What are you listening 2 now?

[Papy Oli]

More from the Janacek boxset : Suite for String Orchestra (Marriner / LA Chamber Orch.)

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[kyjo]

Some first listens:



Symphony No 1. Boring. I'm not impressed.



Symphony No. 2. Better, but I'm still unimpressed.

   

I'm speechless, Andrei! I would think this music would be right up your alley!

[aukhawk]

Agree about Honegger. He (HvK) only recorded those two. The poetic and deeply moving (in view of what's come before) 'birdsong' ending of No.3 is hauntingly beautiful, unlike any other recording.

I have a vague recollection of that music being used as theme music for a TV series, back in the '70s maybe.  Can't remember what though - something like Great Expectations.

[Papy Oli]

Schubert - Piano Sonata in A minor D.845 (Lupu)

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[aukhawk]

The performance of the Walton, recorded at a Prom in 1993, is a bit rough round the edges, but very exciting  and the audience erupt in a spontaneous round of applause at the end of the first movement.

So they should.  It's absurd to remain silent at a moment like that.

[Florestan]

Florestan - I've been listening to the Celis/Chandos disc that you did not enjoy ad comparing the works with the Hyperion recordings of the Sonata by Danny Driver (which you mention) and the Preludes by Stephen Hough which you don't.  In both cases Celis delivers a more overtly muscular direct interpretation but I have to say I don't find is as unrelentingly heavy-handed as you do.  And certainly I feel the music sounds valid this way.  Certainly I do not find the music itself to be simple note-spinning. 

My one thought is that the Chandos recording is closer and more analytical which serves to underline Celis' approach.  Hyperion favour a warmer acoustic.  Hough is simply superb in the Preludes - a shame he recorded only a selection and as far as I know has never returned to Bowen in the recording studio.  From memory this was the path-finding disc of Bowen's piano music which reawakened people to his compositions.  Even allowing for the recording, I prefer Celis in the Sonata to Driver although the latter is still very fine.

Thanks for this detailed analysis. Well, what you call muscular I call piano banging. 

Now I must get that Hough disc.

I am not so convinced of Bowen writing for orchestra - I don't hear as much individuality - but I like his solo keyboard compositions very much.

My note-spinning comment refers to his violin concerto, not the the preludes.

[Florestan]

   

I'm speechless, Andrei! I would think this music would be right up your alley!

I myself thought exactly that before spinning them. Imagine how speechless I was not liking them. 

First Glazunov, now Bowen... What's happening to me, I wonder?

[Traverso]

Thanks for this detailed analysis. Well, what you call muscular I call piano banging. 

Maybe you are just a sensitive guy 

[j winter]

After I posted my list of Bach harpsichord recordings yesterday, I realized that I must have a few more, because years ago I acquired the big blue brick:



I rummaged through it last night, and pulled out quite a few harpsichord items to digitize and eventually take for a spin.  One item I listened to this morning was part of Leon Berben's WTC, Book 1.

I have to say... I don't care for it.  His performance just doesn't flow... the musical line stops and slows down in places and ways that don't seem, at least to my untrained ears, to be emphasizing or highlighting anything in particular.  It sounds hesitant; the impression it conveys is like he's struggling a bit as he plays, whether with the technical limitations of the specific instrument he's playing, or with his technique in the music itself, it's not clear.  I'm sure it must be an intentional, interpretive choice of some kind, but it doesn't work for me.  I think I'll be setting this one aside for now... perhaps I'll come back to it later with a fresh set of ears.....

[prémont]

After I posted my list of Bach harpsichord recordings yesterday, I realized that I must have a few more, because years ago I acquired the big blue brick:



I rummaged through it last night, and pulled out quite a few harpsichord items to digitize and eventually take for a spin.  One item I listened to this morning was part of Leon Berben's WTC, Book 1.

I have to say... I don't care for it.  His performance just doesn't flow... the musical line stops and slows down in places and ways that don't seem, at least to my untrained ears, to be emphasizing or highlighting anything in particular.  It sounds hesitant; the impression it conveys is like he's struggling a bit as he plays, whether with the technical limitations of the specific instrument he's playing, or with his technique in the music itself, it's not clear.  I'm sure it must be an intentional, interpretive choice of some kind, but it doesn't work for me.  I think I'll be setting this one aside for now... perhaps I'll come back to it later with a fresh set of ears.....

He was very young, when he recorded the WTC. I think his approach may be understood as a young but musically immature mans wish to impress with his brilliance. What I particularly don't like is, that he in a number of the pieces with many accidentals plays lots of wrong notes. Often he simply distorts the music - listen to the g sharp minor fugue from book II e.g. He has matured a lot since, and I hope he will get the chance to rerecord the work.

But I see, that you have ordered Wilson's WTC (in the box). That's something quite else.

[j winter]

He was very young, when he recorded the WTC. I think his approach may be understood as a young but musically immature mans wish to impress with his brilliance. What I particularly don't like is, that he in a number of the pieces with many accidentals plays lots of wrong notes. Often he simply distorts the music - listen to the g sharp minor fugue from book II e.g. He has matured a lot since, and I hope he will get the chance to rerecord the work.

But I see, that you have ordered Wilson's WTC (in the box). That's something quite else.

Thanks for that, glad to see it's not just my ears...

FYI, I do not have Wilson's WTC on order -- I have Van Asperen's on order, in this box which I found for under $10:



I enjoyed his English Suites (which are in the Brilliant Box above), and based on that and his reputation I thought this worth getting.

That said, I'll keep Wilson in mind.  See, this is why I haven't posted on the Bach harpsichord thread, I know how I am, and that there are probably three dozen essential recordings I need... perhaps I'll win the lottery...

[Sergeant Rock]

Brahms Trio for Piano, Clarinet and Cello in A minor op.114 played by Ax, Stoltzman and Ma




Sarge

[Traverso]

Les Percussions de Strasbourg

CD 6

 

[ritter]

Richard Wagner: Parsifal (Act III) - Daniel Barenboim (cond).

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[prémont]

FYI, I do not have Wilson's WTC on order -- I have Van Asperen's on order, in this box which I found for under $10:

I enjoyed his English Suites (which are in the Brilliant Box above), and based on that and his reputation I thought this worth getting.

It certainly is. As to me I prefer van Asperen to Wilson.

[Roasted Swan]

Thanks for this detailed analysis. Well, what you call muscular I call piano banging. 

Now I must get that Hough disc.

My note-spinning comment refers to his violin concerto, not the the preludes.

Yes indeed - do try and find the Hough disc;

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he is one of those remarkable players who wears his extreme virtuosity very lightly...... only after the event do you suddenly think goodness me that was really hard and he made it sound simple!!!

I have a guilty admission - I have rather a soft spot for pianists who blaze their way around the keyboard.  Probably because I am not able to play the piano at all (but wish I could) I am disproportionately impressed by those who give a piano a sound thrashing.......

A quite unrelated thought linked to your mention of Bowen as the English Rachmaninov but you then missing the lyrical element in Celis' playing..... the other day I listened to this version of Rach. 2/Paganini Rhapsody;



reading reviews it seems that some folk find Thibaudet too cool and 'straight'.  I must admit I really enjoyed this version.  For sure it does NOT milk every romantic musical phrase but I thought it quite stunningly played and beautifully stylish as well.  I like the big heart-on-sleeve interpretations as well but playing of this calibre rather disarms criticism.....

[j winter]

It certainly is. As to me I prefer van Asperen to Wilson.

Excellent -- I look forward to hearing it!  Thanks again

[aligreto]

Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 4 [Boult]





Boult gives a very spirited account of this very fine work.
More thoughts will be posted in the Vaughan Williams thread.

[aligreto]

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Christie's and Niquet's efforts form together a magnificent Charpentier collection! 

Q

Agreed; two fine Charpentier interpreters indeed.

[Traverso]

Bach

Das wohltemperierte Klavier  Book 1

Glen Wilson Cembalo