What are you listening 2 now?

[Papy Oli]

Starting a proper full run (as good as maiden) through a Bax symphony cycle :

No.1 - Myer Fredman / London Phil. Orch.

[asin]B000027QWX[/asin]

[Papy Oli]

Greetings Olivier!
A lovely combination of works. I like the cover image as well. One of the best Moeran CDs in my view.

I read a post here recently of the opinion that the Moeran VC isn't up to much. Coincidently the night before I played the Lyrita recording and enjoyed it very much. Neither view is right or wrong, all down to taste. A work ideal for Mordkovitch I would think.

Jeffrey, Lol,
Mixed bag for me on this first listen of that Moeran CD. I have a limited appetite for the VC format in general, with an aversion if there is too much "shrieking". the first movement was borderline for me but the Lento was superb. the Cello concerto was more enjoyable on the whole, again, particularly in the slower passages. I kind of liked the 2 middle filler works but they blended into one another. Will revisit again more attentively.

[Traverso]

Mahler

It is a long time ago that I listened to Mahler

Symphony No.4  Lucia Popp

[André]

Thank you for this!  I agree completely with what you wrote Symphonic Addict, though I confess to knowing very little about VW.  Hovhaness is a favorite of mine as well. 

This disc looks very interesting.

Cheers!

TD:

Jean Rogister: Symphony for String Quartet and Orchestra

[asin]B0042H6KSS[/asin]

Arrived in today's mail and so a first listen.  Recommended some time ago by Andre.

Thanks, buddy! This is as good as you said it was - and you've never steered me wrong yet with any of your recommendations! 

I'm very glad you like the Rogister symphony ! A beautiful and original work indeed.

[San Antone]

Liszt: Works for Harmonium, for Cello and Piano
Miklós Perényi, Zsuza Elekes



Angelus! Priere aux anges gardiens, S378/1/R389

[Biffo]

Lennox Berkeley: String Quartet No 3, Op 74 - Maggini Quartet

[San Antone]

Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex, Apollon musagète
John Eliot Gardiner

AllMusic Review by Blair Sanderson
Recorded in April 2013 at the Barbican in London, these live performances of Igor Stravinsky's oratorio Oedipus Rex and the ballet Apollon musagète are among the most vivid on SACD, thanks to the energizing conducting of John Eliot Gardiner, the hypnotic singing of the Monteverdi Choir, and the vibrant playing of the London Symphony Orchestra. Granitic and block-like, Oedipus Rex is cast in a monumental style, and Stravinsky's setting of Sophocles' tragedy is severe and grim. Yet the Monteverdi Choir's incantatory singing and the rhythmic playing of the LSO keep the piece exciting, and Gardiner's urgent tempos keep the music pulsing. Apollon musagète, written for string orchestra, provides a clear contrast in sound and expression, and where Oedipus is stark and off-putting, this neo-classical ballet is elegant and poignant. Yet Gardiner's interpretation emphasizes the athletic aspect of the dance, and the strong rhythmic impulse propels the music forward, without unnecessarily rushing the pace. The most enjoyable aspect of this audiophile recording is the luscious sound of the orchestra, surprisingly so in Apollon musagète, which is often played by other ensembles on the dry side. But the orchestra's full textures and gorgeous string sonorities give a warmth that benefits the piece.

Gardiner is one of my trusted condutors, I have enjoyed all of his recodings I've heard, and this one is no exception.  It is fun to see him abandoning his comfort zone of early/baroque repertory and recording these Stravinsky works.  Based on this recording I'll look into what other recordings of 20th century music he's recorded.

[André]

Schumann, symphony no 2



This is Herreweghe's second go at the symphonies. I haven't heard the Champs-Élysées version but I doubt it's as good as this. The orchestral textures are superb in their transparency and naturalness. I don't think I've heard such splendid sound in this work before. Herreweghe's pacing is perfect.

[Mirror Image]

Benjamin Britten: String Quartet No.1 in D major, op.25. Maggini Quartet. I am really impressed with both music and
recording so far. Nice work from everyone involved.

Britten's SQs are...incredible pieces of music. I have five cycles of them: Brodsky, The Britten Quartet, Belcea, Endellion, and Emperor. All of his music for string quartet (even the early works like String Quartet in F major, Simple Symphony, Rhapsody, etc. are worth hearing, IMHO).

[Traverso]

Xenakis

[HIPster]

This morning:

[asin]B00XDCB1QO[/asin]

Very much enjoying this!  Excellent recorded sound. 

A nice way to start the day for sure. 

[Harry]

This morning:

[asin]B00XDCB1QO[/asin]

Very much enjoying this!  Excellent recorded sound. 

A nice way to start the day for sure. 

O, yes, that's a good one

[Mirror Image]

Britten
Gloriana, Op. 53
Josephine Barstow (Elizabeth), Philip Langridge (Essex), Della Jones (Lady Essex), Jonathan Summers (Charles Blount), Alan Opie (Cecil), Yvonne Kenny (Lady Rich), Bryn Terfel (Henry Cuffe), Richard van Allan (Walter Ralegh)
Welsh National Opera, Sir Charles Mackerras



This is my first-listen to this opera. Britten in twisted Elizabethan mode. I've known the symphonic suite from this opera for years, but it's nice to hear all of this music in context of the opera. Fantastic so far.

[Mirror Image]

Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex, Apollon musagète
John Eliot Gardiner



Gardiner is one of my trusted condutors, I have enjoyed all of his recodings I've heard, and this one is no exception.  It is fun to see him abandoning his comfort zone of early/baroque repertory and recording these Stravinsky works.  Based on this recording I'll look into what other recordings of 20th century music he's recorded.

He hasn't recorded much. Some Britten, more Stravinsky, Elgar, Mahler, Zemlinsky, and Boulanger.

[HIPster]

O, yes, that's a good one

Cheers, Harry! 

Now playing:

[asin]B00005COXU[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

Liszt: Works for Harmonium, for Cello and Piano
Miklós Perényi, Zsuza Elekes



Angelus! Priere aux anges gardiens, S378/1/R389

Cool.

[vandermolen]

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

Absolutely agree! Glad you like that work as well.

[steve ridgway]

Ligeti - Masterworks. Vol. 7 Chamber Music.

[asin] B07MCW81MK[/asin]

[Sergeant Rock]

Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex, Apollon musagète
John Eliot Gardiner



Gardiner is one of my trusted condutors, I have enjoyed all of his recodings I've heard, and this one is no exception.  It is fun to see him abandoning his comfort zone of early/baroque repertory and recording these Stravinsky works.  Based on this recording I'll look into what other recordings of 20th century music he's recorded.)

He hasn't recorded much. Some Britten, more Stravinsky, Elgar, Mahler, Zemlinsky, and Boulanger.

And a very good Holst Planets coupled with a superb Grainger The Warriors.

Sarge

[vandermolen]

Thank you for this!  I agree completely with what you wrote Symphonic Addict, though I confess to knowing very little about VW.  Hovhaness is a favorite of mine as well. 

This disc looks very interesting.

Cheers!

TD:

Jean Rogister: Symphony for String Quartet and Orchestra

[asin]B0042H6KSS[/asin]

Arrived in today's mail and so a first listen.  Recommended some time ago by Andre.

Thanks, buddy! This is as good as you said it was - and you've never steered me wrong yet with any of your recommendations! 

If you like the Symphony No.2 by Hovhaness you might enjoy VW's Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis if you dont already know it Dave. I suspect that this had a big influence on Hovhaness, whose music I also admire (Symphony 1 'Exile', 6 'Odysseus' 11 'All Men are Brothers' and 50 'Mount St Helens' are my favourites.
:-)