What are you listening 2 now?

[vers la flamme]

Carl Nielsen: Clarinet Concerto, op.57. Olle Schill, Myung-Whun Chung, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra

Don't know the work very well but it sounds great, and this is a very good recording of it in excellent sound. Every time I listen to Nielsen I think, I should listen to Nielsen more.

[kyjo]

Enescu: Symphony No. 3 on this retrospective live set:



Streamed via Qobuz.

H/T to the Hurwitzer for bringing this set to my attention.  Very fine recording of the Enescu symphony.

That's a great performance of a visionary work!

[kyjo]

Probably a gross oversimplification, but Skalkottas seems to have a populist side and a difficult atonal side.  The atonal music I've heard is quite gnarly, and I haven't warmed up to any of it yet, but I really enjoy the populist works like the Greek Dances.

+1 Characteristically for my tastes, I much prefer Skalkottas' populist/neoclassical works to his serialist stuff.

[kyjo]

I have a few hours this afternoon to listen. Must divert my thoughts.

Rued Langgaard.
Complete Symphonies.
CD IV.

No. 6, "The Heaven Rending" & No. 7, version 1926. No 8 also on this disc I skipped movement III, do not like vocal  contributions.

Danish National SO, Thomas Dausgaard,

Just a thought, perhaps you could start judging music on its intrinsic quality rather than based on whether it includes a vocal part or not?

[Harry]

Just a thought, perhaps you could start judging music on its intrinsic quality rather than based on whether it includes a vocal part or not?

I never judge music. Intrinsic quality, I think you are the resident expert in this. I dislike vocal contributions in Symphonic works, and on this I base my opinion.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Szymanowski: Mazurkas.
Kaoru Bingham.

[Mandryka]

One of my favorite Xenakis CDs.

What a coincidence! I came here to say I was listening to Tetras on this very CD! It's been a long time since I heard this quartet, a lot of water under the bridge for me. It still sounds like fine music, though I'm hard put to say why exactly.

One thing is true - he's really imaginative about what can be done with a string quartet, the sounds are still slightly astonishing, sui generis music I'd say. No one I can think of followed him, no one wrote chamber music like this before or after as far as I know.

(Maybe Ferneyhough's Sonatas for String Quartet come close for new ideas in the medium.)

[classicalgeek]

Glad you enjoyed the Kokkonen! 

I did! Thanks for the recommendation!

TD:
Paul Creston
Janus
*Violin Concerto no. 2
Symphony no. 4
*Gregory Fulkerson, violin
Albany Symphony Orchestra
David Alan Miller
(on Spotify)



I'd forgotten how much I like Creston! Especially those constantly varying rhythms.

[Linz]

Dvorak Cello Concerto with Heinrich Schiff and Andre Previn and the Wiener Philharmoniker

[DavidW]

Ah my fav on now!

[Daverz]

Guarnieri: Choros for Clarinet and Orchestra, via Qobuz



Previously: Moscheles Piano Concerto No. 6



Charming music, beautifully played and recorded here.

[Undersea]

Mozart: Piano Trio in G, K 496

and

Mozart: Symphony #41 in C, K 551, "Jupiter"

[Symphonic Addict]

Well, as James (classicalgeek) says, "so much music, so little time"! Don't worry, I'll get around to it!

Even though I'm a hardcore listener, I must admit I also need some pauses in order to not getting saturated. Music needs to be more fresher for me from time to time.

Well, I can respect your opinion, I guess. P-B was hardly a master of development, but for me his endearing melodies and magical orchestration make up for it. My main criticism of the 3rd symphony is that the slow movement isn't as memorable and colorful as the others.

Every composer has their strengths and weaknesses. Not everyone has to be a Beethoven or Brahms when it comes to rigorous development.

It's not a mediocre work by any means, just that I'm getting more analytical and, eventually, critic towards one of my favorite passions in life. The orchestration is magical and accurate indeed, in that regard Peterson-Berger excelled.

You like Xenakis more than Peterson-Berger? Unforgivable!

In terms of both originality and having a more disruptive style, yes, I do! 

[Symphonic Addict]

Mine, too. There's also a DVD version, highly recommended. But either way, the JACK guys know their way around these difficult pieces like few other groups today.



--Bruce

What a coincidence! I came here to say I was listening to Tetras on this very CD! It's been a long time since I heard this quartet, a lot of water under the bridge for me. It still sounds like fine music, though I'm hard put to say why exactly.

One thing is true - he's really imaginative about what can be done with a string quartet, the sounds are still slightly astonishing, sui generis music I'd say. No one I can think of followed him, no one wrote chamber music like this before or after as far as I know.

(Maybe Ferneyhough's Sonatas for String Quartet come close for new ideas in the medium.)

Good to know! The visuals of the recording or attending a concert must bring some strong impact because this music is really mindblowing.

Tetras was the piece that impressed me the most as well. A paradoxically satisfying and uneasy piece.

[classicalgeek]

Wrapping up the workday (and workweek) with some piano music:

Schumann
Fantasie in C major
Symphonic Etudes
Wilhelm Kempff, piano
(on Spotify)



Outstanding! These are sensitive, thoughtful performances; Kempff may have been equaled in this repertoire, but he's never been surpassed.

[JBS]

Tout les trois annees


Year 1 and most of Year 2 was recorded October and December 1975; the last movement of Year 2 was recorded on 30 January 1968;  Year 3 together with Venezia e Napoli was recorded 7 & 8 January 1976.

CDs 9 and 10 of this

[kyjo]

I did! Thanks for the recommendation!

TD:
Paul Creston
Janus
*Violin Concerto no. 2
Symphony no. 4
*Gregory Fulkerson, violin
Albany Symphony Orchestra
David Alan Miller
(on Spotify)



I'd forgotten how much I like Creston! Especially those constantly varying rhythms.

Love Creston, especially his 2nd and 3rd symphonies!

[Symphonic Addict]

Williamson: Santiago de Espada: Overture

Hopefully either the story or the inspiration for this piece is better than its music. A down-watered Australian Walton sounded here to me. 




Bliss: Piano Concerto in B-flat

Now, this does speak to me. One of my favorite Bliss discs. This composer makes a tribute to his lastname.

[kyjo]

It's not a mediocre work by any means, just that I'm getting more analytical and, eventually, critic towards one of my favorite passions in life. The orchestration is magical and accurate indeed, in that regard Peterson-Berger excelled.

Yeah, I'm becoming a bit more critical as a listener as well. Certain works I recall thinking quite highly of have shone a bit less brightly upon recent revisitation. Nonetheless, I have a certain "core favorite" corpus of works which I doubt I will stop loving anytime soon, Peterson-Berger's 3rd Symphony included!

Btw, I'm listening to Jolivet's Cello Concerto no. 2 right now. All I can say is, I'm much less inclined towards the avant-garde than you, Cesar.... I prefer my melody and harmony, thank you! (I will make some exceptions for certain works by Schnittke and Lutoslawski, though.)

[Symphonic Addict]

Just a thought, perhaps you could start judging music on its intrinsic quality rather than based on whether it includes a vocal part or not?

Someone is putting you in his ignore list from now on (probably).