin Little is a excellent Violinist, and Piers Lane has a fine reputation worldwide. SOTA sound.

[vandermolen]

Jean Sibelius.
The Symphonies.
CD 1.
Symphony No.1, in E minor, Op. 39 (1898–99, rev. 1900).
Symphony No.4, in in A minor, Op. 63 (1909–11)
Lahti Symphony Orchestra Okko Kamu.
Recorded, 2012 & 2014 at the Sibelius Hall, Lathi, Finland.

Another set of Sibelius Symphonies I am interested in. SACD sound is top notch, and the performances are totally different from say the Vänskä set. Interesting. There is also a lot of criticism about it being emotionless, not true. A very valid take, and I like it.

Kamu's Sibelius is very good.

[SonicMan46]

Hoffmeister, Franz Anton (1754-1812) - Flute Quartets & Concertos (top 3 below) w/ the performers on the cover art. Hoffmeister could be considered the 'Viennese Flute Master' of his time (both by volume and quality) - according to the booklet notes, he wrote around 50 Flute Quartets, similar number of Flute Quintets, and 25 Flute Concertos; not counting the Flute Sonatas & Trios (lower 2 pics) I listened to yesterday, plus probably more unpublished or lost?

I believe all of these performances are on modern flute - would love to hear some period instruments but not sure if recordings have been done and/or are available - any information would be appreciated.  Dave

   

 

[vandermolen]

Klami: Karelian Rhapsody etc

[Brian]

Hungarian choral music transported across the border to Transylvania to showcase that region's orchestra. It's not an incredible orchestra - the strings are rather scratchy, the trumpets enthusiastic - but they're having fun and the singing is remarkably good. Bartok's 4-minute Transylvanian Dances set is thrown in as a bonus.

[Harry]

Kamu's Sibelius is very good.

Yes I agree with you Jeffrey. I like him being unsentimental, or sugar sweet. His interpretation is clear, a little raw too, but that is for me a positive aspect. The detailing is a thing of great beauty, and the Lathi Orchestra performs as well as can be expected.

[Harry]

Klami: Karelian Rhapsody etc

I recently played this recording, and liked it. A golden oldie, for I bought it a long time ago.

[Linz]

Franck Organ Works Ben van Oosten CD1

[classicalgeek]

Over the last week or so:

Ives
Symphony no. 2
Symphony no. 3
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Andrew Litton
(on CD)




Dvorak
Symphony no. 7
Symphony no. 8
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Sir Colin Davis
(on CD)



One of the best 7ths I've yet heard, but a generally disappointing 8th.


Kodaly
Hary Janos Suite
Prokofiev
Lieutenant Kije
Cleveland Orchestra
George Szell
(on CD)




Stenhammar
Serenade, op. 31
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Jarvi
(on CD)



Stenhammar
Excelsior!
Symphony no. 2
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Jarvi
(on CD)



These Stenhammar works are growing on me! Especially the Serenade.