What are you listening 2 now?

[Que]

Sharp and spiky shards of glass mixed with discharges from a Van Der Graaf generator and burrs of metal. Nice.

Are you streaming? Because that is not what it supposed to sound like...

[Harry]

Before on Spotify:



I guess this will go on the list for a purchase of the physical set.

That would be a good choice! 

[aligreto]

Ockeghem: Missa pro defunctis [Gottwald]





The very smooth and velvety sounds of Schola Cantorum Stuttgart are eminently suitable for presenting this divine music. It has a wonderful atmosphere throughout and I found it to be a very pleasant and peaceful listening session.

[Operafreak]

Whole disc.

[vers la flamme]

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No.1 in D major. Rafael Kubelík, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

[Lisztianwagner]

I'll join Operafreak, but just with the Schönberg:

Arnold Schönberg
Piano Concerto

[aligreto]

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 Op. 31/2 [Fischer]

[Madiel]

Saint-Saens: Psalm 18 (op.42) - which I could only find on Youtube.

https://youtu.be/OrDYUwdcVZc

Really, really enjoyable.

[Harry]

Johann Sebastian Bach.

The Brandenburg Concertos 1-6.
First version.
CD 1 & II.
The Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood.

Wonderful interpretations. Very polished and stylish. The brass sounds raspy and not always on tune, but its a exciting ride. The enthusiasm is attractive and draws you in. The creative juices are flowing in a steady way, as if these are first discoveries. Fresh as a bunch of spring flowers. Artistically they make a very strong case. Well recorded.

[Madiel]

Grieg: From Holberg's Time.

Håkon Austbø

[Todd]

[Papy Oli]

Good afternoon all,

Finishing JS Bach organ works / Isoir CD7. I really enjoy those "concertos d'après Vivaldi".

[Madiel]

Starting on the 2nd volume of the Poulenc song series...



...and the opening "Toreador" is just as wonderful as the 1st volume was. And rather funny.

[DavidW]

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No.1 in D major. Rafael Kubelík, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Yes!!  What a great recording!

[Papy Oli]

Beethoven - Sonata for violin and piano No.3, Op.12/3
Faust/Melnikov

[Harry]

Johann Sebastian Bach.

CD II.

Concerto for Violin and Oboe, in C minor. (Catherine Mackintosh, Violin, Stephen Hammer)
Concerto for Two Harpsichords in C minor. (Christophe Rousset, Harpsichord (Andreas Ruckers 1646/Pascal Taskin 1785) Christopher Hogwood, Harpsichord, (Jean Henri Hemsch, 1761.
Concerto for Three Violins in D major. Christopher Hirons, Monica Huggett, Catherine Mackintosh, Violins.

The Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood.

Absolute top notch interpretations, no doubt about that!

[aligreto]

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 [Reiner]





This is my first time to listen to this version.

Straight off, in the opening movement, this presentation is big, powerful and detailed. However, for me, it is just confusing with regard to the tempi taken. Sometimes it is too quick and sometimes too slow. The huge dynamics and detail simply do not compensate for the overall sense of a coherent sense of drive throughout the movement. There is forward momentum but there is no exhilaration.
The second movement is much more consistent and coherent and much more satisfactory than the first. There is a sense of thrill, exhilaration and excitement here.
I do not like Reiner's version of the slow movement at all. It just feels a bit pedantic or laboured to me overall. It is rich and full sounding but just not to my liking. Perhaps it lacks empathy?
The final movement opens with all of the requisite gravitas. It also has the requisite drive to hurtle this wonderful music along. The orchestra is very tight and performs very robustly and assertively here. They are terrific altogether. The chorus is also a powerful unit and they also perform at the highest level. They are in terrific voice altogether. Finally, the soloists are also all very good both individually and collectively. For me they are both easy and pleasant to listen to which is not always the case in this situation. The movement is very well paced throughout and it has wonderful impact.

In summary, this presentation has low points and high points. It is too inconsistent for me to make it a favourite overall, but this final movement is definitely one to hear, I feel.

[Irons]

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.

Same can be said of the Grieg and 1st Tchaikovsky Piano Concertos.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Shostakovich
Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43
Scottish National Orchestra
Järvi



A sizzling account of one of Shostakovich's "desk drawer" works. All of these Shostakovich Järvi recordings on Chandos are first-rate.

[aligreto]

Ireland: Two Symphonic Studies [Hickox]