What are you listening 2 now?

[Karl Henning]

RVW
A London Symphony
LSO
Previn

[Symphonic Addict]

On the radio: A Hindemith Viola Sonata but I can't pinpoint the work, albeit I think it's the Op. 31 No. 4. Wow! Supremely fantastic, eloquent, felt and virtuosic in high doses. The craft of this composer at his best.

[T. D.]

[Mookalafalas]

Not familiar w/any of this.  I Like both Baglini and Schumann more and more. Unfortunate 1970s font usage on cover...

[André]

Disc one, the 3 suites of Ancient Airs and Dances, and Rossiniana.

The three suites were composed over 15 years (1917-1931), not intended to be joined at the hip in concert or on records. But since they pick from the same fruit basket, they make nice bedfellows all the same. Respighi's orchestration is anything but authentic (a celesta is used in the third suite), but its transparency and piquancy enhance the melodic and dance aspects, evoking long gone times. Superb playing and recording.

[Symphonic Addict]

Disc one, the 3 suites of Ancient Airs and Dances, and Rossiniana.

The three suites were composed over 15 years (1917-1931), not intended to be joined at the hip in concert or on records. But since they pick from the same fruit basket, they make nice bedfellows all the same. Respighi's orchestration is anything but authentic (a celesta is used in the third suite), but its transparency and piquancy enhance the melodic and dance aspects, evoking long gone times. Superb playing and recording.

It should have stamped with a recommendation on the cover art (whether back or front) that says:

ALERT: Be aware of this music. Entertaining assured. Take them in optimal doses (hopefully large).

I wonder about the greatness of their performance of the Suite for organ and strings.

A rendition I definitely dislike is that of Metamorphoseon. Too sluggish, isn't it? 35 minutes when other recordings are much shorter.

[Karl Henning]

On the radio: A Hindemith Viola Sonata but I can't pinpoint the work, albeit I think it's the Op. 31 No. 4. Wow! Supremely fantastic, eloquent, felt and virtuosic in high doses. The craft of this composer at his best.

Huzzah!

[Karl Henning]

It is high time I listened to this:

RVW
A London Symphony (original 1913 version)
LSO
Hickox

[SimonNZ]

[Symphonic Addict]

Violin sonata No. 1

The Hindemith took me to here. Both composers are so close in several aspects.

A perfect couple to the chamber works today!

Also this:

Popov - Symphonic Aria for cello and string orchestra

What a draining work! A well deserved place for a great composer. This string writing sounds tumultuous, dense, visceral, truly dramatic, all is perfectly well worked. Really moving.

Huzzah!

0:)

[Symphonic Addict]

Symphony No. 2

Très cool! Merveilleux!

[Mirror Image]

And this recording presents the work in arguably its best performance.  I just wish Kremer had chosen different works to include on the CD.

I thought you weren't a fan of Bernstein's later DG recordings?

[Mirror Image]

Most of this recording (too tired to write out what works I'm listening to from this disc):

[Tsaraslondon]

Anne-Sophie Mutter lets her hair down in a programme of violin pops. The playing on this disc is simply staggering.

[vandermolen]

It is high time I listened to this:

RVW
A London Symphony (original 1913 version)
LSO
Hickox

A marvellous recording Karl. I was lucky to attend the first performance of the 1913 version probably since the 1920s when Hickox was given permission by VW's widow Ursula for a one off performance and recording. However the 1920 version has been recorded three times I think. I'll be interested to hear what you think of it. Nice to couple it with the Butterworth work as the symphony is in his memory and he encouraged VW to write it.

[Que]

Morning wanderings through the Spotify library:



Q

EDIT: It leaves me unimpressed.... a  rather dry, matter-of-fact approach.

[Irons]

Rawsthorne: Improvisations on a theme by Constant Lambert.
Thanks to Lol (Irons) for recommending this short but powerful work recently. I'd always skipped it in the past and focused on the piano concertos but this has been a happy discovery:

So pleased you liked the piece, Jeffrey.

[Madiel]

Albeniz - Iberia, book 2

[The new erato]

Last night, an amazing Agrippina as a HD transmission from the Met at one of the local movie theatres.

Joyce di Donato was her usual sublime self, but was more than matched by Kate Lindsey as Nerone, soprano Brenda Rae as the seductive Poppea (what a find!), and Iestyn Davies as Ottone.

4 hours went blazingly fast, the 3rd part is an orgy of sublime and beautiful arias. Written by the 24 year old Handel in 5 weeks (!) for the Venedig carneval. My wife had to wipe off a tear in the wonderful love duet between Ottone and Poppea.

Of the 29 operas in my Handel Collection I might consider that Ariodante may no longer be my favorite.

Now playing, while recovering:



Brilliant, in a quite different idiom.

[vandermolen]

So pleased you liked the piece, Jeffrey.

Yes, it's great Lol and, thanks to you, I'm now aware of it! I shall be listening to it again today.
It's quite short, so I can listen to it between onerous Sunday morning domestic chores.