What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

You're not a tedious cretin, John, although sometimes you seem to be (especially to those who don't know you yet). 

Please report on Chopin! I can hardly wait for it --- and don't you dare let me down. 

I won't argue with that. Thankfully, this is only my internet persona and not really how I am in real life. I will report on the Chopin for sure. It will be quite some time before I can though as it's coming from Poland. I bought it from an eBay seller.

[André]

Comments in the opera thread.

[Mirror Image]

The only two I know well (played many times) are his recordings of WTC and Op. 87 Preludes and Fugues, I was pretty engaged by both of them for different reasons. Op. 87 may not bring out the various emotions of the piece as well as Scherbakov but it offered me many nice insights.

I'm not entirely enthusiastic about this Debussy set. Usually I glean something from his interpretations, I didn't get any of that here. I don't mind cool in the Preludes (for reference Michelangeli's DG recordings are at the very top of my favorites) but here Woodward just sounds detached, and it's not really that interesting. There are a handful of interesting moments like the left hand trills in Le Vent Dans La Plaine. Ah well, it's been some time since I've heard a new to me set of Preludes that really grabbed me, I was hoping this would scratch the itch. My gut feeling is I won't change my mind on it with repeat listens. It's available on Spotify, I would have normally streamed it first but I was adding a pile of CDs from this seller and this was pretty cheap.

Did you end up getting that Russell Sherman disc of Images, Estampes Book II and Preludes Book II? Those were such interesting interpretations that really spoke to me, the rubato and ritarandos in all the right places and he never lost the forward momentum of the music creating quite the interesting set, particularly in Images.

Thanks for the feedback. I kind of had a hunch Woodward wouldn't deliver the goods in Debussy. I've heard some of his Shostakovich and was unmoved by what I have heard. I did get the Sherman disc but I haven't had a chance to listen to it (I honestly had forgotten about it). My top Debussy pianists are still Jacobs, Kocsis, Egorov, and, lately, I've been quite impressed with what I've heard of Ciccolini --- I may actually break down and buy his box set (I know I don't need any more Debussy solo piano recordings but I just keep buying them). Another great Debussyian who hasn't recorded too much of his music that I enjoy is Momo Kodama. Her recording of the Études on ECM impressed me greatly.

[Daverz]

Speaking of Ormandy and Hindemith, Ormandy and the Philadelphians really cooked in the Concert Music for Brass & Strings:

[asin] B0005EZW9U[/asin]

They did a very good Mathis der Maler Symphony as well:

[asin] B0000028X0[/asin]

TD: one of the more interesting works in tonight's playlist, Roslavet's Chamber Symphony

[asin] B000J3Q8HC[/asin]

It sounds a bit like 1920s Toch or Hindemith to me.  Very entertaining.

[Karl Henning]

Good to know, that I shall listen to it when you don't. 

(* chortle *)

[Traverso]

Happy birthday Florestan.

[Mandryka]

Good to know, that I shall listen to it when you don't. 

You know that this was rereleased recently?

[Mandryka]

Happy birthday Florestan.

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

[Harry]

A very happy Birthday Andrei, and many happy returns. 

[vandermolen]

A very happy Birthday Andrei, and many happy returns. 

And Happy Birthday from me too Andrei.

[vandermolen]

Speaking of Ormandy and Hindemith, Ormandy and the Philadelphians really cooked in the Concert Music for Brass & Strings:

[asin] B0005EZW9U[/asin]

They did a very good Mathis der Maler Symphony as well:

[asin] B0000028X0[/asin]

TD: one of the more interesting works in tonight's playlist, Roslavet's Chamber Symphony

[asin] B000J3Q8HC[/asin]

It sounds a bit like 1920s Toch or Hindemith to me.  Very entertaining.

The Roslavets is a great disc as is the Walton/Hindemith one. I liked that inexpensive Sony Essential Classics series.

[Harry]

Georg Bohm.
Complete organ Works, CD II.

One of my most favourite recording of this year.

[Harry]

Ferdinand Ries.

Concerto Pastoral in D, opus 120.
Piano Concerto in C minor, opus 115.
Introduction et Rondeau Brillant, WoO54.

Christopher Hinterhuber, Piano.
Bournemouth SO, Uwe Grodd.

Volume IV in this series is definitely the best recorded one, (Tim Handley) and the orchestral contribution is also on a higher level as the previous releases. Hinterhuber is a reliable pianist, but quite conservative in expression. He project the melodies in an easy way, but ever attempts to dazzle. A bit matter of fact actually. Still nice music to listen too, but it does not altogether convince me.

[Introverted]

Recent listening:

[asin]B00005IB5N[/asin]

Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111


Taken me most of the week to listen to this recording - I give it the thumbs up.

[The new erato]

One of the few major works of Handel's I never had heard. But amongst some major redecoration projects at home, last night I managed to listen to this new arrival. Though somewhat off the beaten path for Handel his melodic genius strikes through time and time again. Fine sound and performance:

[asin] B07WHMPVH9[/asin]

[Harry]

Anatoly Liadov.
Complete piano works. CD III.

[Traverso]

 La Belle Dance

Lully-Marais-MUffat-Praetorius-William Brade-Rossi

[prémont]

You know that this was rereleased recently?

Thanks for mentioning it. I have ordered it now from a French AMP seller.

[prémont]

And Happy Birthday from me too Andrei.

And Happy Birthday from me as well.

[j winter]

And Happy Birthday from me as well.

Indeed, and many happy returns