What are you listening 2 now?

[vandermolen]

Maiden-Listen Monday!

Bax
Symphony № 4 (1930-31)
Overture to a Picaresque Comedy (1930)
Nympholept (1912-15)

That's one of my favourites of the Naxos set, especially for the combination of the 4th symphony and Nympholept (although Thomson is my preferred choice for those works).

[Que]

Morning listening:

[vandermolen]

Rubbra: Symphony No.7 LPO Boult
One of the great Rubbra recordings IMO. The 7th is a deeply felt and reflective work. It is my favourite Rubbra symphony, alongside symphonies 4 and 5. The slow finale is especially impressive. I prefer the LP sleeves to the CD cover - especially the original release coupled with VW's Tallis Fantasia, which was a Record Library discovery for me.

[Harry]

200 Ans de Musique a Versailles.
Yoyage au Coeur du Baroque Francois.
CD II.
Musique de Cour au Temps de Louis XIII.
Il Seminario Musicale. Gerard Lesne.



Over the years, I have removed from my collection virtually all of Gerard Lesne's recordings in his capacity as a conductor and solo singer. I was never much of an admirer of his, it must be said, so this box of 15 CDs is heavily indebted to Lesne. That's a problem for me on one side of the medal, but if I want this music I can't ignore him, and that's the other side of the medal. Having said this, not all the soloists are of a high standard, notably the soprano Chantal Santon, a shrill voice with little expression, and an irritating declamation. The balance in this ensemble is rather low key, and none of the singers are really good. The instrumental part is more than adequate, no complaints about that. Works by eight different composers on this CD, many of which I appreciate, but all in all I would wish for much better performances. I very much doubt that I will play this music ever again in this interpretation.

[Maestro267]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4
Berlin PO/Karajan

[Harry]

Music from the Court of King Janus at Nicosia (1374-1432)
CD III.
All the music is taken from the Cypriot Manuscript Torino, Biblioteca Nazionale.
Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel.

I have nothing but the highest praise for this music. The Secret Labyrinth is just that, but luckily for us the magical secrets are audible, performed by one of the best ensembles our world has.
Perfect recording.

[vandermolen]

Havergal Brian: Symphony 7 and 16 + 'The Tinker's Wedding'. I must say that the idea of a 'comedy overture' by Havergal Brian sounds like an oxymoron (I wonder if there's a 'comedy overture' by Allan Pettersson  ). However, this is a very enjoyable CD, which I've played several times this week. Symphony No.16 along with Symphony No.22 ('Brevis') is my favourite of the late HB symphonies. I think that there are better interpretations elsewhere (No.7 with Mackerras on EMI/Sony and No.16 with Myer Fredman on Lyrita) but I'm still very happy to have this beautifully recorded release.

[Irons]

Rubbra: Symphony No.7 LPO Boult
One of the great Rubbra recordings IMO. The 7th is a deeply felt and reflective work. It is my favourite Rubbra symphony, alongside symphonies 4 and 5. The slow finale is especially impressive. I prefer the LP sleeves to the CD cover - especially the original release coupled with VW's Tallis Fantasia, which was a Record Library discovery for me.

I'm puzzled why Lyrita chose to release the Rubbra 7th twice with different couplings and covers on LP, Jeffrey. Pretty certain this was the only occasion they did so.

Current listening.

Stanford: 5th String Quartet.

Dismissive of this a while back and on returning don't think that was fair. More Haydn then Bartok but nothing wrong with that.

[vandermolen]

I'm puzzled why Lyrita chose to release the Rubbra 7th twice with different couplings and covers on LP, Jeffrey. Pretty certain this was the only occasion they did so.

Current listening.

Stanford: 5th String Quartet.

Dismissive of this a while back and on returning don't think that was fair. More Haydn then Bartok but nothing wrong with that.

That's interesting about the Lyrita covers Lol. I hadn't thought of that but I suspect that you may well be right. A pity they didn't re-release the Bax symphony cycle with different covers! Having said that the US Heritage LP releases were much more attractive and appropriate for Bax.

[Roasted Swan]

That's interesting about the Lyrita covers Lol. I hadn't thought of that but I suspect that you may well be right. A pity they didn't re-release the Bax symphony cycle with different covers! Having said that the US Heritage LP releases were much more attractive and appropriate for Bax.

Isn't there a story behind the Lyrita/Bax LP's covers?  I seem to recall that Richard Itter of Lyrita approached Ken Russell for financial support recording these LP's.  Russell was in the first flood of his enthusiasm for Bax (which eventually saw fruition in his AWFUL dramatised documentary in which he cast himself as the composer......) but he wanted the LP's cover(s) to be of a naked woman riding a horse.  Itter demurred, Russell did not fund and the rest is .... as they say ... history.  Consequently Lyrita stiuck with the variously coloured iterations (pun intended) of the abstract patterned LP cover.

[Harry]

Ina Boyle.
Orchestral Works.
BBC Concert Orchestra, Ronald Corp.
Benjamin Baker, Violin.
Nadege Rochat, Cello.

This release is a musical wonder for me, out of which orchestral magic flows like a eternal waterfall. Best Buy 2022.

[Traverso]

Purcell

CD 5

[Harry]

Grazyna Bacewicz.
Violin Concertos, Volume I.
No. 1/3/7.
Joanna Kurkowicz, Violin.
Polish Radio SO, Lukasz, Borowicz.

Cannot get enough of this music, already the seventh time this month, that it landed in my player.

[Operafreak]

Between the Clouds/ Charlie Siem (violin), Itamar Golan (piano)

[Maestro267]

Dutilleux: Symphony No. 1
BBC PO/Tortelier

Rubbra: Symphony No. 3
BBC NOW/Hickox

[Lisztianwagner]

Felix Mendelssohn
Symphony No.3

Herbert von Karajan & Berliner Philharmoniker

[brewski]

Grazyna Bacewicz.
Violin Concertos, Volume I.
No. 1/3/7.
Joanna Kurkowicz, Violin.
Polish Radio SO, Lukasz, Borowicz.

Cannot get enough of this music, already the seventh time this month, that it landed in my player.

She is an underrated composer, and quite off the radar for most listeners. I rarely see her programmed on concerts—which I hope will change.

-Bruce

[Mahlerbruck]

Gustav Mahler - Symphony no. 9

Tomas Netopil
Essener Philharmoniker
Recorded 10-13 april 2018



Somehow I feel like this recording has stayed under the radar of many Listeners and even Mahlerians.
Good sound, a lot of attention to details, maybe it sometimes misses the real rawness of Mahler's music, reminds me a little of Chailly's approach.

[pjme]

This ca. 1968 Philips LP was my first my first acquaintance with the name Bacewicz. I bought the LP for Penderecki, but remember clearly liking Bacewicz Music for strings, trumpets and percussion aswel.
Finally we get a chance to discover more of her compositions. Yesterday evening BBC 3 broadcast her powerful 3rd symphony in the CPO recording. Excellent!

[Linz]

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 Andor Foldes piano and Symphony No. 8