What are you listening 2 now?

[Florestan]

Thank you, much appreciated! 

Welcome, Q!

[André]

Some excellent playing (horns esp.) and a superb elucidation of the superposed strands of musical lines in the codas of I and IV. Overall though, I thought this performance somewhat unassertive and soft-edged. Russell Davies' hands-off approach pays big dividends in the last minutes of the Adagio, where he lets the orchestra's sections engage in intimate dialogue - meltingly beautiful. The rest though lacks purpose and direction IMO.

[André]

Panufnik's 3 quartets are pre and postfaced by other works (3 by his daughter Roxanna, and the last for string sextet an arrangement by the composer of an a capella work). There is variety between movements, sections and works, but continuous listening makes it hard to figure what's being played. The program is probably intended to be played in a single sitting, but I think these works should be heard in isolation.

[Karl Henning]

Skalkottas
Sinfonietta in B^b, AK 10
Athens Phil
Byron Fidetzis

I've listened twice, actually.  While not at all as striking a piece as my favorite Skalkottas scores, I do find it ingratiating. The outer movements oare of a character somewhat more like band music than orchestral, which is no obstacle for me, and indeed reasonably fitting for a Sinfonietta.

[vers la flamme]

Max Reger: Variations & Fugue on a Theme of Beethoven, op.86. Leif Segerstam, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra

Brilliant music from Max Reger. Great performance from Segerstam and co.

[vers la flamme]

Allan Pettersson: 6 Songs. Monica Groop, Cord Garben.

I got this disc from my dad's record store over the holidays but I'm only just now listening. Beautiful music, very simple, very sad. This is the first and only Pettersson in my library, but I'd love to hear more.

[André]

Allan Pettersson: 6 Songs. Monica Groop, Cord Garben.

I got this disc from my dad's record store over the holidays but I'm only just now listening. Beautiful music, very simple, very sad. This is the first and only Pettersson in my library, but I'd love to hear more.

One of the Barefoot Songs is the basis for the last part of his bewitching violin concerto no 2. But that is NOT beautiful and simple music. Its beauty emerges toward the end after an arduous process of musical hatching.

[springrite]

Allan Pettersson: 6 Songs. Monica Groop, Cord Garben.

I got this disc from my dad's record store over the holidays but I'm only just now listening. Beautiful music, very simple, very sad. This is the first and only Pettersson in my library, but I'd love to hear more.

I love Peterson's music.

I think his music is most appealing to people who not just know pain, but actually know to appreciate pain.

This reminds me to listen to Pettersson for the next two weeks as we welcome the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party... (listening to Pettersson is so much better than being bombasted by propaganda... )

[Symphonic Addict]

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.5 in D major. André Previn, London Symphony Orchestra

I think I'm enjoying this symphony more than usual. With the London and Sea symphonies, this was always one of my least favorite RVW symphonies—to say the following will endear me to no one here, but I've always found the slow movement of the 5th somewhat cloying. Today I am finding it less so and getting somewhat more out of it. Maybe the work is growing on me with time and space; it's been well over a year since I've listened to it last. Great performance from Previn and the Londoners.

I love VW's both, let's say, pastoral/nostalgic and violent/dissonant facets, and I fell in love with this wondrous work at first hearing. It could be too sentimental for many, but I love it unrestrictedly.

[Symphonic Addict]

I've listened twice, actually.  While not at all as striking a piece as my favorite Skalkottas scores, I do find it ingratiating. The outer movements oare of a character somewhat more like band music than orchestral, which is no obstacle for me, and indeed reasonably fitting for a Sinfonietta.

In spite of it's not a work that carries his more personal and advanced style, I confess I prefer this work and the ones that sound more, say, "amiable". The Classical Symphony also gave me a good impression.

[Symphonic Addict]

I love Peterson's music.

I think his music is most appealing to people who not just know pain, but actually know to appreciate pain.

This makes a lot of sense to me.

[JBS]

CD 2
Symphony no 1
Sinfonietta
Three Ballet Pieces from Triumph der Zeit

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Glazunov
The Seasons, Op.  67
Philharmonia
Svetlanov



A lovely ballet of course and it's quite interesting to hear Svetlanov conduct a British orchestra.

[springrite]

it's quite interesting to hear Svetlanov conduct a British orchestra.

I can imagine Svetlanov saying to himself: These players need some vodka!!!

[Mirror Image]

I can imagine Svetlanov saying to himself: These players need some vodka!!!

Yes or "How about I drop them all off in Siberia? Will this make them play better?"

[Karl Henning]

I love Peterson's music.

I think his music is most appealing to people who not just know pain, but actually know to appreciate pain.

This reminds me to listen to Pettersson for the next two weeks as we welcome the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party... (listening to Pettersson is so much better than being bombasted by propaganda... )

I feel for you, dear friend!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

NP:

Glazunov
The Seasons, Op.  67
Philharmonia
Svetlanov



A lovely ballet of course and it's quite interesting to hear Svetlanov conduct a British orchestra.

There is another recording of The Seasons by him with a Soviet orchestra. I haven't seriously compared the two recordings though.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I have fond memories of this work. His 1st Symphony (on YT only) is excellent as well. I love the "exotic" flavor that Erkin brings to his music.

Yes, his S1 is very good as well. Hope Naxos will issue a recording of the work someday. 

[Karl Henning]

In spite of it's not a work that carries his more personal and advanced style, I confess I prefer this work and the ones that sound more, say, "amiable". The Classical Symphony also gave me a good impression.

Interesting, Cesar.  I expect the Largo sinfonico is also in your wheelhouse, as it were:

https://www.youtube.com/v/dwRGldcYHFY

[Karl Henning]

Yes or "How about I drop them all off in Siberia? Will this make them play better?"

Just 'coz they're British doesn't mean we shouldn't be compassionate!