What are you listening 2 now?

[Operafreak]

 Bernstein: Mass-The Norman Scribner Choir, The Berkshire Boys Choir, Leonard Bernstein

[vandermolen]

Last night
Glazunov 'Kremlin' (not that I want to be reminded of the Kremlin at the moment). I think that it's one of my favourite works by Glazunov:

[vandermolen]

Tubin Symphony No.4

[Que]

Morning listening. A rerun:



Just half of this disc is filled with music by William Cornish. A late Renaissance approach to early Renaissance music, but I'm still quite enjoying this.

[foxandpeng]

Elizabeth Maconchy
SQs 1 - 4
Hanson SQ


One of my favourite string quartet cycles to start the day. Maconchy is really very engaging and listenable, I find. Filled with ideas, tunes and contrasts. Excellent in every way.

No cover art still. Public internet operated by hamsters.

[Traverso]

Beethoven


String Quartet No.15  a moll Op.132

[Harry]

Second listen.
As before I think the translation to modern instruments works well.

Blasphemy    

[Harry]

New release, first listen, through Qobuz (Roon)

Unicum.
New Songs from the Leuven Chansonnier.
Ensemble Leones, Marc Lewon.

Walter Frye: Ave regina celorum
Barbingant: Au travail suis que peu de gens croiroient
Johannes Ockeghem: Ma maistresse et ma plus qu'aultre amye
Alexander Agricola (?): Si vous voullez que je vous ame
Gilles Binchois: Comme femme desconfortee
Firminus Caron oder Antoine Busnoys: Cent mil escuz quant je voulroye
Antoine Busnois: Est il mercy de quoy l'on sceust finer
Anonymus: Ou beau chastel est prisonnier mon cueur; Par malle Bouche la cruelle (2 Versions); Donnez l'aumosne, chiere dame; Tousdis vous voit mon souvenir; En atendant vostre venue; Escu d'ennuy, seme de plours; J'ay des semblans tant que je vueil; Vrauz amans pour Dieu suppliez; Henri Phlippet, le vert me fais porter; Helas mon cueur, tu m'occiras; Oublie, oublie.


What a surprise, for this is quite good. First of all the Songs of the Leuven Chansonnier, is a real treat. This ensemble has a good balance, and sing towards each other, no ego's just a common goal. A good recording, I am very content with it.

The discovery in 2015 of a 15th-century parchment chansonnier, still in its original binding, was all the more astonishing because it contained twelve previously unknown anonymous chansons. Most are rondeaus that range from simple to sophisticated and ornate; many bear musical indications that they were written by the greatest composers of the time. In this recording, they have been contextualized with other well-known songs, but in the variants found in Leuven.

[Que]

Interesting!    A Swiss ensemble.

[Mandryka]

Interesting!    A Swiss ensemble.

I'm surprised you don't know them - I've enjoyed all their recordings, especially the Neidhart, the late Minnesingers CD and the selection from the Chansonnier Cordiforme.  Marc Lewon is a singer and a specialist in using a plectrum for lute music - apparently an authentic early music practice. 

[Harry]

I'm surprised you don't know them - I've enjoyed all their recordings, especially the Neidhart, the late Minnesingers CD and the selection from the Chansonnier Cordiforme.  Marc Lewon is a singer and a specialist in using a plectrum for lute music - apparently an authentic early music practice. 

That one is next on my list, it is indeed a fine ensemble!

[Tsaraslondon]

Disc 2 is mostly Handel, plus some Bach and Purcell.

First we start with almost the whole of her 1972 Handel recital with Raymond Leppard. Dopo notte has been substituted with the same aria from the complete set of Ariodante, made in 1976, along with two more arias from the same opera. We also have a 1966 performance of Bach's Vergnügte Ruh, beliebter Seelenlust from Cantata BWV 170 with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields under Neville Marriner and her peerless performane of the closing section of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with the St Anthony Singers and the Englsh Chamber Orchestra under Anthony Lewis. Recorded in 1961, and regardless of HIP, this performance of the opera would still be many people's first choice. She would have been only 28 at the time, but was already the complete artist.

 

[vandermolen]

On account of an unexpected but improving hospital stay, I've had a fair bit of time for listening this week. Not likely to be discharged for a few days, so have some more listening time yet.

No covers to display, because that feels too much like hard work, but I've very much enjoyed...

All of Penderecki's symphonies, 1 - 5 of Christopher Rouse, Robert Simpson 3 - 6, and exploring some new Steve Elcock and Richard Flury symphonies.

Making positive use of annoying circumstances. On the plus side, the music must surely be helping the old BP count...

I'd been away last weekend and had somehow missed that you were stuck in hospital Danny. So, I just wanted to send my best wishes and hope that you feel better soon (despite a diet of Christopher Gunning's music  )
Jeffrey

[Traverso]

New release, first listen, through Qobuz (Roon)

Unicum.
New Songs from the Leuven Chansonnier.
Ensemble Leones, Marc Lewon.

Walter Frye: Ave regina celorum
Barbingant: Au travail suis que peu de gens croiroient
Johannes Ockeghem: Ma maistresse et ma plus qu'aultre amye
Alexander Agricola (?): Si vous voullez que je vous ame
Gilles Binchois: Comme femme desconfortee
Firminus Caron oder Antoine Busnoys: Cent mil escuz quant je voulroye
Antoine Busnois: Est il mercy de quoy l'on sceust finer
Anonymus: Ou beau chastel est prisonnier mon cueur; Par malle Bouche la cruelle (2 Versions); Donnez l'aumosne, chiere dame; Tousdis vous voit mon souvenir; En atendant vostre venue; Escu d'ennuy, seme de plours; J'ay des semblans tant que je vueil; Vrauz amans pour Dieu suppliez; Henri Phlippet, le vert me fais porter; Helas mon cueur, tu m'occiras; Oublie, oublie.


What a surprise, for this is quite good. First of all the Songs of the Leuven Chansonnier, is a real treat. This ensemble has a good balance, and sing towards each other, no ego's just a common goal. A good recording, I am very content with it.

The discovery in 2015 of a 15th-century parchment chansonnier, still in its original binding, was all the more astonishing because it contained twelve previously unknown anonymous chansons. Most are rondeaus that range from simple to sophisticated and ornate; many bear musical indications that they were written by the greatest composers of the time. In this recording, they have been contextualized with other well-known songs, but in the variants found in Leuven.

Ordered now.... indeed,Straight from the heart ,as the title of one of their recordings    

[foxandpeng]

I'd been away last weekend and had somehow missed that you were stuck in hospital Danny. So, I just wanted to send my best wishes and hope that you feel better soon (despite a diet of Christopher Gunning's music  )
Jeffrey

Haha. Thank you so much. Getting there!

[foxandpeng]

Nicolai Miaskovsky
Complete Symphonies
Symphony 1
Svetlanov
State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia

Long overdue. Let's see where this goes, today. I spent some time with Miaskovsky some years ago, and enjoyed, but have never really returned despite finding great satisfaction in them. I remember very much liking the SQs too.

Recent posts and Jeffrey's ongoing helpful advocacy for Miaskovsky suggest that it's time to explore a bit!

It is a short step away from my usual fare, but very much in the right area for my likes.

[Harry]

New release, Streaming Qobuz. (Roon)

Vincent Bouchot.
Le Carnaval des Animaux en Peril (Suite)

Henry Purcell: Prelude for the Birds
Jacob van Eyck: Petit Rossignol Anglais
Theodor Schwartzkopff: Sonata All'imitatione del Rossignolo e del Cucco
Francois Couperin: Le Rossignol en Amour; Les Fauvettes Plaintives
Jean-Baptiste Drouart de Bousset / Michel Blavet: Pourquoi Doux Rossignol
Michel Pignolet de Monteclair: Les Ramages
Michel Corrette: Le Coucou
Camille Saint-Saens: Le Coucou au Fond des Bois; Poules et Coqs
Benjamin Britten: Cuckoo!
Jean-Philippe Rameau: La Poule
Maurice Ravel: Laideronnette, Imperatrice des Pagodes.

Florence Bolton, Benjamin Perrot, La Reveuse.

A bit unusual but a fine mix of music, perfectly performed and recorded.

This dazzling program is a tribute to wildlife - and a journey through the centuries: Works from earlier times, from Couperin to Ravel, inspired by the songs of birds, are mirrored in an offbeat Carnaval des animaux en péril. Its composer Vincent Bouchot raises awareness for animal species that are threatened with extinction - but also for musical instruments that almost disappeared.

[Harry]

Nicolai Miaskovsky
Complete Symphonies
Symphony 1
Svetlanov
State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia

Long overdue. Let's see where this goes, today. I spent some time with Miaskovsky some years ago, and enjoyed, but have never really returned despite finding great satisfaction in them. I remember very much liking the SQs too.

Recent posts and Jeffrey's ongoing helpful advocacy for Miaskovsky suggest that it's time to explore a bit!

It is a short step away from my usual fare, but very much in the right area for my likes.

I probably played the whole set more than 6 times, and still discover new angles, nooks and crannies. His music fascinates me, and the performances could not be better. there is a whole cosmos to discover.

[Que]

I'm surprised you don't know them - I've enjoyed all their recordings, especially the Neidhart, the late Minnesingers CD and the selection from the Chansonnier Cordiforme.  Marc Lewon is a singer and a specialist in using a plectrum for lute music - apparently an authentic early music practice. 

Thnx for the recommendations, I'll start browsing!

[Harry]

New release. Streaming Qobuz (Roon) SACD.

Dmitri Shostakovich.
Symphonies No.12 & 15.
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgards.

This came as a very strong recommendation (Jeffrey-vanderMolen) So here it goes.
The 12 th Symphony is one of the best orchestral works Shostakovich wrote. Storgards sets the tone already in the first movement, "Revolutionary Petrogard" Magical, Mysterious, he embraces all the thoughts and feelings in the message Shostakovich is giving us, and truly puts it in perspective. This first movement let me fall deeply in the context, followed by "Razliv" which convinced me of the validity Storgards is conveying. The sheer detail and expression of the theme got me in a trance. Amazing so far. Aurora blew me off my socks, the pace and insistance of the musical argument was very convincing. Short but powerful in expression. The closing of Aurora is nothing short as amazing.
And then the "Dawn of Humanity" wow, this made me totally convinced of the performance. Storgards can put himself in the top echelon ranks, but he is certainly not the only one. His interpretation made me think of another powerful performance by Bernard Haitink, also on my top list.
Well next No. 15.
Brilliant, evocative, reveling, masterly done, all the superlatives of the 12th Symphony are valid for the 15th too. The sound is State of the Art, and the performance, recommended of course. Thanks Jeffrey, you were spot  on.