What are you listening 2 now?

[aligreto]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 [Bohm]





This is a big, bold and very robust performance. Bohm has a great grasp of the architecture of this large work; everything hangs together very well and everything makes real sense. The really stand out feature for me is the wonderfully soaring brass.

[Kontrapunctus]

[aligreto]

Hey Fergus
To be honest, i haven't read anything about the symphonies or Sibelius in advance at all. At this time, I just listened to the symphonies on their own merit so to speak, without context or background info. Sibelius, like RVW, was very much a mental block for me. I always had an impression of cold shapeless monoliths and this time I was just surprised by some beautiful moving sweeping moments... Now, they've opened up a little i'll spend more time and read about each work in more details, like i did with RVW to great results. I need to address the Shostakovitch and Rachmaninov symphonies next. 


TD: Sibelius 7 

Cheers, Olivier. As Symphony No. 4 can be such a different and difficult one it would be advisable to read up on the background to the state of Sibelius when he wrote it before you tackle it again. All will be revealed and it should make more sense and put the music into some sort of context.

Best of luck with your Shostakovitch odyssey. It will be interesting to see whose version(s) you pick to listen to.

[aligreto]

Exquisite!

Now there is a thought for your wonderfully quirky compositional nature Karl, when you find yourself bored on a dull March evening. 
Impractical I know but right up your street or down your alley from an imagination point of view. There must be an instrument somewhere in Boston crying out for a commission or a composition.

[ritter]

Not straying too far away from Le marteau... with this beautiful and enterprising recital of David Fray playing Bach and Boulez:

[asin]B000LPRNVS[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

Now there is a thought for your wonderfully quirky compositional nature Karl, when you find yourself bored on a dull March evening. 
Impractical I know but right up your street or down your alley from an imagination point of view. There must be an instrument somewhere in Boston crying out for a commission or a composition.

There is a glass harmonica in the collection of the MFA here in Boston 

[Florestan]

There is a glass harmonica in the collection of the MFA here in Boston 

Quick, Karl: Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner for baritone and glass harmonica. 

[j winter]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 [Bohm]





This is a big, bold and very robust performance. Bohm has a great grasp of the architecture of this large work; everything hangs together very well and everything makes real sense. The really stand out feature for me is the wonderfully soaring brass.

I see your Bohm, and raise you a Backhaus...

[Karl Henning]

Jeez man. Social distancing.

(* chortle *)

[Florestan]

Jeez man. Social distancing.

[Karl Henning]

Absolutely fine symphonies, I'm particularly fond of the rhythmic-atmospheric 'pounding the table' opening chords of the Second. But I dare confess more than a liking for the more-than-enigmatic Third and am old enough to recall the sense of sensation on hearing the premiere of the Fourth, opening as it does with its heavy breathing sounds. Nothing wrong with symphonic master Tippett, more a riddle why he seems almost forgotten. 

While not absolutely the first time,  years have passed since I had last listened to these.  Revisiting the first two the other day, mostly I was surprised at how well they paired with my concurrent Hindemith listening;  the Third, though is quite another kettle of sprats. I think I like it, but/and it will bear more exploration . . .

[ritter]

It's been ages since I last listened to Ernst Krenek's string quartets (which I recall enjoying immensely). So...


CD 4 of the Sonare-Quartett's complete set, i.e. SQ No. 4, op. 24–from 1923–& SQ No. 6, op. 78–from 1936–.

[North Star]

Good day, all!

Thread-duty

Boulez

cummings ist der dichter) (2ème version, 1986)
  BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Boulez

Messagesquisse, sur le nom de Paul Sacher) for vc solo & 6 vc's (1976)
  Jean-Guihen Queyras, Solistes de l'Ensemble intercontemporain, Boulez

Mémoriale (...explosante fixe...) (Originel) (1985)
  Sophie Cherrier (flute), Solistes de l'Ensemble Intercontemporain, Boulez

Dialogue de l'ombre double, for clarinet & electronics (1985)
  Alain Damiens
[asin]B00BLDHPZS[/asin]

[ritter]

Good day, all!

Thread-duty

Boulez

cummings ist der dichter) (2ème version, 1986)
  BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Boulez

Messagesquisse, sur le nom de Paul Sacher) for vc solo & 6 vc's (1976)
  Jean-Guihen Queyras, Solistes de l'Ensemble intercontemporain, Boulez

Mémoriale (...explosante fixe...) (Originel) (1985)
  Sophie Cherrier (flute), Solistes de l'Ensemble Intercontemporain, Boulez

Dialogue de l'ombre double, for clarinet & electronics (1985)
  Alain Damiens
[asin]B00BLDHPZS[/asin]

Good day to you, Karlo! Great stuff...Mémoriale is a favourite of mine.

[not edward]

Thanks, Karl!



I've just downloaded and am about to listen to this recording, which I'm glad to see is in Amazon's top 20 classical sellers. I really want to hear what Barbara Hannigan makes of Grisey's great song cycle, the first performance of which was one of the most overwhelming experiences of my musical life.

Well, this certainly scores bigtime with some astonishingly vivid engineering and playing, particularly in the fourth movement depicting the aftermath of the Flood in Gilgamesh. I feel the second movement might be a tad on the fast side for my liking, but overall I'd definitely recommend this.

[Mandryka]

Just before we were all told to stay at home I was at a friend's house and he played me this, I just can't get it out of my head, The trumpet tune's so catchy and the singer sounds so natural

https://www.youtube.com/v/CoD2HRN4G6k

[North Star]

Good day to you, Karlo! Great stuff...Mémoriale is a favourite of mine.

Great stuff indeed, Rafael! I have to agree with you on Mémoriale.

Thanks, Karl!



I've just downloaded and am about to listen to this recording, which I'm glad to see is in Amazon's top 20 classical sellers. I really want to hear what Barbara Hannigan makes of Grisey's great song cycle, the first performance of which was one of the most overwhelming experiences of my musical life.

Well, this certainly scores bigtime with some astonishingly vivid engineering and playing, particularly in the fourth movement depicting the aftermath of the Flood in Gilgamesh. I feel the second movement might be a tad on the fast side for my liking, but overall I'd definitely recommend this.

Sounds promising. The program, and especially hearing Hannigan in the Quatre chants certainly whetted my appetite too. Listening to the entire recording now myself (Nono's song Djamila Boupacha and the eponymous Haydn Symphony no. 49 in F preceding the Grisey).

[vers la flamme]

Not straying too far away from Le marteau... with this beautiful and enterprising recital of David Fray playing Bach and Boulez:

[asin]B000LPRNVS[/asin]

That is a phenomenal CD. I'd been listening to it nonstop in February. Ought to break it out for another spin as it's been a little while. I listened to Pierre-Laurent Aimard playing the Notations yesterday, but I prefer Fray by far, I think.

[vers la flamme]

Dmitri Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No.2 in C-sharp minor, op.129. Maxim Vengerov, Mstislav Rostropovich, London Symphony Orchestra

It seems I am entering a bit of a DSCH kick these past few days. Enjoying everything so far... Ought to listen to one of the SQs later.

[Karl Henning]

Good day, all!

Thread-duty

Boulez

cummings ist der dichter) (2ème version, 1986)
  BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Boulez

Messagesquisse, sur le nom de Paul Sacher) for vc solo & 6 vc's (1976)
  Jean-Guihen Queyras, Solistes de l'Ensemble intercontemporain, Boulez

Mémoriale (...explosante fixe...) (Originel) (1985)
  Sophie Cherrier (flute), Solistes de l'Ensemble Intercontemporain, Boulez

Dialogue de l'ombre double, for clarinet & electronics (1985)
  Alain Damiens

Cheers, Karlo!