What are you listening 2 now?

[Madiel]

Now starting on my purchased choice of Duparc album, which benefits from the alternation of singers and especially Sarah Walker's big and dark voice.



There is an amusing unwritten law that a Duparc recital must start with L'invitation au voyage and end with La vie antérieure. At least I assume it's unwritten and that singers do it just because those are two of the peaks of the collection and they work so well in those positions. But it's so close to a universal approach that you do wonder if there's some contractual requirement actually written down somewhere.

[Irons]

Honegger: Sonatina for Violin and Cello.

Kodaly: Duo for Violin and Cello.

Josef Suk (violin) André Navarra (cello).

The Honegger piece demands attention. It certainly got mine!

[Harry]

Robert Schumann.
Complete Piano Works.
Volume 4.
Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Fantasiebilder opus 26.
Blumenstuck, opus 19.
Vision aus Albumblatter, opus 124, No. 14.
Klavierstuck.
Drei Stucklein.
Arabeske, opus 18.
Humoreske, opus 20.
Florian Uhlig, Piano.

The most complete performances of Schumann's works, and it really is. Every fragment, no matter how small, Uhlig has included in this set. These fragments give a good overview of Schumann's working method. You really understand the complete compositions better, if you have fathomed the way to it.
Uhlig is a pianist who keeps his argument clear, doesn't blow the music out of proportion. He is elegant in his expression, and clear in the way he goes.

[Madiel]

Robert Schumann.
Complete Piano Works.
Volume 4.
Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Fantasiebilder opus 26.
Blumenstuck, opus 19.
Vision aus Albumblatter, opus 124, No. 14.
Klavierstuck.
Drei Stucklein.
Arabeske, opus 18.
Humoreske, opus 20.
Florian Uhlig, Piano.

The most complete performances of Schumann's works, and it really is. Every fragment, no matter how small, Uhlig has included in this set. These fragments give a good overview of Schumann's working method. You really understand the complete compositions better, if you have fathomed the way to it.
Uhlig is a pianist who keeps his argument clear, doesn't blow the music out of proportion. He is elegant in his expression, and clear in the way he goes.

I still haven't made a final decision on a Schumann set, but it's nice that you're confirming the impressions I've had from trying some volumes on streaming.

[Harry]

Antonin Dvorak.
Complete Symphonies.
No 3 & 4.
Scottish National Orchestra, Neem Jarvi.

I remember, in the mid-eighties, I bought two releases of this series, and a disappointment richer. I expected a good recording, but instead got a dull and unappealing performance. So I sold them and that was that. But when I acquired a set from Brilliant in which the first 4 Symphonies by Jarvi were part of the box, I decided to try.... Not withstanding my opinion I listened again to the performances, and guess what. I had meanwhile upgraded my hi-fi to a high level, and suddenly the recording sounded as I expected, but my lesser quality electronics could not deliver. Now I am satisfied with the result, and bought the complete set, plus the Poems.

[Operafreak]

 Haydn: String Quartets Op. 76 Nos, 2, 3 & 4-Alban Berg Quartett

[Mookalafalas]

Van Asperen playing Handel Organ Concertos. 

[Florestan]

The most complete performances of Schumann's works, and it really is. Every fragment, no matter how small, Uhlig has included in this set.

Exactly what Ana-Marija Markovina did in her Mendelssohn box. You should check that too, Harry. There's much more good piano music from Felix than Lieder ohne Worte and Variations serieuses.

[Harry]

Exactly what Ana-Marija Markovina did in her Mendelssohn box. You should check that too, Harry. There's much more good piano music from Felix than Lieder ohne Worte and Variations serieuses.

Thanks Andrei, I will check this set out.
Presently they are rather expensive, on JPC and Amazon de, so I will wait for a sale.

[Traverso]

Scarlatti


Sonatas KK 31-48

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Antonin Dvorak.
Complete Symphonies.
No 3 & 4.
Scottish National Orchestra, Neem Jarvi.

I remember, in the mid-eighties, I bought two releases of this series, and a disappointment richer. I expected a good recording, but instead got a dull and unappealing performance. So I sold them and that was that. But when I acquired a set from Brilliant in which the first 4 Symphonies by Jarvi were part of the box, I decided to try.... Not withstanding my opinion I listened again to the performances, and guess what. I had meanwhile upgraded my hi-fi to a high level, and suddenly the recording sounded as I expected, but my lesser quality electronics could not deliver. Now I am satisfied with the result, and bought the complete set, plus the Poems.

Is there a complete set of the Poems with Jarvi or did you have to buy them separately?

PD

[Harry]

Is there a complete set of the Poems with Jarvi or did you have to buy them separately?

PD

[Mookalafalas]

Remarkable works. The more I listen to his chamber music, the more I am amazed.

  Playing this now, for the first time. Thanks for recommending it. I think I also need to find more by the Atos Trio...

[Harry]

Mili Alekseyevich Balakirev.
Complete Piano music, Volume 4.
Nicholas Walker, Piano.

A few months ago I researched the catalog of the Grand Piano label to discover what I had been missing in my collection for years. I could think of some composers whose piano music I wanted. JPC regularly offers complete sets of Grand Piano, and found a few interesting items. The complete works of Joachim Raff, a great set, and Renaldo Hahn. I found his early works interesting, but the later works were too dark and distant for me. So I let that set of 4 CDs go.
Balakirev is a composer who makes a lot of little. Just a few basic notes, and he turns it into something grand. His music is uplifting, and a source of creativity. Walker gets out what's in, and is complimented with fine sound.

[Traverso]

Messiaen

 

[Todd]

Following up Beisembayev's List disc with his debut recording.  A short recording with three Scarlatti sonatas, three Ligeti Etudes, and two selections from Miroirs, it is clear that Beisembayev can play anything.  The Ligeti pieces sound old school and unchallenging, with the pianist playing them with no little flexibility and nuance.  One rather expects these pieces to be core rep for someone born just before this century began.  The Ravel selections result in dissatisfaction because the whole main work was not recorded.  I hope he records tons.

[Que]

On Spotify some from this huge set:

[Harry]

On Spotify some from this huge set:

I bought it, and found it terrible thus gave it away.

[Papy Oli]

Stravinksy - Mavra (from the opera CDs)

From the Sony box.

[Harry]

Grazyna Bacewicz.
Violin concertos Volume II.
No. 2/4/5.
Joanna Kurkowicz, violin.
Polish Radio SO, Lukasz Borowicz.

Sometimes music touches you so intensely, and evokes so many emotions, that you have two choices, either you stop the music, and if not, immerse yourself with the necessary consequences that come over you like a deluge. I've chosen the latter, and am almost going through a metamorphosis, feelings that blend seamlessly with my mood. That happens more often than I'd like, but that's the result of dabbling into classical music. Such subtle interpretations of this erudite violinist, who approached Bacewicz music as if she were entering the Holy Grail. Such grace, and profundity, results in a beautiful rendering of these violin concertos.
I am sold stock and barrel to this music.