What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

I recall having heard this opera at least once, John. There are many fine moments especially in the opening and closing parts. Other of his operas that have delighted me a lot are Semirama, La Bella Dormente nel Bosco and Lucrezia.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

JS Bach: Complete Organ Works [Foccroulle] CD 3

Freie Formen, Chorale, und Fantasia "Wo Gott, der Herr" BWV 1128. This CD is played on two organs, the Rommel organ in the Blasii Kirche, Zella Mehlis and the Schnitger organ in the Martinikerk, Groningen.






It seems to my untrained ear that the recorded sound is very good in this set, at least in the first three CDs.

Yes vg recording sound and nice performance!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Prokofiev SY 1&5. Ormandy/Philadelphia.

[Mirror Image]

Two back-to-back performances of Debussy's Jeux in its version for orchestra and then the solo piano reduction from the composer himself:

Cleveland Orchestra
Boulez

From this set -



Jean-Pierre Armengaud



From this set -

[Florestan]

Here:



Brahms: Op.117
Arcadi Volodos (piano)


The way Volodos seems to suspend sounds in the air is just breathtaking, it's sensationally beautiful playing. Indeed for me the 'sound' of his playing generally is one of the most beautiful there's ever been in piano, but I wonder if it might be too so for some in the Brahms (Lupu by comparison, another fantastic recording, almost bleeds the music onto the piano). I don't have any problem with his performance at all though, I find it unique and spellbinding.

+ 1.

[Florestan]

What do you think? (I liked it a lot.)

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Two back-to-back performances of Debussy's Jeux in its original version for orchestra and then the solo piano reduction from the composer himself:

Cleveland Orchestra
Boulez

From this set -



Jean-Pierre Armengaud



From this set -

Great box! Terrific cover art!

[Mirror Image]

Great box! Terrific cover art!

Indeed. Loved the choice of Hokusai. I wished for the Ravel Complete Warner set they would've went with Paul Cézanne for the front cover and sleeve art.

[Que]

What do you think? (I liked it a lot.)

A winner!   

[Traverso]

Masters of the German Baroque

CD 2

[Mirror Image]

Dipping a bit into this set again:

Strauss
Sechs Lieder nach Gedichten von Clemens Brentano, Op. 68
Judith Howarth, Edita Gruberova
Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice
Friedrich Haider

From this OOP set:

[aligreto]

Yes vg recording sound and nice performance!

Cheers. Yes, I find his playing style very easy to listen to.

[kyjo]

I hope your Lloyd traversal doesn't last too long!

Hey, watch it, John!

[aligreto]

Kodaly: Variations on a Hungarian Folk Song for Orchestra "The Peacock" [Dorati]





This work displays Kodaly's orchestrating skills to great advantage. There is also a great infusion of a sense of atmosphere, tension and drama in this performance.

[kyjo]

I confess to have trouble relating to Williamson's music. Some of it I liked immediately (the beautiful Epitaphs for strings), while the two symphonies proved harder to evaluate. I'll need more listenings before I get a grip on this composer's language. 

Yeah, the other day I tried his Symphony no. 1 Elevamini and found it rather puzzling and fragmentary. I've seen rave reviews of the Hyperion set of his PCs, though.

[kyjo]

Novák: String Quartet No. 3

Why is not this masterpiece better known and more recorded? Thoroughly eloquent piece. That 2nd. movement Lento doloroso is something else.

Sounds thoroughly promising, Cesar! Which quartet is performing? I don't see this recording on Spotify.

[kyjo]

NP:

Pierné
Ramuntcho Suites No. 1 & 2
BBC PO
Junjo Mena



A delightful work, which I believe (if I remember correctly) takes its inspiration from Basque folk music. This isn't a first-listen, but it's been such a long-time since I've heard this work that it feels like it. I'd like to get more of Pierné's music on disc (I own quite a few recordings of his music), but there's still much to explore.

Thoroughly tuneful, colorful, and enjoyable stuff!

[André]

Along with the 4th and the 8th, the 3rd is the most mangled of Bruckner's symphonies. Their numerous musical/editorial changes mean that, depending on the version used, one hears a substantially different work. Here Nott has chosen the original version from 1873 - published only in 1977 !

In the first versions of the 4th and 8th, subsequent revisions of the text improved both the shape and content. In the case of the 3rd, many think the original is the most complete and faithful expression of Bruckner's art. Listening to this exceptionally fine version, I tend to concur. When it started to be recorded it sounded strange, diffuse, structurally all over the place. Familiarity from both listeners, orchestras and conductors over the past 45 years have brought a much better understanding of Bruckner's original ideas. Of course I miss the more confident, striking coda of the later revisions, but little else.

This recording is already 17 years old and seems to be the only one made by Nott and the Bambergers. I wish they'd have given us more. Jakob Hrusa is now their Chief Conductor and he has himself embarked on the Bruckner train with a splendid set of all versions and movement variants of the 4th symphony.

[André]

Yeah, the other day I tried his Symphony no. 1 Elevamini and found it rather puzzling and fragmentary. I've seen rave reviews of the Hyperion set of his PCs, though.

I listened to it 3 times and a better image gradually took place. Still, it is an unconventional, uncompromising work.

[Mirror Image]

Thoroughly tuneful, colorful, and enjoyable stuff!

Indeed. I've become rather smitten with this composer's music as of late.