What are you listening 2 now?

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Godfried Devreese: Tomblene.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Busoni: Turandot Suite (Orchestra Filharmonica della Scala/Muti)

Nice!

[Irons]

Bartok: Piano Quintet (B. Kelemen, V. Frang, violins; K. Kokas, viola; N. Altstaedt, cello; N. Lonquich, piano)



Lately I can't get enough of piano quintets - there's so many astounding works in this genre beyond the "usual suspects", and this one is no exception. I've seen some deride this early work as "derivative/conservative/etc" and I don't agree at all. Conservative in comparison to Bartok's later works, perhaps, but full of character, riotous energy (that finale!), inventive harmonies and textures, and permeated throughout with an unmistakable folksy stamp. Each movement becomes even more incredible than the previous one, and that's saying a lot considering the first movement is already pretty damn good! And to say nothing of this incredibly characterful and vigorous performance - I can't imagine it being bettered.


Dyson: Violin Concerto



This concerto suffers from a first movement that, while beautiful, is too long for its own good at over 20 minutes long. As in Tchaik's PC no. 1, the noble and captivating opening gesture never reappears later on! The highlight of the work IMO is the delicious, jig-like 2nd movement scherzo. Interestingly, I detected some occasional Brahmsian influences in the slow movement and finale. Overall, an endearing if rather uneven work.


Mozart: Symphony no. 39



A full-bodied, vigorous performance of this perennial masterpiece. My only gripe is the occasional harpsichord continuo line tinkling along in the background - is that really necessary in this music?


Raff: Suite for Piano and Orchestra



Sheer Raffish neo-baroque delight! The third movement Gavotte is an earworm if there ever was one!


Larsson: Symphony no. 2 and Barococo Suite



The 2nd is my favorite of Larsson's three symphonies, a sweeping work with an instantly memorable, sequential main theme that he (understandably) almost milks to death - it reappears as the basis of the thrilling, passacaglia-like (shades of Brahms 4!) finale. Sibelius' benevolent influence casts its spell over the bucolic central movement. The Barococo Suite shows a different side of Larsson - the witty neoclassicist/neobaroquist! It's an extremely entertaining work which slyly quotes works like Prokofiev's Classical Symphony and something by Mozart - it actually made me laugh out loud!

Everything you say of the Dyson VC is very true. Beside, or maybe because of the faults you raise I have a fondness for the work. I always think at the opening, this is the opening of the best symphony Dyson didn't compose.

[Florestan]

Mozart: Symphony no. 39



A full-bodied, vigorous performance of this perennial masterpiece. My only gripe is the occasional harpsichord continuo line tinkling along in the background - is that really necessary in this music?

Absolutely not, especially not in the late symphonies.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 with Sviatoslav Richter and Wislocki and Sinfonie-Orchester der Nationalen Philharmonie Warschau on a DG LP which includes 6 Preludes



PD

[Florestan]

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 with Sviatoslav Richter and Wislocki and Sinfonie-Orchester der Nationalen Philharmonie Warschau on a DG LP which includes 6 Preludes



PD

Sweet memories! That was my first Rachmaninoff recording and one of the first recordings I've owned (my father gifted it to me) albeit in this Romanian LP incarnation:

[SonicMan46]

Still on the Bachs:

Bach, JC - Keyboard Sonatas, Op. 5 w/ Sophie Yates on harpsichord & Bart van Oort on fortepiano.

Bach, JS - Toccatas w/ Peter Watchorn on harpsichord & Ivo Janssen on piano from the Bach box.  Dave

     

[Mirror Image]

First-Listen Monday

Kodály
Seven Piano Pieces, Op. 11
Ádám Fellegi

[kyjo]

I think it was you who shared your enthusiasm when I tried this same recording in my chronological exploration of Bartok. It certainly is worth listening to.

It probably was me! Yeah, exploring the early works of major composers can turn up some real gems, even if they aren't characteristic of their "mature" styles.

[kyjo]

Kurt Weill's Symphony No. 2 
    Antony Beaumont, Die Deutsche Kammerphilharonie Berlin

Edited to add: perhaps a little to my surprise, but it's an excellent symphony!

It sure is! Full of energy, spark, and great tunes. I had the rare experience of hearing it live a few years ago! The quasi-expressionistic 1st Symphony is darker and a less immediately accessible, but still very much worth hearing.

[Klavier1]

No.4-6.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Sweet memories! That was my first Rachmaninoff recording and one of the first recordings I've owned (my father gifted it to me) albeit in this Romanian LP incarnation:

Oh, sweet!    I have some other recordings with Richter on CD and have been slowly acquiring some of them or different ones on LP.  Not certain, but think that I purchased this one a few years ago (for $3.00, so not bad I think?).  I gave it a clean today and put it on...sounds great!  Enjoying the Preludes now whilst waiting for my lunch to heat up.  Any idea when he recorded these pieces?  Looking at the liner notes (which are just about him...perhaps there was something else, an insert or something on the original sleeve, that talked about Rachmaninoff and also when and where the recordings were made?  At the bottom (on the back of the jacket) it just says "Printed in West Germany by Gerhard Stalling AG, Oldenburg.  I would guess that that info is just regarding the sleeve.

PD

[Florestan]

when and where the recordings were made? 

I have no clue. The Romanian LP mentions only "A Polskie Nagrania recording, Warsaw". My father bought me the LP in 1986 but I'm sure the recording itself is much older.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I have no clue. The Romanian LP mentions only "A Polskie Nagrania recording, Warsaw". My father bought me the LP in 1986 but I'm sure the recording itself is much older.

I'll do some digging post-lunch. 

PD

[kyjo]

Everything you say of the Dyson VC is very true. Beside, or maybe because of the faults you raise I have a fondness for the work. I always think at the opening, this is the opening of the best symphony Dyson didn't compose.

I know what you mean. Sometimes a work's flaws can make it more endearing in a way.

[kyjo]

Absolutely not, especially not in the late symphonies.

Yeah, not quite sure what the generally brilliant Mackerras was thinking there. The harpsichord continuo puts a slight damper on these otherwise wonderful performances...

[Karl Henning]

From the Box
CD 29


These are not part of the well-known cycle, but instead recorded in 1957 for Pye, and just as good.

Excellent. I certainly found this Op. 105 very tasty:

CD 11

"Wolferl"
Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492—Overture

LvB
Egmont—Overture, Op. 84

"Papa"
Symphony № 83 in g minor, « La poule » Hob.I:83

Schubert
Die Zauberharfe, D. 644—Overture (Rosamunde)

Mendelssohn
Octet, Op. 20—Scherzo

Sibelius
Symphony № 7 in C, Op. 105

Now:

CD 7
LvB

Pf Sonata № 23 in f minor, Op. 57 « Appassionata »
Pf Sonata № 26 in E^b Op. 81a « Les Adieux »
Pf Sonata № 29 in B^b Op. 81a « Hammerklavier »

[Karl Henning]

Buxethude

More organ now with this fine Buxtehude box

CD 1

Praeludium In G Minor BuxWVVV149   
Nun Komm, Der Heiden Heiland BuxWVVV211   
Gelobet Seist Du, Jesu Christ BuxWVVV189   
Puer Natus In Bethlehem BuxWVV217   
Der Tag Der Ist So Freudenreich BuxWVV182   
In Dulci Jubilo BuxWV197   
Lobt Gott, Ihr Christen Allzu Gleich BuxWV202   
Ciacona In C Minor BuxWV159   
Passacaglia In D Minor BuxWV161   
Ciacona In E Minor BuxWVV160
Praeludium In G Minor BuxWV148   
Jesus Christus, Unser Heliland, Der Den Tod Ueberwand BuxWVV198   
Komm, Heilger Geist, Herre Gott BuxWVV199   
Nun Bitten Wir Den Heilgen Geist BuxWVV209   
Nun Bitten Wir Den Heilgen Geist BuxWVV208   
Komm, Heliger Geist, Herre Gott BuxWVV200   
Gott Der Vater Wohn Uns Bei BuxWVV190   
Praeludium In C BuxWVV137

Love that box, Jan!

[SonicMan46]

Bach, JS - Organ Sonatas, BWV 525-530 - first below is Benjamin Alard on organ (ogrue Bernard Aubertin, Elise Saint-Louis in Ile, Paris); remaining two are transcriptions - the Brook Street Band (violins, cello, & harpsichord) and the Trio Lezard on English horn (cor anglais), clarinet, and bassoon; also own the Olivier Vernet Bach Organ Box w/ the same works - must say that I'm really enjoying the transcriptions.  Dave

   

[Florestan]

Yeah, not quite sure what the generally brilliant Mackerras was thinking there. The harpsichord continuo puts a slight damper on these otherwise wonderful performances...

I can't stand the harpschord continuo in symphonies. I couldn't care less if that's how they experienced them back then (which I doubt anyway), to my ears it's an abomination.