What are you listening 2 now?

[Harry]

Felix Nowowiejski. (1877-1946)
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 (1938).
Symphony No. 3, Op. 53 (1940).
Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra, Lukasz Borowicz.
Recorded at the University Auditorium – Concert Hall of the Poznań Philharmonic,2017.


Well late romantic these works are not, as they are advertised, but rather neo-classical! In fact these are anything but late romantic symphonies, Nowowiejski proved here that he considerably modernized his musical language in the 1930s. Roussel may have served as a model, but apart from there its hard to make a musical connection with other composers of his time, (well maybe Tansman). The result is something very special and highly remarkable for Polish music history, outstanding symphonies with dynamics and harmonic finesse. Its a thunderous ride if anything, for the tonal language is one to get into, which is by no means easy at all. But if you get the hang of it and see the road ahead, it all comes together in a magical world of colourful fantasy, images that will astound. Absolutely recommendable! Very good sound and performance. I must say that I rather like this fellow!

[Roasted Swan]

A couple of very contrasting discs to listen to.  First, a disc that's been around for a few years but it is a cracker;



A couple of these are works by Morton Gould arranged for Band but they are trememndous and played here with huge skill and verve.  I'm a string player so have never been anywhere near most of this repertoire but it sounds like a heck of a lot of fun to play!

Then a brand new release;



Benjamin Schmid is a tremendous player and this is a quite brilliant disc stunningly played by soloist and orchestra alike.  What I particualrly like is that Schmid is clearly comfortable in a genuine/improvising jazz idiom and the composers likewise.  So this is NOT a middle-of-the-road "jazzy" "jazz-ish" pastiche but jazz-based works of considerable stature.  Very good technical recording too - a genuine discovery I'm really pleased to have encountered.

[Traverso]

Purcell

CD 4

[Harry]

Finn Mortensen.
Symphony No.1, opus5.
Pezzo Orchestrale op.12.
Evolution op.23.
Per Orchestra op.30.
Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Terje Mikkelsen.
Recorded in 2011 at Studio I, BR Munich.

Finn Mortensen is one of those composers whose aesthetics and musical ideas are only recognized in their scope long after his time. Mortensen's Symphony No.5 is a musical masterpiece in its structure, which is stylistically in line with composers from his periphery, but it is quite hard to make comparisons, although Bruckner is certainly a contender. A mix of neoclassical and late romantic style leads to a   extremely intense and deeply emotional experience especially emphasized by the second movement of the Symphony No.1. I can hardly remember a piece that had so much effect on my senses. He was an open and internationally thinking modernist who never placed technique and compositional refinement above his musical intuition. At the same time, his works are characterized by a personal, romantic expression that distances him from his modernism. I am a great admirer of Mortenson's music, thus for me he is one of the great composers of his time, and it is such a cause for grief that he is utterly forgotten. This earlier performance from 2011 is worthy to have especially because there are more works on it, as the recording from 2018, which I have as CD, with the Stavanger SO, under Peter Szilvay, who recorded only the Symphony, granted in SOTA sound.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Rautavaara: Cantus Arcticus
Lintu: RSNO

@Pohjolas Daughter inspired me to finally listen to the entire piece. It's wonderful! One part I liked was how the woodwinds imitated the babbling of the birds in the beginning of the final movement.

So glad to hear that you enjoyed it!  Also, it's nice to see that there are at least three recordings of it.  I think that Osmo Vänskä has also recorded it too. 

For those interested in learning a bit more about it, there's an enthusiastic review of it by David Hurwitz. 

I see that he is providing musical samples from the new-to-me Ondine CD that I just acquired.

PD

p.s.  He's also raving about the third symphony on your Naxos CD.   Have you listened to that one yet?  If so, what do you think of it?

[Florestan]

This probably the best set of Schumann's symphonies in term of orchestral clarity and balance: all instruments or group of instruments --- and I mean ALL --- are clearly audible at any given moment. Fabulous.

[Todd]

[Harry]

Eric Coates (1886– 1957)
Orchestral Works, Volume 2.
London Bridge (1934)
The Selfish Giant (1925) A Phantasy for Orchestra.
Wood Nymphs (1917) Valsette.
The Enchanted Garden (1938), A Ballet.
For Your Delight (1937).
Summer Days (1919).
Lazy Night (1931).
Calling All Workers (1940).

BBC Philharmonic John Wilson.
Recording venue MediaCityUK, Salford, Manchester, 2019.

What is there not to like? Really this is delightful music, and it never bores. Makes the world a tad brighter. Bright sunny music, and well recorded and performed by the champion of Coates music. Three volumes already, well to be honest I like more, lots more!

[Linz]

Beethoven String Quartet 1, Op 18/1 and String Quartet 5, Op 18/5 Quator Végh

[Harry]

Pierre-Charles Sancan, (1916–2008).
A Musical Tribute.
Ouverture joyeuse.
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, 1955.
Symphonie (1961) for String Orchestra.
Commedia dell'arte (1952).
Sonatine (1946) for Flute and Piano.
Toccata (1943) for piano.
Caprice romantique, for Piano.
Boîte à musique (1950) for Piano.
Mouvement (1946) for Piano.

Adam Walker flute.
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet piano.
BBC Philharmonic, Yan Pascal Tortelier.
Recording venue MediaCityUK, Salford, Manchester, 2022.

A totally unknow composer for me, but what a delight is his music. I even like his Piano concerto and that is telling of how much I regard and respect his music. Neo classical music on a  high level! Lively and light in spirit, much in the same style as Jean Francaix. Very virtuosic music, a wonderful window into a French tradition to often dismissed as academic.
SOTA sound.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Arthur Bliss, Checkmate.

[Spotted Horses]

Martinu, Fantasia and Toccata for piano



Wonderful work, full of frenetic energy.

Reger, String Quartet Op 54, No 2



Lively and extroverted, performed here with precision.

[SonicMan46]

Bach, JC - Woodwind Works by the period instruments performers on the cover art - Dave

   

[Karl Henning]

p.s.  He's also raving about the third symphony on your Naxos CD.

While I personally do not seek his opinion of anything out, I just wanted to note that I am glad when I hear of him enthusing about something, since I find his loudly opinionated dislikes utterly tiresome.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Beethoven String Quartet 1, Op 18/1 and String Quartet 5, Op 18/5 Quator Végh

I've heard great things about those recordings.  How did you like them though?  Would be interested to hear your thoughts.

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

While I personally do not seek his opinion of anything out, I just wanted to note that I am glad when I hear of him enthusing about something, since I find his loudly opinionated dislikes utterly tiresome.

Watching the youtube video that I had provided a link to, it sounds like he and the composer were friends.  He talked about his reservations about first listening to C.A., but was happily surprised about how well it worked.  The video popped up when I was googling the work and I ended up clicking on it.

PD

p.s.  And like you, the dislikes can get rather tiresome to listen to.

[Karl Henning]

Watching the youtube video that I had provided a link to, it sounds like he and the composer were friends.  He talked about his reservations about first listening to C.A., but was happily surprised about how well it worked.  The video popped up when I was googling the work and I ended up clicking on it.

PD

p.s.  And like you, the dislikes can get rather tiresome to listen to.

I should give the Cantus arcticus a fresh try. It was an early Naxos release, and thus an example of the fresh label distributing music by living composers, and a friend of mine, long since deceased was enthusiastic about it. I tried it, but didn't care for it at the time. However, as recent listening to the Baley vn cto demonstrates, sometimes my ears get up on the wrong side of the bed. 

[Traverso]

Monteverdi


A great recording, to begin with a glorious"Gloria"

[Roasted Swan]

This probably the best set of Schumann's symphonies in term of orchestral clarity and balance: all instruments or group of instruments --- and I mean ALL --- are clearly audible at any given moment. Fabulous.

I don't know this Schumann set so can't compare - but the clarity of playing and recording on BIS' Swedish CO set is pretty astonishing to my ears....

[Karl Henning]

TD:
LvB
Consecration of the House overture, Op. 124

"Wolferl"
Pf Cto in A, K. 488

This in prep for reviewing Friday's BSO concert.