What are you listening 2 now?

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Been indulging in a bit of Tchaikovsky of late, continuing here...  the recording is quite good IMO, vivid and dramatic...

Have you heard his recording of The Nutcracker?  I had run across a copy of it used and was quite excited to play it; alas, it was played so fast that it took all of the magical joy out of it--for me anyway.  And I couldn't see real ballerinas being able to dance to it due to that reason.  Curious as to your reaction if you have heard it that is.  How do you find the tempi of his symphonic recordings?

Best,

PD

[j winter]

Tchaikovsky has a lot of well-kept secrets! Orchestral Suites 2 and 3, the Concert Fantasia...

Duly noted, I may have to do a Tchaikovsky deep dive shortly... I always like it, but for whatever reason I find I listen much more frequently to the classical era Germans/Austrians/etc.

At the moment, shifting gears a bit but not too much.  An old favorite, which may tempt me to blow out the speakers.... 

[j winter]

Have you heard his recording of The Nutcracker?  I had run across a copy of it used and was quite excited to play it; alas, it was played so fast that it took all of the magical joy out of it--for me anyway.  And I couldn't see real ballerinas being able to dance to it due to that reason.  Curious as to your reaction if you have heard it that is.  How do you find the tempi of his symphonic recordings?

Best,

PD

Sorry, I'm not familiar with his Nutcracker... As I was just saying above, I'm by no means an expert in this repertoire -- I found this 6th to be lively but not too fast (of course I like Mravinsky here, who tears through it with a vengeance... this is good, but not as exciting as that). 

Gergiev also recorded a set of the later symphonies with the Vienna Phil, which I haven't heard either -- perhaps his approach changed over time.  The Kirov 6th + R&J I have is from 1999.

[Brian]

Bit of a misleading title - "Latina" might have been better - since this is an album of Piazzolla, Montsalvatge, Falla, Villa-Lobos, Casals, Granados, and Albeniz. For viola fans 

[Florestan]

I'm pretty sure I have a disc or two of his solo piano music

A disc or two only??? His complete solo piano works (some 10 discs, either Postnikova or Lisitsa, the latter more complete than the former) are sheer delight! --- but full disclosure, I'm a sucker for romantic solo piano music. YMMV.

[Brian]

imho the best solo Tchaikovsky piano piece is the 10-minute "Dumka", so you can start there and see if you like it. The collection of 18 various salon pieces, dances, etc. in Opus 72 represents his most mature piano work (there's a single CD with Pletnev).

But honestly, the Postnikova and Lisitsa box sets are only like $25 now, so...you could jump straight in headfirst...neither are favorite artists of mine but for complete sets, those are the choices and they're very affordable.

[Karl Henning]

I finished off that Reiner/CSO album whilst grating beets, etc. with Lt. Kije and Glinka's Russian and Ludmila Overture.   

PD

Russian music while grating beets is perfect!

[Florestan]

Tchaikovsky has a lot of well-kept secrets! Orchestral Suites 2 and 3, the Concert Fantasia...

The SQs, Snegurochka, Valse-Scherzo, The Seasons, Children's Album...

[Florestan]

imho the best solo Tchaikovsky piano piece is the 10-minute "Dumka", so you can start there and see if you like it. The collection of 18 various salon pieces, dances, etc. in Opus 72 represents his most mature piano work (there's a single CD with Pletnev).

Six Pieces op. 51, man! Six Pieces op. 51!

But honestly, the Postnikova and Lisitsa box sets are only like $25 now, so...you could jump straight in headfirst..

Can't go wrong with anyone of these ladies! Just pick one and enjoy!

[Karl Henning]

CDs 28/29: quartets by "Papa" "Wolferl" & LvB

And, again:

"Papa"
Missa in tempore belli, Hob. XXII:9
Salve Regina, Hob. XXIIIb:2
Motteto "O cœlitum beati" Hob. XXIIIa:G 9

Tafelmusik '& al.
Weil

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Sorry, I'm not familiar with his Nutcracker... As I was just saying above, I'm by no means an expert in this repertoire -- I found this 6th to be lively but not too fast (of course I like Mravinsky here, who tears through it with a vengeance... this is good, but not as exciting as that). 

Gergiev also recorded a set of the later symphonies with the Vienna Phil, which I haven't heard either -- perhaps his approach changed over time.  The Kirov 6th + R&J I have is from 1999.

Thank you for your thoughts.  I've been wanting to get ahold of Mravinsky's Tchaikovsky recordings (on LP and/or CD); however, each time I run across a copy, they're scratched.  So it goes....I'll persevere!   

Best wishes,

PD

[bhodges]

Rewatching bits of Take Me to the World, last Sunday's 90th birthday tribute to Stephen Sondheim. Given that the show was all done remotely, I was a little skeptical (and there were some technical problems at the beginning), but once things got rolling, it was glorious.

It is worth the entire 2-1/2 hours just for "The Ladies Who Lunch" (from Company) with Christine Baranski, Audra MacDonald, and...Meryl Streep.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A92wZIvEUAw

--Bruce

[Florestan]

Sorry, I'm not familiar with his Nutcracker...

Whatever version you listen to, make sure it's the complete ballet. The two suites hardly do any justice to the whole thing. It' s like Peer Gynt suites  --- once you heard the whole Peer Gynt thing, you wouldn't hear anything else. 

[Que]

Landed today. Almost literally from the mailbox directly to the CD player.
[asin]B083XR8TSC[/asin]
Seems up to the usual Naive standard.

Looks good! 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Looks good! 

Glad that you are enjoying it.  They (Naïve) do come up with some striking covers....have absolutely nothing to do with the music but very artsy!   

PD

[Mahlerian]

Josquin: Missa Pange Lingua, Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi, Praeter Rerum Seriem, Ave Maria
Tallis Scholars


Schoenberg: String Quartet in D major, String Quartet in D minor Op. 7
Leipzig Quartet

[Florestan]

[JBS]

Looks good! 

It was, albeit interrupted by a phone call. I plan on a second listen before I go to bed tonight. I am totally unfamiliar with the musicians on this CD.
Meanwhile I'm now on
[asin]B00IUPNBW6[/asin]
Kk 31-48

[Todd]

One of the Qobuz hi-res freebies I grabbed.  The playing is pristine and clear, with a very fine Szymanowski Mythes serving as the anchor, though the Hahn miniature is probably the highest highlight.  Now I feel impelled to buy the duo's second release.

[steve ridgway]

I found a load of Xenakis and Stockhausen on archive.org yesterday, threw caution to the winds and downloaded it.

Starting now with Xenakis ‎– Oresteïa



It's actually rather good, dramatic and percussive, and the at times Pythonesque singing only adds to its originality.