What are you listening 2 now?

[Operafreak]

Elgar: Violin Concerto & Serenade for Strings-James Ehnes (violin)-Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis

[Todd]

[vandermolen]

Yes Jeffrey that one especially, but also that the 5th Symphony blew me away too, such passion and insight into the characteristics of Sibelius composition. The 7 th coupled with the fifth gave me goosebumps too, again this concentration of details and highlighting the many punchlines in the score. And then the beautiful En Saga, well utterly marvelous.
And now listening to the Violin concerto, a magnificent performance by Boris Belkin, and the orchestra perfectly in balance.
Its all good, forgive me my rambling on about these performances.

On the contrary - always good to hear your views Harry

[Harry]

I treat myself on some more Sibelius

Jean Sibelius.
Orchestral Works.
Pelleas and Melisande Suite.
Movements from Swanwhite Suite.
Incidental Music from King Christian II.
Iceland SO, Petri Sakari.

Last time I have listened to this recording was 1993, wow, that's a long time. I will see if I still like the performance. I have to say a few thing pertaining this CD, first of all, slow, and I mean really slow, Sakari ops for a full blown sound, in which details gets somewhat fuzzy. The recording is good without being exceptional. It is not a CD I would recommend. for after a few pieces you will get very sleepy. All the music has a pace somewhere around Largo or even slower. The orchestra barely holds it together, there is no flow, and the connecting melodies fall apart. So after all there was a reason that I never played it after 1993.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I treat myself on some more Sibelius

Jean Sibelius.
Orchestral Works.
Pelleas and Melisande Suite.
Movements from Swanwhite Suite.
Incidental Music from King Christian II.
Iceland SO, Petri Sakari.

Last time I have listened to this recording was 1993, wow, that's a long time. I will see if I still like the performance.

I see that you're in a Sibelius mood.    You might want to check out these uploads whilst they are still there.  They are of recent concert performances by the San Francisco Symphony  with Salonen (from earlier this month).  Was blown away too by a performance of Anna Thorvaldsdottir of Metacosmos.  Currently listening to Strauss' Also sprach Zarathrustra and to be followed by Four Legends from the Kalevala.

There's also a performance on that website of Sibelius' Luonnotar which I want to hear which I know that you were just talking about.

This is the website:  https://www.kdfc.com/radio/on-demand/san-francisco-symphony-on-demand/

PD

p.s.  If you haven't guessed already, I love Sibelius' music. 

[Harry]

I see that you're in a Sibelius mood.    You might want to check out these uploads whilst they are still there.  They are of recent concert performances by the San Francisco Symphony  with Salonen (from earlier this month).  Was blown away too by a performance of Anna Thorvaldsdottir of Metacosmos.  Currently listening to Strauss' Also sprach Zarathrustra and to be followed by Four Legends from the Kalevala.

There's also a performance on that website of Sibelius' Luonnotar which I want to hear which I know that you were just talking about.

This is the website:  https://www.kdfc.com/radio/on-demand/san-francisco-symphony-on-demand/

PD

p.s.  If you haven't guessed already, I love Sibelius' music. 

Well that makes two of us, and I will check the performances you talk about, thank you for that.

[Traverso]

de Victoria

Requiem


Alonso Lobo

Verse est in Luctum

[Lisztianwagner]

A great set.

I agree, it's expressive and beautifully suggestive; my favourite set for Ravel's orchestral works along with Abbado/LSO. Martinon did an excellent job with his set of Debussy's orchestral works too, in my opinion.

[Harry]

Pjotr I'llych Tchaikovsky.
Symphony No. 6.
Overture "The Storm"
LSO Gennadi Rohzdestvensky.

These performance in the whole series are a marvel for me. Rohzdestvensky is definitively at his favourite game, namely making Tchaikovsky sound as he must, and that is a sign of great artistry. Period!

[vandermolen]

Pjotr I'llych Tchaikovsky.
Symphony No. 6.
Overture "The Storm"
LSO Gennadi Rohzdestvensky.

These performance in the whole series are a marvel for me. Rohzdestvensky is definitively at his favourite game, namely making Tchaikovsky sound as he must, and that is a sign of great artistry. Period!

Is that your old avatar image? 

[Irons]

Hello RS,
I was especially moved by the slow movement which I think is superior (and more moving) than the one in the 1st Symphony. The 1st Symphony is the much greater work, but I have learned to appreciate the 2nd Symphony more recently. You have more musical insight that I do, and I respect your opinion. I like the recordings of the 2nd Symphony by Szell and Mackerras in particular. Maybe I was more receptive to the work on my car journey!

I cannot think of a CD I have enjoyed more this year.

[Harry]

Is that your old avatar image? 

Yes believe it or not, but I was a spitting image of this composer. Many years ago when I met Jos van Immerseel, (the very man who recorded the 4th Symphony by Tchaikovsky on authentic instruments) looked at me and said, my God, are you descended from Tchaikovsky, and the words "Amazing came out in a gasp, and then we discussed this a bit, and that he was fascinated by this composer and in future would love to record him.

[Roasted Swan]

I've been enjoying all the performances. The only downside for me is the file format being MP3 VBR (I'm a lossless guy all the way), but the recording quality is good for everything I've heard so far. And for $2 I can't complain.

I agree - but how fantastic to be able to explore such a range of repertoire in often better than decent performances and recordings at such low prices!

[Operafreak]

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto & Lalo: Symphonie espagnole-Augustin Hadelich (violin)-London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko, Omer Meir Wellber

[Papy Oli]

Dutilleux - Mystère de l'Instant

[Harry]

Jean Sibelius.
Symphony No. 4 in A minor, and No 7 in C major.
Valse Triste.
Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan.

Most of my recordings by Karajan have gone to the charity shop, but the Sibelius recordings all made between 1965 and 1968, are an exception on the rule. For Karajan tended to perform Sibelius pretty much unaltered, and all his idiosyncrasies so normal for him are mostly absent. He simply respected Sibelius to much I guess. So State of the Art recordings to begin with, and well balanced interpretations. It was a long time that I have listened to them, but this renewed acquaintance with von Karajan left me pretty much in awe. The Fourth, always a difficult Symphony to perform turns through his hands into the masterwork it really is. No. 7 makes a grand entrance too, the one movement work with the many tempo changes and the difficult rhythmical patterns is delivered with aplomb and dispatched with just the right amount of energy. The Valse Triste is done in a intimate setting of thrilling Violins, shaking out randomly happiness. Perfect.

[Traverso]

Vaughan Williams

On to the second symphony......


Symphony No.2

Concerto Accademico for Violin and Orchestra

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Four Legends from the Kalevala with Salonen, SFS online (from October 4, 2022). 

PD

[Traverso]

This second symphony with Previn is more convincing than yesterday's Sea Symphony. Now no longing for the Thomson recording that I will listen again ( one of these days) to  feel  more at home in the world of Vaughan Williams .

It is really enjoyable....

[Florestan]

Most of my recordings by Karajan have gone to the charity shop

I should have thought you were one of the most committed Karajan fans, Harry. Whatever made you change your mind, I wonder.