What are you listening 2 now?

[Todd]

[Symphonic Addict]

Prokofiev: Visions fugitives



While Prokofiev is one of my favorite composers, I can't say I liked this work at all. It's all too low-key and aphoristic for my taste. That said, I found one of the pieces to be quite haunting: no. 8.

I'm with you here. It tends to bore me. I don't get the hype that some have with this work.

[Biffo]

Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 [Gibson]





This is a fine version of this wonderful work.

I am sure this is the same version I had on a cassette, unfortunately the sound quality was ropey. Gibson was an excellent Sibelian and recorded a complete cycle with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra - just listened to No 5 to remind myself how good it is.

[Symphonic Addict]

Three Cello Sonatas: Delius, Hummel, and Röntgen no. 2




The Delius is a concise work constructed of long, ecstatic phrases. The Hummel is a glorious work, full of bittersweet lyricism. It deserves to be played alongside the Beethoven sonatas, and dare I say it's finer than them in some regards! Ditto the Röntgen, which is a passionately turbulent affair with a deeply introspective slow movement. The finale contains a clear thematic allusion to Beethoven's Tempest sonata, and none the worse for that. One wonders how this music can be so little-known, it is truly inspired from start to finish.


Bowen: Piano Trio in E minor



Yes, people were still writing good old-fashioned Romantic piano trios in 1946! This work shouldn't be missed by admirers of this composer (of which I know there are precious few on this forum ). The slow movement is quite touching and the finale is a real romp of a tarantella.

I don't know these but sound interesting,

[Traverso]

Bruckner

Symphony No.8

[Symphonic Addict]

Nielsen: Symphony No. 5 [Schmidt]

This cycle is fabulous.

[Brian]

Dieter Ammann's new piano concerto "Gran Toccata" is really a 31 minute long toccata. The guy went for it. Even more than that, and somewhat extraordinarily, the composer manages to transform every instrument on the stage into a percussive instrument; piano, strings, winds, brass, all snap and punch and clank and produce a dizzying amount of rhythm. There's very little melody or even expression, just pure energy. The only slow music in the 31 minute piece comes on track 3 from 2:22-5:20, so that's less than 10% of the work (and a welcome, wonderfully scored oasis), and then an unexpected (prankish?) slow quiet coda. Overall, the effect is dizzying, exhilarating, exhausting - sometimes a thrill, sometimes a drain. Certainly as a composing achievement it's quite something, and the orchestra and soloist are just unbelievable. (How many takes were required? How long does Haefliger sleep the next morning?) In the outer movements, I hear quotes from "Petrushka," which actually has some things in common with this work. Put them together on a CD and the effect would be like having five shots of espresso. You wouldn't sleep for days!

Looking forward to the Ravel left hand and Bartok 3 coming up next, as the caliber of playing is clearly extremely high.

[Christo]

Bernstein: Symphony No. 2 ("The Age of Anxiety")
Thibaudet (piano)/Baltimore SO/Alsop

Copland: Symphony No. 3
New Zealand SO/Judd

Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5
Bournemouth SO/Bakels

Three fine symphonies.

[kyjo]

I don't know these but sound interesting.

I'm sure you'd enjoy them, Cesar. The Hummel and Röntgen sonatas were major re-discoveries for me. Really strong works both.

[Christo]

Vaughan Williams, The Bridal Day (1938), 'a Masque', perhaps the major RVW 'discovery' in recent years:

[Todd]

1.  Revisiting for the first time in many moons.  Superb.

[aligreto]

I am sure this is the same version I had on a cassette, unfortunately the sound quality was ropey. Gibson was an excellent Sibelian and recorded a complete cycle with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra - just listened to No 5 to remind myself how good it is.

I only have Symphonies Nos. 3 & 7 with Gibson and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

[aligreto]

This cycle is fabulous.

Yes it is. I have it on both LP and CD.

[bhodges]

Bruckner

Symphony No.8

OK, this got my attention. Comments invited!

--Bruce

[bhodges]

Listening to the Carducci Quartet, in the archived livestream from Wigmore Hall from four days ago. So far, excellent. Given the circumstances, these Wigmore recitals are treasures.

Haydn (1732-1809)
String Quartet in E flat Op. 33 No. 2 'The Joke'

Glass (b.1937)
String Quartet No. 2 'Company'

Shostakovich (1906-1975)
String Quartet No. 9 in E flat Op. 117

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymd-_HiN6ys

--Bruce

[Mandryka]

Quite enjoying these canons now, though in the past I've thought them arid, tonight they sound juicy, music has to catch you in the right mood I guess.

[André]

Concerto no 22. This is Mozart's biggest, most festive concerto, at least in its outer movements. Here it is not so much festive as commanding, grand, with an underlying seriousness that calls to mind another big E flat work, the symphony no 39. The Andante is meltingly beautiful. An unusually imposing, at times dramatic view. Les Violons du Roy play on modern instruments, but with all the fixtures and trappings of HIP. When played like this it's on the same level of bigness and drama as Beethoven's 3rd concerto.

Concerto no 24. This, too, gets a big, serious performance, but the work calls for that of course. Tempi are not as stately as in the E Flat concerto, and full orchestra downbeats deliver quite a punch (forceful timpani, snarling horns and trumpets). Richard-Hamelin provides superb cadenzas of his own.

I wouldn't mind getting the other concertos from this team. At least, could we have 20, 21, 23 and 25 please?

[listener]

Gunther SCHULLER: Duologue (4 Characteristic Pieces) - Threnody, Parody, Fantasia, Fiddle Music                          John Knowles PAINE: Violin Sonata in b op. 24
Rafael Druian, violin        Benjamin Pasternak, piano

music from 1924:,
GRUENBERG: The Daniel Jazz  for voice and 8 instruments, de FALLA: Psyché for voice and 5 instruments,  AURIC: Marlborough s'en va t'en guerre,  MARTINŮ: Concertino for cello
Diane Rama, soprano    Silvio Righini, cello
Harmonia Ensemble     Giuseppe Grazioli, cond. cello

[Traverso]

Ligeti

Six bagatelles for Wind Quintet

[Traverso]

OK, this got my attention. Comments invited!

--Bruce

I am an admirer of Bernard Haitink and his many recordings that has given me a lot of joy over the years, this one is no exception.
The recording itself leaves nothing to be desired.