What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

Korngold: Cello Concerto in C major, Op. 37

[Mirror Image]

String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 34

[André]

Curious how we all react differently to some works  . Les noces is a work that fascinates me no end (actually, if I listen to it, I usually have to repeat the whole thing shortly afterwards), and it's the last section I enjoy the most. Cubism in music is IMHO  the best description of this work.

AFAIK, that Ansermet recording is one of only two available in C.-F. Ramuz's French translation of the text; the other is the very rare Boulez on Adès (with a young José van Dam among the soloists), which fortunately has been in my collection for decades. Hearing the text in this version (even considering the "disjointed" setting in this piece) is a delight. « Chez ma Nastasie, la démarche est légère... » Glorious! And Jean Cocteau also raves about this in the first volume of his published diary, Le passé défini.

I've been looking for the Ansermet recording for quite a while, to complement the Boulez and several recordings in the original Russian plus the composer's in English—which does not work at all for me —,  but affordable copies are not easy to come by. 

Good evening to you, André!

And Buena noches to you too, Rafael ! 

[André]

El Cimarrón (The Runaway Slave) is a 1972 chamber opera with a single character (baritone). One could also see it as a song cycle. The accompaniment is made up of a flute, a guitar and percussion. The concept had me thinking of Hans Zender's « composed interpretation » of Schubert's Winterreise. I wish I could enjoy it more. I like the idea and the music. It is sung in German and texts are provided, but the only translation in the booklet is in Italian  . The label is italian, but since the notes are in Italian, French and English, I think a big opportunity was missed here. Henze's imagination is boundless and he achieves small miracles of instrumental and vocal colours.

[Todd]

Disc 2.

[Symphonic Addict]

Two delightful concertos + one astringent but interesting:

Alexander Voormolen - Concerto for two oboes
Jean Françaix - Concerto for guitar and strings
Gerhard - Harpsichord Concerto




The three works were new to me. The Voormolen sounded to me like Neoclassical in style, albeit not written in that quirky Neoclassicism à la Martinu/Roussel, but more softened and conservative. I liked it very much.

The Françaix is good, good fun! It has nothing to envy other concertos for the instrument. Françaix knew how to stamp his good humour on his works and one feels that.

The Gerhard could not be for everyone's taste, but I found it intriguing and a good contrast to the first two pieces.

[Symphonic Addict]

Pounds the table! Leifs is fine in small doses, but he does offer the listener such a unique aural experience.

Sometimes the 'characteristic rhythm' of his works can become monotonous, so it's necessary to take his music moderately as you say. Otherwise, he was a very individual composer.

[Mirror Image]

Sometimes the 'characteristic rhythm' of his works can become monotonous, so it's necessary to take his music moderately as you say. Otherwise, he was a very individual composer.

Yes, indeed, Cesar. That whole BIS series of Leifs is top-notch.

[Mirror Image]

Now playing:

[T. D.]

...
Gerhard - Harpsichord Concerto

...


...
The Gerhard could not be for everyone's taste, but I found it intriguing and a good contrast to the first two pieces.

Thanks for the reminder. I heard 2 Gerhard discs (one on Montaigne and one on Largo) long ago, don't even recall the titles. I found him very interesting (though as you said, perhaps too astringent for some listeners), but never followed up.
I'll see if I can locate the recordings in my disorganized stacks.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Symphony No. 2, Op. 39, "Rodina"

[Carlo Gesualdo]

Lassus on decca Missa ''Bell'Amfitrit Alter a'' / Psalmus Poententialis VII

Choir of Crist Curch Cathedral Oxford : Simon Preston.


Than listening to double LP release of Lassus  once again 'Les lamentations de Job Ensemble vocal Raphael Passaque(Hamonia Mundi)

What a bill this is hey!! 

[Roasted Swan]

First listen to a couple of discs bought very cheaply but left in a pile gathering dust;



From memory this was Norrington's first big breakthrough disc into the wonderful world of early Romantic HIP.  I seem to remember glowing reviews - lots of references to "sounding like an old masterpiece painting where layers of dirt and varnish have been removed" revelatory/blah blah blah.  I was genuinely expecting to "hear" more in this performance.  Nicely & neatly played, fairly neutral recording.  Tempi etc far from out of the ordinary but actually all rather tame.  march to the scaffold was more of a stroll rather than appointment with death.  So all perfectly good but not as exciting or pictorial as I would have thought it would be.....

then



Chailly is a conductor who I don't often find to be attention grabbing.  But this Mahler 5 is a stunner.  Glorious - and I mean glorious - playing by the Concertgebouw and a very dramatic reading of the work.  Completely compelling and convincing.  Its a big, broad exciting interpretation - perhaps a little lacking in nuance (although the Adagietto is very poised) but it goes straight into my list of top 5 No.5's!

[ritter]

... + one astringent but interesting:

Gerhard - Harpsichord Concerto



...

The Gerhard could not be for everyone's taste, but I found it intriguing and a good contrast to the first two pieces.

I'm a great fan of the Gerhard Harpsichord Concerto. Astringent, but also with fun nods to the Spanish classical tradition. The third movement, vivace spritoso--really spiritoso  --, starts with a quote of the prelude to Ruperto Chapí's zarzuela La revoltosa (a piece of muisc I'd say everyone in Spain is familiar with), and then it also quotes one of Falla's Seven Popular Spanish Songs.

Here that third movement of the Gerhard:

https://www.youtube.com/v/MuCG0fQjVkw
The Falla quote appears at 3'40"

Here the Chapí (few pieces of music are more identified with the city of Madrid than this)
https://www.youtube.com/v/lmjUEioXrhc

And here Falla's Canción (at 9'36"):
https://www.youtube.com/v/213cxfA-Luc

If you have a chance, try to listen to the Gerhard Concerto in the alternate recording on Auvidis-Montaigne from Barcelona with Ursula Dütschler and Lawrence Foster (long OOP). IMO, it is much more succesful than the Tozer / Bamert on Chandos.

[Biffo]

William Cornyshe: Salve Regina; Ave Maria Mater Dei -  The Sixteen - directed by Harry Christophers

[vandermolen]

NP:

Symphony No. 2, Op. 39, "Rodina"

Great stuff! Amazingly I have three recordings of that fine work now.
Now playing, Tournemire, Symphony No.3 'Moscow':

[vandermolen]

Elgar: 2nd Symphony.



I must say I disagree with Hurwitz's assessment of Barbirolli's recording of Elgar's 2nd Symphony. Sir John brings passion and commitment that is unique to him. The Larghetto second movement is very special in my opinion, which I found most moving and inspirational  - https://youtu.be/r3CB5Pbzy3M

I agree with you Lol. I've always rated this performance highly.

[vandermolen]

Korngold: Cello Concerto in C major, Op. 37

I like every work on that CD.

[Biffo]

My, my!  Did you get a chance to talk with Mr. Kennedy?   

PD

Never seen this Boston performance before on disc. I consulted the discography I have and it has it on the Music and Arts label and describes it as 'unauthorised release'. I will have to check it out.

[Traverso]

I have always enjoyed Kertesz's conducting and interpretations irrespective of the music involved.

That makes two of us