What are you listening 2 now?

[Linz]

Maazel Mahler Symphony 4 with Kathleen Battle

[aligreto]

Rott: Symphony No. 1 [Segerstam]





I really like the opening sequence of this work; I think it is just wonderful. I also particularly like the way in which Rott develops the music. He had a great command of orchestration. The brass is just wonderful. The slow movement is wistful, lyrical and expansive. Segerstam does a wonderful job here. The third movement opens in a wonderfully festive mood. Dark clouds do appear on the horizon and they are admirably dealt with and ultimately dispelled by Segerstam. The final movement is a monumental piece of writing. Rott builds it up from solid foundations in the beginning into a magnificent edifice and Segerstam has a very fine grip on the architecture of the music and he delivers it very well here. What a magnificent conclusion to this work!

I only came across this symphony relatively recently and I find it to be a truly magnificent work.

[Traverso]

Maazel Mahler Symphony 4 with Kathleen Battle

According to some rumours is this a real fine recording of this symphony. 

[Traverso]

Again it strikes me how pleasant it is to listen to this Mahler with Boulez, no whipped pathos and exaggerated sentiments. This third Symphone is also excellent
Also the "Komm mensch" is not a tearful affair and allows you to listen without being overwhelmed by heavy effects. It's the way I like to hear it.

[SonicMan46]

Spohr, Louis (1784-1859) - String Quartets, V. 1 & 2 w/ the New Budapest Quartet - more in the Spohr Thread w/ reviews for those interested.  Dave
.
 

[Linz]

Beethoven Quartets Cd1 from this delightful set; String Quartet No.1 in F major, Op.18 and String Quartet No.14 in C sharp minor, Op.131

[vers la flamme]

Funny how everyone else is on the same Mahler kick that I am 



Isaac Albéniz: Rapsodia española, op.70. Alicia de Larrocha Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, London Philharmonic Orchestra

A very fine performance of this work.

[Karl Henning]

Again it strikes me how pleasant it is to listen to this Mahler with Boulez, no whipped pathos and exaggerated sentiments. This third Symphone is also excellent
Also the "Komm mensch" is not a tearful affair and allows you to listen without being overwhelmed by heavy effects. It's the way I like to hear it.

Splendid!

[Todd]

8. Meh.

[bhodges]

Catching the end of this live broadcast from the Verbier Festival (free, with Medici.tv registration). Marvelous, and inspiring to see the young players of the orchestra play so beautifully.

Anna Fedorova — Pianist
Oberwalliser Vokalensemble — Choir
Verbier Festival Orchestra — Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda — Conductor

Shchedrin, Piano Concerto No. 2
Silvestrov, Prayer for Ukraine
Shostakovich, Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43

https://www.medici.tv/en/concerts/gianandrea-noseda-conducts-shchedrin-silvestrov-and-shostakovich-anna-fedorova/

--Bruce

[SonicMan46]

Veracini, Francesco (1690-1768) - Violin Sonatas, Op. 1/2 & Flute Sonatas - own about 8 CDs of this Florentine violin virtuoso, composer, and teacher - eccentric and perhaps looney (today's medications may have helped -  ) - brief synopsis below but visit the link for some more discussion.  Of course as possibly the 'greatest' Baroque violinist of the first half of the 18th century, he wrote a lot of Violin Sonatas and also Concertos/Overtures, Chamber Music, & Vocal Works, including operas - now listening to about half of the discs in my collection.  Dave

One of the great violinists of early eighteenth century Italy, Francesco Veracini played so well that he intimidated even virtuoso Giuseppe Tartini. Notoriously arrogant, perhaps borderland insane, Veracini was nevertheless famed throughout Europe for his performances as well as his compositions. Although he was an instrumentalist, about half his output was vocal, and for a while he was Handel's great rival as an opera composer in London. (Source)

   

[aligreto]

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 5-6  Op. 10 Nos. 1-2 [Fischer]

[aligreto]

Again it strikes me how pleasant it is to listen to this Mahler with Boulez, no whipped pathos and exaggerated sentiments. This third Symphone is also excellent
Also the "Komm mensch" is not a tearful affair and allows you to listen without being overwhelmed by heavy effects. It's the way I like to hear it.

Once again, Jan, I am pleased that you are enjoying the Boulez Mahler.
My experience, so far, has been very pleasant; even very exciting.
I very much like the first four symphonies that I have heard under his baton.

[Linz]

Bruckner Symphony No. 4 with my favourite Conducter with his first recorded version from this complete Symphonies

[Que]

https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-13943/

[André]

https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-13943/

A great disc indeed. Not sure I'd give a 10 for the recorded sound (an 8 maybe?) but it doesn't detract from the whole.

[André]

This 2-disc set is made up of 3 orchestral excerpts from Strauss operas (studio recordings), Mozart's 38th symphony ('Prague') and Bruckner's mighty 8th (both from concerts). All are exceptional performances and may lay claim to be top choices. This B8 belongs in the top 5. Being taped in concert means it has spontaneousness as well as rhetoric touches that combine to make it a truly special performance. The way the big climax of the Adagio builds grindingly, then explodes in thrilling fashion is jaw-dropping stuff. Same with the work's coda. This recording almost rivals Böhm's WP one on DGG (I still prefer Böhm's incredibly tragic account of the 1st movement).

The Mozart may well be the fizziest performance of that symphony ever made. It crackles from first note to last. Suitner takes about 21 minutes (no repeats). Harnoncourt takes 38 mins - all possible and impossible repeats are taken, but that also goes along with a grand, almost ceremonial way with the music. Both are valid approaches, but I prefer Suitner's as closer to what I believe Mozart may have expected. The Strauss bits were done in a studio and benefit from sumptuous sound. The Arabella 3rd act prelude is simply stunning in this performance.

[JBS]

Annie Fischer playing LvB's Pathetique Sonata on Youtube
https://youtu.be/Zbzut1AKx4Q
Edit: YT would insert an ad a minute after the beginning of the third movement, and not between movements.

[Que]

A great disc indeed. Not sure I'd give a 10 for the recorded sound (an 8 maybe?) but it doesn't detract from the whole.

Agreed. A score of 10 for a live recording from the '70s, even if it is a good one, is not just realistic.

[kyjo]

Christopher Rouse
Flute Concerto
Alan Gilbert
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
BIS

Beautiful stuff.

+1 One of my favorite wind concerti and one of my favorite works composed within the past few decades.