What are you listening 2 now?

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Henry Purcell's
Dido and Aeneas

Anthony Lewis, English Chamber Orchestra, The
St. Anthony Singers, Janet Baker, Patricia Clark,
Raimund Herincx, Monica Sinclair

I love that recording! 

I am, wisely,  steaming for now, Jeffrey 

And enjoying Ligeti more than I thought I would.

You're steaming your recordings?  Not good for the booklets I'd think.   

PD

[Wanderer]

From Musicweb - as I know nothing about this work:
Born into a theatrical family, Lortzing composed a number of Singspiels, most famously 'Zar und Zimmerman' (1837) and 'Der Wildschutz' (1842) as well as a romantic opera ('Undine') and a revolutionary opera ('Regina'). His 'Hans Sachs' probably influenced Richard Wagner. But Lortzing did not only write operas. He states in his autobiography that the expectations of his audience constrained him to constantly present entertaining works and but he seems to have written a number of more serious works.

'Die Himmelfahrt Jesu Christi' was first performed in Munster at the City Theatre in 1828 shortly after Lortzing's one act comedy 'Ali Pascha von Jenina' was performed. This was two year's after Weber's 'Oberon', a year after Beethoven's death, the same year as Schubert's death, and a year before the first performance of Rossini's 'William Tell' in Paris.

'Die Himmelfahrt' was first performed in Münster and then a year later in Osnabruck as part of a concert which included an opera overture, several arias including one from Mozart's 'La Clemenza di Tito' and a 'Hymn to Harmony' by Ignaz von Seyfried. In many ways it should not be regarded as an oratorio, more as a religious opera. It is written for chorus, orchestra along with five soloists - Gabriel (soprano), Eloa (alto), Christ (tenor), St. John (baritone), St. Peter (bass). The piece opens with a chorus of Angels and then in an accompanied recitative (all the recitatives in the piece are accompanied) St. John, sung by Christian Hiltz, explains that the disciples have come to the Mount of Olives as instructed by Christ. Hiltz has a pleasing light baritone that almost makes you think he could be a tenor. Then in an aria 'Blow Loudly to Zion with trumepts' Gabriel informs the listeners that Christ is Lord. Gabriel is sung by soprano, Anneli Pfeffer and is most impressive in this aria with its hints of Mozart, Weber and Haydn's 'Creation'. Following this Eloa, sung by Hedwig Fassbender, recites the passage from St. John's gospel, 'In the beginning was the Word...'. Fassbender displays a rich contralto instrument in this dramatic, atmospheric recitative. The recitative is followed by a rather conventional quartet for Gabriel, Eloa, John and Peter in which Christ's earthly life and suffering are recalled. John, in a recitative, graphically depicts all the suffering that occurred. Lortzing's orchestration at this point very effective, pointing up the graphic words. Unfortunately, Hiltz's baritone sounds rather uncomfortable with the lower tessitura of the piece. Then he and Gabriel, in a touching duet with charming solos, lament the loss of a friend. In a recitative and bravura aria 'The women did not see him in the tomb', Peter describes Christ's resurrection. Peter is sung by bass Kay Stieffmann and he also sounds a little taxed by the lower notes, but he has a very effective, dramatic bass voice with a fine feeling for the words. Part 1 concludes with another chorus of Angels.

Part 2 opens with a recitative and aria 'O great salvation has been given to you' from the risen Christ himself who is sung by tenor Bernhard Schneider. Schneider has a light, bright clean toned voice. The aria is essentially lyrical, but ideally Christ should have a bit more weight than Schneider can provide, but the high tessitura of the piece holds no fears for Schneider. In a dramatic and very operatic chorus, the disciples implore him 'Let us not be forsaken'. Christ then prays to God the Father, 'I have revealed your name' and again Schneider lacks that essential element of heft that the Weberian dramatics of the aria require. In a trio, Christ, Gabriel and Eloa then praise faith as the greatest good. Then the chorus of disciples sees Lord of truth surrounded by the heavenly host. Christ then vanishes into Heaven amidst a highly operatic ensemble. The work concludes with a short recitative from Peter and an operatically dramatic Chorus of Angels.

This is a fine, committed performance of the work and should do much to raise interest in Lortzing's non-operatic output. The young cast give fine performances even

though I felt that the three men had voices a half-size smaller than was desirable. They are well supported by the clean, bright choral tones of the WDR Rundfunkchor and the WDR Rundfunkorchester. Helmuth Froschauer's speeds are generally apt and he encourages a performance that is far from routine.

Robert Hugill

Read more: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/aug03/Lortzing.htm#ixzz7iFkxDpyz

Hmmm- sounds interesting. Lortzing wrote more than the clog dance from Zar und Zimmermann....

Thanks for posting that review, much appreciated. And it does sound interesting!

You're steaming your recordings?  Not good for the booklets I'd think.   

The secret is to sauté them first. 

[Mookalafalas]

Chinese label. Zhao Xu Yuang is Zhao Xuyang at Amazon, for some reason. Very good Bach Suites. He gets terrific chromatic range out of his instrument, and effortlessly careens from bass-rattling, slow gravitas to sprightly playfulness at the top of the register.

[Papy Oli]

You're steaming your recordings?  Not good for the booklets I'd think.   

PD

Oops. There I was, wondering what you meant, PD   

[Papy Oli]

The secret is to sauté them first. 

I should really cook them En Pap(y)llote 

[Papy Oli]

anyway....

TD:

Ligeti - Lontano

(from the DG box)

[Todd]

from

[Wanderer]

I should really cook them En Pap(y)llote 

En grec: stin ladókolla. Superbly juicy results! 😎

[Papy Oli]

Ligeti - The Big Turtle Fanfare from the South China Sea for Trumpet (1985)
Ligeti - Mysteries of the Macabre (1992) (Arr. for Trumpet and Piano)

[Traverso]

Praetorius

[Traverso]

I am, wisely,  steaming for now, Jeffrey 

And enjoying Ligeti more than I thought I would.

Ligeti is not a hard nut to crack, glad to see you enjoy the music   

[Spotted Horses]

Ligeti is not a hard nut to crack, glad to see you enjoy the music   

Some of I find quite accessible, some on the impenetrable side.

[Traverso]

Some of I find quite accessible, some on the impenetrable side.

I understand what you mean, but the less accessible works also become meaningful after listening a few times, at least for me.
It is important to note that much of Ligeti's music is not an impregnable ford and quite enjoyable.

[Papy Oli]

Bach - Cantatas BWV 12 & 13 (Harnoncourt, Leonhardt)

[Todd]

from:



Wrapping up this set with A Guide To Gregorian Chant.  Not sure why it's included, but it's OK.  This set is worth a buck, that's for sure.  It does not have the high hit rate of the Early Music set.

[Traverso]

Messiaen














I bought this set a lot more expensive, for those interested.


https://www.amazon.fr/Int%C3%A9grale-loeuvre-dorgue-Olivier-Messiaen/dp/B00005LF53

[Karl Henning]

Schreker: Das Spielwerk und die Prinzessin

I know it's not an uncommon name in northern Europe, but I still find it mildly jarring to see Henning on an album cover.

[Karl Henning]

CD 38

Schoenberg
Violin Concerto, Op. 36
Louis Krasner, vn
Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York (NY Phil)
Dimitri Mitropoulos
Rec. 1 Dec 1952

Berg
Violin Concerto
Louis Krasner, vn
Cleveland Orchestra
Artur Rodziński
Rec. 15 Dec 1940

Well, this was superb! I followed it with:

CD 8

Rakhmaninov
The Isle of the Dead, Op. 29
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (Minnesota Orchestra)

RVW
Fantasia on a Theme by Thos Tallis
Rec. 2 March 1945

[Mandryka]

The time has come for me to decide whether I care about this composer.

[amw]

The time has come for me to decide whether I care about this composer.

Choice of repertoire here was somewhat disappointing for me. Would instead recommend the Roland Pöntinen disc. Or Sviatoslav Richter.