What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

While Segerstam has his fans, I would recommend the Da Capo series. You get fantastic sound, and he is a composer that benefits from that.

You mean Dacapo. I agree that their Nørgård series is top-notch both interpretatively and sonically. Segerstam is a little too heavy-handed in this particular music. The 3rd symphony under Dausgaard for example is remarkably clear and quick on its feet. Stunning performance.

[Karl Henning]

it is said that these Boulez renditions look forward and not to the past. There is even a certain sensuality present that melts my heart and that without the over emotional rendition that you hear with Bernstein. I have not heard the other symphonies yet but this one first one makes me very enthusiastic. You hear the scherz and humor and that especially without bombast. It is full of life.....

I look forward to your further reports, Jan!

[Mirror Image]

it is said that these Boulez renditions look forward and not to the past. There is even a certain sensuality present that melts my heart and that without the over emotional rendition that you hear with Bernstein. I have not heard the other symphonies yet but this one first one makes me very enthusiastic. You hear the scherz and humor and that especially without bombast. It is full of life.....

You see, I knew you would enjoy this set. For once, I know what I'm talking about.

[Madiel]

You mean Dacapo. I agree that their Nørgård series is top-notch both interpretatively and sonically. Segerstam is a little too heavy-handed in this particular music. The 3rd symphony under Dausgaard for example is remarkably clear and quick on its feet. Stunning performance.

I will keep getting the company name wrong for my entire life. Lol.

I think the album with symphonies 3 and 7 is my favourite. Actually I think today might be good time to listen to it.

[Karl Henning]

I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Sometimes these postmodern composers take multiple hearings before their music starts to make sense, and I think that's the case with Norgard for me.

FWIW, I have yet to connect with Nørgård, myself.

TD: Commemorating Arnold

Suite-Septet, Op. 29

[Mirror Image]

I will keep getting the company name wrong for my entire life. Lol.

I think the album with symphonies 3 and 7 is my favourite. Actually I think today might be good time to listen to it.

Sounds like a good plan.

[Mirror Image]

FWIW, I have yet to connect with Nørgård, myself.

TD: Commemorating Arnold

Suite-Septet, Op. 29

Nørgård has been a tough nut for me, too, Karl. I like the symphonies and SQs, but I've tried some other works and they don't really grab me yet. I'll keep trying.

NP:

Bartók
Cantata Profana, Sz 94, BB 100
Rém József, Faragó András
Budapest Chorus
Budapest Symphony Orchestra
János Ferencsik

From what I consider one of finest achievements in recorded history: the Bartók Complete Edition on Hungaroton -

[Spotted Horses]

What is your view on these Maazel recordings?

You didn't ask me, but Maazel's recording of Mahler 2 was my first Mahler CD.



My first Mahler recordings were the 9th by Karajan (DG LP) and the 5th by Abbado/Chicago (DG LP).

I was bowled over by the Maazel recording of Mahler's 2nd and I later got the recordings of the 5th and 9th from the same series. (I have subsequently gotten the box set, but haven't listened to it yet). My impression is that Maazel's Mahler is loose, not taut. Tempos are leisurely and flexible. Phrasing and dynamics can be idiosyncratic. It is self-indulgent, but not in the Berstein way with overheated histrionics. There is a bit of burlesque in it. I think the Maazel cycle is great, but perhaps not as a reference cycle.

[classicalgeek]

While Segerstam has his fans, I would recommend the Da Capo series. You get fantastic sound, and he is a composer that benefits from that.

You mean Dacapo. I agree that their Nørgård series is top-notch both interpretatively and sonically. Segerstam is a little too heavy-handed in this particular music. The 3rd symphony under Dausgaard for example is remarkably clear and quick on its feet. Stunning performance.

Maybe I'll give Norgard another listen, on Dacapo. Thanks for the recommendations!

TD:
Stenhammar
Serenade in F major
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Järvi
(on CD)



Excellent performance - there's no one quite like Stenhammar, and Järvi is right at home in the music. The horns are particularly luscious in this recording!

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Strauss
Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40
LSO
Barbirolli



Stunning performance and the remastering from Warner/Tower Records in this hybrid SACD is sumptuous.

[Operafreak]

Ravel - Cantates pour le prix de Rome
2 cd

[Madiel]

Ravel - Cantates pour le prix de Rome
2 cd

This is new, right? For forever there was only Plasson as an option.

[Traverso]

You didn't ask me, but Maazel's recording of Mahler 2 was my first Mahler CD.



My first Mahler recordings were the 9th by Karajan (DG LP) and the 5th by Abbado/Chicago (DG LP).

I was bowled over by the Maazel recording of Mahler's 2nd and I later got the recordings of the 5th and 9th from the same series. (I have subsequently gotten the box set, but haven't listened to it yet). My impression is that Maazel's Mahler is loose, not taut. Tempos are leisurely and flexible. Phrasing and dynamics can be idiosyncratic. It is self-indulgent, but not in the Berstein way with overheated histrionics. There is a bit of burlesque in it. I think the Maazel cycle is great, but perhaps not as a reference cycle.

No problem, I have just had the set reserved for me as a result of your response.  It is the Collection  referred to as Jubilee Edition 150th Anniversary of the Wiener Philharmoniker.and in mint condition.  I was already wavering and for the price of 40 euros it is a real bargain.

[vandermolen]

Eduard Tubin's Symphony No. 6
    Neeme Järvi, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Morning all...

Good morning to you and everyone else.
That's a great set although my favourites are 1,2,3,4,5 and 10.
NP
Goossens: Symphony No.2

[listener]

NP:

Shostakovich
The Bolt, Op. 27
Royal Stockholm PO
Rozhdestvensky

From this 2-CD set -




This is the only complete recording of The Bolt and thank goodness it's a fine one. Rozhdestvensky also recorded The Golden Age to similar acclaim, but there are two other recordings of the complete version of this ballet (Serebrier on Naxos and I forget the other one, but it's on the Russian Disc label).

There's a reasonably priced DVD of the BOLT  - see

[Traverso]

Mahler


Symphony No.2


Christine Schäfer soprano

Michelle DeYong mezzo-soprano

Wiener Singverein


Wiener Philharmoniker





The beginning of this second symphony is immediately spot on, absent is the exaggerated sentimentality that many will judge as boring. The structure is present in all its splendor, no worn clichés but back to the source with an interpretation that at times sounds almost modest but not in its musical elaboration. Entertaining because you are taken along in a way that is more like reveling in whipped sentiments and therefore listening makes you more involved with what really matters, the music is not overly embellished but lets it speak for itself. No superfluous adjectives that can obscure the essential but make a greater appeal to a more active listening.
Because the music does not unfold like a daze, you actually hear more.

[Que]

On Spotify:



http://www.lamorra.info/recordings/dulcedo/

[Mandryka]

Listening to this new release now, obviously a lot depends on whether you like the voices. I do rather, despite Carolyn Sampson's posh English accent. Wonderful music and any prompt to hear it again is a good thing. Allan Clayton has a versatile voice, he seems in his element in steely and powerful Siegfried type heroic tenor mode, but he can rise to lyrical and confidential mode too. It is an operatic rendition I'd say. Rather fun.

A note from the booklet gives me something to think about

Wolf told a friend, Edwin Mayser, that the second part of the Italienisches Liederbuch contained far more 'absolute music' than the first part, and that the accompaniments to many of the songs in Part II could be just as well played by a string quartet. The implication is that the accompaniments in Part I strive to depict the character of each poem through musical detail, whereas the accompaniments in Part II are more concerned with providing the songs with a complex polyphonic texture.

[Traverso]

Hurwitz in a review of what he considered to be recommended sets was rather negative with regard to Boulez.
Boulez, according to Hurwitz, viciously noted that after his inspiration dried up, he became more involved in conducting, which was a practice he previously detested.
How condescending and prickly

[vandermolen]

Fricker: 'The Vision of Judgment' - his masterpiece IMO which I may have never come across without the recommendation of cilgwyn, formerly of this forum: