What are you listening 2 now?

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I'm in. High time for a second listen!

Sweet! Enjoy my friend!

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Now playing Szymanowski Symphony No. 3, Op. 27 "Song of the Night"



I completely forgot about this CD in my collection (one of the great advantages to having a large collection). This CD release came in one of those beautiful hardback digibook designs. DG didn't do this too often. Anyway, this was an important release in the Szymanowski discography in that Boulez had just discovered the music of this composer. This recording was issued in 2010 and Boulez passed away in 2016. Just imagine if he had recorded more of this composer's music? I can imagine him recording the 2nd VC, Harnasie and perhaps the 4th symphony (aka Symphonie concertante). Also works like Stabat Mater, Litany to the Virgin Mary and maybe the opera Król Roger. Oh what might have been!

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Britten The Rape of Lucretia, Op. 37



Another recording I forgot about that I ran across today (and it was still sealed!). So I ripped to my external SSD and now having a listen. I haven't listened to this opera in ages. This is one of Britten's more controversial works and, by today's standards, it's difficult to hear why, but here is what it's about --- taken from the Britten-Pears website:

The story is set in Rome in 500BC. Lucretia, the wife of the Roman general Collatinus, is assaulted at home by the prince Tarquinius while her husband is away. The following day, Lucretia – traumatised and destroyed by what has happened to her – commits suicide. The action is framed by two choruses, who are looking back from a later era.

[brewski]

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (Ormandy/Philadelphia). Of the probably hundreds of recordings available of this piece, a very fine version, with excellent sound considering the 1964 recording.

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Now playing Arnold Symphony No. 3, Op. 63

[Symphonic Addict]

Henze: Heliogabalus imperator and Telemanniana

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Henze: Heliogabalus imperator and Telemanniana

This is the most of one composer I've seen you listen to in a long time. Not saying that this is good or bad, just making an observation as I know you're someone who likes a lot of variety in their listening.

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Now playing Penderecki Clarinet Quartet

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Now playing Pärt Silouans Song

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Last work for the night --- Penderecki Symphony No. 8, "Lieder Vergänglichkeit"

[Symphonic Addict]

This is the most of one composer I've seen you listen to in a long time. Not saying that this is good or bad, just making an observation as I know you're someone who likes a lot of variety in their listening.

Well, I did something similar with Saint-Saëns prior to Henze. And yes, variety is the salt of my musical habits, hence I listen to different works (in this case, with orchestra or ensemble that are not symphonies or proper concertos) by a composer in question, for instance. I think it's necessary to me to have an order of sorts to dive into composers' outputs. Too much randomness doesn't work all the time for me.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Well, I did something similar with Saint-Saëns prior to Henze. And yes, variety is the salt of my musical habits, hence I listen to different works (in this case, with orchestra or ensemble that are not symphonies or proper concertos) by a composer in question, for instance. I think it's necessary to me to have an order of sorts to dive into composers' outputs. Too much randomness doesn't work all the time for me.

Yes, having a structure of some kind, especially when doing a deeper dive into a composer's oeuvre is always a good thing or, at least, I'm speaking from my own experience.

Have you got to Henze's SQs yet? I recall enjoying these works, but, as I mentioned previously, I'm long overdue for a Henze-a-thon.

[Que]

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (Ormandy/Philadelphia). Of the probably hundreds of recordings available of this piece, a very fine version, with excellent sound considering the 1964 recording.

How far are you into the set?   


Morning listening:

[steve ridgway]

Rachmaninoff - Concerto No. 2

Van Cliburn was kept busy but the overall effect with the orchestra was warm and comforting.

[AnotherSpin]

Have you heard Rubsam? And Vartolo?

By the way, about that Vartolo version I had on again today morning. What's your take on the vocal bit in Variatio 30?

[steve ridgway]

Takemitsu - Twill By Twilight

[steve ridgway]

Berio - Sequenza VII for oboe.

[Harry]

Johann Joseph Fux.
Partita a 3.
Ars Antiqua Austria, Gunar Letzbor.
Recorded: 2010, Castello di Ivanka pri Dunaji, Slovacchia.

Fux is characterized not only by its lightness of invention but also by its boldness of harmony and homophonic, song-like settings. Sophisticated and spirited music! Melancholy in two minutes, but soothing nevertheless. One has to admire the composers skill in putting together such fine music, a concentrated bubble of flowing melodies, perfectly fitting into Fux's geniusness. And also getting a superb performance and ditto sound. It seems that this CD is already OOP. Happy those who own it.

[Que]

A semi-random pick on Spotify - was looking for some unfamiliar organ music:



Late Baroque-Transitional style. Homilius was a prominent Bach pupil.

Thomas Kientz plays an Ahrend organ in retro-style after Silbermann. Since Homilius played the grand Silbermann organ at the Frauenkirche in Dresden, that seems appropriate. Though I'm not sure if the same applies to the colour it has been painted in... 

https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2018/Apr/Homilius_organ_153.htm

[Que]

It seems that this CD is already OOP. Happy those who own it.

But nobody needs CDs anymore!