What are you listening 2 now?

[Que]

On Spotify:

[Harry]

Now streaming in the UK, booklet here

https://static.qobuz.com/goodies/35/000156253.pdf

Also on my play list on Qobuz.

[Harry]

I have tried both Gesualdo discs, but it is not the sort of performances I would like to hear regarding this composer.

[vandermolen]

Myaskovsky
Symphony № 27 in c minor, Op. 85 (1949)
Russian State Symphony
Valery Polyansky

This is beautiful and superb. I especially like the writing for the winds in the Allegro animato of the first movement, and in the Adagio second movement, a movement which overall is surpassing sweet. The third movement becomes something of a pageant. An excellent symphony.

I agree Karl. It's especially poignant as NYM was terminally ill when he wrote the 27th Symphony. The slow movement is deeply moving and eloquent and, to me, the finale suggests the return of Spring after, the Winter, even though Miaskovsky knew that he would not be around to see it. The inclusion of the Cello Concerto is the icing on the cake.

[Harry]

Now streaming in the UK, booklet here

https://static.qobuz.com/goodies/35/000156253.pdf

Not yet on Qobuz in the Netherlands I am afraid.

[vandermolen]

Composer : Benjamin Britten
Recording : Cello Symphony (Isserlis - 1991)
Performers : Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonietta, Steven Isserlis (cello)

Very nice CD although I think that Bridge's 'Oration' is the greater work - especially that moving epilogue!

[foxandpeng]

Hilding Rosenberg: Symphony No.6 'Semplice'
I hadn't listened to this recording for a long time but unexpectedly found the symphony running through my head yesterday! There's a searching, visionary quality to the music which I find very appealing as well as a strong sense of nature. These are arguably the two greatest Rosenberg symphonies. There is a fine later recording of both works on BIS but I prefer this earlier one. A pity that BIS never recorded a complete cycle of Rosenberg symphonies - he is just as deserving as Tubin, Holmboe, Blomdahl and Pettersson IMO. This is a great Rosenberg CD:

Agreed on all counts, except for needing to think through which I feel are the greatest of his symphonies. Rosenberg is outstanding.

[Que]

Couldn't resist antother (on Spotify):

Not yet on Qobuz in the Netherlands I am afraid.

Shouldn't be too long... already spotted on Spotify! 

[Harry]

Joan Cabanilles (1644-1712)'.
Tientos, Pasacalles y Gallardas.
Léon Berben plays the organ built by Lorenzo de Arrázola (1761) in the church of San Martín de Tours, Ataun (Basque Country, Spain.
In the fund of the windchest the following inscription was found: "Lorenzo de Arrazo living near Oñate has been working on this organ in the year 1761."

The organ has been restored in 1996 by the organ builder José María Arrizabalaga, who in a careful work has reinstated its original characteristics. It is tuned in 1/5 comma meantone temperament.

Recording: October 19-20, 2007. Producer, recording engineer and editor Christoph Martin Frommen.

Despite the fact that I love the music of the composer, Berben does not get it quite right in my view. Dare I say it, that it sounds rather uninspired, as if it is recorded in a lazy Sunday afternoon. The Organ sounds recessed and bland to be honest, partly due to the  Church acoustics, which sets the instrument far back, due to the long reverb time, Frommen is an excellent engineer, but he is clearly at a loss here. A pity, but there are better alternatives.

Edit: Must correct in part the words about the recording.  At track 7 the sound picture is changing and the organ sounds much better. Funny that! Frommen was clearly unhappy with the result.

[Harry]

Couldn't resist another (on Spotify):




Shouldn't be too long... already spotted on Spotify! 

Hope so!

[pjme]

Agreed on all counts, except for needing to think through which I feel are the greatest of his symphonies. Rosenberg is outstanding.

My first acquaintance with Rosenbergs "Semplice".
And indeed: There's a searching, visionary quality to the music which I find very appealing as well as a strong sense of nature.

I like choral, vocal (and spoken word/recitation !) musical symphonies. Rosenbergs symphony nr 4 "Johannes uppenbarelse" (1940) is a real favorite. It combines symphonic grandeur with intimate, soft a capella choruses.

[vandermolen]

My first acquaintance with Rosenbergs "Semplice".
And indeed: There's a searching, visionary quality to the music which I find very appealing as well as a strong sense of nature.

I like choral, vocal (and spoken word/recitation !) musical symphonies. Rosenbergs symphony nr 4 "Johannes uppenbarelse" (1940) is a real favorite. It combines symphonic grandeur with intimate, soft a capella choruses.

My first encounter too - along with Blomstedt's LP featuring Symphony 3 (with an annoying 'click' surface fault running right through the last movement). I like Symphony 2 'Grave' and 4 as well as 3 and 6 which are my favourites.

[foxandpeng]

Myaskovsky
Symphony № 27 in c minor, Op. 85 (1949)
Russian State Symphony
Valery Polyansky

This is beautiful and superb. I especially like the writing for the winds in the Allegro animato of the first movement, and in the Adagio second movement, a movement which overall is surpassing sweet. The third movement becomes something of a pageant. An excellent symphony.

I agree Karl. It's especially poignant as NYM was terminally ill when he wrote the 27th Symphony. The slow movement is deeply moving and eloquent and, to me, the finale suggests the return of Spring after, the Winter, even though Miaskovsky knew that he would not be around to see it. The inclusion of the Cello Concerto is the icing on the cake.

I'm still to hear this, but look forward to doing so. Valedictory works carry special poignancy, I think. Same kind of thing as Clive James' poem Japanese Maple.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Armen Tigranian Piano Works.

[Todd]

[Lisztianwagner]

Kurt Weill
Symphony No.2

Mariss Jansons & Berliner Philharmoniker

[Mandryka]

Incredible playing in the elegies.  Just amazing really.

[Madiel]

It's 1am and my brain is refusing to let me go to bed, and I've decided that what it wants to hear might be the Chopin piano concerto in F minor.

[Traverso]

Josquin Desprez


A recording of the Hilliard ensemble from the period of their heyday. Never have I heard performances sung with more conviction and precision than on this CD Scaramella, El Grillo, the wonderfully moving "In te Domine Speravi" and the impressive La Déploration la mort de Johannes Ockeghem. In te Domine is truly an invocation that brings joy, at least for me.

[Que]