What are you listening 2 now?

[SonicMan46]

Strauss, Richard (1864-1949) - Horn Concertos & Chamber Works on the discs below, about half of my chamber collection of this long-lived prolific composer (about 88 Opus number compositions, but 300 or so total works according to various catalogs HERE) - Dave

   

[Iota]

Schumann: Drei Fantasiestucke, Op. 111, Gesänge der Frühe, Op. 133
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)

Both of these works from the last period of Schumann's life have an autumnal feel to them, that I think you don't really ever get in earlier pieces. The melodies are still there but somewhat drained of colour, and a degree of youthful mania has burned out. In their place is a desolateness and feeling of resignation .. 'Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.' .. Bavouzet does a fine job of enshrining the works' many nuances in his playing.

[André]

I have 2 other versions of Piston's symphony. Munch in Boston (the dedicatee) is amazingly intense, but this BIS performance is superfine and gorgeously recorded. If memory serves the Schwarz/Delos recording is very fine too. It is coupled with the 2nd, Piston's most memorable work. I should revisit that disc.

The other works are new to me. The 'Palo Duro Canyon' symphony is a fine, atmospheric and pleasing enough work, but not terribly original. I was reminded of John Williams in a few places. As could be expected with such a title, it has the feel of a movie score. Still, it's extremely well crafted.

Stephen Albert's 2nd and last symphony is strikingly reminiscent of Hanson and makes a very strong impression. For my taste it's the most approachable, winsome work on the disc. I love the way short thematic cells evolve in luscious themes suggestive of wide vistas.  Also, the symphonic progression is really masterly and has the feel of inevitability. Kudos.

A big thumbs up to this disc then, esp. for the Piston and Albert works.

[Lisztianwagner]

Johannes Brahms
Piano Concerto No.1

[Linz]

CD1 of this set Fritz Busch conducting Beethoven's  Leonore Overture No. 2, Mozart's Symphony No. 36 Amd Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 and Brahms Tragic Overture  with the Danish State Radio Symphony Orchestra

[ritter]

The recent live performances of Honegger's Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher (a work I find endlessly fascinating) here in Madrid led me to order what seems to have been the last remaining copy of this long OOP recording of the work from Melomania in Paris:



This is a successful recording. Laurent Petitgirard apparently performed the work often with the two lead actors, Sonia Petrovna (the conductor's wife) and Michael Lonsdale, and the orchestra (now disbanded) he had founded, the Orchestre Symphonique Français, and he does a great job here (even if some tempi may be seen as too slow — the work lasts 84' in his hands, and spreads over two CDs). I'm less taken by Mme. Petrovna's saint: her diction is clear, but her delivery of the lines sounds old-fashioned and affected.

One thing that stands out in this recording is the ondes Martenot, which are beautifully integrated into the whole proceedings.

[Mandryka]

Astonishing K467!

[classicalgeek]

Nikolai Roslavets
Piano Trios nos. 2-4
Trio Fontenay
(on Spotify)



A really interesting composer - a lot like late Scriabin in style.

[Que]

[Linz]

CD2 Of Fritz Busch Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz Overture, Haydn Sinfonia Concertante in B flat major and Brahms Symphony No. 2 with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Richard Strauss Don Juan overture with the London Philharmonic Orchestra

[SonicMan46]

Strauss, Richard (1864-1949) - Oboe Concerto & Chamber Works - late afternoon and dinner music - Dave

   

[aligreto]

Mahler: Symphony No. 2 [Boulez]






This is a very fine and taut presentation. It is wonderfully detailed yet it is always lyrical and very engaging. It is robust, atmospheric and powerful. The playing from the orchestra is wonderful and the direction is insightful and admirable. The presentation is very expansive, sensitive, dramatic and powerful. The  presentation of this music here is particularly very well delivered in terms of quality of interpretation; it is of the highest standard. The "Urlicht" is wonderfully sensitive. The final movement, in particular, is very fine and emotionally sensitive and powerful in equal turn. The Finale is magnificently performed; it is quite powerful and emotional. This is a magnificent version overall.

[DavidW]

Penderecki's VC #1, Handel's Dixit Dominus and Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante all performed on period instruments of course.

[Karl Henning]

Penderecki's VC #1, Handel's Dixit Dominus and Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante all performed on period instruments of course.

Nice!

[aligreto]

Janáček: Capriccio For Piano (Left Hand), Flute & Brass Ensemble - "Vzdor" [Crossley/London Sinfonietta/Atherton]





This music portrays a wonderfully interesting, very engaging and atmospheric sound world. The music is very engaging and the musical textures are very appealing. The general tone is also quite uplifting.

[classicalgeek]

Grace Williams
Violin Sonata
Sextet for Oboe, Trumpet, and Piano Quartet
Suite for Nine Instruments
Romanza
Sarabande for Piano Left Hand
Rondo for Dancing
(on Spotify)

[Karl Henning]

Janáček: Capriccio For Piano (Left Hand), Flute & Brass Ensemble - "Vzdor" [Crossley/London Sinfonietta/Atherton]





This music portrays a wonderfully interesting, very engaging and atmospheric sound world. The music is very engaging and the musical textures are very appealing. The general tone is also quite uplifting.

High time I revisited Janáček's Capriccio.

[Todd]

In a Landscape. 

Local yokel Hunter Noack, born in the lovely Oregon Coast town of Newport, OR, has a Billboard #1 Classical release.  Recorded in various open-air locations around Oregon, this snippets disc (some Schumann, Ravel, Say (!), Schubert, and a breathtaking improvisation with a Native American Flutist) demonstrates his pretty darned good chops, and the limits of the approach.  The actual concerts are presented via wireless headphones.  Based on this disc, I would like to hear a proper studio recording.  But I also may be able to hear him in person in a location I know and love.  Yesterday's performance in the John Day Fossil Beds had to be cancelled, but he has performed in some astonishingly beautiful locales.  His performances in the Wallowas had to be something; I have never seen any place on earth more beautiful. 

As a sample pic, below he is practicing in front of Sheep Rock outside John Day. 

[foxandpeng]

Peter Maxwell Davies
The Strathclyde Concertos
Concerto #1 for Oboe and Orchestra
PMD
Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Hearing this in a dark and otherwise quiet house focuses the mind helpfully. Nothing but the music, which I find necessary with PMD.

[classicalgeek]

Gabriel Pierné
Marche des Petits Soldats de Plomb
*Piano Concerto
Divertissement sur un theme pastoral
Ramuntcho Suites 1 and 2
*Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, piano
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Juanjo Mena
(on Spotify)