What are you listening 2 now?

[Ratliff]

Listening to Enesco's Symphony No. 2 in A major, op. 17, form this CD that arrived today:


IIRTC, I hadn't listened to this work for many years, and it's not difficult to realise why I've avoided it. There are some gorgeous sonorities (particularly in the slow middle movement, andante giusto), but this is Enesco at his wildest and most wayward as far as thematic treatment is concerned, with no real sense of form or development shining through. I'm actually dreading the third movement (which is just starting as I write): is this going to be another case in which the composer can't get a work's finale under control, and lets it drag on and on even when the musical ideas have been fully exhausted? 

My impression of the Enescu symphonies is similar. Blindingly beautiful sonorities, but I have trouble following the musical argument.

[vandermolen]

I find the 'Alain' tribute rather moving.

[Tsaraslondon]

This is such a great disc, showing the lighter side of Shostakovich. Splendid performances from all concerned.

[HIPster]

Now playing:

[asin]B0046CUK4E[/asin]

Among my favorite Monteverdi Vespero recordings. 

Beautiful singing throughout.

[San Antone]

I find the 'Alain' tribute rather moving.

I agree.  Durufle did not leave many works, he was incredibly self-critical, but each one is a gem.

[Karl Henning]

More Chopin today - Dave

   

Nice!

[Karl Henning]

Schubert: Wandererfantasie [Ashkenazy]





I find this is an exciting and engaging performance.

Magnificent!

[Karl Henning]

Now playing:

[asin]B0046CUK4E[/asin]

Among my favorite Monteverdi Vespero recordings. 

Beautiful singing throughout.

Gorgeous.

[Karl Henning]

I like everything about this recording, from the cover art to the performance.  Excellent addition to the Bernstein catalog.

If pressed to say which work Symphony No. 2 resembles, I'd say the Gershwin Piano Concerto in F.  I wonder why Bernstein chose "symphony" instead of "concerto"?

I'm in! This is a magnificent account!

[Maestro267]

My impression of the Enescu symphonies is similar. Blindingly beautiful sonorities, but I have trouble following the musical argument.

My two cents: The sonorities are so blindingly beautiful, I'm willing to just let them wash over me. I listened to No. 3 earlier, and I'd forgotten how wonderful it is. I love these opulently-scored works! Quadruple woodwinds, six horns, six trumpets, a rich percussion section, and then the wordless choir in the finale, followed by that quietly ecstatic conclusion with the Sanctus bells and organ.

TD:

Tchaikovsky: Francesca da Rimini
Russian National Orchestra/Pletnev

Foulds: Dynamic Triptych
Shelley (piano)/Royal PO/Handley

Korngold: Symphony in F sharp major
BBC PO/Downes

[Ratliff]

My two cents: The sonorities are so blindingly beautiful, I'm willing to just let them wash over me. I listened to No. 3 earlier, and I'd forgotten how wonderful it is. I love these opulently-scored works! Quadruple woodwinds, six horns, six trumpets, a rich percussion section, and then the wordless choir in the finale, followed by that quietly ecstatic conclusion with the Sanctus bells and organ.

I do listen to then occasionally for that very reason.

For me the essential Enescu is the nonet, decet and chamber symphony.

[Traverso]

Schubert: Wandererfantasie [Ashkenazy]





I find this is an exciting and engaging performance.

Vladimir the Magnificent 

[Ratliff]

Continued to the Bloch Scherzo Fantasique from the Jenny Lin recording



A spectacular work and performance.

On to the Minkowski recording of Handel Op 3.



Splendid!

[Daverz]

My impression of the Enescu symphonies is similar. Blindingly beautiful sonorities, but I have trouble following the musical argument.

I have a soft spot for Symphony No. 1, which is easier to follow.

[asin]B00RDKD9XU[/asin]

(The Symphonie Concertante, unfortunately, is not one of his more interesting works.)

[steve ridgway]

Had a first listen to more of the Ligeti Masterworks box. Abandoned Le Grand Macabre, Nonsense Madrigals, Mysteries of the Macabre, Aventures and Nouvelles Aventures but liked the remaining Hungarian vocal works and the mechanical barrel organ pieces the sounds of which reminded me a bit of Emerson, Lake and Palmer (only better composed). The 100 metronomes was a good experiment that threw out some interesting rhythms in places, like the 1970s Krautrock group Cluster who used to simultaneously jam down several of the preset waltz/tango/polka presets on a primitive Italian drum machine .

[Ratliff]

I have a soft spot for Symphony No. 1, which is easier to follow.

[asin]B00RDKD9XU[/asin]

(The Symphonie Concertante, unfortunately, is not one of his more interesting works.)

I actually have that recording, although the only one I have listened to is the Downes, which sounds splendid.

[Ratliff]

Schubert: Wandererfantasie [Ashkenazy]





I find this is an exciting and engaging performance.

I've never heard any of his Schubert. I should rectify that.

[Traverso]

I've never heard any of his Schubert. I should rectify that.

This one is very fine too

[Daverz]

This one is very fine too

I remember liking his Sonata in A major, D664 on Lp.



I'll have to look for it in digital format.

...I think the below is from the Decca Ashkenazy box:


https://open.qobuz.com/album/0002894832877

[ritter]

Moving on to Enesco's Symphony No. 2 in C major, op. 21 (a work I remember liking much more than its predecessor). Lawrence Foster leads the Orchestre National de Lyon.

[asin]B0007Z47J8[/asin]