What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

Test-Drive Tuesday

Tubin
Symphony № 4 in A, « Sinfonia lirica »
Musikselskabet Harmonien Bergen
Järvi

Nice!

[Mirror Image]

Not replying yet - got some research to do first! Starting with #1

Looking forward to reading your 'revised' opinion, Brian.

[Karl Henning]

Nice!

It is lovely!

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Martinů
String Quartet No. 6, H. 312
Pražák Quartet



Would I be out-of-line in saying that the Panocha Quartet has met their match in Martinů? Wow...this is a great performance.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Walton
Portsmouth Point Overture
LSO
Previn



I've had this piece circle around in my head all day long, so I just had to listen to it. Damn earworm!

[VonStupp]

Hubert Parry
The Soul's Ransom (Sinfonia Sacra)
The Lotos-Eaters
Della Jones & David Wilson-Johnson
LPO & Choir - Matthias Bamert (rec. 1991)

A pair of cantatas by Parry

[Mirror Image]

First dip into this new arrival:

Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64
Berliners
HvK



Exquisite so far. Karajan always did well in Russian music. I wished he had recorded more of Shostakovich and Prokofiev for example. I think he'd have done wonders in Glazunov, too.

Special edit: I think it's important to remember to never write-off a composer that has meant so much to us in our early stages of listening to classical. I think what had happened with me and dear ol' Pyotr was the fact that I was listening to his music to the point where it's all I listened to for weeks on end, so I suppose I reached a stage of burn out, which is understandable. The more experienced listener that I hope that I am now wouldn't have let this happen. Sorry to Pyotr wherever your soul may be.

[springrite]

Looking forward to reading your 'revised' opinion, Brian.

He's not revising anything. It's gonna be "confirmed opinion". 

[Karl Henning]

Shostakovich
24 Preludes, Op. 34
Mustonen

[Mirror Image]

He's not revising anything. It's gonna be "confirmed opinion". 

[André]

[Mirror Image]

Can't see the photo, Andre. Am I the only one having trouble seeing Andre's photos here?

[VonStupp]

Hubert Parry
Invocation to Music (An Ode to Henry Purcell)
Anne Dawson, Arthur Davies, Brian Rayner Cook
LPO & Choir - Matthias Bamert

Another cantata. A little more interesting than the previous two.

[André]

Can't see the photo, Andre. Am I the only one having trouble seeing Andre's photos here?

I see it all right, even in you post, John.

Here's the internet link anyway: https://www.discogs.com/fr/Benjamin-Frankel-Queensland-Symphony-Orchestra-Werner-Andreas-Albert-Symphonies-7-8/release/13404057

[Mirror Image]

I see it all right, even in you post, John.

Here's the internet link anyway: https://www.discogs.com/fr/Benjamin-Frankel-Queensland-Symphony-Orchestra-Werner-Andreas-Albert-Symphonies-7-8/release/13404057

That link is broken, but I see it in the link's address what you're listening to.

Edit: It looks like the Discogs site is down right now as I went to check a recent order I had placed and can't access it.

[Karl Henning]

Prokofiev
March in B^b, Op.99

Barber
Commando March (1943)

Kristiansand Blåseensemble
Bjørn Sagstad

[Karl Henning]

R. Strauss
Metamorphosen for 23 Solo Strings
SFSO
MTT

[Mirror Image]

R. Strauss
Metamorphosen for 23 Solo Strings
SFSO
MTT

Gorgeous, Karl. I don't know that Tilson Thomas performance, but I'm sure he's more than satisfactory.

[Karl Henning]

Gorgeous, Karl. I don't know that Tilson Thomas performance, but I'm sure he's more than satisfactory.

A beauty!

Now:

Chopin
Barcarolle in F#, Op. 60
Martha

[Mandryka]

This is much less beautiful than Blue Heron; the tuning may more scrunchy, Pythagorean, that's a comment from memory of the sound of Blue Heron, I haven't checked. Their vocality is not at all like what we hear in Bach or Schubert - they have tried to find a non-modern sound.  To me they often sound loud, as if their way of singing would suit outdoors performance - and indeed I remember there are old theories about medieval song which links the sound with Eastern European outside singing traditions (market sellers, fishermen, harvest songs, that sort of thing.) Cut Circle are impressive in the more vigorous, jaunty songs. I'm enjoying this more that in the past, and more than I did Blue Heron just now - but it goes without saying that nothing follows.

What is clear is this: the Ockeghem songs are really impressive, whatever the performance!