What are you listening 2 now?

[Sergeant Rock]

The symphony is really good indeed. Nice discovery for me. I recall this particular CD being posted a few times for Korngold (I remember Sarge praising it ?).

Yes, it's my favorite recording of this symphony.

Sarge

[springrite]

Stockhausen: Aus Den Sieben Tagen. I love this one, it's like a better instrumented and more varied version of some of the weirdest early krautrock like Kluster or Limbus 4, or maybe one of the improvised Henry Cow concerts.

I was listening to this CD while driving from LA to SF in the 90's when some of the sounds from the music sounds way too much like something is dangerously wrong with the engine. I had to get off the freeway, stop and car, finish listening to the rest of music before resuming my trip!

[Papy Oli]

Korngold - Film Music (Sea Wolf / Adventures of Robin Hood)

Yes, it's my favorite recording of this symphony.

Sarge

Cool, a little corner of my memory still works 

[Biffo]

Elgar: Symphony No 2 in E flat major, Op 63 - London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jeffrey Tate - Tate's spacious reading is not to my taste; several people seem to have enjoyed it so I will leave it at that.

[vandermolen]

Ragnar Soderlind: Symphony No.8 'In Memory Jean Sibelius' (You Tube video)
A modern masterpiece IMO.

[vandermolen]

Earlier today: Symphony No.2 by Grace Williams - a powerful, turbulent and memorable score with echoes of her teacher Vaughan Williams's 6th Symphony:

[Florestan]

Went through the whole Chandos series of Hummel's Piano Concertos with Howard Shelley and the London Mozart Players. Five discs worth of elegant, sunny (yet not without a tinge or two of melancholy), uplifting and eminently charming music.

[Papy Oli]

Korngold - String Sextet

[Mirror Image]

How interesting! What is the music like please John? Also, may I ask you or any other Schnittke admirer - what are his most approachable works?
I have Symphony 2 'St Florian' which didn't make much impression on me and the Piano Quintet, which did make a big impression on me.
Early morning listening here - Kabalevsky SQ No.1 (CPO)


PS I just sampled the CPO CD on Amazon and enjoyed what I heard, especially the Slavenski samples. I then found an 'As new' copy cheaply on Amazon 

Hey Jeffrey! This work from Serbian composer Hristić is quite good! I've heard it before, but I believe the last time I even listened to it must have been back in '09 or '10. Anyway, the music can described as Khachaturian meets Respighi meets Bartók (at his folky best). Flamboyant, tuneful but with some moments of elegance and wistfulness. This particular work The Legend of Ohrid is a ballet, but it's only presented on this recording in four suites, which I suppose is better than none. I'd love to hear more of this composer's music, but looks like that's not happening. The other work on this disc is from a Yugoslavian composer Slavenski. This is another folk-influenced work and it's quite fun. I guess I could describe the music here as a hybrid of Dvořák (in full-on Czech folk mode) and Tubin (in 'Estonian folk mode'). Anyway, ultimately, you've got to hear the music yourself, because I don't think I did any of the composers any favors by my bastardizations of trying to describe the music. This is colorful, highly rhythmic music that I think you would enjoy. Do check it out!

P.S. A thumbs up for the Kabalevsky SQ recording on CPO. I bought that recording as well, but it hasn't arrived (yet).

[Mirror Image]

Great stuff John! I like Harrison's 2nd and 3rd symphonies.
I especially enjoy this CD:

We are of the same mind, my friend. I love both of the 2nd and 3rd from Harrison as well. I like the 4th sans the vocals, which don't really go with the work, IMHO.

[Mirror Image]

Shchedrin Carmen Suite, Spivakov conducting the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra




Sarge

Pounds the table! Love it!

[Mirror Image]

One of the finest ballets I know of, comparable to Khatchaturian, colourful orchestration, some really imaginative moments, great fun. Recommended. 

Jeffrey, it looks like Johan beat me to it. Good to see that you enjoy this recording, too.

[Mirror Image]

Those were two very enjoyable discs I recall.

+1

[Mirror Image]

Shchedrin
Carmen Suite (after Bizet)
Concerto for Orchestra No. 1 "Naughty Limericks"
Concerto for Orchestra No. 2 "The Chimes"
Russian National Orchestra
Pletnev
[asin]B00005KBJR[/asin]

Pounds the table yet again! Awesome!

[steve ridgway]

I was listening to this CD while driving from LA to SF in the 90's when some of the sounds from the music sounds way too much like something is dangerously wrong with the engine. I had to get off the freeway, stop and car, finish listening to the rest of music before resuming my trip!

LOL far out man .

[Mirror Image]

Also, may I ask you or any other Schnittke admirer - what are his most approachable works? I have Symphony 2 'St Florian' which didn't make much impression on me and the Piano Quintet, which did make a big impression on me.

Karl had suggested Symphony No. 4 and I think this is a fine choice as this is a deeply spiritual work and also rather haunting. I would also suggest the Concerto for Piano and Strings, Symphony No. 5 ('Concerto Grosso No. 4'), the Viola Concerto, Violin Concerto No. 1 (an earlier work that has some Shostakovichian residue but I believe to be a fine work nevertheless), Ritual, Concerto Grosso No. 1, Faust Cantata, (K)ein Sommernachtstraum, Requiem, Gogol Suite, Peer Gynt, Hymns I-IV for chamber ensemble, and any number of his film works (since you're a big fan of film music in general). This should be enough for now.

[Papy Oli]

Korngold - Themes & Variations Op.42 / Straussiana

[Karl Henning]

Korngold - String Sextet

Great piece!

[Papy Oli]

Great piece!

I struggled  way too strident for me 

[Karl Henning]

Karl had suggested Symphony No. 4 and I think this is a fine choice as this is a deeply spiritual work and also rather haunting. I would also suggest the Concerto for Piano and Strings, Symphony No. 5 ('Concerto Grosso No. 4'), the Viola Concerto, Violin Concerto No. 1 (an earlier work that has some Shostakovichian residue but I believe to be a fine work nevertheless), Ritual, Concerto Grosso No. 1, Faust Cantata, (K)ein Sommernachtstraum, Requiem, Gogol Suite, Peer Gynt, Hymns I-IV for chamber ensemble, and any number of his film works (since you're a big fan of film music in general). This should be enough for now.

Strongly  agree viz. the Concerto for Piano and Strings, especially.