What are you listening 2 now?

[Irons]

Hans Pfitzner: Violin Concerto.

[Madiel]

Today is Dvorak day around here.



A rather nice collection, mostly of shorter works including some that are rarely recorded (this might the only recording of the 7 Interludes). I agree with the review that says the Nocturne might be a bit too fast and not 'nocturnal' enough, but all of the dances go quite well.



Jarvi's version of "Carnival" is pretty frenetic, I can't remember whether the recording I own is quite that zippy. One of the best things here is the orchestral version of the Biblical Songs (it doesn't state whose orchestration is used for songs 6-10, Dvorak only orchestrated the first 5), where Jarvi's tendency to be lively is a definite asset. A slow performance of the work can drag terribly.

[AnotherSpin]

Remember that Dante and Balzac called their great works "Comedy".

From Wikipedia: "The term [comedy] originated in ancient Greece: In Athenian democracy, the public opinion of voters was influenced by political satire performed by comic poets in theaters".

[Florestan]

How could you notice that if you've never listened to Wagner?

Who said I've never listened to Wagner?

[Harry]

Michel Corrette. 1707-1795.
Les Delices de la Solitude.
Les Voix Humaines.
Recorded, 2003, The Church of St. Augustin de Mirabel, Quebec.

Absolutely delightful music. And well recorded too! Recommended.

[AnotherSpin]

Who said I've never listened to Wagner?

You continually report that you hate Wagner. Listening to something you hate? What for? It wont harm your health?

[Papy Oli]

Good morning all,

Mozart to kick off the day : Sonata for 2 Pianos in D Major K.448 (Lupu & Perahia)

[Madiel]

You continually report that you hate Wagner. Listening to something you hate? What for? It wont harm your health?

You seem a little confused about cause and effect. One must listen to something at least once in order to reach the conclusion that one hates it.

[ritter]

I had listened to the Boulez Douze Notations from this recent purchase, but now I am listening to the whole programme:



A most interesting traversal of 20th century piano music, released in 2008 and dedicated to the memory of the great Claude Helffer, ranging from early Schoenberg all the way to the (then) very new (Betsy Jolas). Very eloquent playing by Roger Muraro.

[Madiel]

Mozart: Symphony no.23 in D



I'm kind of fascinated by these little overture-symphonies, often with the movements run together. I was vaguely aware that terms like "symphony" were a lot more flexible in that period of history, but around 1772/3 Mozart wrote a huge number of symphonies and there are 'regular' large ones and these smaller ones sitting side-by-side in his output. There are works approaching 20 minutes long (with a couple of even bigger ones soon to appear) and then ones that are 7-8 minutes.

[Traverso]

I suspect part of the reason is that a lot of people are like me: not knowing your box exists (I had never seen it before you posted it yesterday) and having this budget box.



Are the contents the same?

These are the later digital recordings.In the edition I just bought are the older analoge ones .New remastered and a Blu ray.

The set includes Karajans complete Strauss analogue recordings (DG and Decca) and his first Strauss digital recording (Eine Alpensinfonie). There is a classic opera recording from the 1960s: Der Rosenkavalier, starring Lisa della Casa, Sena Jurinac and Hilde Güden.

these digital recordings all have something very special to offer, these are the more famous ones, and upon these Karajan created his legacy as a Strauss conductor. This lavish, LP-sized box is simply a treasure trove of remembrances, photographs, and world-class performances. The famous Decca/Vienna Philharmonic disc of tone poems is here, along with early recordings from the Concertgebouw and a live 1960 Der Rosenkavalier. Also present is the digital Alpine Symphony featured in the digital box (which also duplicates the two concertos).

[Florestan]

You continually report that you hate Wagner. Listening to something you hate? What for? It wont harm your health?

Firstly, I don't hate Wagner, I simply dislike his music (and its underlying aesthetics/philosophy). Secondly, how do you think I formed my opinion about it if not by having listening to it? Thirdly, once my opinion was formed (and repeatedly confirmed), I indeed felt no need to listen to it again. FYI, I've listened to complete recordings of Tannhauser, Tristan and Isolde, Lohengrin, The Master Singers of Nuremberg and Parsifal and I've seen The Flying Dutchman live twice.

[Madiel]

Florent Schmitt: La Tragédie de Salomé (1910 version)



My first listen to anything by Schmitt as far as I know and whoa, this is really good. Rich, colourful orchestration, full of interest. And the recording (Martinon, 1972) sounds excellent.

I feel weirdly relieved on Schmitt's behalf that this was not something he actually composed for the Ballets Russes, because premiering straight after Debussy's Jeux and Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring would have been a pretty unfortunate situation. He wrote it in 1907 and then did a much shorter version in 1910, which is what the Ballets Russes used in 1913.

One of the best discoveries of the box thus far.

[AnotherSpin]

You seem a little confused about cause and effect. One must listen to something at least once in order to reach the conclusion that one hates it.

That's right. But that wouldn't explain why a person who hates something would constantly notify others and themselves about it. Why? Insecurity? Some kind of problem?

[AnotherSpin]

Firstly, I don't hate Wagner, I simply dislike his music (and its underlying aesthetics/philosophy). Secondly, how do you think I formed my opinion about it if not by having listening to it? Thirdly, once my opinion was formed (and repeatedly confirmed), I indeed felt no need to listen to it again. FYI, I've listened to complete recordings of Tannhauser, Tristan and Isolde, Lohengrin, The Master Singers of Nuremberg and Parsifal and I've seen The Flying Dutchman live twice.

You've never been through Der Ring? Even once? Shocking confession!

Seriously, circumstances change and people change with them. Our judgements aren't permanent, we can hardly believe they're carved in stone. Do yourself a favour, try it sometime.

[Que]

"The Art of the Fugue in the 17th century" is title of this disc with ricercars by Alessandro Poglietti and a few pieces by contemporary composers Georg Reutter and Nicolaus Adam Strunck (who??). An obviously nudge to Bach and the interesting thing about the music is that it shows the bridge between Frescobaldi, allegedly Poglietti's teacher, and the German tradition. "Interesting" is the key word here, though the beautiful rich sound of the harpsichord after Italian examples and the excellent sound are additional bonusses.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-reviews/R2LGZC85TKLUJG/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00008WA74

[Florestan]

You've never been through Der Ring? Even once? Shocking confession!

Well, all the other operas I mentioned bored the hell out of me, so I promised myself never again to be within less than a mile from Wagner's music.

Seriously, circumstances change and people change with them. Our judgements aren't permanent, we can hardly believe they're carved in stone. Do yourself a favour, try it sometime. 

That is generally true but some particular circumstances never change. I'm afraid my aversion to everything Wagner is among those.

[Madiel]

Some of my judgements have lasted decades. Although it does turn out that I want to buy a Phillip Glass album once every 25-30 years (and I need to actually listen to my purchase, but it's slightly too late in the evening).

[Papy Oli]

Carried on to Schubert's Fantasia for Four Hands




then onto:

Mozart - Piano Concertos (Perahia again, English Chamber Orchestra)

#1...
then #2...
then # 3...
Now  #4...

[Madiel]

Dvorak: Love Songs, op.83



His revised version of 8 of the songs from Cypresses, more than 20 years later.