What are you listening 2 now?

[Madiel]

Beethoven, Sonata No.32



It's taken me nearly a year to go through the whole box (I slowed way down after about op.57, partly because the world went nuts), and I've been pretty happy with it. I can only think of one sonata performance I actively disliked, and quite a lot that I really enjoyed, with some particularly outstanding ones in the early and middle works. Time and again I was struck by how Goode would give 'voices' in the music a truly vocal quality, with sonata movements becoming almost like operatic scenes.

[Todd]

Another go, through cans.

[Traverso]

That does look like a great collection. I'll have to be on the lookout for it.

It is,and it contains all the recordings Leonhardt made for the Philips label and they all sound very fine.

[Papy Oli]

[André]

And ?

Braunfels' take on the Berlioz tunes is a riot. I love this work to pieces !

[Maestro267]

Tippett: A Child of Our Time
Haymon (s), Clarey (a), Evans (t), White (b)
London Symphony Chorus
London SO/Hickox

"Go down, Moses" never fails to give me goosebumps.

[Papy Oli]

And ?
Braunfels' take on the Berlioz tunes is a riot. I love this work to pieces !

First listen to the Apparitions for me, André (halfway through now). Great fun indeed.

I already know Sinfonia Brevis from a listen to the Dutton version some weeks ago and liked it at the time, I'll skip it today but i'll go back to it.

[aligreto]

Stanford: Clarinet Concerto in A [Finucane/Houlihan]

[Traverso]

CD 12

[Irons]

Holbrooke: Ulalume
I thought that I should try again with Holbrooke.
This has a dark and brooding atmosphere though, on the whole, I find his orchestral music stubbornly unmemorable.
I prefer his chamber music:

Interesting, Jeffrey. You have listened more then me but a view I was coming around to.

[Papy Oli]

Braunfels - Carnival Overture, Scottish Fantasy

[Karl Henning]

Shostakovich
The Golden Age, Op. 22
RSNO
Serebrier

[Todd]

[vandermolen]

Ross Edwards: Symphony No.1 'Da Pacem Domine' (1992)
A very moving, lamenting and sad minimalist-type work in memory of his friend the conductor Stuart Challender, who died young, and also a plea for peace at the time of the First Gulf War.
Strongly recommended.
I think that this was one of the many works which André of this forum introduced me to:

[Traverso]

Delius

[André]

Ross Edwards: Symphony No.1 'Da Pacem Domine' (1992)
A very moving, lamenting and sad minimalist-type work in memory of his friend the conductor Stuart Challender, who died young, and also a plea for peace at the time of the First Gulf War.
Strongly recommended.
I think that this was one of the many works which André of this forum introduced me to:

Not this one, my friend  .

[André]

Symphonie fantastique, Overtures Le carnaval romain and Le corsaire. Harold en Italie.

This is Davis' first recording of the Fantastique. It comes within 2 seconds of his second one (RCOA), he observes the same repeats, so it's pretty much swings and roundabouts in terms of interpretive insights. The recording is still excellent, with good detailing of string effects - pizzicati, harmonics, double bass growlings and the like. The second movement waltz is just perfect for me, sweet and elegant, as if in a Barbie movie.

Excellent winds, although the suave cor anglais in the Scène aux champs is too suave for my taste. Monteux coaxes the Concertgebouw english horn player to produce an amazingly otherworldly sound (live recording in Vienna). Great ending from strings and timpani in that movement, though. The brass in the Marche au supplice is mellow yellow, the tuba in the finale intones the Dies irae like it's a pop march. These witches are having a fun night around the bonfire, suitable for family entertainment. The excellent playing and recording and Davis' frequent insights ensure this version maintains an honourable place in a very competitive market.

The overtures are excellent, the LSO obviously have fun and deliver the goods smashingly. The recording is from 2 years later and has a bit more brightness and sparkle. In Harold Davis is an excellent tour guide. Imai has a nice viola tone, very sweet and mellow. The Marche des pèlerins' big string tune sounds like it's from a Ketelbey piece, moderato e sempre legato. I prefer a more rugged trek in that movement. It's all very nice - the Orgie des brigands movement finally shows some real swagger - but it doesn't sound like Berlioz was writing anything terribly original here. Beecham and Munch have more to say.

[kyjo]

Bodley: Symphony No. 2 [Houlihan]





This is a wonderfully atmospheric work.

+1

[kyjo]

Sinfonietta

Quirkiness aplenty, maybe too quirkiness for some, though in the middle section of the first movement there is a very sentimental moment. Again, the performance is quite exemplary.

That's a great disc, especially for the Sinfonietta and Les Animaux modèles. I noticed that the "sentimental moment" you refer to is actually a quote from the first movement of his Violin Sonata! I'm a bit less fond of Les Biches, although the first movement is undeniably catchy.

[Symphonic Addict]

That's a great disc, especially for the Sinfonietta and Les Animaux modèles. I noticed that the "sentimental moment" you refer to is actually a quote from the first movement of his Violin Sonata! I'm a bit less fond of Les Biches, although the first movement is undeniably catchy.

Good ear, Kyle. I couldn't notice that at all. I'm with you in prefering the other two works over Les Biches.