What are you listening 2 now?

[Traverso]

Now, now, now...don't sell yourself short. I'm merely a novice compared to most GMG members. I have a little understanding of music theory (having played the guitar for 20+ years and played in junior and high school concert band), but I couldn't go into great technical detail like many of the members can do. I just try to draw from what I'm feeling from the music and find a way to put it into a coherent thought. One of the things I have realized as I've gotten older is the more I know is actually the less I know and this certainly applies to classical music, which is such a vast musical universe. I mean look how long it has taken me to circle back around to Tchaikovsky or Dvořák. I feel like I hardly know their music at all, but the experience so far has been hugely rewarding. I suspect you've had similar experiences.

Well John, and so the candle of our so-called clear insights burns ever weaker. 

[Biffo]

Ernest Bloch: Four Episodes - Soloists of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Dalia Atlas

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Paul Creston, SY3.

[Mirror Image]

Indeed - it's a fine work!

Absolutely, Jeffrey!

NP:

Myaskovsky
Symphony No. 22, Op. 118
Russian Federation Academic SO
Svetlanov

[Mirror Image]

Well John, and so the candle of our so-called clear insights burns ever weaker. 

Quite true, Jan.

[Harry]

William Wordsworth.

Orchestral Works, Volume III.

Cello concerto, opus 73. (1963)
Symphony No. 5 in A minor, opus 68. (1957-60)

Florian Amicans, Cello.
Liepaja SO, John Gibbons.

Already bowled over by the first two volumes of Wordsworth's  music, the third volume crowns it all by an extra layer of sublime-ness.  The Cello Concerto is again a piece that draws you in pretty quickly, a work of Symphonic proportions, well scored, with plenty of intense and contemplative moments, tumbling into a magical realm. In this sense I had a good listening day, for all is so near to what I like most. I did expect the same vibes from the Fifth symphony and I was not disappointed.  Its grand, radiant, martial, gruff at times, and as the text on the backcover tells  "Has an impish sense of humour". I am now a declared Wordsworth admirer, and look eagerly forward to the recording of the  6th and 7th symphony, which will be released, after inquiring into the matter.
A truly State of the Art recording!

[Papy Oli]

Good afternoon,

Back to this one. BWV 1017 onwards. Just superb !

[Harry]

Sergei Bortkiewicz.

Violin Concerto in D minor, opus 22.
Symphonic Poem after Shakespeare's Othello, opus 19.

Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Martin Yates.
Sergey Levitin, Violin.

Two very fine pieces, especially the Violin concerto in the D minor key, a favourite of mine. Full blooded romantic it is, warm, embracing, passionate, all the emotions come and pass in quick succession. Levitin is a magician of the Violin. His playing gets you anywhere, such command, excellent bowing, stickler for detail, whats in the score he lets it out in the open. It is a difficult score, and only a master on this instrument will succeed in bringing it off. Levitin just does that. An amazing treat. The Poem is also a tapestry of fine details, and combines many moods together in a colourful evocation of human frailties and strengths. It just goes to show what a good orchestrator Bortkiewicz was.
The orchestra follows suit in expressing themselves at a maximum, well conducted by Yates.
The SACD layer gives so much more detail, and it has a total silent backdrop, noticeable better as the normal CD layer. State of the Art is is then!

[Traverso]

Krommer

Three Quartets  CD 1

[kyjo]

Kalliwoda Symphony No. 7 in G minor




Sarge

And.....?

[kyjo]

Souvenir de Florence is a really important piece for me...a live performance more or less turned me into a classical enthusiast/collector.

There are at least 3 Borodin 4tet recordings of SQ 1-3 / Souvenir de Florence: a "historical" release on Chandos, one on EMI (which I've owned for decades, apparently the current incarnation includes the Piano Trio with different musicians), and the Teldec (which I assume is most recent). I've only heard the EMI, so can make no comparison, but I definitely recommend the music.

I'm not too familiar with various commercial recordings of Souvenir de Florence (one of my favorite Tchaik works), because I've been so satisfied with this live performance on YT which I can't imagine being bettered:

https://youtu.be/vulKECq4r60

Featuring Janine Jansen and Vilde Frang on violin, Lawrence Power and Julian Rachlin on viola, and Nicolas Altstaedt and Jens Peter Maintz on cello. Talk about an all-star lineup!

[bhodges]

Bartók: String Quartet No. 5 (Tesla Quartet) - Part of the group's just-completed live cycle, which included discussions on each quartet and open rehearsals. All are available on the quartet's YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u524fLb2AQQ

--Bruce

[Carlo Gesualdo]

Hello guys, I'm listening to the new Gombert release on FRA BERNARDO in mp3, Masses and Motets, it's super, excellent  direction, fantastic singer , interresting repertoire of Gombert Works.

Than I would like to had, the post man brought me an order this morning I had listen to the excellent The Clerke's of Oxenford  the epic lithurgic drama The play of Daniel like sealed and mint, wich was very awesome.

Minus detail I had terrible, horrific back pain,  and spine pain, I take Robax for my back and the blue stuff (gel) for back pain, I order cannabis CBD for back pain 28 grm to help me cope whit this absolutly terrible pain, no buzzing intend here, since I went to see a doctor  he was  not cool he seen me in total pain and refused to prescribed me opiod, out of no reason and prescribe me advil 500  and voltaren, stuff that I could buy whiteout order he litherally laught in my face, lack empathy totally, so I had to buy medicinal cannabis, I quite smoking cigarette do and alcohol, since not only back pain is not my single problem I have tooth ache  that is very terrible too, I am treating this whit Giroffe Cloves for now, grand ma remedy and taking antibiotic so I cannot drink  for now so I just stop , not an alcoholic so it's not a problem 

P.s please folks friends , nice people on GmG pray for me it hurt it hurt so much it's almost unbarable 

[SonicMan46]

Myslivecek, Josef - Keyboard Music w/ Clare Hammond and Nicholas McGegan/Swedish Chamber Orchestra; consists of two piano concertos (about a third of the 76+min disc time, and divertimenti/exercises for solo piano, the remainder of the recording) - first new CD added to my JM collection in a number of years!  Well, I was not sure about this 'dual purpose' recording, i.e. concertos + 'simple' piano pieces, but I first listened on Spotify and was pleased, so ordered the CD - the reviews have generally been excellent (attached).  Dave

 

[foxandpeng]

I have to confess that I don't like this performance of the Holmboe nearly as much as the one on the Da Capo label. It's one of the few times where I think the BIS recordings of Holmboe come up short. But that's just me.

As I say, I wouldn't pretend to have a technical ear, but I also like the Da Capo versions. The timing difference over the two movements don't stand out massively - I think the Da Capo is quicker by about 25 seconds in the first, and slower in the second by about 15, but neither of the BIS seem to  drag or rush. I think my hearing is sufficiently poor to notice little about recording brightness, etc., but perhaps the Da Capo has it by an edge.

On a Distant Shore is a quite superb work, extremely evocative. Rehnqvist has a very personal voice. Arktis ! Arktis ! is a great piece as well.

Thank you! I will look it out 🙂. I like this very much.

[Symphonic Addict]

One of the best CDs devoted to Ginastera's music known to me. Spectacular programme.

[Mirror Image]

One of the best CDs devoted to Ginastera's music known to me. Spectacular programme.

I think these recordings are pretty spectacular, too:

[T. D.]

I'm not too familiar with various commercial recordings of Souvenir de Florence (one of my favorite Tchaik works), because I've been so satisfied with this live performance on YT which I can't imagine being bettered:

https://youtu.be/vulKECq4r60

Featuring Janine Jansen and Vilde Frang on violin, Lawrence Power and Julian Rachlin on viola, and Nicolas Altstaedt and Jens Peter Maintz on cello. Talk about an all-star lineup!

Thanks! That is an excellent video. Upon review, it turns out I have (the first) 2 of the 3 recordings by the celebrated Borodin 4tet (+2), but they don't match the excitement of a live performance. I listened to both yesterday.

[kyjo]

Spot on re Tippett and Bortkiewicz.  I would add the Corelli Fantasia to former's "emotional" music - almost sensuous in the string writing.  I keep returning to his music trying to find a way into his musical/intellectual sound world.  To be fair the opportunities to play these scores is almost zero - no-one in the freelance professional world programmes him much and I've never studied/worked on any of his scores for my own 'use'.  So it really is just as a listener that I engage (or not!) with him.

In the light of recent mentions here I listened to that Bortkiewicz Symphonies disc again and I must say my mind wandered.  As you say perfectly well manufactured but - for me - lacking the melodic memorability or emotional directness of so many other Russian composers from around the same time.  I didn't get to the end of the disc - perhaps I wasn't in the right mood!

Definitely search out more Hoddinott - he can be quite severe but he has a powerful and individual voice

Thanks RS. I find Tippett to be a very interesting figure, who, like Britten, had a truly individual voice which became more austere/esoteric/weird as he got older. I doubt I will come to "love" a lot of his later works, but I feel they might reveal more on subsequent listenings. I also enjoy his 1st Symphony, PC, and Piano Sonata no. 1. Must revisit the Corelli Fantasia.

[steve ridgway]

Nono - Per Bastiana.