What are you listening 2 now?

[Madiel]

Another one of those French collaborative compositions, a Homage to Bach by Roussel, Casella, Poulenc, Malipiero and Honegger.

I only found one pianist that seems to have done the complete set of 5 pieces, Pascal Godart. He doesn't actually play them in what I think is the published order, but if there's no alternative...

[Luke]

A minor masterpiece of a recording, this. 85 minutes of off-the-beaten-path Kancheli. First there's the very unlikely 33 Miniatures for Piano, a collection of very short piano pieces from plays and movies covering over 30 years of activity. Only 10 pieces exceed 2 minutes in length. Aphoristic they undoubtedly are, but very evocative, in turns sarcastic, melancholy, languid, romantic. An hour passes as if it was half as long.

The disc is completed by a splendid collection of songs titled 12 miniatures for Voice and Piano (a flute sometimes joins them). Sung in Georgian. No original texts, but a german translation is provided. That's of no help whatsoever, but I can't say I missed reading the texts. The songs are obviously short ballads, so one can imagine what they're about : love, nature, longing, etc. Superb singing from soprano Madina Karbeli. Sensitive playing from Ms. Sepashvili, on a great sounding Fazioli instrument.  3.52$ new on Amazon.com.

ECM - who have released so many great Kancheli discs - brought out this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Giya-Kancheli-Themes-Songbook-Gija/dp/B003T2OX8G/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=2A6EQC64ERHEU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ai1wJAxrWqLOxl5AlWOHlxzvU4snXMp1seYNkGRdP3Bifuo5VRo5kuRYrC5byhj2_12ui9HSHFhPchHe28Tfge0gyYSazKv7zICh8j9Ro2I.hNKOBSBobI3zXJskckz3UqCY89kIPZjNR1O1xTcJ-Uc&dib_tag=se&keywords=Kancheli+kremer&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1731753014&sprefix=kancheli+kremer%2Caps%2C329&sr=8-3 a few years ago, under the title Themes from the Songbook. It is improvisations by a trio including Gidon Kremer and the great bandoneonista Dino Saluzzi on the book which contains the 33 tunes you describe. They also facilitated the sale of the book itself, which is how I came to have a copy myself. As an admirer of many of Kancheli's pieces I was bound to get myself a copy, although the music it contains is only part of the equation that makes his orchestral works so powerful.

[Madiel]

Poulenc: Improvisations 1 to 10

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

When it rains, it pours.... Right after Enrico Baiano excellent recording of Bach's Toccatas follows Christophe Rousset. As I have established a while ago, Rousset has outgrown his crazy streaks from his middle period. Which bodes well for the creative production of his later years (he is now 63).

MY favourites sofar are Menno van Delft (Brilliant), Léon Berben (Ramée, coupled with the organ toccatas) and Enrico Baiano (an indispensable Italianate interpretation on Da Vinci).

It's early days for comparisons. But definitely a notable interpretation, not heavy but swift (Rousset doesn't show much tendency of slowing down despite his advancing years) and quite mercurial, sparkly. Rousset is brilliant as ever, but does it stick? Time will tell. 

As of now, I like Peiter Dirksen and Suzuki.

[Mandryka]

A few years ago, I attended a concert by Cyprien Katsaris in Odesa. Mozart's 21st Concerto and Beethoven's 3rd, with the latter being particularly successful. However, before the main program, there were about 10 minutes of something indescribable — I don't recall how it was labeled in the program. Katsaris played a bizarre medley of fragments from operas, symphonies, sonatas, and who knows what else, all performed with bravura and speed. It would have fit perfectly during an intermission at a circus show. It was quite bewildering, but later I decided that the artist simply needed to warm up his fingers and hadn't had time to do so before the concert. At the end of the concert Katsaris played a lovely rendition of Ukrainian popular song.

I've started to listen to his D960. There's a joy in it, it's radiant with joy and energy.

[Que]

Cannot get enough of this music and this performance....

[Harry]

Albert Moeschinger (1897–1985).

String Quartets.
Trauermusik für Frau Hanny Bürgi.
Razumovsky Quartet.
WPR.
Recorded: 2021 at Radio Studio Zürich, Switzerland.

[Traverso]

Bach

CD 1

Die Brandenburgische Konzerte 1-2 & 4

I still have the LP box with the complete facsimile score.

 

[Traverso]

Bach

I will listen to all the Bach Organ Works again in the coming weeks in the performances with Bram Beekman .

  Vol.1 CD 1

[André]

A concert performance of Mozart's Requiem, from 1995 (not the same as the EMI recording). From our own late Uffeviking's private collection. Lis deeply admired the conductor (so do I - sometimes). It is excruciatingly low, with end of phrases (sometimes single syllables) pulled out like taffy to numbing effect. I like myself a moderately paced Requiem (ca 50-55 minutes), but I sometimes like a fast-paced ride (Currentzis a particular favourite among those). Anything over 60 minutes has to have something damn good for me to enjoy it. At 73 minutes this monstrosity is for Celibidache cultists. RIP, Lis.😘

[ritter]

Piano music of Roger Sessions, played by Barry David Salween.

[AnotherSpin]

ECM - who have released so many great Kancheli discs - brought out this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Giya-Kancheli-Themes-Songbook-Gija/dp/B003T2OX8G/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=2A6EQC64ERHEU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ai1wJAxrWqLOxl5AlWOHlxzvU4snXMp1seYNkGRdP3Bifuo5VRo5kuRYrC5byhj2_12ui9HSHFhPchHe28Tfge0gyYSazKv7zICh8j9Ro2I.hNKOBSBobI3zXJskckz3UqCY89kIPZjNR1O1xTcJ-Uc&dib_tag=se&keywords=Kancheli+kremer&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1731753014&sprefix=kancheli+kremer%2Caps%2C329&sr=8-3 a few years ago, under the title Themes from the Songbook. It is improvisations by a trio including Gidon Kremer and the great bandoneonista Dino Saluzzi on the book which contains the 33 tunes you describe. They also facilitated the sale of the book itself, which is how I came to have a copy myself. As an admirer of many of Kancheli's pieces I was bound to get myself a copy, although the music it contains is only part of the equation that makes his orchestral works so powerful.

Thank you, @Luke, for the recommendation. A wonderful album with airy, dreamy music. It evokes memories of my journeys in Georgia, a marvelous country. While paying tribute to the remarkable composer Giya Kancheli, I would like to note that the Georgian music that left the strongest impression on me is the male polyphonic choral singing, a tradition that dates back to ancient times. Among Georgians, this tradition is highly developed, and it's not surprising if, in the evening, you suddenly hear beautiful singing in a city eatery — new Kakhetian wine and incredibly delicious khinkali greatly contribute to the singing mood. I've witnessed it myself. What does it resemble? Perhaps it can be compared to Corsican polyphony singing.

[AnotherSpin]

By the way, Georgia adopted Christianity as its official state religion in the early 4th century AD, slightly earlier than the Roman Empire, thanks to the efforts of Saint Nino. Today, Georgia is partially occupied by Russians and their proxies.

[Lisztianwagner]

Franz Liszt
Deux légendes, S. 175
Impromptu, S. 191
Polonaises, S. 223

Pianist: Leslie Howard

[Mandryka]

Cannot get enough of this music and this performance....

I also think that the Würtemberg sonatas are impressive music.

[Traverso]

Strauss

Don Quixote

The wandering knight, most of us are sitting by the warm stove 

[André]

Strauss

Don Quixote

The wandering knight, most of us are sitting by the warm stove 

Not an unconditional fan of HvK's Strauss, but in this set the BP's playing is beyond gorgeous and Karajan lets them weave their spell without interfering.

[VonStupp]

Heitor Villa-Lobos
Symphony 6
Symphony 7
São Paulo SO - Isaac Karabtchevsky

I am finding V-L's symphonies, much like his Piano Concertos, easy and pleasurable to listen to, but difficult to love.

On the other hand, with this recording, I learned about milimetrazação, an unusual composing technique. Something I could try with my students, perhaps.
VS

[André]

Korstick is the man to bring these pieces into focus without distorting them. Clear, lucid, firmly voiced pianism and a good feeling for atmosphere.

[Roasted Swan]

Heitor Villa-Lobos
Symphony 6
Symphony 7
São Paulo SO - Isaac Karabtchevsky

I am finding V-L's symphonies, much like his Piano Concertos, easy and pleasurable to listen to, but difficult to love.

On the other hand, with this recording, I learned about milimetrazação, an unusual composing technique. Something I could try with my students, perhaps.
VS

to the bolded - me too!