What are you listening 2 now?

[Que]

Morning listening:

[Irons]

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.

I am possibly 2+2=5 Jeffrey but his brother was a performing cellist and although the work was written for Rostropovich, the second movement I detect a sense of loss. Luckily for me - look a twit if only me - there is a reference to the possibility here (third paragraph from the end of the article).

https://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=8.553383&catNum=553383&filetype=About%20this%20Recording&language=English

[vandermolen]

I am possibly 2+2=5 Jeffrey but his brother was a performing cellist and although the work was written for Rostropovich, the second movement I detect a sense of loss. Luckily for me - look a twit if only me - there is a reference to the possibility here (third paragraph from the end of the article).

https://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=8.553383&catNum=553383&filetype=About%20this%20Recording&language=English

2+2=4 I think Lol! I hadn't realised or had forgotten that Bliss's surviving brother was a cellist. I have the Chandos CD in the car and often play it. I think that Bliss originally wanted to call it a 'Concertino' but Britten commented that that was too self-effacing and encouraged Bliss to call it his Cello Concerto.

Playing now - some gloomy, doom-laden music before work - Miaskovsky Symphony No.4, which should appeal to anyone (Karl for example) who likes the earlier tone poem 'Silence':

[The new erato]

Just listened to:



I would like to hear more from de Frumerie, I just purchased a very fine Caprice disc with his violin and cello concertos.

[The new erato]

And without knowledge of the previous discusison I had just started this:

[Roasted Swan]

A couple of "classic" DECCA discs going down the tried and tested Bohemian path;



this was a disc I knew well in my LP days but only very recently acquired on CD.  It sounds every bit as blisteringly brilliant and joyful as I remember.  I always felt the Israel PO could be a bit hit and miss for Decca - the the same way L'Orchestra de la Suisse Romande could sound excellent or duff!  Here they are superb and Kertesz injects exactly the right amount of vivacity and joy.  The CD is filled out by the recording of the Dvorak Symphonic Variations lifted from Kertesz's famed LSO recordings.  Hence the next port of call was....



Of course these are so famous recordings it is easy to forget just how fine they are and the Decca recording - even in this early CD remaster - is little short of astonishing for being around 50 years old.  Such wonderful music too - I never bore of Dvorak

[aligreto]

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas [Backhaus]





Piano Sonata No. 32 Op. 111
Backhaus brings terrific energy to this presentation yet he also displays great lightness of touch in its delivery. Also, nothing feels rushed here and there is also the requisite gravitas on display. The conclusion of the work simply shimmers - wonderful!


Well, I have eventually come to the conclusion and I have enjoyed this cycle very much. I have found that the interpretation and playing was very fluid and sensitive to the music with wonderfully engaging and appealing performances throughout.

[Florestan]

Yeah, that disc containing the 4th Symphony is sheer delight from beginning to end. His piano miniatures are beautiful as well. Have you listened to his 3rd Symphony or VC yet?

S3 yes and liked it too. The VC not yet.

[Que]

A double bill of Purcell harpsichord suites:



I'm a professed critic of Egarr's often quirky stop-and-go style.
But I enjoyed this actually better than expected! 




At a terribly low recording level, it takes some effort to squeeze the music out! 
Stylistically I think Charlston nails it: bringing out the the French and Italian influences in an elegantly flowing, singing approach.
Perhaps it could do - at some instances - with a tiny bit more drive & brilliance? But very nice all the same.

[Papy Oli]

Good morning all,

Holst - The Perfect Fool / Egdon Heath

[foxandpeng]

Alla Pavlova
Symphonies 1 & 3
Russian Philharmonia Orchestra
Naxos

After a couple of days of Rautavaara, exploring Pavlova looks interesting. New to me.

[Papy Oli]

Holst
Somerset Rhapsody
Brook Green Suite
A Fugal Concerto
Beni Mora

[aligreto]

Boccherini: String Quintet Op. 25/1 [Europa Galante]





The music in the opening section of the first movement is quite forlorn and intense. It reminded me of some of JS Bach's Trauermusik. The tempo soon picks up but the tone is still somewhat wonderfully subdued. This tone prevails somewhat throughout the work with its charming and elegant music.

[Brahmsian]

I'm joining the Taneyev symphonies party, as it has been awhile since I listened to these.  I know I am in the minority, but the 1st symphony is my favourite of the symphonies.  Recognize the theme (Russian folk song) in the final movement, used by Stravinsky in Petruska (Tableau IV)?

Symphony No. 1 in E minor (1874)

[Biffo]

Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor - Wilhelm Backhaus piano with the New Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli  - recorded 23.X.1933

[Harry]

Alla Pavlova
Symphonies 1 & 3
Russian Philharmonia Orchestra
Naxos

After a couple of days of Rautavaara, exploring Pavlova looks interesting. New to me.

I love her music, needless to say I've got all her recordings on Naxos. Must get them out of my collection and play them again....

[Papy Oli]

Might as well continue. Highly enjoyable throughout.

Holst
St Paul's Suite
Hymns from the Rig Veda
Ode to Death

[Harry]

Vincent d'Indy.
Orchestral Works, Volume I.

Jour d'ete a la Montagne.
La Foret Enchantee.
Souvenirs.

Iceland SO, Rumon Gamba.

As I said in an earlier review, this is music close to my heart.

[André]

Now playing this entire recording yet again:

Just curious John: do you know Schwarzkopf's earlier version under Ackermann?

[Harry]

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Orchestral Works, and Complete Symphonies.
CD I.

Symphony No. 1 in G minor, "Winter Daydreams", opus 13.
The Snow Maiden, opus 12, Orchestral excerpts from the Incidental music to Ostrovsky's play.
Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy overture after Shakespeare, "Andante non tanto quasi Moderato-Allegro Giusto".

Gothenburg SO, Neeme Järvi.

The first three symphonies Tchaikovsky wrote are dear to me, especially the first which the composer called "A sin of my sweet Youth". The skilful orchestration known in his later symphonies is already pre-dominant in the First. Tchaikovsky cherished the first all of his life, and it is not hard to understand why. Every movement is a burst of joy, and has a life affirming quality all over it, even in the second movement, "Land of desolation, Land of Mists". The score is every bit as brilliant as all the following works, and still surprises me after all the hearings, with new insights. Always felt The Snow Maiden to be a exceptional work in his own right, again brilliantly scored, and has a certain determination and drive that shows a composer from a different angle. Romeo and Juliet does not need an introduction, the music speaks for itself.
The performances are to my ears, and I have many performances of these symphonies, strike me as top notch. Tempi are well judged, the melodic development is exemplary, and Järvi 's intimate knowledge of the scores  is astounding, he can literally dream the music. The BIS sound is very good.