What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

Now playing Schulhoff String Sextet from this recording:

[Lisztianwagner]

Sergei Prokofiev
Visions fugitives

[classicalgeek]

Now playing Koechlin Vers la voûte étoilée, Op. 129 from this new acquisition:



Wow...this is even better than Holliger's performance on Hänssler (not that it's bad), but the sonics a bit more in-your-face here and you can really hear how all of the textures congeal and go together. This performance from Ariane Matiakh and the Sinfonieorchester Basel is extraordinary. I don't award superlatives like this too often, but I'm truly impressed. It seems this performance has a bit more grit to it and forward momentum. If you're reading this Classicalgeek, Cesar, Jeffrey (Vandermolen), Karl, Kyle et. al., do check this performance out as soon as you can. I'm now going to play it again. I hope more Koechlin comes our way from Matiakh and her Basel forces. Again...wow.

Oh, I plan on getting this, and soon! I'm so glad you're enjoying the disc. Dare we hope for a Koechlin complete orchestral music cycle from Matiakh (including the many works by other composers that Koechlin orchestrated)? I really hope she at least records the works that Holliger didn't get to in his excellent (and now hard to find) Hanssler cycle. Europadisc has all titles on Capriccio on sale through the 26th of this month, so I'll place my order in the coming weeks.

TD: over the weekend...

Bernstein
*Symphony no. 1 'Jeremiah'
%Symphony no. 2 'Age of Anxiety'
*Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano
%Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Marin Alsop



These are impressive performances of impressive works, particularly Age of Anxiety. Thibaudet handles the extremely virtuosic piano part sensitively and with flawless technique. What a musical genius Bernstein was - a top-notch conductor, composer (in multiple genres, no less), pianist, and educator.


Schubert
Symphony no. 9
Cleveland Orchestra
George Szell



While this performance is brilliantly played and conducted, it left me wanting a little bit. It didn't feel hurried like Munch's (even though Szell is only two minutes longer), but there was something missing, particularly in the slow movement. Maybe I'm used to a slower tempo than the marked Andante con moto? A more hair-raising climax? A more relaxed tempo in the Trio of the Scherzo? I don't really know, but my quest for the ideal Schubert 9 continues...

[Karl Henning]

Sergei Prokofiev
Visions fugitives

Sweet!

[Karl Henning]

Oh, I plan on getting this, and soon! I'm so glad you're enjoying the disc. Dare we hope for a Koechlin complete orchestral music cycle from Matiakh (including the many works by other composers that Koechlin orchestrated)? I really hope she at least records the works that Holliger didn't get to in his excellent (and now hard to find) Hanssler cycle. Europadisc as all titles on Capriccio on sale through the 26th of this month, so I'll place my order in the coming weeks.

TD: over the weekend...

Bernstein
*Symphony no. 1 'Jeremiah'
%Symphony no. 2 'Age of Anxiety'
*Jennifer Johnson Cano, soprano
%Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Marin Alsop



These are impressive performances of impressive works, particularly Age of Anxiety. Thibaudet handles the extremely virtuosic piano part sensitively and with flawless technique. What a musical genius Bernstein was - a top-notch conductor, composer (in multiple genres, no less), pianist, and educator.

The Age of Anxiety is one of my favorites of Lenny's!

[SonicMan46]

I never cared for the Hough recording of the PCs. There's just something missing in the performances --- a certain sparkle. The Malikova/Sanderling set is still my reference set. I would definitely recommend checking out the newest Alexandre Kantorow cycle on BIS. From what I've heard so far, I have been thoroughly impressed. There are many fine performances of the 2nd Piano Trio. Here I'm thinking of these two:

Hi John - thanks for the comments.  Concerning the Piano Concertos, I listened to one disc from each set back-to-back, and prefer Malikova over Hough - I've seen reviews on Alexandre Kantorow and he piques my interest (if purchased he would replace Hough, so plan to take a listen on Spotify; however, BIS pricing is high on Amazon and the 2 discs have not been combined as a package, so will not be a buy in the near future).  As to the Piano Trios, I'm happy w/ both recordings owned - will stay w/ those choices.  There seems to have been an explosion of Saint-Saëns piano music recently and virtually all performances have received rather good to excellent comments, i.e. from rags to riches I guess.  Dave

[Mirror Image]

Oh, I plan on getting this, and soon! I'm so glad you're enjoying the disc. Dare we hope for a Koechlin complete orchestral music cycle from Matiakh (including the many works by other composers that Koechlin orchestrated)? I really hope she at least records the works that Holliger didn't get to in his excellent (and now hard to find) Hanssler cycle. Europadisc as all titles on Capriccio on sale through the 26th of this month, so I'll place my order in the coming weeks.

TD: over the weekend...

Bernstein
*Symphony no. 1 'Jeremiah'
%Symphony no. 2 'Age of Anxiety'
*Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano
%Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Marin Alsop



These are impressive performances of impressive works, particularly Age of Anxiety. Thibaudet handles the extremely virtuosic piano part sensitively and with flawless technique. What a musical genius Bernstein was - a top-notch conductor, composer (in multiple genres, no less), pianist, and educator.

A big YES! to the Koechlin recording. I do hope this sparks a new project for this composer, although, honestly, I doubt it will, but I have been surprised before so you never know. I haven't heard the performance of The Seven Stars' Symphony, but plan to hear it over the next few days. I'm off from work three days in a row every week, so this allows me to listen to a plethora of music, but also gives me to time to do other things, too. I'm not married nor have any children, so I definitely enjoy the free time I have and let's face it, classical music does require a dedicated listener who has the time to burn. If you don't have the time, then chances are you'll not really get a chance to hear too much of it or absorb it in a meaningful way.

I completely agree with you about Bernstein. He was certainly a musical genius. Speaking of time, it's too bad he didn't have much he could dedicate to composition as I think we would've received so many other fantastic works from him. The Bernstein Alsop series is quite good, but, for me, it's difficult to better the composer himself in his own music.

[Mirror Image]

Hi John - thanks for the comments.  Concerning the Piano Concertos, I listened to one disc from each set back-to-back, and prefer Malikova over Hough - I've seen reviews on Alexandre Kantorow and he piques my interest (if purchased he would replace Hough, so plan to take a listen on Spotify; however, BIS pricing is high on Amazon and the 2 discs have not been combined as a package, so will not be a buy in the near future).  As to the Piano Trios, I'm happy w/ both recordings owned - will stay w/ those choices.  There seems to have been an explosion of Saint-Saëns piano music recently and virtually all performances have received rather good to excellent comments, i.e. from rags to riches I guess.  Dave

Fair enough, Dave! You've got some good Saint-Saëns for sure, but there's always room for more.

[Mirror Image]

Sweet!

The Age of Anxiety is one of my favorites of Lenny's!

+ 2!

[foxandpeng]

Ralph Vaughan Williams
Symphony 2 'London'
Kees Bakels
Bournemouth SO
Naxos

I do wonder how much my appreciation of particular recordings is about familiarity and whether I've heard them so often that this is how the work should sound. There's probably something to that. What is certain, however, is that I prefer modern acoustics and recording methods rather than historic recordings with less immanence.

Whatever the reason, I've always enjoyed Bakels in #2.

[Roasted Swan]

A big YES! to the Koechlin recording. I do hope this sparks a new project for this composer, although, honestly, I doubt it will, but I have been surprised before so you never know. I haven't heard the performance of The Seven Stars' Symphony, but plan to hear it over the next few days. I'm off from work three days in a row every week, so this allows me to listen to a plethora of music, but also gives me to time to do other things, too. I'm not married nor have any children, so I definitely enjoy the free time I have and let's face it, classical music does require a dedicated listener who has the time to burn. If you don't have the time, then chances are you'll not really get a chance to hear too much of it or absorb it in a meaningful way.

I completely agree with you about Bernstein. He was certainly a musical genius. Speaking of time, it's too bad he didn't have much he could dedicate to composition as I think we would've received so many other fantastic works from him. The Bernstein Alsop series is quite good, but, for me, it's difficult to better the composer himself in his own music.

Prompted in no small part by your enthusiasm for Koechlin I listened to the Judd/ Deutsche SO "Seven Stars" today.  Some of the sounds and textures are just glorious but I must admit I have trouble with the whole Koechlin aesthetic.  For me it feels like navel-gazing.  Self absorbed and often ravishing as sounds but somehow not really going anywhere.  He sits in one of these visionary ecstatic trances seeing beautiful abstract things......  Now its ups to you to convince me otherwise  (I've got the Holliger set  so I really am open to being convinced)

[bhodges]

A great concert from yesterday, available on demand, free at the link below. Canellakis is one of the most interesting conductors working today. There are a few high profile spots available right now for conductors (e.g., Minnesota, New York), and I hope she snags one of them.

https://www.kusc.org/radio/on-demand/socal-sunday-night-on-demand/

Los Angeles Philharmonic
Karina Canellakis, conductor
Sergio Tiempo, piano

Anna THORVALDSDOTTIR: Metacosmos
PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No. 1
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 10

--Bruce

[Karl Henning]

CD 7
Schreker
Vorspiel zu einem Drama (1914)
cond. Friedrich Cerha

Skryabin
Le Poème de l'extase, Op. 54 (1908)
cond. Antál Doráti

Varèse
Hyperprism (1923)
Cond. Hans Vonk

Rudolf Escher
Largo from Sinfonia in memoriam Maurice Ravel (1940)
Univers de Rimbaud (1969, rev. 1977)
Lode Devos, tenor
cond. Lucas Vis


The Schreker and Escher qualify for Maiden-Listen Monday!

[Todd]

Streamed all 83+ minutes.  Unexceptionable and unexceptional.  The full Mother Goose is fine, but it lacks the beauty and magic of the suite version that Giulini basically owns (and doesn't even conduct too slowly).  This recording does remind one that the piano version of Alborada del gracioso is vastly superior.

Perusing Wilson's recordings, maybe the Dutilleux or Escales discs would offer more insight into his conducting. 

[Mirror Image]

Now playing Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 5 in D with Boult from this box set:

[Mirror Image]

Prompted in no small part by your enthusiasm for Koechlin I listened to the Judd/ Deutsche SO "Seven Stars" today.  Some of the sounds and textures are just glorious but I must admit I have trouble with the whole Koechlin aesthetic.  For me it feels like navel-gazing.  Self absorbed and often ravishing as sounds but somehow not really going anywhere.  He sits in one of these visionary ecstatic trances seeing beautiful abstract things......  Now its ups to you to convince me otherwise  (I've got the Holliger set  so I really am open to being convinced)

Koechlin is an odd figure in 20th Century French music. He is a transitional figure --- stylistically he sits between Debussy and Messiaen. The reason his music feels like it's going nowhere is because essentially it's not. He doesn't operate in a traditional musical sense. The music inhabits its own world and is very much a music of different realms. There are climatic moments in his music, but they aren't climaxes that make you go "Wow", but rather offer a seismic disruption in the harmonic clouds that continuously float by the listener. His music is elastic and feels as if the listener has been in a suspended time warp. Some listeners "get" the music and some never will. I doubt I could convince you, but do give a listen to Le buisson ardent, Part II. This is an example of Koechlin at his best or, at least, when writing for an orchestra. There's just no one that sounds like him. You may dig it or you may remain indifferent, but this is one of my favorite pieces of music from any composer.

Honestly, I found The Seven Stars' Symphony to be one of his weaker works, but I'm hoping this new contender on Capriccio will change my mind, but, overall, I love this composer and have for many years.

[Karl Henning]

CD 7
Schreker
Vorspiel zu einem Drama (1914)
cond. Friedrich Cerha

Skryabin
Le Poème de l'extase, Op. 54 (1908)
cond. Antál Doráti

Varèse
Hyperprism (1923)
Cond. Hans Vonk

Rudolf Escher
Largo from Sinfonia in memoriam Maurice Ravel (1940)
Univers de Rimbaud (1969, rev. 1977)
Lode Devos, tenor
cond. Lucas Vis


The Schreker and Escher qualify for Maiden-Listen Monday!

This was all good, but Lawd, that Hyperprism!

[JBS]

Streamed all 83+ minutes.  Unexceptionable and unexceptional.  The full Mother Goose is fine, but it lacks the beauty and magic of the suite version that Giulini basically owns (and doesn't even conduct too slowly).  This recording does remind one that the piano version of Alborada del gracioso is vastly superior.

Perusing Wilson's recordings, maybe the Dutilleux or Escales discs would offer more insight into his conducting.

Try his recording of Britten's Bridge Variations.  That's where he seems to shine best.

I haven't heard this Ravel, nor the other two you mentioned.

TD

Second listen. Perfectly fine, lithe and lean, but overall nothing special.

[classicalgeek]

The Age of Anxiety is one of my favorites of Lenny's!

And mine as well, right up there with the Serenade after Plato's "Symposium".

A big YES! to the Koechlin recording. I do hope this sparks a new project for this composer, although, honestly, I doubt it will, but I have been surprised before so you never know. I haven't heard the performance of The Seven Stars' Symphony, but plan to hear it over the next few days. I'm off from work three days in a row every week, so this allows me to listen to a plethora of music, but also gives me time to do other things, too. I'm not married nor have any children, so I definitely enjoy the free time I have and let's face it, classical music does require a dedicated listener who has the time to burn. If you don't have the time, then chances are you'll not really get a chance to hear too much of it or absorb it in a meaningful way.

I completely agree with you about Bernstein. He was certainly a musical genius. Speaking of time, it's too bad he didn't have much he could dedicate to composition as I think we would've received so many other fantastic works from him. The Bernstein Alsop series is quite good, but, for me, it's difficult to better the composer himself in his own music.

Whether or not Capriccio does more recordings of Koechlin or not, I'm really grateful for this one - the Seven Stars Symphony was due for a new recording (the James Judd recording is fine, but it's really hard to track down.) A pity Holliger didn't get to it. And Vers la Voute is mesmerizingly gorgeous - there can't be too many recordings of it! As far as listening goes, the only time I get for it is late at night (whether on weekends or weekdays), and even then it's not enough. I listen on Spotify throughout the workday, but my attention is divided, so it's not ideal.

Of course Bernstein is brilliant! He was prolific enough even with his other careers - I would have loved to have seen his output if were exclusively (or nearly exclusively) a composer!

TD:
John Fernstrom
*Songs of the Sea
Symphony no. 12
Rao-Nai-Nai's Songs
*Miah Persson, soprano
Malmo Symphony Orchestra
Lan Shui
(on Spotify)



Beautiful stuff, particularly the Songs of the Sea; it's all lush harmonies and brilliant orchestration. I say this a lot, but... it's right up my proverbial alley! 

[Mirror Image]

Now playing Vaughan Williams On Wenlock Edge with John Mark Ainsley and The Nash Ensemble: