What are you listening 2 now?

[Karl Henning]

Carter
Variations for Orchestra

[André]

Personally I find the string section's articulation and phrasing in the big first movement "meltdown" at the end of the development section to be some of the most astonishing and perfect playing I've ever heard from an orchestra.

Florestan and Harry - Have you heard the Kopatchinskaja and Currentzis Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto? That performance is insaaaane....in a bad way, an incredible realization of the original nasty Hanslick review claiming that the violin part scratched and clawed with hideous ugliness 

That's the one I was thinking of when I wrote he could be dismaying. In this he seems to have found a kindred spirit with his soloist  . It's a horrible travesty.

[JBS]

Second listen to the Third and Fourth Symphonies [CD 3]

[Symphonic Addict]

Debussy: Nocturnes
Martucci: Theme and Variations for piano and orchestra



Although I rarely hear Debussy, I do like much of his music, including these evocative and ethereal mini-tone-poems.

The Martucci is a lovely discovery. A very generic title for an enchanting piece.

[Symphonic Addict]

Second listen to the Third and Fourth Symphonies [CD 3]

I've only heard the No. 4 thus far. A superb performance.

[T. D.]

New arrival, first listen.

[JBS]

I've only heard the No. 4 thus far. A superb performance.

The ending of that symphony is rather unique.

Moving on to the final CD of Scott Ross's incomplete Bach keyboard cycle.
Kind of a hotch-potch
Toccata in D BWV 912
English Suite No. 3 in g minor BWV 808
Prelude Fugue and Allegro in E Flat BWV 998
Toccata in e minor BWV 914
Toccata in G BWV 916
Brandenburg Concerto No 6 in B Flat BWV 1051 * **
Concerto for Keyboard and Orchestra No. 5 in f minor BWV 1056 ***

* transcribed for 2 harpsichords by Kenneth Gilbert
** Huguette Gremy-Chauliac 2nd harpsichord
***with Ensemble Mosaiques/Christophe Coin

[Todd]

[Daverz]

I've only heard the No. 4 thus far. A superb performance.

I'm going to have to retag all my Papa Järvi recordings so I can distinguish them from these new Paavo recordings.  A happy chore to welcome the newcomer.

TD:

Strauss: Don Quixote and Till Eulenspiegel, Kempe with Paul Tortelier and the Berlin Philharmonic on a Tower Records Japan SACD (sorry for the dinky picture):



Wonderful vintage stereo recordings.  I used to prefer the Dresden recording, but now I'm not so sure.  I'm convinced that the superiority of these Tower Records Japan transfers has nothing to do with DSD, it's just sensitive remastering.

Lambert: Romeo & Juliet and other works



It takes some balls to put yourself in competition with works by Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Gounod and Prokofiev (David Diamond apparently also had the balls to do it.).  This is delightful music.  The reference might be Bliss in light music mode.  Beautiful Hyperion recording.

Strauss: Aus Italien



Still giggling at the idea that Strauss thought Funiculì, Funiculà was a folk song.

[Florestan]

Florestan and Harry - Have you heard the Kopatchinskaja and Currentzis Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto? That performance is insaaaane....in a bad way, an incredible realization of the original nasty Hanslick review claiming that the violin part scratched and clawed with hideous ugliness 

No, I haven't. Now I must hear both that and the Sixth. 

[vandermolen]

My first ever listening to anything by Boris Tchaikovsky. I have 2 other discs waiting for me in the 'arrivals' pile. I chose this one because it seemed to feature 'easy' works.

Works for strings only are usually called serenade, sinfonietta or something implying smallness of scale, although it doesn't preclude them from displaying vigor. Tchaikovsky's Sonfonietta (1953) is indeed eminently approachable - a gently tuneful, amiable work.

The 1967 Chamber Symphony is also small in scale (6 movements lasting 20 minutes), but that is deceptive. The composer's ambitiousness shows in the fact that each movement is highly different from the others, implying a largeness of conception by portraying different forms, moods and even instrumentation (like a harpsichord popping up in some of the movements). Despite its compactness then, it leaves a big impression. The main theme of the final movement is simply unforgettable - a real ear worm.

Another 6-movement work follows (not advertised on the cover), the Six Etudes for Strings and Organ from 1976. I love this particular instrumental combination. It allows for concertante effects, a sort of musical Q&A play. The sound world is rather somber and mysterious, the composer's musical language having by then absorbed some of the influence of Britten as well as serial techniques he had dabbled with some years before.

The disc ends with a very short work that the composer left unfinished at the time of his death in 1996: a Prelude titled 'The Bells', orchestrated by one Pyotr Klimov. A very recommendable disc.

You have to listen to Symphony No.3 'Sevastopol' André.

Now playing:

I'm aware of Bax's debt ro Ravel listening again to the Symphonic Variations:

[vandermolen]

Howells 'Missa Sabrinensis':

[Que]

Morning listening:



This is really excellent. I like it better thanThe Cut Circle's recent recording.

And there should be more to come:

http://www.blueheron.org/learn-more/ockeghem/the-ockeghem600-project/

Q

[Mandryka]

Morning listening:



This is really excellent. I like it better thanThe Cut Circle's recent recording.

And there should be more to come:

http://www.blueheron.org/learn-more/ockeghem/the-ockeghem600-project/

Q

Yes it has grown on me though I must say I have a soft spot for Medieval Ensemble of London, who probably in every objective sense aren't as good.

Listening to this which has been repackaged - it is exceptionally good!

[Roasted Swan]

I've only heard the No. 4 thus far. A superb performance.

It seems that Schmidt is getting a bit of attention.  I saw that No.4 is included in one of the Berlin PO's posh/multi format (Blu-Ray audio etc) sets which has a survey of symphonic works played under Kirill Petrenko

[vandermolen]

Kokkonen: Symphony No.4

[Que]

Q

[Que]

Yes it has grown on me though I must say I have a soft spot for Medieval Ensemble of London, who probably in every objective sense aren't as good.

The ocassional instrumental accompaniment was something to get used to, but it is subtle and nicely done.

Listening to this which has been repackaged - it is exceptionally good!

Looks good!  I'm  putting it on the playing list.

Q

[Wanderer]

For what I know for a fact is, that either you like it or you hate it.

That does seem to be the case, Harry.

Personally I find the string section's articulation and phrasing in the big first movement "meltdown" at the end of the development section to be some of the most astonishing and perfect playing I've ever heard from an orchestra.

It is indeed rather special.

Florestan and Harry - Have you heard the Kopatchinskaja and Currentzis Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto? That performance is insaaaane....in a bad way, an incredible realization of the original nasty Hanslick review claiming that the violin part scratched and clawed with hideous ugliness 

It's like a train wreck you can't take your eyes (ears) off of. Tons of infectious energy, but oh-so-screechy. 
However, the rendition of Stravinsky's Les noces that follows is spectacularly good.

[Traverso]

Ockeghem

Secular Music

CD1

I certainly have also a soft spot for these recordings .time to listen again.