What are you listening 2 now?

[Harry]

Charles-François Gounod (1818–1893).

Symphony No. 1 (completed by 1855).
Symphony No. 2 (completed by 1856).

Iceland Symphony Orchestra. Yan Pascal Tortelier.
Recording venue Eldborg, Harpa, Reykjavík, Iceland; 30 April and 2–4 May 2018.

These works are not often recorded, while they are every bit as good as say Bizet's symphony. They are classical in form very much in the line with Mendelssohn, and even some Schubert as well, yet they feel as from a much later date. In the Scherzo from the second symphony one gets an almost literal quote from Beethoven, a remoulding as it were, great fun though. Excellent music, SOTA sound, and a fine interpretation to boot.

[foxandpeng]

And the same to you dear friend, may it be a quiet life, without pain, rejoicing in the bliss of nature, and having a decent stack of fine malts.

You know me well, sir. I wish you similar pleasures and much serenity in the year ahead!!!!

I look forward to your posts and continuing to benefit from your wisdom 😊

[Que]

It seems I missed two volumes of Telemann "wind overtures" on CPO before! Though I noticed not all of these pieces for wind ensemble were actually named "overture". Performances are wonderful.

[Harry]

You know me well, sir. I wish you similar pleasures and much serenity in the year ahead!!!!

I look forward to your posts and continuing to benefit from your wisdom 😊

Idem ditto, you may be sure of that!

[Harry]

Dag Wiren.
Orchestral works.
See back cover for details.
Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Rumon Gamba.
Recorded: 2018 at the Eldborg, Harpa, Reykjavik, Iceland.

Entertaining and delightful music, the compositions are marked by charm, and witty ideas. Powerful and extremely concise rhythms in the Third Symphony, A Serenade quite light on its feet, a Divertimento that shows Wiren admiration for the French style, and so on, music full of surprises and is hard to get away from, such is the addiction level. One gets added, SOTA sound and ditto Performance. Wiren keeps on fascinating me, since I bought the CPO cycle, but make no mistake, this particular interpretation needs close attention too.

[Traverso]

Bach

Phoebus & Pan • Cantata  BWV 213

[ChamberNut]

Now listening to my favourite disc (actually two!) for Bacewicz music in my collection.

Just superb all around!

[Hitch]

Prokofiev - Scythian Suite, Op. 20
Chicago SO/Abbado
DG

Thoroughly enjoyable. Abbado and Prokofiev are a good pairing. The conductor gets the most out of the rich orchestration and stirring rhythms. The memorable album cover is a bonus and adds to the feeling that the recording should find a home in many collections.

[Linz]

Antonin Dvorak Cello Concerto in B minor op. 104
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra, Mstislav Rostropovich, Cello, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan

[ChamberNut]

Antonin Dvorak Cello Concerto in B minor op. 104
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra, Mstislav Rostropovich, Cello, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan

That's a great recording @Linz

[Traverso]

Bach

I can't remember that I waited so eagerly for the delivery of this box with the vocal works of Bach.
Finally the box is now on the table in front of me and it is like a boy's dream come true.
No delay and hopla to the first recording.

[hopefullytrusting]

Dvorak's Piano Concerto played by Gulsin Onay and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra under Georg Fritsch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3RekgekDhg

Dvorak's Violin Concerto played by Kristine Balanas and the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra under Guntis Kuzma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qZmQkyLYIA

Dvorak's Cello Concerto played by Anastasia Kobekina with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zurich under Paavo Jarvi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBFeeOt_SGY

[Florestan]

An eminently tuneful and enjoyable zarzuela. The 1951 mono sound is quite serviceable but a modern recording is badly needed yet apparently missing. 



Wonderful stuff. Haydn may have not written great operas but he certainly wrote some great operatic music, as witnessed by this recording. Highly recommended.



A strong contender for the best SD on record.



A barbaric invasion of May breezes, Spring chirping birds and Christmas bells.

[Number Six]

Wagner: Overtures and Preludes
Böhm, Vienna

[Number Six]

Oof, the Tannhäuser Overture is one of my favorite pieces of music.

[prémont]

Bach

I can't remember that I waited so eagerly for the delivery of this box with the vocal works of Bach.
Finally the box is now on the table in front of me and it is like a boy's dream come true.
No delay and hopla to the first recording.

Congratulations. I'm sure you are going to enjoy it.

[Spotted Horses]

I managed to find a recording of the 7th, quite thorny.

On repeat listen, I find this work increasingly interesting.

[Traverso]

Congratulations. I'm sure you are going to enjoy it.

I sure am...

[Traverso]

Bach

These last few days I have been restless ,thinking about these Bach cantatas, and now finally they are here at my home and the party may begin. Is there music that speaks more to the heart? Perhaps, but they take a very special place in my life, moving in what they express and nourishing through the nobility that is audible in every cantata and enriches my life every time. Of course, there are his many organ works, lots of graceful music for the harpsichord. Bach, my beloved Bach, I feel like a king when I am included in a sound decor that always arouses new joy, but enough, open now that box and start listening to this spiritual pelgrimage from a great mind.

[André]

Back cover from this Antes disc (the front cover doesn't reveal anything but the composer's name).

4 concertos from the period 2003-2005 when the composer was entering his fifties.

The flute concerto starts abruptly but soon settles into a true dialogue with some enchanting contributions from the harp and vibraphone (the only instruments apart from the strings).

Cantus is a short chamber piece (flute, oboe, bassoon and strings). It's a reflective, mournful piece. It reminded me at times of Rautavaara's Cantus Arcticus (lots of bird sounds).

Concerto celatus ('hidden concerto) is a cello and orchestra work. Solo cello, strings, harp and percussion. Eventful but short. Marius Järvi is distantly related to the other Järvis (Neeme is his great-uncle).

The clarinet concerto exploits the high register of the instrument a lot. The notes say that it « wears the mark of expressionist drama ». Quite so. I found it wearying for a lot of its duration. The last, quiet, section is very fine. Our old friend the Dies irae theme hovers over a background of 'ticking of time' (so say the notes, quite appropriately).

Altogether, a very fine conspectus of the composer's concertante works. A lot of this music sounds bleak and mournful. Not quite desolate, but there is nothing to cheer about either. I guess the composer's life in a nordic country abutting the USSR/Russia must not have been conducing to joyful or serene feelings.