What are you listening 2 now?

[Cato]

I found this on YouTube: Borenstein's If You Will It, It Is No Dream.

[VonStupp]

Heitor Villa-Lobos
Missa São Sebastião
Bendita Sabedoria
Magnificat-Alleluia
Missa Sacra: Seven Motets
Corydon Orchestra & Singers - Matthew Best

Finally have some time off of work today, although listening will be divided amongst going to the doctor and getting my automobile serviced.

Starting in with the Palestrinian side of Villa-Lobos.
VS

[Harry]

A New Release

A Monk's Life.
See back cover for details.
The Brabant Ensemble, Stephen Rice.
Recorded in the Westminster Chapel of Harcourt Hill campus, Oxford Brookes University, on 20–22 July 2023.
Front illustration: Scenes from the life of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux by the Master of St Severin (1485–1515)

The first scoring points for the Brabant ensemble is that they do not use countertenors, at least not on the present CD. Sopranos and Female altos, that's the ticket. It sounds bigger and grander this way, and less authentic to coin a phrase. Depends on your definition of authentic I guess. A Monk' life is a musical depiction of what will be his musical life and what to expect, like "entering the monastic Life" to "Dead and Reception into Heaven". The music serves its purpose, and it is well done by this ensemble. The choir is a bit to large for me, but this said, I like what I hear. If you found the previous release of them good, this one will be in the same vein. Excellent and detailed recording.

[Harry]

Vladimir Ashkenazy is a sure bet for everything!


I have never heard of Nimrod Borenstein: if he has been mentioned here at GMG, I missed it!


https://www.nimrod-borenstein.com/biography


Speaking of Vladimir Ashkenazy, I have been listening to this Scriabin/Nemtin epic:

You missed both my rave reviews....fie  

[Cato]

You missed both my rave reviews....fie  

Oy!  3 Hail Mary's, 3 Our Father's, and a bunch of Glory Be's! 😇😇😇

I will search for them!

[Traverso]

Purcell


Purcell, one of the truly greats who, to my taste, is too crushed in admiration by all the symphonic weight of later centuries. No personal diary that captures the era in sound. The stylized dance forms, however, do refer to a bygone era where this music could, by its very nature, delight people or linger in loss and sorrow. Nowhere blown up to enormous means but modest in tone. "Unterhaltungs musik" of the very best kind.


CD 1

 

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Stoika Milanova. Sounds like Oistrakh a little. Not romantic much and likable music. Great rhythm. Poor recording sound. Love the cover art.

[Harry]

Purcell


Purcell, one of the truly greats who, to my taste, is too crushed in admiration by all the symphonic weight of later centuries. No personal diary that captures the era in sound. The stylized dance forms, however, do refer to a bygone era where this music could, by its very nature, delight people or linger in loss and sorrow. Nowhere blown up to enormous means but modest in tone. "Unterhaltungs musik" of the very best kind.


CD 1

 

I totally agree with you on this. And this recording is indeed a balm for ones ears.

[vandermolen]

My wife's cousin lives and works in Valencia. Fortunately, he wasn't affected either by this tragedy.

Pleased to hear that.

[vandermolen]

William Alwyn: Symphony 1 LSO Hickox (Chandos CD)
Hickox's is definitely my favourite version of Alwyn's 1st Symphony (there are at least four versions on CD AFAIK - Alwyn, Hickox, Lloyd Jones and Barbirolli). For No.2 Alwyn's Lyrita recording is my favourite (No. 2 was Alwyn's own favourite of his symphonies).

[Traverso]

I totally agree with you on this. And this recording is indeed a balm for ones ears.

I presume that you have big ones.....

[Traverso]

Richard Strauss

I just received these recordings, which have escaped my attention for years.Until now I was only aware of his analog and digital recordings (I have both) for DG and some for Decca.
I have high expectations of these recordings.
To start with "Ein Heldenleben"

[Harry]

I presume that you have big ones.....

Correct  

[Linz]

Mendelssohn Symphony No. 5 in D major "Reformation" Heidelberg Sinfoniker, Thomas Fey

[Spotted Horses]

I felt compelled to listen to Martinu's Piano Quintet No 2 for a second time this morning. It makes an equally strong impression. The performance by the Kocian Quartet+ I feel no temptation to look for an alternative.



Also previewed Martinu's "Les Fresques" in the Mackerras set. Very satisfying. I think I will have to plunk down the $9.19 Qobuz is asking for the FLAC download of the 4CD set.

[Spotted Horses]

Mendelssohn Symphony No. 5 in D major "Reformation" Heidelberg Sinfoniker, Thomas Fey

Another reminder of the sad loss of Michael Fey before the completion of his Haydn Symphony Cycle.

[Harry]

"Enigma Fortuna".
Antonio Zacara da Teramo. (1355-1416)
Complete Works.
CD 1, Vol.1 sacred music.
La Fonte Musica, Michele Pasotti.
Francesca Cassinari & Alena Dantcheva, Sopranos. Elena Carzaniga Alto. Massimo Altieri & Gianluca Ferrarini Tenors
Mauro Borgioni Baritone. Matteo Bellotto Bass. Roberto Rilievi, Tenor (plain chant)
RECORDED: In Pieve di san Zaccaria, Rocca Susella (Pv), Italy between july 2017 and october 2018.

Due to @Que & @Mandryka enthusiasm I started listening to the first disc and have to admit, this is really good. When I started with this set some time ago, it felt like a bad meal, but I guess I had a bad day or a foul mood. Anyways corrected hereby, it is on all counts a wonderful production well performed and recorded. The music is extraordinary well sung, and I noticed how much care has gone into recording this. You hear that in everything. The production values are superb. And I might add that the sound is nearly SOTA. One CD done, 3 to go, which is something I look forward too. I leave the intellectual explanation to others who are far better in that discipline  

[Linz]

Bruckner Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, 2005 'Neufassung' reconstructed from the 1873-1876-1877-1889 editions. Ed. Peter Jan Marthe, European Philharmonic Orchestra, Peter Jan Marthé

[Lisztianwagner]

Johannes Brahms
Intermezzi, Op.117
6 Klavierstücke , Op. 118
4 Klavierstücke, Op. 119

Pianist: Julius Katchen

[Que]

Yes dear Que I have, fortunately!

There is a special charm to exploring one's own collection!