What are you listening 2 now?

[aligreto]

I find the ABQ to be fantastic in Bartók. They bring a certain Viennese rigor to the music. Almost like they're performing Schoenberg or Wellesz but the approach totally works. I may prefer the Takács because of the rawness and black magic they bring to Bartók, but the ABQ's cycle is a fine alternative. I also own the Emerson Quartet's cycle and the Quatuor Danel's cycle. I've heard the heard the Emersons once and didn't think much of it. I haven't even heard the Danel yet.

Thank you for that. I have them performing other music and I do like them.

[Karl Henning]

Thrilling performances of Beethoven's last two violin sonatas.

Love it!

[Karl Henning]

Shostakovich, Four romances on poems by Pushkin, op.46



And then the first three orchestrated. Shostakovich himself never orchestrated the final, longest song.



Some of the first music Shostakovich wrote after the famous Pravda editorial, before the 5th symphony (but after some incidental and film music). So this is pretty close to a first look at the new, starker style. And it's impressive.

Shostakovich had plans for 12 Pushkin songs, though from the things I've read I'm not entirely clear whether he planned 12 songs right away or later on. He only completed 9 in the end: this set of 4, then another 4 in op.91, and then op.128 is where things fell down with only one song composed.

Anyway, they're damn fine works in my opinion.

This is the first time I've properly heard the orchestral version. It works, but if anything I'd say that, out of these 2 performances, it's the piano one where more colour is drawn out of the words.

Great cycle!

[Mirror Image]

Thank you for that. I have them performing other music and I do like them.

My pleasure.

[Irons]

Debussy
Préludes, Book I
Paul Jacobs



Spectacular!

Twice I have passed on that issue in the form of a double LP (rather Debussy Preluded out). After your strong advocacy I will go back and purchase.

[Mirror Image]

Twice I have passed on that issue in the form of a double LP (rather Debussy Preluded out). After your strong advocacy I will go back and purchase.

A good idea. In fact, if you can find Jacobs' other Debussy recordings, then buy them without hesitation.

Thread duty -

Hartmann
Symphonies Nos. 2, 4, & 5
Rafael Kubelik, conductor
Bavarian RSO



One of the most compelling 20th Century symphonists to come out of Germany. Hartmann's own history is also fascinating. He went into self-imposed compositional exile during WWII and withdrew from public life. He even was a part of a coalition that helped people escape Germany. This man had some courage to say the least.

[Irons]

New arrival.

William Walton.
Symphonies No. 1 & 2.
Orchestre National de Lille, Owain Arwel Hughes.

The first Symphony sounded great, the second spectacular. As to the performance I can say that this interpretation is on a high level, projecting Walton's ideas in a lucid and detailed way, with a steady pulse. Shimmering harmonies, allowing me to navigate through the score, notes that dissolve into particles of liquid sound, and is performed with an energy that consumes all my attention. This is not a gentle world in which Walton dwells, but lamentations over a world lost to us all. It has a message much larger as the mere notes are telling us. There is a lot of self realisation in this music, and that is exactly the key to Walton's music. Not easy to grasp, granted, but eminently worth listening to.

Most interesting, having both symphonies together is a big plus. By the way, do Bis give information on location of the pier featured on cover?

[Irons]

A good idea. In fact, if you can find Jacobs' other Debussy recordings, then buy them without hesitation.

Thread duty -

Hartmann
Symphonies Nos. 2, 4, & 5
Rafael Kubelik, conductor
Bavarian RSO



One of the most compelling 20th Century symphonists to come out of Germany. Hartmann's own history is also fascinating. He went into self-imposed compositional exile during WWII and withdrew from public life. He even was a part of a coalition that helped people escape Germany. This man had some courage to say the least.

Thanks, and I will.

No two Hartmann symphonies are alike and the 6th blows your socks off!

[Mirror Image]

Thanks, and I will.

No two Hartmann symphonies are alike and the 6th blows your socks off!

That's very true. Hartmann was a true original.

[Harry]

Most interesting, having both symphonies together is a big plus. By the way, do Bis give information on location of the pier featured on cover?

The Pier, Blackpool, England.

[steve ridgway]

Nono: Das atmende Klarsein. I feel the need for something slow and meditative.

[asin] B00005NQKW[/asin]

[aligreto]

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 [Horowitz/Toscanini]


   


This is a version that I find interesting to listen to. The age of the recording does tell in places. The thing that interests me most her is the speeds in both the opening and final movements are on the racy side in places, much quicker than I am normally used to listen to. This results in too much haste for me sometimes but it also lends great vitality, drive and excitement to proceedings. The slow movement is suitably atmospheric.

[Karl Henning]

New arrival.

William Walton.
Symphonies No. 1 & 2.
Orchestre National de Lille, Owain Arwel Hughes.

The first Symphony sounded great, the second spectacular. As to the performance I can say that this interpretation is on a high level, projecting Walton's ideas in a lucid and detailed way, with a steady pulse. Shimmering harmonies, allowing me to navigate through the score, notes that dissolve into particles of liquid sound, and is performed with an energy that consumes all my attention. This is not a gentle world in which Walton dwells, but lamentations over a world lost to us all. It has a message much larger as the mere notes are telling us. There is a lot of self realisation in this music, and that is exactly the key to Walton's music. Not easy to grasp, granted, but eminently worth listening to.

Nice!

[San Antone]

Bach : Partitas
Anton Batagov

I like this.

[aligreto]

Twice I have passed on that issue in the form of a double LP (rather Debussy Preluded out). After your strong advocacy I will go back and purchase.

I rather like that cover art and I would almost buy the double LP for that 

[steve ridgway]

Ligeti: Lontano.

[asin] B0091Q82GS[/asin]

Then Lux Aeterna and it will be time for tea.

[Karl Henning]

Copland
Pf Concerto
Garrick Ohlsson
SFSO
MTT

[aligreto]

Schubert: Symphony No. 5 [Bohm]

[aligreto]

Ligeti: Lontano.

[asin] B0091Q82GS[/asin]

Then Lux Aeterna and it will be time for tea.

Enjoy both.

[staxomega]

Over lunch- the two Szymanowski String Quartets and Webern's Langsamer Satz from the Carmina Quartet.