What are you listening 2 now?

[classicalgeek]

I'd personally be hesitant to say I prefer Guarnieri over Villa-Lobos for the simple reason that V-L is one of those composers that I immediately fell in love with and this is something that doesn't happen a lot. Sometimes I have to work quite hard to get a composer and their style(s). I have been tremendously impressed with Guarnieri's music, though, but there's just not enough of it available to give me any kind of overview of his oeuvre, but I've certainly loved what I've heard. I think as a symphonist, Guarnieri is more convincing perhaps, but this is probably to do with the tighter structure he seems to employ. Villa-Lobos, for better or for worse, does better when the form is freer, but he does surprise me when his SQs for example, which structurally solid.

I think I need to listen to more Villa-Lobos! Definitely some of the string quartets and piano works, and I haven't even dug into the BIS box (complete Choros and Bachianas Brasilieras) I picked up in January. I think I got a little excited about Guarnieri and made a hyperbolic statement! They're both really fine composers, and I look forward to exploring more of their works.

Great! I got the original Thorofon set for less than 10 euros a few years ago at JPC. It's been licensed to Membran with the same contents. Currently JPC lists 338 entries for him: 27 CDs and a whopping 311 scores. He is taught and played in every conservatory and music school in Germany. Genzmer is not a composer you'll write about in 'Pieces that have blown you away' but his brand of style gets under the skin. So satisfying...

I read that Genzmer studied with Hindemith, and I definitely notice Hindemith's influence on his style. I probably will buy the Genzmer box on Membran at some point; it's a pity they couldn't license all the Thorofon recordings. Looking at his scores for sale on JPC, he had a large and varied output - he seemed to write for every instrument (and combination of instruments) possible! In that respect, he reminds me a bit of Niels Viggo Bentzon: an extremely prolific - and all but unknown - composer.


TD:
Magnus Lindberg
Al Largo
*Cello Concerto no. 2
Era
*Anssi Karttunen, cello
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Hannu Lintu
(on Qobuz)



Grand in scope and concept, and decidedly "contemporary" sounding. Not something I'd listen to very often, but still fine music.

[Mirror Image]

First dip into this Saint-Saëns set of chamber music for winds, now playing the Clarinet Sonata, Op. 167:



Exquisite! Gives The Nash Ensemble a run for its' money.

[Mapman]

Sibelius: Symphony #2
Segerstam: Helsinki

I don't like this symphony as much as I used to. There are still some great moments, though, such as the oboe theme in the 3rd movement. I wasn't so impressed by this recording. I sampled the finale of a few other recordings, and like Maazel/Vienna better.

[classicalgeek]

Hendrik Andriessen
Symphony no. 4
Libertas venit
Capriccio
Canzona for orchestra
Netherlands Symphony Orchestra
David Porcelijn
(on Qobuz)

[bhodges]

Tonight at 7:30 EDT, the Viano Quartet with Roberto Díaz, former principal viola of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and now President and CEO of the Curtis Institute of Music. The livestream is pay-what-you-wish.

Caroline Shaw: The Evergreen
Prokofiev: Quartet in F Major, Op. 92
Brahms: String Quintet in G Major, Op. 111

https://www.pcmsconcerts.org/concerts/viano-quartet-roberto-diaz/

--Bruce

This was a superb concert, and will be available at the link below until Saturday. I especially enjoyed the Prokofiev, but the Shaw and Brahms were great, too. Wonderful venue, excellent sound, and yet another reminder of the pluses of live-streaming, making events like this available to anyone in the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNrW_ho0bRM

--Bruce

[Linz]

Arthur Fielder Boston Pops Orchestra Dvorak Symphony 9 as the main

[kyjo]

Kyle reminded me of giving this symphony another listen:

Villem Kapp: Symphony No. 2 in C minor

This definitely is good stuff, and there is a clarity in the recording that allows to hear all with great detail. Those imposing climaxes are vividly captured!

Good stuff indeed! It's definitely the highlight of that CD - the works by his relatives impressed me a lot less.

[kyjo]

The contents of this CD


As part of this set


Based on the first CD of the set (Symphonies 2 and 5, Suite for Chamber Orchestra) this stuff should be of interest to Kyjo, Classicalgeek, Symphonic Addict, foxandpeng, vandermolen, and Harry if they don't already have it.
Mirror Image too, but I'm pretty sure he already has it!

Oh yes, I already know most of the music in this set. Wonderful music indeed, full of spark and verve!

[Mapman]

Michael Haydn: Quintet in Bb major, P. 104, MH 412
L'Archibudelli



Lutosławski: Concerto for Orchestra
Rowicki: National Philharmonic, Warsaw

I really like this!

[Symphonic Addict]

Sibelius: Symphony #2
Segerstam: Helsinki

I don't like this symphony as much as I used to. There are still some great moments, though, such as the oboe theme in the 3rd movement. I wasn't so impressed by this recording. I sampled the finale of a few other recordings, and like Maazel/Vienna better.

The classic Szell recording with the RCO, Barbirolli/Hallé and this one (see below) represent the most succesful ones I've ever heard:

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Saygun
Violin Concerto, Op. 44
Mirjam Tschopp, violin
Rheinland-Pfalz State Philharmonic Orchestra
Ari Rasilainen



And then the fourth volume of Glazunov's SQs on MDG with the Utrecht String Quartet:

[Mapman]

The classic Szell recording with the RCO, Barbirolli/Hallé and this one (see below) represent the most succesful ones I've ever heard:

I'm sure I've heard the Szell at some point, but I don't own it. I'll try to remember to check out the Mackerras/RPO. I have this release ([url]https://www.amazon.com/Sibelius-Best-Great-Composers-30/dp/B00008EWUM/url]) of the Barbirolli; I think it's the same as the others on EMI/Warner. I didn't listen to it today because the 3rd and 4th movements are on the same track.

[Symphonic Addict]

NP:

Saygun
Violin Concerto, Op. 44
Mirjam Tschopp, violin
Rheinland-Pfalz State Philharmonic Orchestra
Ari Rasilainen



And then the fourth volume of Glazunov's SQs on MDG with the Utrecht String Quartet:

Fine coupling of works!

[Mirror Image]

Fine coupling of works!

I had a hunch you'd enjoy this coupling, Cesar.

[Symphonic Addict]

I had a hunch you'd enjoy this coupling, Cesar.

Saygun, particularly, has been a tasty revelation to me in the last months. I've gone to appreciate his talent better and better.

[Mirror Image]

Saygun, particularly, has been a tasty revelation to me in the last months. I've gone to appreciate his talent better and better.

Same here. I had a bit of difficulty with his music, but those clouds seem to have cleared now. He's great.

[Spotted Horses]

On Spotify:
Alexander Zemlinsky
String Quartet No.4

That series of recordings is very fine. I seem to remember reading that the La Salle Quartet was responsible for something of a revival of those quartets when they started performing them in the 1960's. I feel possessive of the La Salle Quartet, because they named themselves after La Salle Street, where I once lived for a short time.

I originally got to know Zemlinsky through the Conlon recordings on EMI, but ultimately found them unsatisfying, not because of Conlon's work, but because EMI's audio never seemed to quite bloom the way it should. I have found Chailly and Dausgaard more to my taste.

[Operafreak]

The Call of Rome: Music by Allegri, F. Anerio, Josquin and Victoria- The Sixteen, Harry Christophers

[Symphonic Addict]

Berg: Drei Orchesterstücke

The work that convinced me as an admirer of him. The more I dive into it, the more I get fascinated by its otherworldly and baleful atmosphere.

[Mirror Image]

Berg: Drei Orchesterstücke

The work that convinced me as an admirer of him. The more I dive into it, the more I get fascinated by its otherworldly and baleful atmosphere.

Yeah, I'm a huge fan of this work as well and Berg's individualistic take on Expressionism. Other favorites of mine from Berg: Lyrische Suite, Violin Concerto, Wozzeck and Der Wein (!!!! incredible piece !!!!).