What are you listening 2 now?

[vandermolen]

So glad that I bought this CD (version for piano duet of the 1920 edition):

[VonStupp]

A first time listen to this work. Sticking with Part I later today:

I like how the physical media lists all of the instrumental solos throughout, something I don't always see in favor of the vocalists.

JS Bach
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244

Christina Landshamer - soprano,
Marie‐Claude Chappuis - mezzo
Johannes Chum - evangelist,
Hanno Müller‐Brachmann - Jesus
Maximilian Schmitt - tenor,
Klaus Häger - bass, Thomas Quasthoff - bass
Thomanerchor Leipzig & Tölzer Knabenchor
Gewandhaus - Riccardo Chailly

Moving on to Part 2 today.

VS

[kyjo]

Taneyev: Oresteia - Overture

Heck, this is simply an amazing masterpiece! The whole work looks promising if the music is as great as this overture.






Lyatoshynsky: Symphony No. 1

One of my favorite CDs devoted to this composer. Suffocatingly sensuous!

Grazhyna doesn't outstay its welcome either!

Yeah, my appetite is certainly whetted to hear Taneyev's whole Oresteia opera after that magnificent overture (which is really more like a tone poem)! I've read positive things about it.

In light of recent events, I was also listening to that great Ukrainian Lyatoshynsky recently, namely his 4th Symphony in the wonderfully lugubrious key of B-flat minor. A really dark, defiant, menacing, and mysterious creation. That haunting and marvelously orchestrated slow movement is something else! Grazhyna is excellent as well and I recall enjoying the lushly Glièreian/Scriabinesque 1st Symphony too.

[André]

Carillo was born in Mexico in 1875 and studied in Leipzig (composition under Jadassohn) and became a member of the Gewandhausorchester under Nikisch. Later in life he theorized and perfected microtonalism. He was appointed Director of Mexico's National Conservatory of Music. His work earned praise from Bartok, Casella, Milhaud, Honegger and many others (so the notes tell us).

The symphony starts the disc, followed by the other pieces: 2 fine but lightweight works and a suite from an opera. Programming-wise this is of course nonsense. I'm leaving the big 2nd symphony from 1905 for last. It has the same duration as Sibelius' 2nd or Shostakovich's 5th.

[Todd]

Revisiting one of the better Kreislerianas out there.

[SonicMan46]

Beethoven, LV - Violin Sonatas - well still going through my LvB collection and have the three sets below: 1) Cerovsek & Jumppanen; 2) Berofsky & Bush; and 3) Ogata & Watson - first two on modern instruments and third on period instruments (McNulty fortepiano) - listening selectively to a disc from each - nothing to cull out - love all performances and if you're in the market for a PI recording, then hard to beat Ogata & Watson - reviews attached of the two of the three sets - cannot find one on Berofsky & Bush (although the Amazonians give all 5* reviews).  Dave

   

[foxandpeng]

+1!

Is not the opening of the 3rd act heartbreakingly ravishing?

And the Sinfonietta is sheer bliss. I can't get enough of both this composer either!

It most certainly is! 😊

[Karl Henning]

Uncharacteristically for this set: a tranche of symphonies unnamed.

CD 11

Symphony № 84 in E^b, Hob I:84
Symphony № 86 in D, Hob I:86
Symphony № 87 in A, Hob I:87

[Todd]

[VonStupp]

JS Bach
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244

Christina Landshamer - soprano, Marie‐Claude Chappuis - mezzo
Johannes Chum - evangelist, Hanno Müller‐Brachmann - Jesus
Maximilian Schmitt - tenor,
Klaus Häger - bass, Thomas Quasthoff - bass
Thomanerchor Leipzig & Tölzer Knabenchor
Gewandhaus - Riccardo Chailly

The biggest boon to this 2CD Chailly recording of Bach's St. Matthew Passion is the presence of Thomas Quasthoff just before his retirement, although Quasthoff also appears with a less hectic Helmuth Rilling in the same work sometime before this one.

I have never been a huge fan of boy sopranos/altos in symphonic choral works, but they were well drilled, warm-toned, and quite powerful when needed here. A lovely surprise. VS

https://www.youtube.com/v/AAqGw-9u4L0&ab_channel=ThomasQuasthoff-Topic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAqGw-9u4L0

[Symphonic Addict]

and that's a very nice recording on Naxos.

Yes, there are some gems in this cycle. In fact, I don't have any important complaint about it, it's competitive with others in every way.

BTW, the cover art is quite intriguing and apt for the music.

I really like the combination of works on that Chandos CD Cesar, although my favourite version of the 'Gregoriano' is this one - maybe because it's the first one I owned:

It's a good one, for sure. Fortunately, we have superb recordings of those pieces, Jeffrey.

[Symphonic Addict]

Lyatoshynski Symphony #2 and #3

followed by

Bortkiewicz PC #1, #2 and #3

I have been listening to lots of Ukrainian composer's music of late, for obvious reasons.

What did you think?

[Symphonic Addict]

Liadov/Lyadov

Those Naxos cartoons of several composers are quite funny!

[Symphonic Addict]

Me too. Now playing Lyatoshinsky/Lyatoshynsky:

Grazhyna

I was on holiday, in the North of England, some years ago and was in a shop where they had BBC Radio 3 playing in the background. I was really enjoying what was being broadcast and hung around in the shop until I could hear what it was - it turned out to be 'Grazhyna'.

One of my favorite Chandos CDs!

[Symphonic Addict]

Terrific performances of all three concertos in superb sound. All recorded in London in 1992, both piano concertos at Walthamstow Town Hall and the organ concerto at St Albans cathedral. Rogé is the soloist in the Piano Concerto and plays second piano in the Concerto for 2 Pianos.

And that's one of my favorite Poulenc CDs, albeit the recording of the Organ Concerto I tend to prefer is Alain at the organ along with Martinon et al. The Munch one is also terrific.

[Symphonic Addict]

Yeah, my appetite is certainly whetted to hear Taneyev's whole Oresteia opera after that magnificent overture (which is really more like a tone poem)! I've read positive things about it.

In light of recent events, I was also listening to that great Ukrainian Lyatoshynsky recently, namely his 4th Symphony in the wonderfully lugubrious key of B-flat minor. A really dark, defiant, menacing, and mysterious creation. That haunting and marvelously orchestrated slow movement is something else! Grazhyna is excellent as well and I recall enjoying the lushly Glièreian/Scriabinesque 1st Symphony too.

Me too, Kyle. Will be listening to the whole thing sooner than later.

Well said about the Glière-Scriabin connection. Actually, I consider all his five symphonies more than good. My favorite remains No. 3, though, I love all of them!

[Todd]

[André]

3 estonian dances for orchestra
3 serenades for chamber orchestra
Flute concerto
Quintet for flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello (outstanding)
Horn concerto
Symphony no 2

A fine - very fine - program, and an original voice.

[Symphonic Addict]

3 estonian dances for orchestra
3 serenades for chamber orchestra
Flute concerto
Quintet for flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello (outstanding)
Horn concerto
Symphony no 2

A fine - very fine - program, and an original voice.

Fine and variegated, André. Sounds enticing.

[Symphonic Addict]

Casella: Concerto Romano

Not Casella's best concerto by any means, but it has its moments.





Debussy: Children's Corner (orch. by Caplet)

A very nice recording, though it's not Debussy's at his most inspired IMO. For me, the best movement is the last one Golliwog's Cake-Walk. I feel the others less characteristic.