What are you listening 2 now?

[Iota]

FWIW, Britten's SQs (esp. the Nos. 1-3) are some of my favorite chamber works from any composer ... Exquisite stuff.

Indeed! For me they are desert island works.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Vincent Persichetti: Symphonies Nos. 3, 7 ("Liturgical"), and 4.  David Alan Miller/Albany Symphony Orchestra.

[JBS]

CD 2
An all Beethoven program:

Piano Concerto 3 in c minor
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Vaclav Neumann conductor
Recorded in Prague, 17 December 1979

Piano Concerto 4 in G major
Orchestra of the Wiener Musikverein
Martin Turnovsky conductor
Recorded in Vienna, October 6/7, 1963

Piano Sonata 27 in e minor, Opus 90
Recorded in New York City, 1964 [month and day not listed]

[Linz]

Ludwig van Beethoven Eugen Jochum Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Berliner Philharmoniker CD3
Symphony No.5 in C minor, op.67, Symphonieorchester Bayerischen Rundfunks
Symphony No 6 in F Major "Pastoral" op. 68, Berliner Philharmoniker

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Paul Creston: Dance Overture and Bloch, E.: Evocations. Lithuanian National Philharmonic Orchestra/David Amos. 

Surprisingly nice performance.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Before dinner --- Koechlin Le buisson ardent, Parts I & II

[Symphonic Addict]

Sternefeld: Symphony No. 1

One of the greatest Belgian symphonies in my view, which should be better known. Powerful stuff.

[JBS]

CD 3 (out of 4)


No. 3 in C Op 52
No. 5 in E Flat Op 82

[André]

Curious how people react differently to music, isn't it? I find the Cantata simply boring, the Mass leaves me too indifferent, but I consider Les Noces one of the greatest compositions by Stravinsky (and of all time by anyone, if you press me).

Good day to you, André! 

Good evening, Rafael !

I know that Noces has admirers at GMG. I just react negatively to its particular sound world, which I find intensely irritating. I happen to have another version of the piece and have the same feeling when I play the cd. It's a filler for something much more rewarding. Sometimes I let it play but most of the time I skip it.

[André]

I shall indeed. I've known Britten since I was a chorister, perhaps my first 'modern' composer. Yet, his music for instruments and instrumental ensembles have remained elusive for me.

VS

From this afternoon:



Hugo Alfvén
Bergakungen
Swedish RSO - Evgeny Svetlanov

A colorful, fantastical ballet score. It must be well liked, for I have seen it on GMG quite a bit.
VS

Svetlanov also recorded the best version I know of Alfven's second symphony. Both discs are gems.

[Karl Henning]

[Karl Henning]

I shall indeed. I've known Britten since I was a chorister, perhaps my first 'modern' composer. Yet, his music for instruments and instrumental ensembles have remained elusive for me.

VS

From this afternoon:



Hugo Alfvén
Bergakungen
Swedish RSO - Evgeny Svetlanov

A colorful, fantastical ballet score. It must be well liked, for I have seen it on GMG quite a bit.
VS

Digging your blog, buddy!

[Symphonic Addict]

Peterson-Berger: Symphony No. 2 'Sunnanfärd'

[Karl Henning]

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Mahler 9th




IMHO, Haitink's Mahler Concertgebouw cycle is still one of the great ones.

[brewski]

Respighi: Feste Romane (Enrique Batiz / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded 1992 in London). Sumptuous, with larger-than-life sound from Naxos.

[Cato]

An excellent performance on Friday night by The Cincinnati Symphony and the May Festival Chorus at the marvelous Music Hall: conducted by Ramon Tebar, who had a very impressive technique, at times mouthing the words of the libretto with the chorus.




This review is on target, including the quibble about the brass needing risers, as the chorus did outdo them for a few seconds now and then.


https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/05/18/verdi-s-requiem-a-powerful-opening-to-may-festival.html

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

I shall indeed. I've known Britten since I was a chorister, perhaps my first 'modern' composer. Yet, his music for instruments and instrumental ensembles have remained elusive for me.

VS

From this afternoon:



Hugo Alfvén
Bergakungen
Swedish RSO - Evgeny Svetlanov

A colorful, fantastical ballet score. It must be well liked, for I have seen it on GMG quite a bit.
VS

Ah, so you have a long history with Britten's music. That is lovely to read and as a chorister nonetheless. Very cool! One of my favorite Britten choral works is Christ's Nativity, but it's also a work that seldom gets mentioned in the same breath as works like A Boy Was Born, Rejoice in the Lamb or Hymn to St Cecilia. One of the most moving moments in all Britten, for me, is the New prince, new pomp movement from Christ's Nativity:

Anyway, I hope you find a way into the chamber music. There really are some incredible works to be found in this part of his oeuvre. As a suggestion, I recommend listening to the last movement of the 2nd SQ several times. It is incredibly moving to me.

P. S. That is a wonderful Alfvén piece. I haven't listened to in ages. I might have to plan a revisit at some point. So much music, so little time.

[Karl Henning]

An excellent performance on Friday night by The Cincinnati Symphony and the May Festival Chorus at the marvelous Music Hall: conducted by Ramon Tebar, who had a very impressive technique, at times mouthing the words of the libretto with the chorus.




This review is on target, including the quibble about the brass needing risers, as the chorus did outdo them for a few seconds now and then.


https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/05/18/verdi-s-requiem-a-powerful-opening-to-may-festival.html

Interesting!
The next Charles River Wind Ensemble concert features a piece on which a chorus collaborates, and the question of balance will be most interesting. 

[Symphonic Addict]

Kinsella: Symphony No. 3 'Joie de vibre'

Glad I revisited this symphony. The influence of Sibelius hovers here and there, although not overtly obvious. It reaches some breathtaking climaxes that grab with intensity.