What are you listening 2 now?

[vers la flamme]

Hey it's my first listen, better impressions may follow with subsequent ones  I do notice that Karajan's tempi are much more relaxed, and that he tends to emphasize different things, namely string textures over brass and winds. Not that he underplays the brassy climaxes that do exist in the music—these moments indeed sound excellent—but for example in the scherzo I heard a lot more wind and brass detail in the Mravinsky recording I've been listening to. But his approach works quite well in this music.

P.S. I love that Strauss disc.

HVK's way with the finale is impressive. Really, stunning.

Now playing Symphony No.5 in E minor, op.64, on the same disc. Also very good. As expected, more relaxed than the Mravinsky.

[Karl Henning]

Sandro Ivo Bartoli playing Malipiero's Fifth Concerto

https://www.youtube.com/v/lxt_0kbo1h0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxt_0kbo1h0

[Linz]

Elgar Cello Concerto with Jacqueline du Pré and John Barbirolli and the BBC Symphony Orchestra as well  Jacqueline du Pré Plays Bach's Cello Sonatas 1 & 2

[vandermolen]

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.4 in F minor. Robert Spano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Our departing music director seemed to have an affinity for the music of this composer, and accordingly he's created the best recording of this symphony I've ever heard (not to mention a glorious Dona Nobis Pacem). I never really knew what to make of the 4th, but it's sounding good right now.

That's a very nice double album.

TD
Parry Symphony No.5

[vandermolen]

I'd forgotten about this, but I listened to Miaskovsky/Myaskovsky's 21st symphony while I was away from the forum this summer. I did like it better. The 27th is one of the two symphonies I own but haven't heard yet, so that will probably be next! Thanks for the comment.

No.17 is also one of my favourites as well.
I hope that you enjoyed the booklet notes 

[Karl Henning]

No.17 is also one of my favourites as well.
I hope that you enjoyed the booklet notes 

(* chortle *)

[Symphonic Addict]

I love the Concerto in question and the entire album.

Very interesting. I must check it out!

I hope you enjoy the Jongen's Quartet, Manabu. It's the most attractive one of the three IIRC.

[vandermolen]

Now: Moeran Symphony in G minor - one of my favourite symphonies and I heard this performance live at the Proms in 2009.
I love the cover image too.

[Symphonic Addict]

A great work Cesar - which I prefer to the more famous Piano Concerto.

Me too, Jeffrey, the Concerto lacks the magic of the Legend.

[Symphonic Addict]

A first listen to;



So far just the "Mass for the 500th Anniversary of the death of Joan of Arc".  Wow, just WOW!  Obviously French, obviously owing a degree of influence from Faure or Durufle but very much its own master too.  Genuinely thrilling with some massively uplifting climaxes superbly performed by the RSNO & Chorus (who sound genuinely inspired) and helped by an excellent Reference Records recording.  Quite possibly my discovery of the year.  One for the "what's blown you away" thread!

Interesting! Oddly enough I've only heard the Symphony on that disc. I'll give it a try soon.

[vandermolen]

Me too, Jeffrey, the Concerto lacks the magic of the Legend.

Definitely!

[Lisztianwagner]

Hey it's my first listen, better impressions may follow with subsequent ones  I do notice that Karajan's tempi are much more relaxed, and that he tends to emphasize different things, namely string textures over brass and winds. Not that he underplays the brassy climaxes that do exist in the music—these moments indeed sound excellent—but for example in the scherzo I heard a lot more wind and brass detail in the Mravinsky recording I've been listening to. But his approach works quite well in this music.

P.S. I love that Strauss disc.

HVK's way with the finale is impressive. Really, stunning.

Now playing Symphony No.5 in E minor, op.64, on the same disc. Also very good. As expected, more relaxed than the Mravinsky.

Sure, no problem, I'm pleased you enjoyed Karajan's recordings anyway. I've always found Karajan an amazing tchaikovskian interpreter, he was always able to express greatly all the passion, the powerful intensity as well as the graceful beauty and the poetical melancholy of Tchaikovsky's music. About the 6th Symphony, I think in Karajan's performance the tempi are well chosen (not too much relaxed, on the contrary rather agile) and there's a perfect control of the orchestral timbres, which are very rich, colourful and well balanced, without a particular prominence for any orchestral section; in the Scherzo, woodwinds and brass are lively, and he takes out a lot of energy from them, especially from the latter (as a matter of fact, the brass sound is one of the aspects I like most about Karajan's style). But I have to say I use to listen to the '60s recording, while yours is the 1976 one if I'm not wrong, maybe that's why I find so many differences. I must revisit the 1976 recording.

I'm not familiar with Mravinsky's performance, but now you've made me quite curious to compare it with the Karajan!

[SimonNZ]

[vers la flamme]

Kôsçak Yamada: Symphony in F major, "Triumph & Peace". Takuo Yuasa, Ulster Orchestra

What a gloriously life affirming piece of music this is. Deserves to be much more popular than it is.

[vers la flamme]

Sure, no problem, I'm pleased you enjoyed Karajan's recordings anyway. I've always found Karajan an amazing tchaikovskian interpreter, he was always able to express greatly all the passion, the powerful intensity as well as the graceful beauty and the poetical melancholy of Tchaikovsky's music. About the 6th Symphony, I think in Karajan's performance the tempi are well chosen (not too much relaxed, on the contrary rather agile) and there's a perfect control of the orchestral timbres, which are very rich, colourful and well balanced, without a particular prominence for any orchestral section; in the Scherzo, woodwinds and brass are lively and powerful, especially the latter (as a matter of fact, the brass sound is one of the aspects I like most about Karajan's style).

I'm not familiar with Mravinsky's performance, but now you've made me quite curious to compare it with the Karajan!

Do let me know if you listen to the Mravinsky; you might see where I'm coming from as regards my comments about tempo and string-to-brass balance—even if you ultimately do not like the performance. However, I do want to say that I am not one of those Karajan naysayers who think he was all strings; on the contrary, I'm a big fan of his music making, and I find him more well rounded than some give him credit for. I have tons of his recordings and hold many of them in high regard. And I would agree that he always gets a lot of payoff out of his brass sections. But when I compare to the Mravinsky/Leningrad Pathétique, I simply hear more detail in the brass in certain moments than I did in the Karajan, where some of those moments felt a bit more strings-forward (and none the lesser for it I might add).

You may also have noted on one of the other threads on this board that I ended up buying Karajan's Tchaikovsky 1st, 2nd and 3rd today too

[Lisztianwagner]

Do let me know if you listen to the Mravinsky; you might see where I'm coming from as regards my comments about tempo and string-to-brass balance—even if you ultimately do not like the performance. However, I do want to say that I am not one of those Karajan naysayers who think he was all strings; on the contrary, I'm a big fan of his music making, and I find him more well rounded than some give him credit for. I have tons of his recordings and hold many of them in high regard. And I would agree that he always gets a lot of payoff out of his brass sections. But when I compare to the Mravinsky/Leningrad Pathétique, I simply hear more detail in the brass in certain moments than I did in the Karajan, where some of those moments felt a bit more strings-forward (and none the lesser for it I might add).

You may also have noted on one of the other threads on this board that I ended up buying Karajan's Tchaikovsky 1st, 2nd and 3rd today too

Sure, I'll write what I think about the Mravinsky/Leningrad; if you defined Karajan's tempi relaxed, I'm looking forward to hearing Mravinsky's. 

I have, I can't do but giving a thumb up for the excellent purchase, I hope you'll enjoy it!

[vers la flamme]

Sure, I'll write what I think about the Mravinsky/Leningrad; if you defined Karajan's tempi relaxed, I'm looking forward to hearing Mravinsky's. 

I have, I can't do but giving a thumb up for the excellent purchase, I hope you'll enjoy it!

I hope so too! I'm on a bit of a Tchaikovsky symphonies kick these past few days, after spending a lifetime paying very little attention to them. Shame on me, they're really great. I've still never heard the 2nd or 3rd actually.

[vers la flamme]

Richard Strauss: Metamorphosen. Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic

[Symphonic Addict]

Bartók: Concerto for orchestra

Even though I'm not a fan of this famous work, this recording manages to entertain me.

[Operafreak]

Goldberg Variations, BWV988/Lars Vogt (piano)