What are you listening 2 now?

[Linz]

Rafael Kubelik with Schumann Symphony 3 "Rhenish" and Symphony No. 4 as well The Manfred Overture

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Bruckner
Symphony No. 6 in A major, WAB 106
Sinfonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Jochum



I just received this hybrid SACD remastered set via Tower Records Japan and it sounds FANTASTIC! In fact, I'm so thrilled by the sonics that I gave my dad my older set. Oh and there's still no question in my mind that this is the Jochum set to own. The Staatskapelle Dresden set on EMI (Warner) may have more up-to-date sonics, but the performances aren't any better than his earlier accounts on DG. An essential acquisition for the Brucknerian and I'm sure many of you already own this Jochum DG set, but let me tell you that you would absolutely be satisfied with the fidelity of these newer Japanese remasters. The only problem is they are released as a three volume series and not all boxed up together. Aside from this, they're absolutely worth it, IMHO.

[Mapman]

This is not an unusual situation in my experience.
I have come across quite a number of people who, once they get past the opening movement of Also Sprach Zarathustra, actually dislike the rest of the work.

I didn't particularly like Zarathustra at first, but repeated listening helped me like the work. If one expects the rest of the piece to be like the opening, one will be disappointed.

[Que]

On Spotify:



Concerto no. 4. 
So, in the Heifetz recordings there are some serious cuts in the score. I just heard a long orchestral intro I didn't know... 
Performance wise this is quite sweet and slow. Unlike the Heifetz/Barbirolli, which is burning with passion. A performance that evidently cannot be un-heard....

[André]

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Hindemith
String Quartet No. 7 in E-flat
Kocian Quartet

[Traverso]

NP:

Bruckner
Symphony No. 6 in A major, WAB 106
Sinfonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Jochum



I just received this hybrid SACD remastered set via Tower Records Japan and it sounds FANTASTIC! In fact, I'm so thrilled by the sonics that I gave my dad my older set. Oh and there's still no question in my mind that this is the Jochum set to own. The Staatskapelle Dresden set on EMI (Warner) may have more up-to-date sonics, but the performances aren't any better than his earlier accounts on DG. An essential acquisition for the Brucknerian and I'm sure many of you already own this Jochum DG set, but let me tell you that you would absolutely be satisfied with the fidelity of these newer Japanese remasters. The only problem is they are released as a three volume series and not all boxed up together. Aside from this, they're absolutely worth it, IMHO.

They are really expensive   

[Mirror Image]

They are really expensive   

Yep, about $50 for each volume, but, for me, they're worth ever penny for the improved fidelity. I also look at this way, I don't drink alcohol or smoke, so this is where a good chunk of my money goes to whenever I want to splurge a bit.

[ritter]

Emmanuel Chabrier: Gwendoline (overture, and "Ne riez pas" from Act I) and À la musique. Barbara Hendricks (sop.) and the Toulouse Capitole Orchestra conducted by Michel Plasson.



Todd's mentioning this disc a couple of days ago has prompted me to revisit it (well, parts of it, at least). It's a nice as I remember! What a great composer Chabrier was!

[SonicMan46]

Kantorow Attack! -    Some more new arrivals from PrestoMusic (all at reduced pricing, about $12 USD per CD):

Weber, Carl Maria - Overtures w/ Papa Kantorow and the Tapiola Sinfonietta.

Saint-Saëns, Camille Piano Concertos w/ Papa & Son (Alexandre) Kantorows + same orchestra - not sure that I needed these discs, i.e. already owned Anna Malikova on Audite & Stephen Hough on Hyperion, but the playing is exceptional - for those interested, reviews are attached, all excellent for each pianist except a single outlier from Hurwitz giving Hough a 6 for performance (what a jerk!).  Dave

   

[ritter]

And now, Luís de Freitas Branco's Vathek (another piece I haven't listened to in ages).

[Harry]

On Spotify:



Concerto no. 4. 
So, in the Heifetz recordings there are some serious cuts in the score. I just heard a long orchestral intro I didn't know... 
Performance wise this is quite sweet and slow. Unlike the Heifetz/Barbirolli, which is burning with passion. A performance that evidently cannot be un-heard....

That is my favourite set of his Violin concertos. I played this set maybe a dozen times over.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Langgaard
Fra Dybet (From the Deep)
Danish National RSO & Choir
Segerstam

[aligreto]

I didn't particularly like Zarathustra at first, but repeated listening helped me like the work. If one expects the rest of the piece to be like the opening, one will be disappointed.

You are so correct. That is the mistake that most people make when they come to the full work after hearing the opening movement. It is not surprising really, though. One really has to listen to the rest of the work to fully appreciate it.

[Mirror Image]

Kantorow Attack! -    Some more new arrivals from PrestoMusic (all at reduced pricing, about $12 USD per CD):

Weber, Carl Maria - Overtures w/ Papa Kantorow and the Tapiola Sinfonietta.

Saint-Saëns, Camille Piano Concertos w/ Papa & Son (Alexandre) Kantorows + same orchestra - not sure that I needed these discs, i.e. already owned Anna Malikova on Audite & Stephen Hough on Hyperion, but the playing is exceptional - for those interested, reviews are attached, all excellent for each pianist except a single outlier from Hurwitz giving Hough a 6 for performance (what a jerk!).  Dave

   

Nice, but, FWIW, I don't like Stephen Hough's cycle either and think Kantorow and Malikova are both better performed in all respects.

[Mirror Image]

You are so correct. That is the mistake that most people make when they come to the full work after hearing the opening movement. It is not surprising really, though. One really has to listen to the rest of the work to fully appreciate it.

And I feel it's an unjust criticism of the piece since there are many works in which start off with a "bang" so to speak. It reminds me of some of the criticism I've read of Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony, which has one of the most magnificent introductions of any work I've ever heard, but listeners tend to forget what comes after and this is unfair to the not only the composer, but the piece itself since there are many gorgeous moments through the remainder of it. Continue to the end folks! There so much more to sink your teeth into.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Martinů
Concerto in D major for two violins and orchestra, H. 329
Deborah and Sarah Nemtanu, violins
Marseille Philharmonic Orchestra
Lawrence Foster

[SonicMan46]

On Spotify:



Concerto no. 4. 
So, in the Heifetz recordings there are some serious cuts in the score. I just heard a long orchestral intro I didn't know... 
Performance wise this is quite sweet and slow. Unlike the Heifetz/Barbirolli, which is burning with passion. A performance that evidently cannot be un-heard....

That is my favourite set of his Violin concertos. I played this set maybe a dozen times over.

Agree w/ Harry - I've had this rather unusual set, i.e. done by seven violin students (see brief quote below and more at the link, i.e. Fanfare review) - this is really 'one-stop' shopping - all the concertos on 3 discs well performed and good sound (I paid $18 on Amazon for the set in 2015 and not much more now) - recommended!  Dave

Fuga Libera's survey of Henri Vieuxtemps's violin concertos has been recorded with the cooperation of Augustin Dumay, seven of whose students at the Queen Elisabeth Musical Chapel perform them with the Liège Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Patrick Davin. Naxos has issued a similar survey of the concertos, all by violinist Misha Keylin. Fuga Libera made its recordings in July 2010 in Liège's Salle Philharmonique.

[ritter]

Staying in Portugal, but moving on about three quarters of a century to Emmanuel Nunes' Musik der Frühe, with Peter Eôtvös conducting the Ensemble Intercontemporain (the EIC had commissioned the piece).



What an interesting composition! It's very static, but there's a lot going on - a sort of extended Klangfarbenmelodie for about the first 18 minutes, with then sudden change in mood in which the horizontal lines gain preeminence.  Quite fascinating...

[SonicMan46]

Nice, but, FWIW, I don't like Stephen Hough's cycle either and think Kantorow and Malikova are both better performed in all respects.

Thanks John - I've not listen to Hough in a while, SO will pick a few of the concerti and preview all three - I'd rather have just 2 sets, so Hough may be culled despite some outstanding reviews.  Dave