What are you listening 2 now?

[Tsaraslondon]

I remember playing the Capriol Suite in my school orchestra many years ago. It is a charming work as is the Serenade to Delius.

The Curlew which I was once learning to sing is a very different piece, hauntingly desolate and possibly Warlock's greatest work. This is, I think, its best recorded performance.

The rest of the disc is taken up with songs and carols. A very worthwhile collection.

[Traverso]

Beethoven

[vers la flamme]

Johannes Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem, op.45. Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic, Wiener Singverein.

I think it's odd that of all recordings of this great work, it's the Karajan that won me over on its beauty – I don't care for any of his other Brahms recordings. I have been listening to this disc a lot recently. Very powerful stuff...

[Florestan]

First listen.



(actually, I have it as part of the Sony Complete Masterpieces box)

Wow. No, I mean: WOW!!! A thrilling work which piqued my interest from the very first bars and sustained it crescendo until the very last. It made it on the spot from unkown to my list of favorite Romantic vocal-orchestral works.

[Madiel]

First listen.



(actually, I have it as part of the Sony Complete Masterpieces box)

Wow. No, I mean: WOW!!! A thrilling work which piqued my interest from the very first bars and sustained it crescendo until the very last. It made it on the spot from unkown to my list of favorite Romantic vocal-orchestral works.

Cool. I'm not up to that in my sporadic exploration of Mendelssohn, but his works for voice and orchestra have been amongst my favourites so far.

[Harry]

New arrival.

Delphin & Nicolaus Strungk and Peter Mohrhardt.
Complete Organ Music.

CD 1.

Manuel Tomadin plays on the Arp Schnitger organ (c.1700, Jacobskerk, Uithuizen, The Netherlands. (Temperament Vallotti 1/4 comma. Pitch: A=440 Hz.)
Hans Scherer organ (1624), St Stephan, Tangermunde, Germany. (Temperament: Meantone after Praetorius. Pitch: A= 486 Hz at 15 degrees.)

I was pleasantly surprised by the music of these relatively unknown composers, for the quality of the compositions are really good. All in the context of the North German organ music, it's easily linked to other more famous composers like Scheidemann and Schildt, but also Sweelinck comes to mind.
It is well played and recorded, and a welcome addition to my organ collection.

[Madiel]

Scriabin, Symphony No.1



Not the first ever listen to the work, but the first listen to the version that I chose to buy. I gather Ashkenazy doesn't spill the emotions in the same way that the most oft-mentioned rival Muti does, and also that the 1st symphony is considered one of Ashkenazy's weaker points.

And yeah, this is... okay. "Nice". Some lush romanticism but it's a fraction on the tame side. Partly that's due to the recording level not being very high. I have my stereo turned up full and it's not shaking the room in the way I suspect Scriabin would want.

Still, the 1st symphony was not an absolutely key reason to buy this set. And maybe headphones will boost it...

EDIT: The last movement was rather great, actually. Though it practically sounds like a standalone work.

[Mandryka]

K501. Have I ever heard this before? If I have I've forgotten. It's a set of variations, here on some sort of Dutch style harpsichord, "french transposition temperament of the 18th century", which I'm sure makes a big difference. Mozart's my sort of writer of variations! By turns rumbustious, reflective, comedic, serious.  Hard for me to imagine that this music could work so well on a Steinway tuned equally - am I wrong about that?

[Florestan]

K501. Have I ever heard this before? If I have I've forgotten. It's a set of variations, here on some sort of Dutch style harpsichord, "french transposition temperament of the 18th century", which I'm sure makes a big difference. Mozart's my sort of writer of variations! By turns rumbustious, reflective, comedic, serious.  Hard for me to imagine that this music could work so well on a Steinway tuned equally - am I wrong about that?

FWIW, I've listened to his variations on modern pianos only and I completely agree with you: they are by turns rumbustious, reflective, comedic, serious --- and much more.

[Madiel]

Barber, Music for a Scene from Shelley, op.7

Sibelius, The Oceanides, op.73



I chose these partly because of where I'm up to with listening to these composers, and partly because I thought they'd make a nice pair of tone poems of about the same length. Then I discovered that the opening scene of Shelley's Prometheus Unbound, which inspired Barber, includes some Oceanides. 

[Harry]

New arrival.

I knew the music by York Bowen through a recording I have from the first symphony and some other works divided over many different recordings. I like his melodious music very much. so I was looking forwards to the second symphony, for I never heard it before. And boy that is no disappointment, for all the qualities I found before in his music come to the surface as one big bubble and explodes with a delicious bang. What a fine orchestrator he was. Never a moment of dullness with him, every corner a new surprise, Bowen is a composer after my heart. Coupled with a state of the Art recording, and ditto performance, that is no wish left unturned. Recommended.

[j winter]

Bach Partitas on harpsichord to start off the day...

[Traverso]

The Castle of Fair Welcome

The Gothic Voices,never disappointing

[Papy Oli]

Good afternoon all,

Finishing the Honegger cycle with symphonies No.4 & 5 (Baudo).

[asin]B000025R6S[/asin]

[Harry]

Henri Joseph Rigel. (1741-1799)

Symphonies No. 4/7/8/14/10. Opus 12 & 21.

Concerto Koln.

Rigel is a very able composer, and good orchestrator. His music is riveting, very lively, and is projected with a lot of power. The String writing is exquisite, and the embellishments are all in the right place. Melodious music, that keeps you on your toes, and alert to the many felicitous details. In short a disc to treasure.

[Traverso]

Purcell

CD 1

[Harry]

New arrival.

CD 1.

Variations fur das Pianoforte uber ein Thema von Robert Schumann, opus 20. (1853)
Soirees musicales, opus 6. (1834-1836)
Variations de Concert pour le Pianoforte sur la Cavatine du Pirate de Bellini, opus 8. (1837)
Deuxieme Scherzo pour le Pianoforte, opus 14, (1841)


I was really never into Clara Schumann's piano music. Heard some tidbits along the way, but never seriously dabbled in it. I am sure this box with the complete works will change that for ever. For one we have a very able performer here in the form of Susanne Grutzmann, who is clearly deeply involved in Clara Schumann's music. So much is clear when I hear "Deuxieme Scherzo pour le Pianoforte, opus 14", which she composed in 1841, short but with a powerful expression, it is  delicately played, and robust, when needs be. Grutzmann's technique is impeccable. She finds the right tone and touche right at the start. Lucid and an open projection, played clear as a bell, with no undue embellishments. Intensity and passion is always controlled, but never too much, in the end the balance is to my ears perfect. She has a reasonable degree of brilliance which fits the music, and ingenious solutions for stating the essence. A harmonious trajectory throughout, spinning to the very limits of expression. It is really very beautiful, and a exquisite addition to my collection of solo piano music.

[André]

New arrival.

I knew the music by York Bowen through a recording I have from the first symphony and some other works divided over many different recordings. I like his melodious music very much. so I was looking forwards to the second symphony, for I never heard it before. And boy that is no disappointment, for all the qualities I found before in his music come to the surface as one big bubble and explodes with a delicious bang. What a fine orchestrator he was. Never a moment of dullness with him, every corner a new surprise, Bowen is a composer after my heart. Coupled with a state of the Art recording, and ditto performance, that is no wish left unturned. Recommended.

Thanks, Harry ! I yet have to listen to the set of sonatas I bought months ago, but this disc of symphonies certainly whets the appetite !

[aligreto]

Mahler: Symphony 7 [Solti]





This is a wonderful version. Solti demonstrates great clarity in the presentation of the music.

[aligreto]

Thank you. I've been hugely impressed by all these symphonies. Spark and true genius are rules on them.

Yes, I have that problem. Overexposure sometimes tires me, no matter what composer is. I have to listen with moderate musical dose.

There is nothing wrong with moderation and, besides, it will give you more time to explore other music.