What are you listening 2 now?

[pjme]

Oh my goodness! Don't say that!

Indeed, when I was studying in Ghent Milton Glaser was my hero! And this was my bible...

[Harry]

Charles Villiers Stanford.
Symphonies Nr.1-7, Complete.

Symphony No. 1.
Ulster Orchestra, Vernon Handley.
Recorded at the Ulster Hall, Belfast, 1986-1991.

I think the symphonies of Stanford are amongst the most impressive in the English symphonic repertoire of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Their rich late-romantic style is imbued with a distinctive, and discernibly Irish flavour. You actually hear Irish folk music,and  authentic folk-tunes. When I bought them way back, 1993 I think, I immediately fell for the charm of this music. Still impressive recordings and excellent performances. The first disc of this box.

[Papy Oli]

Hello all,

Mozart
Piano Concerto #14
Perahia, English Chamber Orch.

[Papy Oli]

Mozart
Piano Concerto #15
Perahia, English Chamber Orch.

 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

The ones that have accommodation are usually known as 'Inns' PD.

That's what I had initially thought! lol

And I see that the server is struggling again today (at least in my area). 

PD

[Papy Oli]

Mozart
Piano Concerto #16
Perahia, English Chamber Orch.

 

[Papy Oli]

On it goes...

Mozart
Piano Concerto #17
Perahia, English Chamber Orch.


Saying this is a perfect background music to do house chores (as I am now) would be unfair given how gorgeous and brilliant these works are.

[Harry]

Ahmed Adnan Saygun.
Orchestral Works.
Symphony No.I & II.
Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Ari Rasilainen.
See for further details back cover.

When this music was released on CPO I bought it immediately. Saygun speaks a very powerful, ethnically inspired language, very colourful and energetic. Turkish and Western European musical forms mixed together. The result is truly captivating! All tonal and utterly expressive. it's certainly fascinating, and gives an unique insight into Sayguns sound spectrum. The sound is detailed, and the performance rousing, but very effective. Wonderful to return to this music, after so many years of absence.

[Traverso]

Buxtehude

A fine recording !

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Ahmed Adnan Saygun.
Orchestral Works.
Symphony No.I & II.
Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Ari Rasilainen.
See for further details back cover.

When this music was released on CPO I bought it immediately. Saygun speaks a very powerful, ethnically inspired language, very colourful and energetic. Turkish and Western European musical forms mixed together. The result is truly captivating! All tonal and utterly expressive. it's certainly fascinating, and gives an unique insight into Sayguns sound spectrum. The sound is detailed, and the performance rousing, but very effective. Wonderful to return to this music, after so many years of absence.

Thanks for mentioning this composer.  I remember someone writing about the composer here.  I found some of his music on youtube.

[Harry]

Pjotr Iljitsj Tchaikovsky.
Complete Symphonies.
No.5 in E minor, Opus 64.
LPO, Vladimir Jurowski.
Recorded in 2011, Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London.
Live recording.

And again confirmed, for me the best set ever recorded, so far. Superb performed and recorded, and for once the right tempi! Super detailed is another feature most important. All criteria are met for me.

[Cato]

Thanks to the 6 Great Choral Works topic:

[mahler10th]

Simpson - Symphony 3 (1963) - Dedicated to havergal Brian

This is one of those composers - I really can't make head nor tail of his stuff.  But I like it, it's got all sorts of colours and textures, drama, meditation and 'pools' of music.  I'll tell you what also, it is very modern.  I may take some time and listening to get a bigger picture, but this is a wee bit ahead of it's time methinks, so definitely worth getting to know better.

[VonStupp]

Julius Fučík
A Festival of Fučík
RSNO - Neeme Järvi

I didn't realize Fučík had so much music outside of the Florentiner March, here with concert overtures, concert waltzes, and concert marches. Surprised by the marches centered around the Mississippi River and Teddy Roosevelt, although I suppose Sousa was admired.

Great fun!
VS

[Harry]

Simpson - Symphony 3 (1963) - Dedicated to havergal Brian

This is one of those composers - I really can't make head nor tail of his stuff.  But I like it, it's got all sorts of colours and textures, drama, meditation and 'pools' of music.  I'll tell you what also, it is very modern.  I may take some time and listening to get a bigger picture, but this is a wee bit ahead of it's time methinks, so definitely worth getting to know better.

Good afternoon John.

When this was released a wee time ago, I bought the Symphonies on the basis of a SQ I had listen to. It intrigued me, and I was musically challenged as never before, it tickled all my senses, in an inviting way, and ended up buying all what was recorded on Hyperion and a few other labels. Hard to get into the music, yes, but once one connects the world opens in beautiful colours. You will get there no doubt. Its like with malt, never take a gulp you cannot swallow, but small doses will do the trick.

[Harry]

Julius Fučík
A Festival of Fučík
RSNO - Neeme Järvi

I didn't realize Fučík had so much music outside of the Florentiner March, here with concert overtures, concert waltzes, and concert marches. Surprised by the marches centered around the Mississippi River and Teddy Roosevelt, although I suppose Sousa was admired.

Great fun!
VS

O. yes, that's the stuff to go for. An marvelous recording, a great favourite of mine.

[mahler10th]

On it goes...
Mozart
Piano Concerto #17
Perahia, English Chamber Orch.
Saying this is a perfect background music to do house chores (as I am now) would be unfair given how gorgeous and brilliant these works are.

I use Rossini Overtures for that!

[Harry]

Jean Sibelius.
Symphony No.1 in E minor, Op. 39.
Symphony No.4 in A minor, Op. 63.
Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä.
Recorded: 2012 at at Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, USA.

Let the games begin, another set with complete recordings of all the Symphonies by one of the greatest composer that ever walked this earth. Slowly I work my way through some chosen complete sets, which is a interesting journey. Vänskä is an experience Sibelius conductor, and knows these works well. Great detail in the SOTA recording, and Vänskä is not missing any of them. Quite frankly this is a magnificent start of this set. The juxtaposition of No. 1 and 4 is a challenge too.
The set received awards such as Editor's Choice (Gramophone), Orchestral Choice (BBC Music Magazine), and Recording of the Month (Music Web International).
Osmo Vänskä has already been described as "our greatest living Sibelian" (The Sunday Times, UK), a reputation based in no small part on his two symphonic cycles released by BIS.

[Cato]

Simpson - Symphony 3 (1963) - Dedicated to havergal Brian

This is one of those composers - I really can't make head nor tail of his stuff.  But I like it, it's got all sorts of colours and textures, drama, meditation and 'pools' of music.  I'll tell you what also, it is very modern.  I may take some time and listening to get a bigger picture, but this is a wee bit ahead of it's time methinks, so definitely worth getting to know better.

Hello John of Scotland! 


Robert Simpson wrote two books on Bruckner, which I read when they were first published: excellent ideas and explanations!


Bruckner and the Symphony (1963).

The Essence of Bruckner: An Essay Towards the Understanding of his Music (1966).

He also admired Sibelius and Nielsen and wrote about them.

Knowing that he greatly admired such composers might be a key for listening to his works.

[DavidW]

Simpson - Symphony 3 (1963) - Dedicated to havergal Brian

This is one of those composers - I really can't make head nor tail of his stuff.  But I like it, it's got all sorts of colours and textures, drama, meditation and 'pools' of music.  I'll tell you what also, it is very modern.  I may take some time and listening to get a bigger picture, but this is a wee bit ahead of it's time methinks, so definitely worth getting to know better.

Try the Nielsen variations, they are on the same disc as the 11th symphony.