What are you listening 2 now?

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Mitropoulos/NYPhO was my introduction to Mennin and his beautiful third symphony.
Interesting comments on Mennin and the Schwarz/Seattle SO : Mennin/Schwarz

"The slow movement counts as one of the glories of American music. In the liner notes, Jim Svejda comments that "Unlike many American composers of Italian descent – from Walter Piston... and Paul Creston... to Nicolas Flagello and John Corigliano – an Italianate lyricism was not a defining factor in Mennin's art." Perhaps true of an "Italianate" lyricism (although where Svejda finds this in Piston, I have no idea), but not of song – Mennin succeeds in writing one extremely moving and his own. The idiom owes nothing to the slow movements of Copland or Harris (the two composers most ripped-off by other Americans). If it reminds me of anyone, it's Vaughan Williams, and that's a matter of mood rather than anything technical."

Nice art. I checked the performance on YT and love it.

[Operafreak]

Bach & Beyond: A Well-Tempered Conversation-Julien Libeer, Adam Laloum

[Que]

Morning listening on Spotify:



A disc with a selection of the fascinating music from the Italian Trecento, by unaccompanied voices. Appeared on my radar when I saw the review by Johan van Veen on his website:
http://www.musica-dei-donum.org/cd_reviews/Raumklang_RK3501.html

Sorry for the late reply - thank you!

You're welcome. 

[aligreto]

Teleman: Recorder Sonatas played by Frans Bruggen





Recorder Sonata In F, TWV 41/F2
Canonic Sonata In B Flat, TWV 41/B3
Recorder Sonata In C, TWV 40/C5
Recorder Sonata In F, TWV 41/F1
Recorder Sonata In D Minor, TWV 41/D4
Recorder Sonata In C, TWV 41/C2

[Mandryka]

After years, I am again gravitating towards the genre as well.
I just got the complete Brahms Lieder edition on cpo. Very much looking forward to it!

For proper enjoyment, texts are key. For the issues in which those are sadly missing, I could recommend:

I want to disagree with something here. Text can be important but "the key", I think, is the voice - a voice you click with. For me that's all about diction, for others it may be about timbre or something else. Be wary of something like a "complete Brahms lieder edition" - they may not choose the right singers for you.

The role of text is one major difference between song and opera - I think that text is much more "the key" in opera than in song, though even there, in aria, diction and timbre count more for me.

[Que]

I want to disagree with something here. Text can be important but "the key", I think, is the voice - a voice you click with. For me that's all about diction, for others it may be about timbre or something else.

The role of text is one major difference between sing and opera - I think that text is much more "the key" in opera than in song,

You added "the" to "key", so I wouldn't want to argue with anything you said except for the remark on the difference between song and opera.

Since diction is so important to you, how do you feel about singers that sing in a foreign language? Anglophones singing German being an obvious example.

Be wary of something like a "complete Brahms lieder edition" - they may not choose the right singers for you.

Thanks for the warning! But this edition is the exception to the rule... I am very picky in choosing singers.

[Harry]

Delightful music. Listening on Youtube, for this CD recorded in 2019 on Brilliant is already OOP, and only to be had for absurd prices. A good thing that I can also stream this on Qobuz. Many OOP recordings are still in their library, but for how long I wonder. And I did not figure out that if I have put a recording in my personal library, will it still be there if Qobuz removes it? I realized though a tad late, that streaming is becoming a necessity.

[Que]

On Spotify:



Of course this music has already been done to death, but I couldn't resist because Kuijken is conducting.

[Mandryka]

You added "the" to "key", so I wouldn't want to argue with anything you said except for the remark on the difference between song and opera.

Since diction is so important to you, how do you feel about singers that sing in a foreign language? Anglophones singing German being an obvious example.

Thanks for the warning! But this edition is the exception to the rule... I am very picky in choosing singers.

Re anglophones singing German have a listen to some Brahms from Margaret Price and (especially) Loraine Hunt Lieberson.

[aligreto]

Albinoni: Trio Sonatas Op. 1 Nos. 1-3 [Guglielmo]

[vandermolen]

Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.4 NYPO, Mitropolous
What a performance! VW liked it as well.

[vandermolen]

Ottorino Respighi
Belkis, Queen of Sheba
Brazilian Impressions

Geoffrey Simon & Philharmonia Orchestra

Great CD! Geoffrey Simon is an underrated conductor (his Bloch 'Sacred Service' is my favourite recording as is his 'Church Windows' by Respighi which 'blew me away' when I first heard it on the car radio on my way to work, one Saturday morning about 35 years ago). I remember having to stay in the car to hear what it was. I had to rush out to buy the LP as soon as I got back. Amazingly the record shop in the town had a copy of it! Those were the days.

[Harry]

I love how her hair just kept getting bigger and bigger during the 1970s!

And not only  Miss Baker's, just look at Barenboim's hairdo, preposterous      

[Papy Oli]

Good morning all,

Hindemith - Mathis der Maler
Blomstedt / SFSO

[aligreto]

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 1 Op. 18/1 [Budapest String Quartet]





There is a heightened sense of a conversational element in the opening movement. I also like the questioning tone.
The presentation of the slow movement is one of prevailing intensity, almost anguish, for me.
The Scherzo is a delicate and buoyant performance.
The final movement is quietly assertive without being overly animated.

[aligreto]

Great CD! Geoffrey Simon is an underrated conductor (his Bloch 'Sacred Service' is my favourite recording as is his 'Church Windows' by Respighi which 'blew me away' when I first heard it on the car radio on my way to work, one Saturday morning about 35 years ago). I remember having to stay in the car to hear what it was. I had to rush out to buy the LP as soon as I got back. Amazingly the record shop in the town had a copy of it! Those were the days.

Wonderful. Who says that nostalgia is overrated?! 

[Lisztianwagner]

Great CD! Geoffrey Simon is an underrated conductor (his Bloch 'Sacred Service' is my favourite recording as is his 'Church Windows' by Respighi which 'blew me away' when I first heard it on the car radio on my way to work, one Saturday morning about 35 years ago). I remember having to stay in the car to hear what it was. I had to rush out to buy the LP as soon as I got back. Amazingly the record shop in the town had a copy of it! Those were the days.

Agreed! I don't know Simon as conductor very well, but his Respighi recordings are absolutely impressive, especially for Belkis, Church Windows and Brazilian Impressions, beautifully mesmerizing.

[Lisztianwagner]

Speaking of Respighi:

Ottorino Respighi
Trittico Botticelliano

Giuseppe Sinopoli & Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

[aligreto]

Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn [Sanderling]





Sanderling does a good job here. I like his treatment of the woodwinds.

[Brahmsian]

Composer : Igor Stravinsky
Recording : Petrushka (Monteux - 1959)
Performers : Pierre Monteux, Boston Symphony Orchestra

Such a splendid performance. I got this CD for my beloved Franck Symphony in D minor, and was blown away by the remarkable Petrushka. One of my favourite single discs.