What are you listening 2 now?

[Harry]

Vol 2 is a favourite of mine, this one less so. Music for a hot summer's day (so not till next year.)

That recording will be next on my list.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Bartok's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 from 1921 with Gertler and Diane Anderson recorded late 1964 on Supraphon from their 4-CD box set of Bartok's Violin Works Complete with André Gertler.  Interesting work:  a combo of late impressionism with influences of Ravel and, according to the liner notes, "a lively reaction to postwar Europe's modern music."  You could particularly hear the folk influences in the third movement (which I loved).  Quite an ambitious work!  And in excellent sound!

PD

Igor Stravinsky.

Jeu de Cartes, A ballet.
Orpheus, a Ballet.
Histoire du Soldat.

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra & Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi.

This fine recording made in 1986, (Jeu de Cartes, and Orpheus) performed by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is one of the best I heard so far, in sound and interpretation. It has finesse and a expression that lies beyond what I thought possible. Great indeed. Histoire du Soldat gets a thorough workout with the Scotts, in an equally fine recording from 1991. One of the CD"s from the big Jarvi box I will treasure, a pity there was never a SACD release, which would be deserved in my opinion.

I have that CD and played it not that long ago.  Yes, it's a very nice CD.  I was lucky to run across a copy of it for, if I'm recalling correctly, it was part of a 3/$1 sale...lucky me! 

How many CDs are in that Jarvi box by the way?  And any other favorite discoveries so far for you from it?

PD

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

That recording will be next on my list.

Yes, great performance of both the No.2 and T and C. I saw the box on ebay last year, and the price was around $70. I regret now that I didn't buy it.

[Harry]

Yes, great performance of both the No.2 and T and C. I saw the box on ebay last year, and the price was around $70. I regret now that I didn't buy it.

O, dear I would have paid this sum readily. A pity I did miss that.

[Traverso]

Silvius Weiss

[Harry]

Bartok's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 from 1921 with Gertler and Diane Anderson recorded late 1964 on Supraphon from their 4-CD box set of Bartok's Violin Works Complete with André Gertler.  Interesting work:  a combo of late impressionism with influences of Ravel and, according to the liner notes, "a lively reaction to postwar Europe's modern music."  You could particularly hear the folk influences in the third movement (which I loved).  Quite an ambitious work!  And in excellent sound!

PD


  I have that CD and played it not that long ago.  Yes, it's a very nice CD.  I was lucky to run across a copy of it for, if I'm recalling correctly, it was part of a 3/$1 sale...lucky me! 

How many CDs are in that Jarvi box by the way?  And any other favorite discoveries so far for you from it?

PD

The Jarvi box contains 25 discs, and yes many discoveries of familiar works in other performances. One that stands apart is a disc with music from Eugen Suchon, a composer I did not know. I ordered many SACD versions of the discs contained in this box, which are standard CD. They are all in the purchase thread.

[Mandryka]

the No.2 and T and C.

What is this?

[Pohjolas Daughter]

The Jarvi box contains 25 discs, and yes many discoveries of familiar works in other performances. One that stands apart is a disc with music from Eugen Suchon, a composer I did not know. I ordered many SACD versions of the discs contained in this box, which are standard CD. They are all in the purchase thread.

Thanks for the information.  I hadn't heard of Suchon before myself.  Will have to do some googling.    I have several recordings with Neemi Jarvi which I enjoy so will look into the set.

TD

Sibelius's sixth symphony with Osmo Vanska and the Lahti SO on BIS.

PD

[André]

Interesting André - I'm encouraged to listen to this disc again. The 3rd Symphony 'Sevastopol' is my favourite.

The last movement of the symphony is based on a theme I find very close to Malcolm Arnold. Do you hear the same thing, Jeffrey ?

[Mirror Image]

Various bits of Bartok's smaller-scale work.

So far, a Sonatina for piano, and Romanian Folk Dances, and Romanian Christmas Carols, all as played by Kocsis.  Truth be told, I don't find this side of Bartok - where he's being ethnographic or educational or both - to be all that interesting, at least not at this point in his career (I'm doing the chronological thing again). Packing 20 carols into just over 10 minutes doesn't feel like a listening experience.

I agree with in some respects, but I still love these folk excursions from Bartók. The Kocsis solo piano cycle is a magnificent achievement. In general, I love Bartók's solo piano music.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Carter
Piano Sonata
Paul Jacobs



A stunning work and still one of the better works for solo piano I've heard from an American composer.

[Mirror Image]

Mahler

Symphony No.2

Nothing wrong with this recording,I'm not a Bernstein/Mahler fan and that's I think the reason that I can really enjoy these recordings.

I'm a huge fan of Bernstein's Mahler, but I'm one of those Mahlerians who likes an assortment of different kinds of interpretations. One particular style in Mahler will never be preferable over the other. This music is just too vast to make a definitive choice. I like that Bertini set, but he's really no better than Chailly. They both had a similar kind of approach. Haitink is similar as well. They're from the letting the music do the speaking approach.

[Harry]

Antonin Dvorak.

Symphony No. 9.
My home, Overture.

Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi.

Well Dvorak is with Jarvi a challenge. My opinion is that he is not really a accomplished Dvorak conductor, like Kubelik is. There are two things working against Jarvi in this Chandos recording. First he is going for the effect in this music and emphasizes all in too much glitter and aggressiveness in certain parts in which he wants to score. The biggest issue is the Brass by far, the first three movements has such blaring brass, that the ears react and go in a protective mood. It obscures all the detail in the woodwinds and violas and cellos and first violins. The last movement is somewhat corrected , meaning that the brass is a bit more subdued, and more details are to be heard. That is part Jarvi's choice, and partly Ralph Couzens to go with that, ( first three movements). In the end it is all too loud and vulgar. I had the score on my lap and was horrified how much detail is lost in this recording. My Home is repeating the horror, and gets a rather downtrodden treatment.

[Traverso]

I'm a huge fan of Bernstein's Mahler, but I'm one of those Mahlerians who likes an assortment of different kinds of interpretations. One particular style in Mahler will never be preferable over the other. This music is just too vast to make a definitive choice. I like that Bertini set, but he's really no better than Chailly. They both had a similar kind of approach. Haitink is similar as well. They're from the letting the music do the speaking approach.

Indeed,and that's what I prefer 

[Iota]

Various bits of Bartok's smaller-scale work.

So far, a Sonatina for piano, and Romanian Folk Dances, and Romanian Christmas Carols, all as played by Kocsis.  Truth be told, I don't find this side of Bartok - where he's being ethnographic or educational or both - to be all that interesting, at least not at this point in his career (I'm doing the chronological thing again). Packing 20 carols into just over 10 minutes doesn't feel like a listening experience.

I love the Sonatina and Romanian Folk Dances! Simple, Scarlatti-like almost at times, but gems all imo.

And in honour of their mention, now playing the Bartok Sonata (from the box below), which is a bit more substantial, and positively spits energy and invention. Great music, great playing!




Edit:

I agree with in some respects, but I still love these folk excursions from Bartók. The Kocsis solo piano cycle is a magnificent achievement. In general, I love Bartók's solo piano music.

Totally agree!

[Mirror Image]

I love the Sonatina and Romanian Folk Dances! Simple, Scarlatti-like almost at times, but gems all imo.

And in honour of their mention, now playing the Bartok Sonata (from the box below), which is a bit more substantial, and positively spits energy and invention. Great music, great playing!



A

+1

[Iota]

+1

Haha, see my edit.

[Mirror Image]

Haha, see my edit.

The +1 still stands!

[SonicMan46]

I have the Dutch NM Classics set, and it was love at first sight (hearing). The later Glossa set has a lot of the same performers and from what I heard of it, it is more than a worthy substitute. The Bèrben I bought on impulse but it has failed to enthuse me so far... Glen Wilson - excellent. The Brilliant set didn't impress me at all.

Thanks Que for your succinct comments - the Glossa 6-disc set w/ numerous different performers seems like the best choice but is $50 at Amazon USA); and uses organ in many of the performances.  Just re-listened to the 2 CDs that I do own, i.e. Glen Wilson & Alina Rotaru - also was perusing other offerings, esp. with harpsichord and found a well reviewed one w/ Richard Egarr, who I've liked in the past - there are a couple of overlaps vs. my other recordings but no problem - might want to stick to Sweelinck w/o an organ, just me I guess?  Dave   P.S. some reviews attached, mainly Rotaru and Egarr. 

     

[Traverso]

Stravinsky

Petrushka City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Symphony in Three movements  City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Symphonies of Wind Instruments  Berliner Philharmoniker