What are you listening 2 now?

[aligreto]

A first listen for a bargain disc picked up on Amazon



This is part of my re-acquainting myself with the genius of Stanislaw Skrowaczewski.  After the brilliant VoxBox of Stravinsky and Prokofiev in Minnesota I bought this on something of a whim - not really necessary as I have his fine Arte Nova/Bruckner cycle.  But goodness me this is one of the finest Bruckner "Romantics" I have heard in a long long time.  Such an impressive interpretation with beautifully phrased 'singing' lines and really subtlety to the balancing of the orchestral parts.  Counter melodies and secondary line appearing in a quite revelatory manner.  This is broad imposing Bruckner with a quite epic approach - I love Barenboim's thrill ride in Chicago but for example Barenboim takes nearly 5 minutes less time over the whole work than Skrowaczewski.  The Halle from 1993 play superbly too - really willing to push both ends of the dynamic envelope.  Truely visionary in the way Bruckner surely intended to be

I have not heard that CD but Skrowaczewski is, in my opinion, a very fine Brucknerian. I have his cycle on the OEHMS label with the Saarbrucken RSO.

[North Star]

Henze
String Quartet No. 1
Arditti String Quartet


Henze
Undine
London Sinfonietta
Knussen



Murail
Gondwana
Orchestre National de France
Yves Prin

[Biffo]

Mahler: Symphony No 5 in C-sharp minor - New Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli

[Roasted Swan]

I have not heard that CD but Skrowaczewski is, in my opinion, a very fine Brucknerian. I have his cycle on the OEHMS label with the Saarbrucken RSO.

The Saarbrucken cycle are the same recordings on both Arte Nova and OEHMS

[Papy Oli]

JS Bach - Cantata BWV36 'Schwingt freudig euch empor'

[Harry]

Benjamin Britten.

The Prince of the Pagodas, opus 57.
Ballet in three acts.
Choreography by John Cranko.
Disc 7 & 8.

London Sinfonietta, Oliver Knussen.
Recorded in 1989.

A fascinating journey through this ballet, it is well performed and recorded and holds many a musical surprise. I have to add that I found the Choreography by Cranko disastrous. But then again I hate most modern choreography's, especially those that replace the older versions, which were perfect already. This idiotic notion that they think they can make it even better, for the modern human does not understand the likes of Minkus or Petipa anymore. I live in the 19th century in that respect.
Anyway Britten wrote this fine ballet, which for me is one of the mainstays in ballet history.

[Irons]

I definitely agree Paul - I played it again this morning.

Playing here now - Bliss conducts Bliss 'Hymn to Apollo' - a lovely recording of this short but moving work. I've seen it suggested recently that as Apollo (amongst much else) was the God of Healing in Greek/Roman mythology, Bliss, in composing the work, was still trying to come to terms with the death of his brother Kennard in the First World War. Bliss's attempt to assuage his 'survivor's guilt' is more obviously seen in his later choral symphony 'Morning Heroes' but I find the argument that this earlier work also had a cathartic intent convincing. This is a fine CD in all respects:

Am I mistaken Jeffrey in thinking the cello concerto also has a connection with the loss of his brother? A fine concerto and my favourite Bliss work. "Hymn of Apollo" is a hidden gem.

[not edward]

Still think the Fantasy and Fugue on 'Ad nos' is one of Liszt's finest works in any genre.

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But I just don't rate Busoni's piano transcription as highly, even with Igor Levit's remarkable playing.

[asin]B07FJ9ZNPL[/asin]

[vandermolen]

Am I mistaken Jeffrey in thinking the cello concerto also has a connection with the loss of his brother? A fine concerto and my favourite Bliss work. "Hymn of Apollo" is a hidden gem.

Not sure about that Lol but an interesting idea, although it's a much later work. Bridge's 'Oration' is a kind of cello concerto, definitely connected with the loss of his friends in World War One.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Vladigerov Orchestral Works vol. 2.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Shostakovich
Cello Sonata in D minor, Op. 40
Alban Gerhardt, cello
Steven Osborne, piano

[Karl Henning]

Benjamin Britten.

The Prince of the Pagodas, opus 57.
Ballet in three acts.
Choreography by John Cranko.
Disc 7 & 8.

London Sinfonietta, Oliver Knussen.
Recorded in 1989.

A fascinating journey through this ballet, it is well performed and recorded and holds many a musical surprise. I have to add that I found the Choreography by Cranko disastrous. But then again I hate most modern choreography's, especially those that replace the older versions, which were perfect already. This idiotic notion that they think they can make it even better, for the modern human does not understand the likes of Minkus or Petipa anymore. I live in the 19th century in that respect.
Anyway Britten wrote this fine ballet, which for me is one of the mainstays in ballet history.

It's a beauty!

[Karl Henning]

Nikolai Miaskovsky.

Complete Symphonies, Volume XIV.

No. 21 in F minor.
Sinfonietta in F minor.
Silence in F minor.
Serenade No. 1.

State SO of the Russian Federation, Evgeny Svetlanov.

Symphony No. 21 has but one movement, but what an introduction it is. The brass is not that well recorded, so be aware with high volumes, the Andante sostenuto might tempt you to turn the volume up quite a bit. But marvelous music!

The 21^st  is great, and Silence is exquisite!

[kyjo]

Taneyev: Symphony No. 3 [T. Sanderling]





This is a wonderful sound world; a composer with a distinct voice of his own and he has wonderful things to say. The musical language is very accessible and very appealing and engaging. This is music that is very assertive and is making a very big statement. The orchestration is wonderful. The performances are appropriately ardent. This is a really terrific, free flowing work that is very well presented here. The music just constantly flows. The final movement is really just a joy to hear!

Indeed, the finale of that symphony is great fun - it's the highlight of the work IMO. Wait till you hear his 4th Symphony - the greatest of the bunch!

[kyjo]

A quite moving symphony for soloists, chorus and orchestra. This succeeded my expectations. The music is magnificent, very well-written for both voices and orchestra.

Indeed, I heard a bit of this on the radio a couple months ago and was really impressed! Must listen to the whole work now.

[Karl Henning]

Chabrier
España

de Falla
El amor brujo
Fanfare pour une fête
La vida breve, Interlude & Dance
Suites N^os. 1& 2 from El sombrero de tres picos
NY Phil
Lenny

[kyjo]

I don't know these works at all. I will definitely have to check them out!

Don't miss out on the two ballets - they could well change your view of Novák! If there were any justice in the world, they would have far more than one recording each...fortunately they are very good ones:

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[SonicMan46]

Hummel, Johann (1778-1837) - Piano Sonatas w/ Ian Hobson in three volumes; also recorded by Costantino Mastroprimiano on fortepiano which is in my collection but not played at least today - for those interested, reviews are attached.  Dave

     

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Weinberg
Symphony No. 3, Op. 45
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Thord Svedlund



I'm seriously surprised that Kondrashin never conducted this symphony. I wish he did, but this performance from Svedlund and the Gothenburgers is excellent.

[vandermolen]

NP:

Weinberg
Symphony No. 3, Op. 45
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Thord Svedlund



I'm seriously surprised that Kondrashin never conducted this symphony. I wish he did, but this performance from Svedlund and the Gothenburgers is excellent.

I agree John, and I've heard it live - a once in a lifetime experience I suspect.