What are you listening 2 now?

[Bachtoven]

[Que]

Morning listening:



I always liked this recording - up to a degree. The recorded instrument sounds lush and plush, the playing is considered and subtle. On the other hand this is slow and ponderous with hesitations, and low on rythmic accents and dance.

[Lisztianwagner]

Gustav Holst
Double Violin Concerto
A Fugal Concerto

Richard Hicjox & City of London Sinfonia

[Mandryka]

Morning listening:



I always liked this recording - up to a degree. The recorded instrument sounds lush and plush, the playing is considered and subtle. On the other hand this is slow and ponderous with hesitations, and low on rythmic accents and dance.

There's lots of food for thought in Bailes's essay on the Gaultiers -- about how Denis stretched the idea of the dance movement, about Ennemond's rather contemptuous attitude towards dancing performance (Mr. Mercure était parfait pour diriger des ours sur la place du marché et pour les faire danser) and about Ennemond's withering remark on Denis' style (parfait pour aller à un enterrement.)  What a bitch Ennemond was! I love him, I want to invite him for dinner. Tellement French!

https://booklets.idagio.com/4250128509046.pdf

[vandermolen]

Delius, Walton, VW (A London Symphony, 1920 version)

[Madiel]

Chopin: Grande polonaise brillante, op.22



The last of Chopin's orchestral works, and one of the better ones (noting about 40% of it doesn't even have an orchestra).

[Papy Oli]

George Antheil - Symphony No.5

[Que]

4 baryton duets and Cassations for two barytons and violone.

Quite charming.

[VonStupp]

Karol Szymanowski
Król Roger

Thomas Hampson, baritone
Elzbieta Szmytka, soprano
Philip Langridge, tenor
Ryszard Minkiewicz, tenor

City of Birmingham SO, Chorus, & Youth Chorus
Simon Rattle

The last of Szymanowski for a while. I will spend today on and off with King Roger.
VS


From this set:

[Todd]

[Lisztianwagner]

Karol Szymanowski
Król Roger

Thomas Hampson, baritone
Elzbieta Szmytka, soprano
Philip Langridge, tenor
Ryszard Minkiewicz, tenor

City of Birmingham SO, Chorus, & Youth Chorus
Simon Rattle

Good idea, I'll follow:

Karol Szymanowski
Król Roger

Simon Rattle & City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

[Todd]

The Prazak deliver the finest Schoenberg.  They deliver the finest Berg and Webern, too.  (Okay, okay, I'm a sucker for the Juilliard's over the top lushness in the Lyric Suite.)  The Czechs pretty much own the Second Viennese School.

[vers la flamme]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 14, 15 & 17. Murray Perahia, English Chamber Orchestra

This is such an amazing cycle! I'm glad I got it last year and have been exploring some of the concertos that I'm less familiar with.

[DavidW]

Revisiting an old favorite... Prazak Q's Beethoven Op 59 #1-2.  They play with white hot intensity!

[Spotted Horses]

Brahms, Piano Trio No 2, Beaux Arts Trio



At first listen the piece (which I haven't listened to in ages) struck me as a little weak, but on second listen the vividness of the music emerged. I am starting to think that the Beaux Arts Trio is not bringing out the best in this music, I plan to revisit soon with another ensemble. On my (virtual) shelves I have Katchen/Starker/Suk, Florestan Trio, Angelich et. al., Is there a magnificent set out there that I'm missing?

[Todd]

[SonicMan46]

Not doing much w/ classical music this year - going through my non-classical discs and now on jazz which will take a while, BUT a new release from the London Haydn Quartet, SQs, Op. 44/77 & Seven Last Words - I've been collecting their Haydn SQ releases from the start - found a BRO bargain (i.e. half price) and added some more chamber works discs (Ries, Bloch, & Bruch) to help the shipping to me; reviews attached for those interested - just getting started w/ Ries!  Dave

 

   

[ritter]

Great stuff! Pity there never was a Volume 2.

[brewski]

Another listen (likely no. 3 or 4) to this version of Scriabin's Le poème de l'extase, posted three months ago, with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony and Alain Altinoglu.

And a special shout-out to principal trumpet, Sebastian Berner, for his glorious, ecstatic solos.

-Bruce

[Symphonic Addict]

Irgens-Jensen: Symphony in D minor (original version in 3 movements)

From time to time I like to revisit this interesting symphony by this Norwegian composer and there's always a rewarding feeling once it's over. It's a very well-constructed work that unfolds organically, contains fine counterpoint and features a significantly large orchestra, but it never sounds too noisy or with grandiloquent gestures. Instead, it possesses a sort of grandeur and majesty that shows in a quite compelling restrained way. All in all, a great work that should be better known.