What are you listening 2 now?

[Todd]

2.  A bit broadly paced, but with some nice balances and detail. 

[Linz]

Shostakovich Symphonies 1 and 15 from Cd1 With Mariss Jansons Symphony 1 with the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Philharmonic Orchestra for Symphony 15

[ritter]

And now on to Luciano Berio, conducted by the composer: Nones (with the London Symphony Orchestra), Allelujah II (BBC Symphony Orchestra, with Pierre Boulez as second conductor) and Concerto for Two Pianos (again with the LSO, and Bruno Canino and Antonio Ballista as soloists).

[SonicMan46]

Some PI recommendations from me would (in casual order) to day be:

Cafe Zimmermann on Alpha

New London Consort, Philip Pickett on Decca

Brandenburg Consort, Roy Goodman on Hyperion

Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki on BIS (his second recording - the one you have)

Linde Consort, Hans Martin Linde on EMI or Virgin (has been my favorite since I first heard it). It's OOP but may be had second hand.

La Stravaganza Hamburg, Siegbert Rampe on Virgin (now Erato)

The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock on Archiv

Hofkapelle München, Rüdiger Lotter on DHM

Ensemble Caprice, Matthias Maute on Analecta

Academy of Ancient Music, Richard Egarr on Harmonia Mundi France

I know about 98% of the ever recorded sets (quite a lot actually), so my preferences may change sometimes. Fact is that the artistic level of the recordings generally is very high, so the best way to choose among them to ones own purpose is to be guided by one's taste.

Hi : premont : - thanks for the listing; I've probably culled out a few of those - still enjoy the ones I own (need to re-listen to the Belder which Harry just canned -  ) - but today I started to update my classical musical database (has been a year w/ many dumps, additions and exchanges to be edited) - hidden away, bought last year, was the recording below, i.e. Butt & the Dunedin Consort - I was curious and checked the reviews again - the performance was demolished by Jerry Dubins (mainly for the brass in the early pieces) but lauded by four other sources, including a 5* rating from Andrew Clements of the Guardian (a rarity in my experience) - for those interested, the reviews are attached.  I'm re-listening now and can understand Dubins response but it's what I expect from these period instruments.  Since you seem to be our forum expert on these innumerable Brandenburg offerings, just wondering if you've heard the Butt recording?  Thanks - Dave

 

[Que]

[DavidW]

Hi Harry - similar to you, I've been culling the Brandenburg Concertos for decades and probably have owned at least a dozen versions in the past (both PIs and MIs) - my 3 current ones are shown below - as w/ you I could 'cull out' the Belder (but it's cheap and likely a common purchase) - I like the older Lamon recording and the newer Suzuki, which also has the Orchestral Suites - looking forward to some recommendations.  Dave

   

[Spotted Horses]

That's my favorite vocal recital disc, by far.

[prémont]

Hi : premont : - thanks for the listing; - hidden away, bought last year, was the recording below, i.e. Butt & the Dunedin Consort - ....Since you seem to be our forum expert on these innumerable Brandenburg offerings, just wondering if you've heard the Butt recording?  Thanks - Dave

Yes, I find it quite good. It has the low pitch A' 392 and the OVPP in common with Egarr's recording which I listed above. This gives the music a warmer and darker sound and makes it easier to blow the brass-instruments. Butt's recording is more lively than Egarr's which is rather calm.  This is the reason why I prefer Egarr even if I still find Butt's recording very worthwhile. IMO They do not differ enough to justify a purchase of Egarr's recording. It's only die hard nerds like me, who must have both.           

[prémont]

Yes, the DHM recording is much better than Kuijkens later recording on Accent, even if it uses corno in concerto no.II (instead of tromba) and the Accent recording is more immediately interesting with tromba without fingerholes and violoncello da spalla.

[vers la flamme]

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No.2 in C minor, the "Resurrection". Georg Solti, London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus with soloists Helen Watts and Heather Harper

I love this recording! I'm sorry to see that Jan had a less than pleasant experience with some of Solti's Mahler earlier today, and indeed his super-intense take on this composer is not always what I want to hear. But it's clicking right now.

[Lisztianwagner]

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No.2 in C minor, the "Resurrection". Georg Solti, London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus with soloists Helen Watts and Heather Harper

I love this recording! I'm sorry to see that Jan had a less than pleasant experience with some of Solti's Mahler earlier today, and indeed his super-intense take on this composer is not always what I want to hear. But it's clicking right now.

Thumb up!

[Mapman]

I'm finally joining the Mahler party, with Symphony #3 (Gielen).

It's overall a solid performance. I think the first 2 movements, and the 4th, are the best here, since they show off Gielen's mastery of orchestral color. I particularly liked the fast parts of the 2nd movement. The trombone soloist in the first movement was a bit harsh for my taste. I'll need to revisit Bernstein's first recording.

[JBS]

First listen ever to this work. From the Sony Peter Serkin set.

As with almost everything I've heard by Messiaen, I'm not terribly impressed.
More than enough notes but not enough music.



ETA
Either my ears adjusted or Messiaen got better as he went along. Still not a cycle I'll be returning to often.
I do suspect it's better experienced as 20 pieces to be played separately and not one grand cycle.

[Operafreak]

Haydn
Symphony No. 43 in E flat major, Hob. I:43 'Merkur' (Mercury)-Symphony No. 59 in A major, Hob. I:59 'Feuer-Symphonie' (Fire)
Marriner condcuting

[Mapman]

Schumann: Frauenliebe und -Leben
Linda Finnia, Anthony Legge

[TheGSMoeller]

Nice compilation of Purcell's music.

[MusicTurner]

First listen ever to this work. From the Sony Peter Serkin set.

As with almost everything I've heard by Messiaen, I'm not terribly impressed.
More than enough notes but not enough music.



ETA
Either my ears adjusted or Messiaen got better as he went along. Still not a cycle I'll be returning to often.
I do suspect it's better experienced as 20 pieces to be played separately and not one grand cycle.

Batagov is unique in that work, makes it sound more romantically coloured, even Rachmaninov-like at times. I haven't heard Woodward, but I like him in Brahms 1st Concerto and Takemitsu solo works, less so in Shosty.

[Madiel]

Various little fragments of Ballets Russes commissioned or performed scores from 2 different cycles of recordings. I'll make some sort of decision eventually... but I've only sampled 4 out of 10 SWR volumes and 8 out of 22 Warner discs so far.

[Que]

That's my favorite vocal recital disc, by far.

It's very impressive indeed!
I generally like Véronique Gens. Much enjoyed her Tragédiennes trilogy, for instance. 

[Que]

Got on it right away - browsing through this set on Spotify: