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.

[Daverz]

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

Gibson's 3rd is the Hurwitzer's choice for his "ideal Sibelius symphony cycle":

https://www.youtube.com/v/kGyujfmIW5w

Gibson's Decca 5th is also wonderful, certainly would make it into my top ten somewhere after Bernstein and Karajan.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Piano Trio in D minor, Hob.XV:23

My first meeting ever with any of his piano trios. I couldn't guess it is a Haydn's work without looking at the CD. Positively impressed, this is good and enjoyable music.

Those are lovely recordings!  Glad that you are enjoying them. 

PD

[Carlo Gesualdo]

First I want to tell you my Joy of purchasing Mare Balticum vol 1, I promess myself I would not purchase download again but this  was available only in download, anyway it's excellent glorious series this is I have vol 3 and volume 2 is coming in mail.

That the good stuff, life bring, the bad side is living in Quebec under the leadership of Francois Legault and is surprise confinement and closure of essential service dentist i.e
i'M agonizing for  3 days not sleeping paain  is omnious in teeth in head in neccck in the hear even dolorre of 11 on a scale to 10 unbearable torment suffering no kidding ,, wrigh now if I had a gun not suicidal but I WOULD SHOOT MY SELF  AS MUCH AS i so in pain...

[Todd]

2.  The music moves from gooey romanticism to gloppy romanticism, but it's lighter, more colorful, and more tuneful.  A marked improvement over the First.  The short Notre Dame Intermezzo closer for the second disc equivalent sounds lovely. 

[JBS]

CD 2 Quartets 4-6
in f minor Op 33 no 4 (1909/1937)
in e minor Op 47 (1938-39)
in g minor Op 49 (1939-40)
[asin]B07S98JPZW[/asin]

The parallels with Shostakovich's chamber music are less overt than they were in the first 3 quartets (and obviously Shostakovich would be the influenced one if there was an influence of one on the other) but there still seems to be a common tradition behind both.

[T. D.]

CD 2 Quartets 4-6
in f minor Op 33 no 4 (1909/1937)
in e minor Op 47 (1938-39)
in g minor Op 49 (1939-40)
[asin]B07S98JPZW[/asin]

The parallels with Shostakovich's chamber music are less overt than they were in the first 3 quartets (and obviously Shostakovich would be the influenced one if there was an influence of one on the other) but there still seems to be a common tradition behind both.

How do you find the performances [Myaskovsky complete SQ perf. Taneyev Q on Northern Flowers - image didn't show]?
I was considering the Taneyev chamber music box featuring the same ensemble on the same label, but blistering forum comments about poor intonation (on the Taneyev composer thread) dissuaded me.

[JBS]

How do you find the performances [Myaskovsky complete SQ perf. Taneyev Q on Northern Flowers - image didn't show]?
I was considering the Taneyev chamber music box featuring the same ensemble on the same label, but blistering forum comments about poor intonation (on the Taneyev composer thread) dissuaded me.

I've never heard these works before, so I can't really compare.  If there were intonation problems I missed them. (But I have not listened to the other 3 CDs yet, with Quartets 7-13).  All I can really say is that the music seems very much worth hearing, and this is one of several 20th century SQ cycles that should be better known.

ETA
Don't know why the image is not showing on your end. Let me try this one

[Papy Oli]

Good morning all,

Charles Tournemire - symphony no.3 "Moscou"

[Que]

Morning listening:



Q

[Christo]

Good morning all,

Charles Tournemire - symphony no.3 "Moscou"

Great that you're exploring this prodigious compatriot!

[Irons]

Glazunov: 8th Symphony.

An impressive swansong. Great second movement which is the heart of the work. I do not know either the recordings or the symphonies themselves to make worthwhile comment, but comparing Rozhdestvensky with Svetlanov?

[Papy Oli]

Great that you're exploring this prodigious compatriot!

Not very successfully though, Johan  Nothing much hit the mark for me.

TD: Next French composer : Pierné

[Christo]

Not very successfully though, Johan  Nothing much hit the mark for me.

TD: Next French composer : Pierné

Try Tournemire's Sixth: that one did the trick for me (five years ago). Pierné is always fun, underrated composer.

[Christo]

[Traverso]

Beethoven

Symphony No.3 "Eroica"
Leonore Overture No.2

[pjme]

Rather unlikely neighbours:

Marcel Dupré: Symphonie pour orgue et orchestre (dedicated to sir Henry Wood).
One of many cds found sleeping in my collection.
Very enjoyable - cfr. Joseph Jongens Symphonie concertante: a combination of virtuosity and romantic outpourings.  Also a bit anonymous. But I probably lack knowledge about Dupré's style and language.


The Cambridge Singers conducted by John Rutter "Hail Queen of heaven". Music in the honour of the Virgin Mary: from de Victoria and Richard Dering, to Verdi, Stravinsky and Giles Swayne.
Recorded in 1992, in Ely cathedral. An old favorite. Very beautiful.

[Biffo]

Purcell: Overture & The Masque for Timon of Athens - Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists etc directed by John Eliot Gardiner

[vandermolen]

Thought I'd jump on the GMG Baxathon:

Marvellous performances of both works:

[vandermolen]

Glazunov: 8th Symphony.

An impressive swansong. Great second movement which is the heart of the work. I do not know either the recordings or the symphonies themselves to make worthwhile comment, but comparing Rozhdestvensky with Svetlanov?

That's as good a performance as any IMO.

[vandermolen]

Good morning all,

Charles Tournemire - symphony no.3 "Moscou"

A great symphony IMO.

[Harry]

Biagio Marini.
Madrigali & Symphonie a 1,2,3,4,5 voci, opus II, 1618.
Historical instruments.
I musicali Affetti, Fabio Missaggia.
Rosso Porpora, Walter Testolin.

[André]

Not very successfully though, Johan  Nothing much hit the mark for me.

TD: Next French composer : Pierné

Well, the seed has been planted. Don't forget to water it from time to time ! 

[Traverso]

Corelli


Concerti No.1-2-3-4-5-6

[Irons]

Thought I'd jump on the GMG Baxathon:

Marvellous performances of both works:

Agreed, this and the 5th puts me outside the mainstream Bax opinions I guess.

[MusicTurner]

Listening to some Charles Griffes, on CD and LP ...

[Symphonic Addict]

Not very successfully though, Johan  Nothing much hit the mark for me.

TD: Next French composer : Pierné

Something similar happens on me. Tournemire's symphonies are not much of my liking, above all the 7th. A long ode to boredom. 

On the other hand, Pierné is much more engaging and warm.

[Symphonic Addict]

Glazunov: 8th Symphony.

An impressive swansong. Great second movement which is the heart of the work. I do not know either the recordings or the symphonies themselves to make worthwhile comment, but comparing Rozhdestvensky with Svetlanov?

That Rozhdestvensky cycle is very consistent.

[Todd]

1.  Again.  So good.

[Iota]

Simple, unfussy playing that brings these pieces to life.

[kyjo]

How do you find the performances [Myaskovsky complete SQ perf. Taneyev Q on Northern Flowers - image didn't show]?
I was considering the Taneyev chamber music box featuring the same ensemble on the same label, but blistering forum comments about poor intonation (on the Taneyev composer thread) dissuaded me.

I, for one, am decidedly not a fan of the Taneyev Quartet's playing. But many others don't seem to have to have a problem with it.

[kyjo]

Rather unlikely neighbours:

Marcel Dupré: Symphonie pour orgue et orchestre (dedicated to sir Henry Wood).
One of many cds found sleeping in my collection.
Very enjoyable - cfr. Joseph Jongens Symphonie concertante: a combination of virtuosity and romantic outpourings.  Also a bit anonymous. But I probably lack knowledge about Dupré's style and language.

I like the Dupré Symphony very much. Not as spectacular as, say, the Jongen but a serious, rewarding work.

[Traverso]

Sibelius

Symphony No.5

[Traverso]

Haydn

Die Jahreszeiten

[André]

Despite a 10/10 review from Dave Hurwitz and a glowing encomium from Musicweb I have not been won over by this recording after 3 listenings over the past couple of years. I find the orchestra's strings undernourished and the pacing lacking in tension. Low winds and percussion are suitably caught, but I don't feel enough voltage in the big moments of Lemminkäinen in Tuonela. The Return of Lemminkäinen is superb, but in the brassy coda one feels the orchestra lacking weight and bite. Dommage.

Pohjola's Daughter is fine, but I've heard better ones (none more so than Barbirolli's electrifying Hallé recording).

[Todd]

[JBS]

Bach
WTC 2
Ton Koopman
Harpsichord  by Kroesbergen after Ruckers
Recorded April 1982 Old Catholic  Church "Maria Minor" Utrecht

[vandermolen]

Agreed, this and the 5th puts me outside the mainstream Bax opinions I guess.

I think that No.5 (especially in Leppard's recording) is the greatest and most cogent of them all. I've always liked No.4 from the days of Handley's Guidford PO LP taken out of my local record library. As with Shostakovich's 12th Symphony it is generally considered the weakest of the cycle and yet I really like it. I much prefer it, for example, to No.6 which is considered by many to be the greatest.

My order of preference for Bax symphonies are: 5,3,4,7,2,1,6

I think that it's a pity that Leppard or Fredman did not record the 6th Symphony for Lyrita as I didn't think much of Del Mar's performance. Actually I never thought much of him as a conductor after he conducted the worst performance I have ever heard of Vaughan Williams's 'A Pastoral Symphony'. However, I did like his Moeran discs for Chandos and I think his recording of Stanford's 'Irish Symphony' is best of all - so maybe I am being unfair.

[André]

This is the second Gothenburg/Järvi performance of the Lemminkäinen suite. It is some 5 minutes faster than the earlier one on BIS. Only the Swan of Tuonela movement sounded fast to my ears. The orchestra plays very well, if with too cushioned a sound. Also, the tension level is a bit slack. This is especially apparent when listening to the first Ormandy/Philadelphia recording:



This is in mono (1953) and the sound is obviously somewhat limited, but still very detailed and with good dynamic amplitude. What really sets this apart is the absolute fury generated by the composer in the two big movements. The usual order is with the Swan movement second, but Ormandy plays it third, so we have to hugely dramatic movements in succession. The tension generated in I is picked up and cranked up further in II (Lemminkäinen in Tuonela), making for a hell of a ride indeed. To achieve this level of dramatic tension Ormandy fires up his huge string section to boiling level. In my experience only Mrawinsky, Karajan and Ormandy could generate such weight and inky dark low string tone. It makes a huge difference IMO. Having the Swan third allows for the appropriate relaxation and otherworldliness (it is a journey in the realm of the dead, after all). Ormandy's whipcracking Return of Lemminkäinen is suitably hellish, with the Philadelphians barely keeping pace. I have to admit that Lintu's beautifully articulated reading is really special (the superbly detailed recording really makes a difference there). In the end though, nothing replaces the terrific music making of the old Ormandy performance.

[vandermolen]

This is the second Gothenburg/Järvi performance of the Lemminkäinen suite. It is some 5 minutes faster than the earlier one on BIS. Only the Swan of Tuonela movement sounded fast to my ears. The orchestra plays very well, if with too cushioned a sound. Also, the tension level is a bit slack. This is especially apparent when listening to the first Ormandy/Philadelphia recording:



This is in mono (1953) and the sound is obviously somewhat limited, but still very detailed and with good dynamic amplitude. What really sets this apart is the absolute fury generated by the composer in the two big movements. The usual order is with the Swan movement second, but Ormandy plays it third, so we have to hugely dramatic movements in succession. The tension generated in I is picked up and cranked up further in II (Lemminkäinen in Tuonela), making for a hell of a ride indeed. To achieve this level of dramatic tension Ormandy fires up his huge string section to boiling level. In my experience only Mrawinsky, Karajan and Ormandy could generate such weight and inky dark low string tone. It makes a huge difference IMO. Having the Swan third allows for the appropriate relaxation and otherworldliness (it is a journey in the realm of the dead, after all). Ormandy's whipcracking Return of Lemminkäinen is suitably hellish, with the Philadelphians barely keeping pace. I have to admit that Lintu's beautifully articulated reading is really special (the superbly detailed recording really makes a difference there). In the end though, nothing replaces the terrific music making of the old Ormandy performance.

That's great to know André as I have the 'Ormandy conducts Sibelius' boxed set in which it features.

Now playing: Bax Symphony 4 Lloyd-Jones
I thought that I'd compare this with the Thomson version played this morning. They are quite different but complimentary performance with the Thomson more atmospheric but the Lloyd Jones with a greater urgency and sense of structure. I also enjoyed Llloyd Jones's 'Nympholept' but find the Thomson version even more poetic, especially at the start. Still, this is a fine Naxos CD:

[MusicTurner]

This is the second Gothenburg/Järvi performance of the Lemminkäinen suite. It is some 5 minutes faster than the earlier one on BIS. Only the Swan of Tuonela movement sounded fast to my ears. The orchestra plays very well, if with too cushioned a sound. Also, the tension level is a bit slack. This is especially apparent when listening to the first Ormandy/Philadelphia recording:



This is in mono (1953) and the sound is obviously somewhat limited, but still very detailed and with good dynamic amplitude. What really sets this apart is the absolute fury generated by the composer in the two big movements. The usual order is with the Swan movement second, but Ormandy plays it third, so we have to hugely dramatic movements in succession. The tension generated in I is picked up and cranked up further in II (Lemminkäinen in Tuonela), making for a hell of a ride indeed. To achieve this level of dramatic tension Ormandy fires up his huge string section to boiling level. In my experience only Mrawinsky, Karajan and Ormandy could generate such weight and inky dark low string tone. It makes a huge difference IMO. Having the Swan third allows for the appropriate relaxation and otherworldliness (it is a journey in the realm of the dead, after all). Ormandy's whipcracking Return of Lemminkäinen is suitably hellish, with the Philadelphians barely keeping pace. I have to admit that Lintu's beautifully articulated reading is really special (the superbly detailed recording really makes a difference there). In the end though, nothing replaces the terrific music making of the old Ormandy performance.

The DG Järvi has always been a favourite of mine, but I also have the Ormandy LP and will compare; early Ormandy tends to be good.
I likewise have Ormandy/EMI, Vänskä/BIS, Groves/EMI, Lukas Foss/Nonesuch and Kamu/DG.

[André]

Listening to the Lukas Foss right now on youtube.

It was my first ever Sibelius lp on the old Nonesuch label. Who could resist those psychedelic LP covers ? 

[Todd]

[Symphonic Addict]

Respighi: Church Windows
Bloch: Voice in the Wilderness



I always remember San Gregorio Magno from Church Windows the most, and I forgot how engrossing and lovely the other movements are. This rendition in unmatched IMO.

The Bloch is a pensive score, in a more contemplative and mystical vein than Schelomo.

[SimonNZ]

[Symphonic Addict]

Tavener - The Protecting Veil

The spiritual intensity this work expresses is just heart-wrenching. A marvelous creation.

[Carlo Gesualdo]

Hello guys, my new Lubie is Baltic countries & Scandinavia ancient lore and medieval trough almost early renaissance.

After I would listen to Danish medieval album back than, honest did not thin much, but did not dislike it either.

Now I re-discover, the depth of Baltic foreign lore  old age deep end , as I am deprofundis and his picky as hell..

Here what I'M into:


SACD-TACET Real Surround sound ( the sound is amazing indeed)
Whit volume.Vol.3, Wizlav Von Rugen Danish Ruler and musician  of 13/14 century

The album is called Mare Balticum vol.3

I were so impress I ordered vol2. of thee series and download flac format vol.1 on some distro neato.

Wow awesome Trilogy Peregrina is serving to us.


Than this album Ice and Longboats, Delphian records, sounds super good This is way interesting music of the vikings, the atmosphere is superb

instrumentation very epic, like this a lot...

Do you like early Baltic  countries and Northern Europe ancient music, Like I do now?

Good night this is what I'm listening and purchased so far, thanks to all my friends , followers, kind folks, Op, seignors O.p

[JBS]

NP
[asin]B079PF13HQ[/asin]
And so to bed...

[springrite]

Tavener - The Protecting Veil

The spiritual intensity this work expresses is just heart-wrenching. A marvelous creation.

Geez, I haven't listen to this for ten years!

Now I am taking out my (Yo Yo Ma) recording...

[vandermolen]

Respighi: Church Windows
Bloch: Voice in the Wilderness



I always remember San Gregorio Magno from Church Windows the most, and I forgot how engrossing and lovely the other movements are. This rendition in unmatched IMO.

The Bloch is a pensive score, in a more contemplative and mystical vein than Schelomo.

Two great CDs. I recall driving to work one Saturday morning c. 1989 and hearing a terrific work on the car radio. Fortunately it finished before I got to work so I heard that it was Respighi's 'Church Windows' conducted by Geoffrey Simon.

[vandermolen]

Listening to the Lukas Foss right now on youtube.

It was my first ever Sibelius lp on the old Nonesuch label. Who could resist those psychedelic LP covers ? 

My favourite version of the Four Legends was conducted by Thomas Jensen. It was one of my favourite Decca Eclipse LPs. It features on a fine Decca Eloquence release, featuring an extraordinary photograph of Eduard Van Beinum looking like he has a hot potato in his mouth:

[Mandryka]

My favourite version of the Four Legends was conducted by Thomas Jensen. It was one of my favourite Decca Eclipse LPs. It features on a fine Decca Eloquence release, featuring an extraordinary photograph of Eduard Van Beinum looking like he has a hot potato in his mouth:

By coincidence I listened to Van Beinum playing Sibelius 5 just a couple of days ago, it's very good despite the sound.

[vandermolen]

By coincidence I listened to Van Beinum playing Sibelius 5 just a couple of days ago, it's very good despite the sound.

I think that he was a very fine conductor. In the set I posted above, his 'Tapiola' in particular and also his Decca Eloquence Bruckner set. I played his recording of Bruckner's 5th Symphony a few months ago and I don't recall being as moved by a recorded performance before.

[Que]

Morning listening  (via Spotify):



https://o-livemusic.com/product/ktc-1900-chantilly-vol-1-tetraktys/

Q

[Maestro267]

Stanford: Piano Concerto No. 2
Binns (piano)/London SO/Braithwaite

[Irons]

That Rozhdestvensky cycle is very consistent.

And much better sound on CD then other LP versions on my shelves. The Fedoseyev 7th has a fine image of the Troitsky Gate on the cover but the sound is unacceptable, I am surprised that EMI allowed it to be issued. I also picked up Rozhdestvensky's 7th CD so consistency is good news.

[aligreto]

I am starting to explore this recent purchase:





Das neugebor'ne Kindelein BuxWV 13
Quemadmodum desiderat cervus BuxWV 92
Nichts soll uns scheiden von der Liebe Gottes BuxWV 77

I was particularly taken with BuxWV77

[aligreto]

I like Berglund in Sibelius. I feel that he has a different take on the interpretation and presentation of the music.

[Irons]

I think that No.5 (especially in Leppard's recording) is the greatest and most cogent of them all. I've always liked No.4 from the days of Handley's Guidford PO LP taken out of my local record library. As with Shostakovich's 12th Symphony it is generally considered the weakest of the cycle and yet I really like it. I much prefer it, for example, to No.6 which is considered by many to be the greatest.

My order of preference for Bax symphonies are: 5,3,4,7,2,1,6

I think that it's a pity that Leppard or Fredman did not record the 6th Symphony for Lyrita as I didn't think much of Del Mar's performance. Actually I never thought much of him as a conductor after he conducted the worst performance I have ever heard of Vaughan Williams's 'A Pastoral Symphony'. However, I did like his Moeran discs for Chandos and I think his recording of Stanford's 'Irish Symphony' is best of all - so maybe I am being unfair.

Out of all British composers I find Bax the most difficult. The 5th, especially the cracking first movement is, I think, the least typical of him and probably the reason I like the most. I pretty much agree with your list but would swap 4 with 3. I quite like 7 too.

I have picked up previously your coolness towards Norman Del Mar, Jeffrey. I don't think you are being unfair at all as you are giving credit where credit is due. I do not have much by him but one album sticks out which includes my favourite recording of Elgar's Serenade.

[Mookalafalas]

I got a huge, cheap set of "download only" files:
Carlo Maria Giulini Great Recordings

   I guess it is about 25CDs worth of material. After about 8 hours, I am firmly of opinion they ARE great recordings.

[aligreto]

Varese:





When I initially found myself interested in the music of Varese through the French Music Exploration thread this CD seemed to get a bit of traction so I have invested in it.


Arcana: This work initially stood out for me on first listen some weeks ago. It feels even stronger now.

[Biffo]

Dvorak: Piano Quintet No 2 in A major, Op 81 - Rudolf Firkusny piano and the Ridge String Quartet

[vandermolen]

And much better sound on CD then other LP versions on my shelves. The Fedoseyev 7th has a fine image of the Troitsky Gate on the cover but the sound is unacceptable, I am surprised that EMI allowed it to be issued. I also picked up Rozhdestvensky's 7th CD so consistency is good news.

Another great nostalgia trip Lol!
That LP gave me great pleasure when I discovered it in the 1970s I think. The 7th Symphony is one of the best.

[vandermolen]

Out of all British composers I find Bax the most difficult. The 5th, especially the cracking first movement is, I think, the least typical of him and probably the reason I like the most. I pretty much agree with your list but would swap 4 with 3. I quite like 7 too.

I have picked up previously your coolness towards Norman Del Mar, Jeffrey. I don't think you are being unfair at all as you are giving credit where credit is due. I do not have much by him but one album sticks out which includes my favourite recording of Elgar's Serenade.

I agree that it is a fine album Lol.
So is this one:

[vandermolen]

I like Berglund in Sibelius. I feel that he has a different take on the interpretation and presentation of the music.

+1

[Traverso]

Beethoven

Symphony No.4 & 8

[Traverso]

I like Berglund in Sibelius. I feel that he has a different take on the interpretation and presentation of the music.

I have also his other set with the Bournemouth Orchestra,Ashkenazy ( you like that one too ),Maazel and a few Karajan recordings,I like them all for different reasons.

[Traverso]

I am starting to explore this recent purchase:





Das neugebor'ne Kindelein BuxWV 13
Quemadmodum desiderat cervus BuxWV 92
Nichts soll uns scheiden von der Liebe Gottes BuxWV 77

I was particularly taken with BuxWV77

Looks very nice Fergus ! 

[vandermolen]

Prokofiev, Symphony No.3:

[Roasted Swan]

Out of all British composers I find Bax the most difficult. The 5th, especially the cracking first movement is, I think, the least typical of him and probably the reason I like the most. I pretty much agree with your list but would swap 4 with 3. I quite like 7 too.

I have picked up previously your coolness towards Norman Del Mar, Jeffrey. I don't think you are being unfair at all as you are giving credit where credit is due. I do not have much by him but one album sticks out which includes my favourite recording of Elgar's Serenade.

I am not sure I've ever heard of a general coolness towards Norman Del Mar.  He had a notoriously hard beat to follow but was acknowledged as a fine and thoughtful musician.  The question about his Bax 6 is really an engineering issue.  By the very high standards of Lyrita this disc is easily one of their worst recorded...  Del Mar produced several very well regarded recordings.  Here are a few of my favourites;

opulently recorded in a resonant Guildford Cathedral
he's very good in Delius - but takes a more muscular approach which works well
still the best Mass of Life.  A young Kiri Te Kanawa in a mini skirt caused the gentlemen of the BBCSO a degree of distraction.....
a great recording of Strauss rarities
a famous recording of these works too - the concerto with a very young Robert Cohen and "In the South" recorded in a single take
the best version of this sprawling work
another fine Lyrita disc - better than Hickox.....

and many more....

last interesting fact... Del mar is buried in the same churchyard in Surrey as Delius.....

[Harry]

Biagio Marini.
Per le Musiche di camera
Concerti A quattro 5,6 Voci & instrumenti Opera Settima Gardano, Venezia 1634.

Coro Costanzo Porta & Cremona Antiqua, (On historical instruments) Antonio Greco.

[Todd]

3.  A qualitative step up over 2, which was a step up over 1.

[Maestro267]

It baffles me how Paavo managed to shave some 10 minutes or so off the recording I own of No. 3 (the 50-minute Sinaisky).

[ritter]

3.  A qualitative step up over 2, which was a step up over 1.

My favourite of the four. A delightful, reined in work.

[Christo]

Vaughan Williams, Heroic Elegy & Triumphal Epilogue (1901), discarded together with other juvenalia, but highly enjoyable:

[Harry]

Carlo Gesualdo.
Tenebrae.
CD I.
Graindelavoix, Björn Schmelzer

For me this set is the best that happened to me this year.!

[Iota]

Ockeghem: Missa Mi-Mi


An immensely subtle and beautiful recording.

Was interested to discover that the title comes from the opening E - A descent in the bass voice on which both pitches would have been sung on the 'Mi' syllable (though am sure most here already know this).

[aligreto]

Buxtehude: Sacred Cantatas [Purcell Quartet]





Dixit Dominus Domino meo BuxWV 17
An filius non est Dei BuxWV 6
Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele BuxWV 71

BuxWV 17 is a fine work and Kirkby does it great justice.

Looks very nice Fergus ! 

This is a recent purchase of mine, Jan. I find it to be equally as appealing a presentation as its sister CD, Vol. 1, which I think is also excellent.

[vandermolen]

I am not sure I've ever heard of a general coolness towards Norman Del Mar.  He had a notoriously hard beat to follow but was acknowledged as a fine and thoughtful musician.  The question about his Bax 6 is really an engineering issue.  By the very high standards of Lyrita this disc is easily one of their worst recorded...  Del Mar produced several very well regarded recordings.  Here are a few of my favourites;

opulently recorded in a resonant Guildford Cathedral
he's very good in Delius - but takes a more muscular approach which works well
still the best Mass of Life.  A young Kiri Te Kanawa in a mini skirt caused the gentlemen of the BBCSO a degree of distraction.....
a great recording of Strauss rarities
a famous recording of these works too - the concerto with a very young Robert Cohen and "In the South" recorded in a single take
the best version of this sprawling work
another fine Lyrita disc - better than Hickox.....

and many more....

last interesting fact... Del mar is buried in the same churchyard in Surrey as Delius.....

Interesting RS. Of the CDs that you posted I have the Delius PC one which is indeed excellent and the Rubbra. That is a fine disc although I prefer both Hickox's and in particular Rubbra's own recording of Symphony No.4. However the Del Mar recording on Lyrita gave me much emotional pleasure and was, for many years, the only recording that I knew. I agree about Bax's 6th Symphony on Lyrita. The recording is very 'boxed in' which robs it of some atmosphere. I have the Bantock CD as well but haven't properly listened to it yet. Interesting about Delius and Del Mar being buried in the same graveyard. I'd always assumed that Delius was buried in France.

Now playing
Hilding Rosenberg: Symphony No.6 'Semplice'.
A pity that BIS did not record a complete cycle as they did for Vagn Holmboe:

[vandermolen]

My favourite of the four. A delightful, reined in work.

My favourite as well.

[André]

Listening to the Lukas Foss right now on youtube.

It was my first ever Sibelius lp on the old Nonesuch label. Who could resist those psychedelic LP covers ? 

Update after listening to the whole performance:

As an interpretation it is just perfect. The execution is very good, although one senses the brass are challenged and the strings slightly undernourished. Even if it's on a youtube clip from an lp original, the sound seems very good: wide stereo separation and depth of stage are all one could ask for. Foss is more lucid and clearheaded than Ormandy in Return of Lemminkäinen. If it had been done with a better orchestra it would sweep the board.

[JBS]

2nd listen
[asin]B00000JSAJ[/asin]

[Traverso]

 Sibelius

Finlandia & Karelia Suite

[Todd]

[André]

[bhodges]

This afternoon, an excellent recital by 20-year-old violinist Nathan Meltzer and pianist Jun Cho, livestreamed on a new platform called Dreamstage (https://dreamstage.live/), founded a few months ago by cellist Jan Vogler.

Beethoven: Sonata No. 8
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Sonata in D Minor
Brahms: Sonata No. 3
Ravel: Tzigane

--Bruce

[aligreto]

Varese:





Octandre
Offrandes [This is my first listen to this work.]
Intégrales

[Papy Oli]

Varese:





Octandre
Offrandes [This is my first listen to this work.]
Intégrales

Oh my god what have we done !! 

[pjme]

Good! An iconic Salome - in every way - and I discovered "Sur les rives du Saint -Maurice" on YT. A brillant symphonic poem.
How are the concerti André?

[aligreto]

Oh my god what have we done !! 

A modest success for your recent thread   

[Symphonic Addict]

Symphony No. 11

A stellar recording and interpretation, although the 1st movement was too slow and quiet for my taste, and that goes for the movement itself as well. The next 3 movements are much better. The Tocsin is one of the most thrilling things Shostakovich ever wrote. The tension and drama there are absolutely shattering!

[André]

Good! An iconic Salome - in every way - and I discovered "Sur les rives du Saint -Maurice" on YT. A brillant symphonic poem.
How are the concerti André?

It was my first ever listen to that 'iconic'  Salome. For some reason, criticism (of Nilsson, of Solti, of the engineering, of the third Nazarene etc) always kept me from trying it. I found everything in it first class. I also have a DG video of a Böhm performance and the cd of the Caballé/Leinsorf version. Nilsson/Solti/Decca is superior to both IMO. The only other version I might purchase is an Orange Festival production under Kempe with Rysanek and Vickers as Herod. Having Vickers in this role must be quite the experience  .

The Hétu disc is indeed quite fine. The piano concerto is neo-romantic in style and falls beautifully on the ear. The trombone concerto is the most interesting thing on the disc IMO. It is more adventurous (modern) but entirely approachable. Trudel is a master trombonist. He turned to conducting a few years ago and performs both roles here with equal success.

[Symphonic Addict]

Is there any other work in the form of variations for solo piano of the 19th century that compares with this crowning achievement?

[vers la flamme]

Just finished:



The Spirits of England & France, Vol. 2: Songs of the Trouvères. Christopher Page, Gothic Voices

Amazing disc! Now for something totally different:



Ludwig van Beethoven: Missa Solemnis in D major, op.123. John Eliot Gardiner, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, Monteverdi Choir

This is probably my favorite recording of the work. Maybe I should check out more of Gardiner's Beethoven.

[vers la flamme]

Actually, I think I'm feeling this one a little more:



Ludwig van Beethoven: Meerestille und Glückliche Fahrt, op.112; Mass in C major, op.86. John Eliot Gardiner, Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique, Monteverdi Choir

The first of these is an amazing little work that should be better known. The Mass in C is largely overshadowed by the great Missa in D, but should also probably be better known.

[Daverz]

Zykan: Cello Concerto



The cello is amplfied (?, haven't read the notes) to the level of being very nasty sounding.  You can barely hear what the orchestra is doing.  The sonics are very subpar.   

[Todd]

[Symphonic Addict]

Goldschmidt and Reizenstein's Cello Concertos
Jaakko Kuusisto: Violin Concerto



The Goldschmidt has influences of Second Viennese School and a little of the serial Stravinsky, methinks. A serious work but with certain appeal I must say. The Reizenstein is a meatier work and reminded me of Hindemith, some gestures of him are clearly evident along the notes.

Kyle mentioned the Kuusisto a while ago on another thread, and that was an interesting and welcome suggestion, so thank him for that. Written nine years ago I think it must be one of the most interesting concertos of the 21st century.

[Brian]

Update after listening to the whole performance:

As an interpretation it is just perfect. The execution is very good, although one senses the brass are challenged and the strings slightly undernourished. Even if it's on a youtube clip from an lp original, the sound seems very good: wide stereo separation and depth of stage are all one could ask for. Foss is more lucid and clearheaded than Ormandy in Return of Lemminkäinen. If it had been done with a better orchestra it would sweep the board.

I just listened to this on YouTube also (Foss Lemminkäinen). WOW. That is HOT Sibelius!! Extraordinary. Agree with you entirely. An amazing performance, gutsy and unsentimental and brilliant and finally something as fast as I'd like, also.

[Carlo Gesualdo]

The fall of Constantinople by Capella Romana featuring Dufay among notorious. (bold adventurous record so far first listen  this morning). So far 4/5 stars but my verdict might change.


Now listening currently to an old download The rarest of Gem - discovering the music of Jean Lheritier. it's still well done year after, wow Vox Lucens what an ensemble of choice. 5/5 stars.



Lastly but not least it's been four day I am in pain not sleeping, this rotten back teeth a major issue better solve this whit a dentist parenthesis futile but wort mentioning i am in pain ya don't know, it feel like I have been shoot in the face, yow, I'm not that plaintive of nature but this is a 11 on scale of 10 which mean unbearable pain , that you can't slept on it too much pain even whit genuine prescribe over the counter pain killer  but Christ when this one is getting pull of someday  sooner are later, I will be happy  the future belong to the braves 

Almost forgot the last  listen in my program tonight pain does ain't help my mind to think focus you name it, I'm tired but can sleep even whit prescribe medicines since it hurt, it hurt so much. But I will do the unthinkable finish this post even if I'm cripple by pain, head ache, nevralgic of death of thee hearten, let's continue.. shawl we folks, por favor.

LINN answer to ars subtilior  led by Catherine Bolts, this is remarkable release LINN released are always solid, the Gem of the label of Scottish Label hailing from Glasgow.

To finish all this Single of Jacquet of Mantua inspirational  rendition of Alleluia surrexit dominus vere for wind quartet, direction David Warins Solomons and another single of this vocal, excellent like this composer you don't know.

Gooddnight folk, pray for me ours lord Jesus or Moses anyone to releive my pain  so I can sleep I'm now entering the fourth day whit mild pain killers that don't do anything or almost, need to see my dentist pronto..

[Madiel]

Pulling apart Beethoven op.127 and trying to understand it. My head keeps being in foggy distracted places when I put this on.

[Roasted Swan]

Interesting RS. Of the CDs that you posted I have the Delius PC one which is indeed excellent and the Rubbra. That is a fine disc although I prefer both Hickox's and in particular Rubbra's own recording of Symphony No.4. However the Del Mar recording on Lyrita gave me much emotional pleasure and was, for many years, the only recording that I knew. I agree about Bax's 6th Symphony on Lyrita. The recording is very 'boxed in' which robs it of some atmosphere. I have the Bantock CD as well but haven't properly listened to it yet. Interesting about Delius and Del Mar being buried in the same graveyard. I'd always assumed that Delius was buried in France.

Now playing
Hilding Rosenberg: Symphony No.6 'Semplice'.
A pity that BIS did not record a complete cycle as they did for Vagn Holmboe:

Delius is buried in Limpsfield in Surrey - several other musicians are there as well;

https://www.stpeterslimpsfield.org/churchyard.html

From the church website (its a very beautiful buidling too);

"Amongst the musicians buried in the churchyard are Dr Eileen Joyce, the Australian born pianist, Sir Thomas Beecham the eminent British conductor, Normal Del Mar, another celebrated conductor, Frederick Delius and his wife Jelka. Delius is among the greatest of British composers and was a friend of Beatrice Harrison, who charmed the nightingales and is buried with her musical sisters in the churchyard. Jack Brymer the celebrated clarinettist whose career began when selected by Sir Thomas Beecham for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is the most recent musician to be buried here."

At the time of Delius' death he was buried in France but it was Beecham who was the prime mover to have him reinterred in England.  It caused considerable dispute at the time given that Delius professed no Christian faith and lived his entire adult life away from England...

Re the Rubbra; if you can do hear the Handley recording on BBC Radio Classics - a studio performance in the presence of Rubbra.  It is very fine indeed;

[vandermolen]

Symphony No. 11

A stellar recording and interpretation, although the 1st movement was too slow and quiet for my taste, and that goes for the work itself as well. The next 3 movements are much better. The Tocsin is one of the most thrilling things Shostakovich ever wrote. The tension and drama there are absolutely shattering!

It's a great performance Cesar which I originally owned on a double LP set (with Symphony 6 I think). They both also feature in the excellent Berglund Icon box set.

[Papy Oli]

Good morning all.

unfortunately, some tracks in each work are truncated to 30 secs samples by Qobuz, so only getting a general feel of thee works for now. Might head off to YT to listen further if interest is picked.

[vandermolen]

Delius is buried in Limpsfield in Surrey - several other musicians are there as well;

https://www.stpeterslimpsfield.org/churchyard.html

From the church website (its a very beautiful buidling too);

"Amongst the musicians buried in the churchyard are Dr Eileen Joyce, the Australian born pianist, Sir Thomas Beecham the eminent British conductor, Normal Del Mar, another celebrated conductor, Frederick Delius and his wife Jelka. Delius is among the greatest of British composers and was a friend of Beatrice Harrison, who charmed the nightingales and is buried with her musical sisters in the churchyard. Jack Brymer the celebrated clarinettist whose career began when selected by Sir Thomas Beecham for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is the most recent musician to be buried here."

At the time of Delius' death he was buried in France but it was Beecham who was the prime mover to have him reinterred in England.  It caused considerable dispute at the time given that Delius professed no Christian faith and lived his entire adult life away from England...

Re the Rubbra; if you can do hear the Handley recording on BBC Radio Classics - a studio performance in the presence of Rubbra.  It is very fine indeed;

Thanks RS. That website is most interesting. Extraordinary that Eileen Joyce, Beecham and Jack Brymer are buried there as well. I do have that BBC Radio Classics CD featuring Rubbra's 4th Symphony but haven't heard it for ages and will listen to it again very soon.

[pjme]

It was my first ever listen to that 'iconic'  Salome.....

The Hétu disc is indeed quite fine. The piano concerto is neo-romantic in style and falls beautifully on the ear. The trombone concerto is the most interesting thing on the disc IMO. It is more adventurous (modern) but entirely approachable. Trudel is a master trombonist. He turned to conducting a few years ago and performs both roles here with equal success.

Thanks.

[Christo]

Good morning all.

unfortunately, some tracks in each work are truncated to 30 secs samples by Qobuz, so only getting a general feel of thee works for now. Might head off to YT to listen further if interest is picked.

Paysages franciscains is wonderful, reminding of Respighi.

[amw]

My favourite of the four. A delightful, reined in work.

My personal favourite is still no.2 but I am well established to have terrible taste.



111. My version has a slightly different cover photo, with Mr. Pizarro not staring at me in quite such a creepy way. It's good, but a little rushed, at least in the first movement.

[pjme]

"Paysages franciscains is wonderful, reminding of Respighi."-
Exactly - albeit Respighi in his refined (Fontane) mood.
I like "religious" Pierné aswell. "l'An mil" is " A vast symphonic poem in three parts with a highly-detailed programme, it evokes the terror of the Christian world at the very end of the first millennium, when the prospect of an apocalypse announced in the Holy Scriptures became increasingly oppressive. The choice of this highly symbolic subject had been suggested to him by his friend the painter Luc-Olivier Merson, reputed for his works of mediaeval inspiration." (from the excellent Timpani booklet).
and
"Despite his being neither a fervent churchgoer nor even a devout Catholic, this great success—the work was awarded the Monbinne Prize shortly thereafter — would encourage him to continue in the path of religiosity, resulting in three large frescoes: La Croisade des enfants (1905), Les Enfants à Bethléem (1907) and Saint-François d'Assise (1912)."
La croisade gets very occasionally a performance in the Netherlands and Germany. I attended a performance in Utrecht ca. 40 years ago... Les enfants à Betléem  has a good Erato recording and saint François ( conducted by jean Fournet)can be heard on YT.
I love the use of folksongs or folksong-like melodies, Gregorian chant and ,IMO, splendid orchestration.

[vers la flamme]

Claudio Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine. Martin Pearlman, Boston Baroque

Wow. What a jubilant performance. Pearlman makes this masterpiece of very early Baroque sacred music sound 150 years ahead of its time, evoking Handel and Vivaldi. Sounds amazing in my book.

[Madiel]

Op.127. I'm getting it now.

[Irons]

I am not sure I've ever heard of a general coolness towards Norman Del Mar.  He had a notoriously hard beat to follow but was acknowledged as a fine and thoughtful musician.  The question about his Bax 6 is really an engineering issue.  By the very high standards of Lyrita this disc is easily one of their worst recorded...  Del Mar produced several very well regarded recordings.  Here are a few of my favourites;

opulently recorded in a resonant Guildford Cathedral
he's very good in Delius - but takes a more muscular approach which works well
still the best Mass of Life.  A young Kiri Te Kanawa in a mini skirt caused the gentlemen of the BBCSO a degree of distraction.....
a great recording of Strauss rarities
a famous recording of these works too - the concerto with a very young Robert Cohen and "In the South" recorded in a single take
the best version of this sprawling work
another fine Lyrita disc - better than Hickox.....

and many more....

last interesting fact... Del mar is buried in the same churchyard in Surrey as Delius.....

Another (interesting fact)... Del Mar will probably be best remembered for his writings on the conductor's art and his three volume book on Richard Strauss.

[vers la flamme]

Morton Feldman: Two Pianos; Four Instruments; Vertical Thoughts 1. John Tilbury & Philip Thomas; plus Anton Lukoszevieze, Mira Benjamin & Rodrigo Constanzo for the Four Instruments

A great, great disc. One of my best purchases of this year.

[Maestro267]

Glazunov: Symphony No. 2
Russian State SO/Polyansky

[Madiel]

SQ No.12

[Que]

Earlier this morning:




Now:



Q

[Traverso]

Mozart

Overture  Cosi fan tutte
Symphony No.25
Adagio and Fugue K546
Symphony No.29
Symphony No.31

[Todd]

[Harry]

Carlo Gesualdo.
Tenebrae-CD II
Graindelavoix, Björn Schmelzer.

[T. D.]

[Traverso]

Dufay

[vandermolen]

Vaughan Williams 'Romanza'
This is the beautiful central movement of the Tuba Concerto (1954) rearranged for Cello by VW.
Thanks to Christo for alerting me to the existence of this CD:


Earlier today: Mortensen Symphony No.1
I was very pleased to hear this finally.
It reminded me rather of William Wordsworth's fine Second Symphony.
The third movement also had moments seemingly influenced by the music of his teacher Klaus Egge, whose First Symphony remains my favourite Norwegiam symphony. I look forward to hearing the Mortensen again:

[Maestro267]

Penderecki: Symphony No. 7 ("Seven Gates of Jerusalem")
Soloists, Warsaw Philharmonic Choir
Warsaw PO/Wit

[vandermolen]

Britten: Four Sea Interludes
This nice sea-themed CD added my favourite Stanford Irish Rhapsody to the original Chandos CD release:

[Todd]

[André]

Very clever programming. Interest is sustained throughout. Outstanding playing from Frühwirth. The purity of tone in some high lying harmonics is mesmerizing.

[Traverso]

The Art of Courtly Love

CD1

[vandermolen]

Honegger: Horace Victorieux

[Pohjolas Daughter]

It was my first ever listen to that 'iconic'  Salome. For some reason, criticism (of Nilsson, of Solti, of the engineering, of the third Nazarene etc) always kept me from trying it. I found everything in it first class. I also have a DG video of a Böhm performance and the cd of the Caballé/Leinsorf version. Nilsson/Solti/Decca is superior to both IMO. The only other version I might purchase is an Orange Festival production under Kempe with Rysanek and Vickers as Herod. Having Vickers in this role must be quite the experience  .

The Hétu disc is indeed quite fine. The piano concerto is neo-romantic in style and falls beautifully on the ear. The trombone concerto is the most interesting thing on the disc IMO. It is more adventurous (modern) but entirely approachable. Trudel is a master trombonist. He turned to conducting a few years ago and performs both roles here with equal success.

Have you ever heard her excerpts before André?  A favorite of mine.   

[kyjo]

I think that No.5 (especially in Leppard's recording) is the greatest and most cogent of them all. I've always liked No.4 from the days of Handley's Guidford PO LP taken out of my local record library. As with Shostakovich's 12th Symphony it is generally considered the weakest of the cycle and yet I really like it. I much prefer it, for example, to No.6 which is considered by many to be the greatest.

My order of preference for Bax symphonies are: 5,3,4,7,2,1,6

The 6th is still your least favorite? You've gotta give it another chance!

My preferred Bax symphonies at the moment are 1, 3, and 6. The others all have their great moments, but I find these three to be most consistently great.

[kyjo]

Tavener - The Protecting Veil

The spiritual intensity this work expresses is just heart-wrenching. A marvelous creation.

+1 I wonder if any other of Tavener's works are as good. I'm not very familiar with his output.

[kyjo]

Jaakko Kuusisto: Violin Concerto



Kyle mentioned the Kuusisto a while ago on another thread, and that was an interesting and welcome suggestion, so thank him for that. Written nine years ago I think it must be one of the most interesting concertos of the 21st century.

Glad you enjoyed it!

[kyjo]

My personal favourite is still no.2 but I am well established to have terrible taste.

Schmidt's is one symphonic cycle I have relatively no trouble in ranking my order of preference: 4, 2, 3, 1

[Todd]

[Traverso]

Machaut


Les Motets

CD1

[Iota]

Beauty Farm really living up to their name. These are transfixing. 

[Roasted Swan]

Britten: Four Sea Interludes
This nice sea-themed CD added my favourite Stanford Irish Rhapsody to the original Chandos CD release:

That's a cracking disc in vintage Chandos/Ulster Hall sound.  The last great surge of "The Sea" gets me every time - both in this version and the unforgettable Charles Groves recording from Liverpool.  You can understand why the work made such an impression on the young Britten and led him to ask Bridge to teach and mentor him.

[Daverz]

Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 - Savall



Wonderful.  Yes, the timpani is very prominent, but sounds great.  (Amazon ASIN tage seems to be no longer working.)

[Symphonic Addict]

It's a great performance Cesar which I originally owned on a double LP set (with Symphony 6 I think). They both also feature in the excellent Berglund Icon box set.

Very good, Jeffrey. I agree it's a powerful performance.

[Symphonic Addict]

+1 I wonder if any other of Tavener's works are as good. I'm not very familiar with his output.

Me either. So far it's the only work I know of him.

[Madiel]

Mozart (arr.), Piano Concerto No.4

[Daverz]

Kenins (not going to try to produce the proper Lativan spelling)



The music is neo-Classical/neo-Romantic, very weil constructed, engaging and distinctive.  Kenins was born in Latvia in 1919, but lived in Canada from 1951 until his death in 2008.

[JBS]

Another set I haven't listened to in a while
At the monent, the Second

[Symphonic Addict]

Another set I haven't listened to in a while
At the monent, the Second

An underrated symphony. The slow movement is sublime.

[Symphonic Addict]

Symphonies 1 & 2

These are pretty decent symphonies by the Spanish composer Andrés Gaos (1874-1959). The 1st is in a Franckian style, whereas the 2nd En las Montañas de Galicia has a folksy nature, mostly in the 1st movement. Enjoyable enough but not great.




Orpheus in Town

An imaginative and curious ballet that involves the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice but in Stockholm! It exceeded my expectations. Rosenberg at his most ludicrous.

[André]

Have you ever heard her excerpts before André?  A favorite of mine.   

Yes, I do - except it's not in this particular release. I also very much like Nilsson's live gala performance of the final scene from the Met 1977 with Böhm conducting. Thrilling beyond words.

[vers la flamme]

Heinz Holliger: Lieder ohne Worte II. Thomas Zehetmair, Thomas Larcher

An amazing work! I have Holliger's Scardanelli-Zyklus on ECM en route to me. So excited to check it out.

[Daverz]

SIR Richard Rodney Bennet



Chandos has pulled out all the stops for Sir Richard.  Performances are excellent and sonics are fantastic.  Too bad your music sucks is tedious, Sir Richard.

[T. D.]

SIR Richard Rodney Bennet



Chandos has pulled out all the stops for Sir Richard.  Performances are excellent and sonics are fantastic.  Too bad your music sucks is tedious, Sir Richard.

I once attended a performance of his opera The Mines of Sulphur and thought it was pretty good. But that's the only Bennett music I've knowingly heard (well, probably some film or TV music, but that never registered).

[Symphonic Addict]

Two good works, but I think I was hooked by the VC the best. There is more 'Mexican' flavour on it and a sense of mystery mixed with seriousness rather appealing.

[Daverz]

I once attended a performance of his opera The Mines of Sulphur and thought it was pretty good. But that's the only Bennett music I've knowingly heard (well, probably some film or TV music, but that never registered).

I've sampled extensively from all 4 volumes on Chandos and can't say that I derived pleasure or diversion from anything I heard.  He writes in a post-Bergian idiom for the most part.  I don't dislike that style, I enjoy George Perle's music for example.

[T. D.]

I've sampled extensively from all 4 volumes on Chandos and can't say that I derived pleasure or diversion from anything I heard.  He writes in a post-Bergian idiom for the most part.  I don't dislike that style, I enjoy George Perle's music for example.

"Post-Bergian" is pretty much what I recall. While I liked the opera, I never sought out other recordings and will probably leave it that way.
Now playing:

[Madiel]

Mendelssohn, Cello Sonata No.2

[amw]

Another 111. I like Koroliov quite a lot here—was not enthusiastic about his Hammerklavier but glad I held out for this one.

[Madiel]

Mozart, Symphonies 43 and 6.

[Que]

Morning listening:



Q

[vandermolen]

Bax: Three Northern Ballads

The First Northern Ballad with its strong 'legendary' atmosphere has always been a favourite of mine since that old Boult Lyrita LP. For decades it was the only recording which surprised me. It gets a fine performance here as well. This enjoyable collection, together with Volume 1, compliments Handley's Chandos set of the symphonies (which includes Tintagel as well).

[springrite]

Schmidt's is one symphonic cycle I have relatively no trouble in ranking my order of preference: 4, 2, 3, 1

2 and 4 on my listening list for today!!!

[Biffo]

Britten: Four Sea Interludes
This nice sea-themed CD added my favourite Stanford Irish Rhapsody to the original Chandos CD release:

This Chandos album seems to have been through more than one incarnation. I have it but minus the Stanford - same orchestra and conductor.

Edit: Sorry! Just read your post again but properly this time.

Second edit: This prompted me to listen to Tintagel - Elder/Halle (some logic there I am sure).

[pjme]

and this

https://www.youtube.com/v/TfQJZ76WR0U
Paris 2019 : unexpected, great & beautiful.

[Madiel]

Grieg, Sigurd Jorsalfar

[Harry]

Johann Ludwig Krebs.
Complete Works for Organ.
Volume II.
Felix Friedrich plays on the Silbermann Organ in Ponitz.

To my ears still the best set on the market, Friedrich has no competition. The sound engineering is State of the Art.

[Harry]

New acquisition, first listen.

Hubert Clifford.
Orchestral music.
BBC Concert Orchestra, Ronald Corp

A versatile composer, he can set his hands at anything and make a success out of it. And so it is with his music, lightweight by all means, but expertly done. A fine orchestrator, and a magician with melodies and harmonies. Was especially taken with the Cowes Suite, Dargo: A Mountain Rhapsody, A Pageant of Youth, and the gorgeous Voyage at Dusk. Sublime sound and performance.

[Papy Oli]

As our Karl would say: "Nice !" 

[Papy Oli]

Again :

[Traverso]

As our Karl would say: "Nice !" 

+1

[Traverso]

Beethoven

Choral Fantasy

[Maestro267]

Schnittke: Symphony No. 6
BBC NOW/Otaka

Bruckner: Symphony No. 9
Berlin PO/Karajan

[pjme]

Again :

I joined in with "l'An mil'.
Many moons ago I discovered this work through a Dutch radio performance, led by Jean Fournet. Jacques Mercier is excellent of course.
I enjoy being submerged by this colorful and evocative music- reminiscent perhaps of sentimental "images d'Epinal', the Doré Bible and my own (very pious) childhood memories of church services shrouded in clouds of incense.
Until the 1950s artists could depict heaven and hell with a good dose of pompous splendor...helped by Bach, Haendel, Gounod and Massenet. Pierné ticks all the boxes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89pinal_print
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustave_Dor%C3%A9%27s_illustrations_for_La_Grande_Bible_de_Tours

[Biffo]

Purcell: Dioclesian - Soloists, Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists directed by John Eliot Gardiner

[Todd]

[Madiel]

Pejacevic, piano quartet. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[kyjo]

Earlier today: Mortensen Symphony No.1
I was very pleased to hear this finally.
It reminded me rather of William Wordsworth's fine Second Symphony.
The third movement also had moments seemingly influenced by the music of his teacher Klaus Egge, whose First Symphony remains my favourite Norwegiam symphony. I look forward to hearing the Mortensen again:

I enjoy the Mortensen quite a bit more than the Wordsworth (I do like Wordsworth's 4th symphony though.)

[kyjo]

An underrated symphony. The slow movement is sublime.

+1 and Sanderling's recordings are great. Some have commented that his tempi are too slow but I find they lend Magnard's music an appropriate gravitas without sacrificing forward motion.

[kyjo]

Symphonies 1 & 2

These are pretty decent symphonies by the Spanish composer Andrés Gaos (1874-1959). The 1st is in a Franckian style, whereas the 2nd En las Montañas de Galicia has a folksy nature, mostly in the 1st movement. Enjoyable enough but not great.

The 2nd symphony is quite enjoyable with catchy tunes and some beautiful harmonies in the slow movement, although it lacks symphonic "meatiness" and is therefore more like a suite. The 1st symphony didn't sound too promising from what I sampled.

[vandermolen]

The 6th is still your least favorite? You've gotta give it another chance!

My preferred Bax symphonies at the moment are 1, 3, and 6. The others all have their great moments, but I find these three to be most consistently great.

Actually I like all the Bax symphonies Kyle. I like the Lloyd-Jones recording of No.6. It occurred to me that I need to listen to the Handley Chandos Bax box.

[Que]

Q

[vandermolen]

New acquisition, first listen.

Hubert Clifford.
Orchestral music.
BBC Concert Orchestra, Ronald Corp

A versatile composer, he can set his hands at anything and make a success out of it. And so it is with his music, lightweight by all means, but expertly done. A fine orchestrator, and a magician with melodies and harmonies. Was especially taken with the Cowes Suite, Dargo: A Mountain Rhapsody, A Pageant of Youth, and the gorgeous Voyage at Dusk. Sublime sound and performance.

On my list! I love 'Symphony 1940' so need to hear this disc as well. Thanks for the review Harry.

[kyjo]

Grieg, Sigurd Jorsalfar

I'll have to listen to the complete work at some point. I've always loved the stirring Homage March.

[vandermolen]

Kenins (not going to try to produce the proper Lativan spelling)



The music is neo-Classical/neo-Romantic, very weil constructed, engaging and distinctive.  Kenins was born in Latvia in 1919, but lived in Canada from 1951 until his death in 2008.

Oh, looks interesting. Does the music remind you of any other composers?

[vandermolen]

That's a cracking disc in vintage Chandos/Ulster Hall sound.  The last great surge of "The Sea" gets me every time - both in this version and the unforgettable Charles Groves recording from Liverpool.  You can understand why the work made such an impression on the young Britten and led him to ask Bridge to teach and mentor him.

Absolutely - it's a great disc and I like all four works from different composers. The Stanford is a generous addition to the original CD release. Bax's 'On the Seashore' was a fine discovery for me and the Britten and Bridge get great performances. I was reading through that book of Letters from British Composers/Musicians up to 1945 and was interested to read how negative Britten was about Vaughan Williams's music.

[Carlo Gesualdo]

Johannes Ockeghem: Les Chansons on Musique En Wallonie, ensemble Cut Circle whit Jesse Rodin* direction.
[/font

This a splendid and superb collection of Johannes Ockeghem's Chansons 20 track, one is Josquin Des Prez the very classic: Nymphes des bois/requiem, the ensemble is small since smaller clearer sometime small ensemble give a better result for this genre & Motets.

So this ensemble is beside first mention Director:

*Jesse Rodin- direction
Sonja Dutoit Tengblad- soprano 1#
Claire McNamara- soprano 2#
Jonas Budris-  tenor 1#
Lawrence Jones- tenor 2#
Bradford Gleim- vagans
Paul Max Tipton- bassus

THE song here are quintessence of excellence, whit is best songs there is Ma Maitresse I.e very good selection of songs like said, shown here My bet this release of 2020 is not a deceiver, perhaps on of the highlight of the year in Ockeghem Release and perhaps the best collection of song in these two luxury CD, I love it and subject it to you good folks of Good Music Guide= GmG this is a keeper,  I gave it 5/5 stars, because it does  ain't get better than this and  my approbation seal of proof a golden deprofundis laurel price for this awesome release of the year 2020(one of the ten of them now and to come as a price or remarkable offering of the year 2020 (brand new).


Buy it if you like Ockeghem, if your a noob in renaissance this is the best entry or an advanced in this particular genre than my friend(s) go for it, whit a blindfold, you won't be deceived, Have a nice day folks and take care, were ever you are.

[Harry]

New acquisition, first listen.

Arnold Bax.
Orchestral works.

BBC Philharmonic, Andrew Davis.
Philip Dukes, Viola.

Andrew Davis took me by surprise with his excellent interpretation, which I consider truly Baxian. The amount of details he gets out of the Four Orchestral Pieces is amazing, as well as the spiritual intensity that accompanies every single note. Davis finds it all. The orchestra reacts favourably to his conducting. The Phantasy for Viola and Orchestra, has the huge advantage of Philip Dukes, who is a very sensitive Viola player, for I never heard it so clearly as with the magic Dukes is producing. A velvet tone, deeply moving in its expression. Really outstanding. The overture dedicated to Goossens is a true statement of respect from Bax towards this extraordinary fine composer, and I am sure Goossens must have loved it, well I did.
The sound is up to Chandos standards, detailed and rich in tone. Well worth perusing.

[Papy Oli]

[Mandryka]

https://www.youtube.com/v/TfQJZ76WR0U
Paris 2019 : unexpected, great & beautiful.

Good find

[Harry]

New acquisition, first listen.

Hat tip to Jeffrey who introduced me to Lepo Sumera.

Lepo Sumera.
Symphonies No.1-3.
Malmö SO, Paavo Järvi.

The first impression is pure magic, almost disbelieving my ears, when the soothing tones emerge from out of utter silence. This magic is part and parcel of Sumera's music, and is ever present. A magical garden full of surprises that finds a huge receptor in me. I suck it up like a dry sponge, and cannot get enough of it. For me this music is all about discovery, from a composer that had a lot to say in an unique tonal language, akin to my mind and musical senses. Every symphony is a great work of art, every movement adorned with a unobtrusive brilliancy, that lights up an entire universe.
The last movement of the Third symphony summed up the epicentre of his being, the gorgeous Larghetto, quasi senza metrum, it made a huge impression on me, and had a very emotional impact. I am grateful for this guy's being, and extremely grateful that he inhabited this earth for at least 50 years, to give us his Alpha and Omega.
The performance and sound are exemplary.

[JBS]

and this

https://www.youtube.com/v/TfQJZ76WR0U
Paris 2019 : unexpected, great & beautiful.

Indeed!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

That's a cracking disc in vintage Chandos/Ulster Hall sound.  The last great surge of "The Sea" gets me every time - both in this version and the unforgettable Charles Groves recording from Liverpool.  You can understand why the work made such an impression on the young Britten and led him to ask Bridge to teach and mentor him.

I'd be interested to hear the Stanford work..will check around on yt.  I have a Chandos disc which might be the one that you were thinking of?  It has Britten's Four Sea Interludes & Passacaglia, Bridge's The Sea and Bax's On the Sea Shore.  I was lucky and found it at a church sale for something like 50 cents?    I do love Britten's works in particular; very powerful.

PD

[ritter]

Hope you're enjoying the Ramunthcho suites, Olivier.

TD:

First listen to this new arrival (joining the GMG Pierné Festival  )


I already had volume 1 of this series in my collection. Let's see what volume 2 has to offer...

[vandermolen]

New acquisition, first listen.

Hat tip to Jeffrey who introduced me to Lepo Sumera.

Lepo Sumera.
Symphonies No.1-3.
Malmö SO, Paavo Järvi.

The first impression is pure magic, almost disbelieving my ears, when the soothing tones emerge from out of utter silence. This magic is part and parcel of Sumera's music, and is ever present. A magical garden full of surprises that finds a huge receptor in me. I suck it up like a dry sponge, and cannot get enough of it. For me this music is all about discovery, from a composer that had a lot to say in an unique tonal language, akin to my mind and musical senses. Every symphony is a great work of art, every movement adorned with a unobtrusive brilliancy, that lights up an entire universe.
The last movement of the Third symphony summed up the epicentre of his being, the gorgeous Larghetto, quasi senza metrum, it made a huge impression on me, and had a very emotional impact. I am grateful for this guy's being, and extremely grateful that he inhabited this earth for at least 50 years, to give us his Alpha and Omega.
The performance and sound are exemplary.

I'm so glad that this made such a hit with you Harry! When it first came out I became quite obsessed with Symphony No.2, playing it over and over again. I still love it. I need to return to the other symphonies.

Now playing:

Rosenberg: 'Orpheus in Town' which has a marvellously inspiriting, jazzy opening and is great fun. Symphony No.3 is IMO Rosenberg's masterpiece. An interesting and unusual release:

[vandermolen]

I'd be interested to hear the Stanford work..will check around on yt.  I have a Chandos disc which might be the one that you were thinking of?  It has Brittenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOrkiLpqKWI's Four Sea Interludes & Passacaglia, Bridge's The Sea and Bax's On the Sea Shore.  I was lucky and found it at a church sale for something like 50 cents?    I do love Britten's works in particular; very powerful.

PD

Yes, that's the one PD. The Stanford was an added bonus when the CD was reissued at budget price - it makes a great programme (or program as you would say  )

Here's the Stanford work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOrkiLpqKWI
Different recording (LPO/Boult)

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Yes, that's the one PD. The Stanford was an added bonus when the CD was reissued at budget price - it makes a great programme (or program as you would say  )

Thanks!  Is the Stanford also with Handley and Ulster?

PD

[vandermolen]

Thanks!  Is the Stanford also with Handley and Ulster?

PD

Yes, I've just added Boult's performance to my message above.

Here are the Chandos CD releases:
[/img]

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Thanks for the link.  I'll listen to it a bit later. 

PD

[Papy Oli]

Hope you're enjoying the Ramunthcho suites, Olivier.

TD:

First listen to this new arrival (joining the GMG Pierné Festival  )


I already had volume 1 of this series in my collection. Let's see what volume 2 has to offer...

Not very much Rafael, sadly  (see the French thread).

That Volume 2 is in the listening queue for me too.

[vandermolen]

Thanks for the link.  I'll listen to it a bit later. 

PD

My pleasure 

[Irons]

Bax: Three Northern Ballads

The First Northern Ballad with its strong 'legendary' atmosphere has always been a favourite of mine since that old Boult Lyrita LP. For decades it was the only recording which surprised me. It gets a fine performance here as well. This enjoyable collection, together with Volume 1, compliments Handley's Chandos set of the symphonies (which includes Tintagel as well).

Very good, Jeffrey. I must get hold of the first volume.

[vandermolen]

Very good, Jeffrey. I must get hold of the first volume.

It features 'November Woods', 'In the Faery Hills', 'The Garden of Fand' and 'Sinfonietta' Lol.

[Maestro267]

Stockhausen: Gruppen
Berlin PO/Goldmann, Abbado, Creed (conductors)

Varèse: Amériques
Orchestre National de France/Nagano

[Irons]

Elgar: Falstaff.



Boult is the man for Elgar but not here. A nuanced reading from Barbirolli is the finest recording of currently my favourite Elgar work.

[Irons]

It features 'November Woods', 'In the Faery Hills', 'The Garden of Fand' and 'Sinfonietta' Lol.

Two of my favourite works plus one I have not heard. As our American friends would say "a no brainer".

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Yes, I do - except it's not in this particular release. I also very much like Nilsson's live gala performance of the final scene from the Met 1977 with Böhm conducting. Thrilling beyond words.

I'll have to see if I can find that on yt.  I don't recall ever seeing it before.

PD

p.s.  I also have it in this [gruesome-looking] incarnation.  The elegant one that I posted earlier was a gift from a very sweet and generous friend across the pond. 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Yes, I've just added Boult's performance to my message above.

Here are the Chandos CD releases:
[/img]

Thanks for that link; I enjoyed the Stanford piece!

PD

[Traverso]

The Art of Courtly Love

CD2

[Traverso]

Good find

I thought that you didn't like Rameau   

[Papy Oli]

Taking a break from Pierné with a first proper listen to Madetoja. Sampling it briefly a few weeks back, that seemed quite interesting

Symphony No.1.

[Florestan]

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Yes, I do - except it's not in this particular release. I also very much like Nilsson's live gala performance of the final scene from the Met 1977 with Böhm conducting. Thrilling beyond words.

Ah!  The 1977 date threw me.  I think that you were referring to the gala honoring Sir Rudolf Bing?  If so, I have it:


PD

p.s.  And, yes, she's excellent in it! 

[Mandryka]

I thought that you didn't like Rameau   

I don't. He's too baroque for me.  I was trying not to listen to the music and just watch the dancing.

[springrite]

I don't. He's too baroque for me.  I was trying not to listen to the music and just watch the dancing.

Hope you like mime.

[Traverso]

Hope you like mime.

[André]

Ah!  The 1977 date threw me.  I think that you were referring to the gala honoring Sir Rudolf Bing?  If so, I have it:


PD

p.s.  And, yes, she's excellent in it! 

Yes, that's the one ! You're right about the date, of course: 1972, not 1977 !

[vandermolen]

Taking a break from Pierné with a first proper listen to Madetoja. Sampling it briefly a few weeks back, that seemed quite interesting

Symphony No.1.

Great, although Symphony No.2 is my favourite.
TD
Vaughan Williams: the craggy 'Fantasia on the Old 104th'
This work was coupled with Boult's recording of Symphony No.9 in the VW symphonies boxed set acquired when I was 17 and thus has a special appeal to me. I'm not sure that it has been recorded since.

[vandermolen]

Bax: Nympholept
A work that I like very much.
This is a fine performance but the opening is taken rather faster than in Thomson's recording, which has a more dreamy atmosphere, and it remains my preferred version:

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Yes, that's the one ! You're right about the date, of course: 1972, not 1977 !

André,

Have you read either of the two books that he wrote?  They're fun and interesting reading.

PD

[listener]

Organ music by Zoltan KODÁLY
Prelude on Pange lingua, Organ Mass, 9 Epigrams )arr. Gabor Trajtler from pieces for solo voice or instrument and piano=
Hans Fagius, 1964 Grönlund Organ of Engelbrekt Church, Stockholm
Cristóbal HALFFTER   
works for instrumental ensemble including a saxophone quartet   

[Symphonic Addict]

An impressive work for soloists, chorus, children chorus, organ and orchestra. Moments of ecstasy, meditation and anger are felt through this splendid piece.




Two delicious works full of charm. These Toccata releases of Moszkowski have been quite rewarding till now.

[André]

André,

Have you read either of the two books that he wrote?  They're fun and interesting reading.

PD

No, I don't, although I know them from reviews. About Nilsson he is said to have remarked «Nilsson is not difficult. You put enough money in, and a glorious voice comes out ». I've read Nilsson's autobiography though and that, too is fun and interesting. One of her quips: « Isolde made me famous. Turandot made me rich ».

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Organ music by Zoltan KODÁLY
Prelude on Pange lingua, Organ Mass, 9 Epigrams )arr. Gabor Trajtler from pieces for solo voice or instrument and piano=
Hans Fagius, 1964 Grönlund Organ of Engelbrekt Church, Stockholm
Cristóbal HALFFTER   
works for instrumental ensemble including a saxophone quartet

I hadn't realized that Kodaly had written organ music before.  How did you like it?

No, I don't, although I know them from reviews. About Nilsson he is said to have remarked «Nilsson is not difficult. You put enough money in, and a glorious voice comes out ». I've read Nilsson's autobiography though and that, too is fun and interesting. One of her quips: « Isolde made me famous. Turandot made me rich ».

Yes, I've heard that quote before.  Hadn't heard the Nilsson one though.

I found both of them used for modest amounts.  His autobiography/memoirs was quite interesting:  his interests and talents, surviving through wars, how he found work, etc. (It's been quite a while since I've read them)....oh, my!  I just looked at Wiki and read about his final years.  Quite shocking and sad....truly.

PD

[JBS]

Second listen


Myaskovsky String Quartets performed by the Taneyev Quartet.

Second listen to this set, but not in chronological order. At the moment SQs 1-3.

Perhaps the composer was responding to pressure from ideologues and censors, but his quartets are a sort of backwards journey through the genre's history.  The earlier quartets sound 20th century and in line with the era in which they were written; the middle quartets are 19th century Brahms/Schumann/middle period Beethoven, and the final quartets have a Haydnesque atmosphere (but neo-classical would not be a good label).

I do like everything I've heard.

[Symphonic Addict]

String Sextet in A major

So long since my last listen. What a display of beauty and gorgeous tunes. A really lovely work.

[André]

Quartets 1, 3 and 4. There are 10 early quartets not included in this set. They are unnumbered and unperformed to this date. No 1 was written when Holmboe was already 40. Considering these two facts it shouldn't come as a surprise that already in the 1st work we find an experienced string quartet writing and mature musical language. According to the notes Haydn and Bartok were the composer's model. I don't find much influence from Haydn (his humour and sense of surprise for example), although that of Bartok is often discernible.

[JBS]

This landed today
[asin]B07Q8Q6WVN[/asin]

The first 7 CDs of the set are devoted to the Clavierubungen in (more or less) order.
[The GVs are presented twice, once in a live recording from 1985, the other a studio recording from 1988.]

CD 1 Partitas 1, 5, 6

[Madiel]

Naive Vivaldi... up to the first of the bassoon concerto albums. It's apparent within a couple of tracks that there's some very nice playing.



EDIT: And track 4 is a scorcher.

[Symphonic Addict]

Romeo and Juliet: The composer's spark shines in this suite portraying several scenes of the famous tragedy. Very entertaining.




Suite veneziano: This composer is hit and miss IMO, but to be honest by judging this piece I would say he's more miss. Dull, too generic.




Piano Concerto No. 4 (for the left hand): Revisiting this work. Hardly one of his most famous pieces. The slow movement is that somber and, at once, lyrical Prokofiev I like so much. No one sounds like him.

[vandermolen]

Romeo and Juliet: The composer's spark shines in this suite portraying several scenes of the famous tragedy. Very entertaining.




Suite veneziano: This composer is hit and miss IMO, but to be honest by judging this piece I would say he's more miss. Dull, too generic.




Piano Concerto No. 4 (for the left hand): Revisiting this work. Hardly one of his most famous pieces. The slow movement is that somber and, at once, lyrical Prokofiev I like so much. No one sounds like him.

I think that Kabalevsky is an underrated composer. Particular favourites are symphonies 1 and 4, the First Piano Concerto, the Cello Concerto No.2 and the string quartets.

[Que]

My morning listening:



Q

[vandermolen]

Morning listening
Marsyas Concert Suite by Alphons Diepenbrock (1862-1921)
Thanks to Christo for this poetic and atmospheric discovery:

[vandermolen]

Glazunov Symphony 5/The Seasons

There has been some criticism of the Serebrier cycle here but I thought that Symphony No.5 was excellent and 'The Seasons' as heart-warming as any other performance that I have heard.

[Papy Oli]

Good morning all 

More Pierné. Songs and Melodies this morning.

[Florestan]

I liked the first two more than the Sixth. The former are quite fresh and natural-sounding, the latter sounded rather contrived and academic to my ears.



Disc 1.

My first impression is that Jones' way with the music is harsh and unsentimental --- exactly the wrong approach to Guastavino. Must listen again.

[aligreto]

Handel: Messiah [Koopman]





I find the feel of this interpretation to be more contemplative and devotional than joyful and celebratory. It is not a bad performance but it can be quite pedantic and pedestrian in places. It lacks a spark of vitality for me. I find it to be a gentle presentation, and somewhat understated.

[Papy Oli]

Closing the Pierné loop by revisting this one.

[Madiel]

Schumann op.142 - his last song opus, though the songs are all offcuts from the prodigious 'year of song' in 1840.



And so I've finally listened to everything in this consistently excellent set. In just 38 months...

[Papy Oli]

[Madiel]

Dvorak, Miniatures for 2 violins and viola.



Written because the Terzetto for the same ensemble was too hard for one of the original players! But there's certainly nothing simplistic sounding about the music.

[aligreto]

Nielsen: Symphony No. 6 [Schmidt]





This is such a wonderful version of this work, for me. It is dark and full of passion, tension and inherent power.

[aligreto]

I have that CD and I like it.
However, I would not have thought that it would be your cup of tea.

[Madiel]

Debussy, 2 dances for harp and orchestra

[Papy Oli]

I have that CD and I like it.
However, I would not have thought that it would be your cup of tea.

Hi Fergus,
Funnily enough, this CD is probably among the first 15-20 classical CD I ever bought. I purchased it in HMV solely because of the name of Notre Dame on the cover, no idea what the music and had never heard of Leonin or Perotin before either (As the ongoing project shows, it turns out to be quite a long list of French names in that case too !!  ).  I probably listened to it 3 or 4 times only. it was time to remedy to that.

More generally, I had a fair stretch discovering choral and mass music some years back, accumulating a bit along the way, so I can dabble as and when: - this one, full Tallis works, full Victoria Works, Secret Labyrinth, HM Sacred Music, Leidse Koorboeken and then the odd CD's with Palestrina, Bingen,  Allegri, Byrd, Desprez, Dufay, Monteverdi, Lasso, Gesualdo, Obrecht, Ockeghem, Richafort, Schütz, Vaet, etc).

That said, that particular genre has fallen out of favour with me in the last 2-3 years but it has been quite a pleasant surprise today to (re)discover that Leonin/Perotin again with fresh ears.

[pjme]

Closing the Pierné loop by revisting this one.

I have photographs of the Cydalise (in her costume as "La sultane des Indes") and Styrax of the world premiere performance in 1923.

[Harry]

Glazunov Symphony 5/The Seasons

There has been some criticism of the Serebrier cycle here but I thought that Symphony No.5 was excellent and 'The Seasons' as heart-warming as any other performance that I have heard.

This complete set is one of the best sets I know, together with the Neeme Jarvi's take on Orfeo.

[Papy Oli]

I have photographs of the Cydalise (in her costume as "La sultane de Indes") and Styrax of the world premiere performance in 1923.

Interesting thank you (would you mind adding them in the French thread too please?  )

TD: a short jump back to Varèse's Arcana, a performance recommended by Fergus at the time :

https://www.youtube.com/v/Bg3-Sdn4PPg

[aligreto]

Interesting thank you (would you mind adding them in the French thread too please?  )

TD: a short jump back to Varèse's Arcana, a performance recommended by Fergus at the time :

https://www.youtube.com/v/Bg3-Sdn4PPg

I will be interested to read how you got on with that one, Olivier.

[vandermolen]

This complete set is one of the best sets I know, together with the Neeme Jarvi's take on Orfeo.

Good to know. Now playing - Symphony No.3 which is one of my favourites along with 1,2,7,8 and the fragment of No.9

[Todd]

[Papy Oli]

I will be interested to read how you got on with that one, Olivier.

I am of the opinion that the applause at the beginning had the right balance of politeness and subtlety and that the applause at the end was the most welcome melodious coda, despite a couple of Bravo! rudely interrupting the flow of things  0:)

For the section in the middle, it still doesn't talk to me I'm afraid

[Papy Oli]

Following a mention from Roasted Swan 2-3 days back:

[vandermolen]

Elisabetta Brusa (b.1954)
'Merlin' - Symphonic Poem (2004)
A powerful, brooding, approachably tonal and memorable work - as appropriate for the great magician!:

[Harry]

Elisabetta Brusa (b.1954)
'Merlin' - Symphonic Poem (2004)
A powerful, brooding, approachably tonal and memorable work - as appropriate for the great magician!:

I am a great fan of Elisabetta Brussa, glad you like it too!

[Maestro267]

Sibelius: Symphony No. 7
Berlin SO/Sanderling

My latest attempt to get my head round this work. The trombone parts remind me a bit of the pivotal horn solo in the introduction to the finale of Brahms 1.

[vandermolen]

I am a great fan of Elisabetta Brussa, glad you like it too!

I had some nice email communication with her a few years ago over her composition 'Merlin'.
She seems very nice. Here is a response from her:

'Dear Jeffrey,

I had never seen Excalibur and have now watched a couple of scenes with
Merlin which are quite fascinating. I had an musically visual idea of
Merlin completely free from any visual representation, and have always
been fascinated by the personage. I also went to see Tintagel, but many
years after having finished the work. Like Florestan, it has been a
one-off musical fantasy of a literary character, but I doubt I will write
more works of this kind. I have just finished composing my Second Symphony
and am now revising it and jotting down an idea. As soon as the parts are
ready it should be recorded with Naxos again.

I love all Art: paintings, statues, and fine art like furniture,
porcelain, glass objects etc. Literature, particularly English and
Russian. I have a great many books on Art and love looking at the
pictures, but particularly the live ones in museums. I have travelled a
lot.

I wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year,

Elisabetta'

Now playing: Kokkonen Symphony No.4 - I find Berglund's performance the most searching and moving of the three recordings in my collection - I find the coda of Kokkonen's final symphony to be very moving - a great ending to his symphonic cycle - another example (IMO) of 'modern music' with a soul (like Kabelac's 'Mystery of Time').

[Harry]

I had some nice email communication with her a few years ago over her composition 'Merlin'.
She seems very nice. Here is a response from her:

'Dear Jeffrey,

I had never seen Excalibur and have now watched a couple of scenes with
Merlin which are quite fascinating. I had an musically visual idea of
Merlin completely free from any visual representation, and have always
been fascinated by the personage. I also went to see Tintagel, but many
years after having finished the work. Like Florestan, it has been a
one-off musical fantasy of a literary character, but I doubt I will write
more works of this kind. I have just finished composing my Second Symphony
and am now revising it and jotting down an idea. As soon as the parts are
ready it should be recorded with Naxos again.

I love all Art: paintings, statues, and fine art like furniture,
porcelain, glass objects etc. Literature, particularly English and
Russian. I have a great many books on Art and love looking at the
pictures, but particularly the live ones in museums. I have travelled a
lot.

I wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year,

Elisabetta'

Thank you for sharing. I knew she was a cultured and refined woman, from the bio I had about her, and once when I briefly met her,  in Prague, being with a friend of mine, called Patricia Goodson, she is a pianist of some fame and recorded extensively on a lot of labels, including Brilliant, and others.
I remembered being thoroughly impressed with Brussa, having a lively discussion about 20th century symphonic music. I still have a CD with some of her music, with a dedication written on it for me. I will dig it up and send you a pic of it.

[aligreto]

Enescu:





Orchestral Suite No. 3 Op. 27 [Cristescu] I like the rarefied air of this work; its musical language and its scoring. It is sometimes dark, sometimes wistful and sometimes haunting but it is always both engaging and appealing.
Concert Overture Op. 32 [Cristescu] I like the sparse musical language and scoring of this work.

[aligreto]

I am of the opinion that the applause at the beginning had the right balance of politeness and subtlety and that the applause at the end was the most welcome melodious coda, despite a couple of Bravo! rudely interrupting the flow of things  0:)

For the section in the middle, it still doesn't talk to me I'm afraid

If you have not already done so I feel that you should definitely post that comment in your French thread. 

[André]

Bax in ebullient mood, rather unusual compared to the often brooding, troubled mood of his other symphonies. A very detailed performance and clear, deep soundstage from Naxos. At first I felt it was slightly cavernous, but as the ear adjusted, I came to appreciate its fullness and the feeling of a concert hall perspective. The two contrasted fillers rightly precede the symphony. A well-balanced all-Bax concert.

[Papy Oli]

If you have not already done so I feel that you should definitely post that comment in your French thread. 

nope, I think we're good 

[Irons]

Bax: Nympholept
A work that I like very much.
This is a fine performance but the opening is taken rather faster than in Thomson's recording, which has a more dreamy atmosphere, and it remains my preferred version:

After Jeffrey's "nudge" listened to the Three Northern Ballads. All three excellent with perhaps the first shading it. Impressive percussion which I could not decide is down to Bax or the recording which is very good indeed, better then Thomson on the same label IMO. Volume 1 is on it's way.

Steinberg: 4thSymphony.

Big, bold and muscular.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I had some nice email communication with her a few years ago over her composition 'Merlin'.
She seems very nice. Here is a response from her:

'Dear Jeffrey,

I had never seen Excalibur and have now watched a couple of scenes with
Merlin which are quite fascinating. I had an musically visual idea of
Merlin completely free from any visual representation, and have always
been fascinated by the personage. I also went to see Tintagel, but many
years after having finished the work. Like Florestan, it has been a
one-off musical fantasy of a literary character, but I doubt I will write
more works of this kind. I have just finished composing my Second Symphony
and am now revising it and jotting down an idea. As soon as the parts are
ready it should be recorded with Naxos again.

I love all Art: paintings, statues, and fine art like furniture,
porcelain, glass objects etc. Literature, particularly English and
Russian. I have a great many books on Art and love looking at the
pictures, but particularly the live ones in museums. I have travelled a
lot.

I wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year,

Elisabetta'

Now playing: Kokkonen Symphony No.4 - I find Berglund's performance the most searching and moving of the three recordings in my collection - I find the coda of Kokkonen's final symphony to be very moving - a great ending to his symphonic cycle - another example (IMO) of 'modern music' with a soul (like Kabelac's 'Mystery of Time').

Neat!  I found some musical excerpts on her website.  http://www.elisabettabrusa.it/listen/

[vandermolen]

Thank you for sharing. I knew she was a cultured and refined woman, from the bio I had about her, and once when I briefly met her,  in Prague, being with a friend of mine, called Patricia Goodson, she is a pianist of some fame and recorded extensively on a lot of labels, including Brilliant, and others.
I remembered being thoroughly impressed with Brussa, having a lively discussion about 20th century symphonic music. I still have a CD with some of her music, with a dedication written on it for me. I will dig it up and send you a pic of it.

Yes, please do Harry. That's very impressive that you have met her.

Now playing: Cyril Scott 'Neptune' - Poem of the Sea for Large Orchestra:

[vandermolen]

Bax in ebullient mood, rather unusual compared to the often brooding, troubled mood of his other symphonies. A very detailed performance and clear, deep soundstage from Naxos. At first I felt it was slightly cavernous, but as the ear adjusted, I came to appreciate its fullness and the feeling of a concert hall perspective. The two contrasted fillers rightly precede the symphony. A well-balanced all-Bax concert.

I like the combination of Nympholept and the 4th Symphony. I could have done without the Picaresque Comedy Overture.

[vandermolen]

Neat!  I found some musical excerpts on her website.  http://www.elisabettabrusa.it/listen/

Excellent! Hope you enjoyed them PD.

[vandermolen]

After Jeffrey's "nudge" listened to the Three Northern Ballads. All three excellent with perhaps the first shading it. Impressive percussion which I could not decide is down to Bax or the recording which is very good indeed, better then Thomson on the same label IMO. Volume 1 is on it's way.

Steinberg: 4thSymphony.

Big, bold and muscular.

Am a great fan of that Steinberg Symphony.

[Irons]

Great, although Symphony No.2 is my favourite.
TD
Vaughan Williams: the craggy 'Fantasia on the Old 104th'
This work was coupled with Boult's recording of Symphony No.9 in the VW symphonies boxed set acquired when I was 17 and thus has a special appeal to me. I'm not sure that it has been recorded since.

There is an early recording of the Fantasia on the Concert Hall label. Looking up John Hunt's Concert Hall discography a Robert Hull conducting the Rochester Chamber Orchestra in the early 1950's made three LPs 'Works by 20th Century Composers'. The first included Flos Campi (published 1952) and the third Fantasia on the Old 104th (published 1955). The other works are all by American composers with the exception of Honegger's 2nd Symphony.

https://youtu.be/RZI3qFW1htI

[Roasted Swan]

Now playing: Kokkonen Symphony No.4 - I find Berglund's performance the most searching and moving of the three recordings in my collection - I find the coda of Kokkonen's final symphony to be very moving - a great ending to his symphonic cycle - another example (IMO) of 'modern music' with a soul (like Kabelac's 'Mystery of Time').

in the light of your comment above you might find this picture interesting......  The whole programme was Kokkonen 4th Symphony, Ravel Piano Concerto and Sibelius 5th Symphony.  Now that IS a concert I'd liked to have been at!

[vandermolen]

There is an early recording of the Fantasia on the Concert Hall label. Looking up John Hunt's Concert Hall discography a Robert Hull conducting the Rochester Chamber Orchestra in the early 1950's made three LPs 'Works by 20th Century Composers'. The first included Flos Campi (published 1952) and the third Fantasia on the Old 104th (published 1955). The other works are all by American composers with the exception of Honegger's 2nd Symphony.

https://youtu.be/RZI3qFW1htI

Interesting - many thanks Lol.

[vandermolen]

in the light of your comment above you might find this picture interesting......  The whole programme was Kokkonen 4th Symphony, Ravel Piano Concerto and Sibelius 5th Symphony.  Now that IS a concert I'd liked to have been at!

That is MOST interesting RS. How did you come upon the programme?

[Roasted Swan]

Thanks RS. That website is most interesting. Extraordinary that Eileen Joyce, Beecham and Jack Brymer are buried there as well. I do have that BBC Radio Classics CD featuring Rubbra's 4th Symphony but haven't heard it for ages and will listen to it again very soon.

Here's a newspaper clipping from the time of Delius' interment;

[Roasted Swan]

That is MOST interesting RS. How did you come upon the programme?

Just trawling around e-bay.  I collect signatures of composers/conductors I admire and I liked the fact these were in the same place - literally at the same time!

[Symphonic Addict]

Sibelius: Symphony No. 7
Berlin SO/Sanderling

The trombone parts remind me a bit of the pivotal horn solo in the introduction to the finale of Brahms 1.

It's similar, but Sibelius' approach is more majestic and elevated.

[Symphonic Addict]

Steinberg: 4thSymphony.

Big, bold and muscular.

That's a good one. Do you know his symphonies 1 and 2? No. 2 is particularly impressive.

Hopefully the other symphonies will be recorded some day.

[Symphonic Addict]

I liked the first two more than the Sixth. The former are quite fresh and natural-sounding, the latter sounded rather contrived and academic to my ears.

Stanford's quartets contain very fine music. IIRC I was taken by the No. 4 the most.

[Traverso]

Brahms


Symphony No.1

Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam

[vandermolen]

That's a good one. Do you know his symphonies 1 and 2? No. 2 is particularly impressive.

Hopefully the other symphonies will be recorded some day.

Me too

[André]

Juliane Banse is excellent in the Seven Early Songs. Sensual and expressive, with a bright, luscious tone. In the Altenberg Lieder both conductor and singer Alessandra Marc are totally different from the classic Price/Abbado version on DG. Marc has a deep, almost crepuscular lower register, but her high notes are not as pure as they should. Price's pearly, oboe-like tones sound with astonishing instrumental purity. Marc/Sinopoli are dark and morbid, Price/Abbado refined and dream-like. Both offer valid approaches, but the DG version remains unsurpassed in its chiseled perfection.

For some reason the tracks are incorrectly listed in the booklet and on the back of the disc envelope. We are supposed to hear the Three Pieces op 6, followed by the concert scene Der Wein. On disc we have the pieces in reverse: Der Wein, and in conclusion the orchestral work. That's a lot of decadent high soprano singing on symbolist poems back to back. I would have preferred the layout as advertised, with the op. 6 before Der Wein.

Quite superb interpretations from the Teldec artists, but I prefer the DGG disc both as concept and execution (Altenberg Lieder, Three Pieces op. 6, and Lulu-Suite).

[Todd]

[Iota]

Violin Concerto No.5


Another impeccable performance from Faust and crew. Although purportedly written when Mozart was 19, such subtlety and sophistication shines through it could easily be missing chunks from the late operas.

[Traverso]

Mahler

Symphony No.9

[vandermolen]

Here's a newspaper clipping from the time of Delius' interment;

Read with much interest - many thanks.

[André]

Quartets 2, 5 and 6 (1949, 1955 and 1961).



6 Orchestral Songs (Alessandra Marc), A Survivor from Warsaw (John Tomlinson), Accompaniment to a Film Scene, Chamber Symphony op 9 (original version for 15 players).

Both discs are extremely rewarding. The music is not easily approachable perhaps (except the Holmboe sq no 2 and the Schoenberg songs) but every item is a major statement that grabbed my attention.

Tomlinson in A Survivor may not be the most histrionic speaker to have done the piece (I have 8 or 9 versions) but it is sane, in a part that almost begs for verbal distortion and overstatement.

This was my first ever chamber version of Schoenberg's op 9. For some reason it is not as frequently recorded as Schoenberg's 1935 arrangement for large orchestra. I find it more propulsive and colourful that way. I guess Sinopoli is to be thanked for leading the members of the SD through the thickets of what is still a thorny composition. Even with only 15 players this is difficult music to navigate, let alone in a conductorless performance.

The Kontra Quartet in the Holmboe works sounds very good. The works are fascinating and each has its own character. No suspicion of sausage machine music making here.

[Madiel]

Mozart symphonies 7, 'Alte Lambach' and 55.

Using a mix of conductors. All rather enjoyable. Bright and dynamic works.

[Symphonic Addict]

Homage to the Queen

The complete ballet. Wow! What colourful, sparkling, and celebratory music Arnold created here. He really knew how to print magic in his scores. The recording is in mono, but it's stunning mono. And the performance is terrific.

I think ballets have been my main discoveries this year, and this one is not an exception at all!

[Madiel]

Does anyone happen to know where I can find an English translation of Mozart's La finta semplice?

Unfortunately the sources I readily have to hand don't have a booklet and I can only find the Italian version online so far.

[kyjo]

Glazunov Symphony 5/The Seasons

There has been some criticism of the Serebrier cycle here but I thought that Symphony No.5 was excellent and 'The Seasons' as heart-warming as any other performance that I have heard.

That's a superb disc containing two of Glazunov's finest (IMO) works. Serebrier's recordings may not be the most fiery and authentically "Russian" but they're hardly lacking in energy and are beautifully recorded, bringing out the glittering details of Glazunov's orchestration.

[kyjo]

Closing the Pierné loop by revisting this one.

Fantastically colorful and eclectic stuff, audibly influenced by Daphnis in places (cue the wordless chorus!) and in other sections charmingly neo-rococo, complete with a harpsichord solo at one point! But I'm prepared for you to say you weren't a fan...

[kyjo]

That's a good one. Do you know his symphonies 1 and 2? No. 2 is particularly impressive.

Hopefully the other symphonies will be recorded some day.

Re: Steinberg

I prefer nos. 1 and 2 to no. 4. For some reason I didn't really connect with the latter (a bit too "Social Realist"?).

[SimonNZ]

[Symphonic Addict]

Jan Kalivoda - String Quartets 1 and 2: My goodness, this is some truly brilliant music by this Bohemian composer! One doesn't need to be an expert to notice that these quartets are remarkable and fine in every way. They seem to lie in the middle of Classical and Romantic styles. Beethoven and Cherubini would have given their approval, no doubt on it. I'm listening to the 3rd quartet tomorrow. Recommended with enthusiasm.




Jan Hanus - Sinfonia concertante for organ, harp, timpani and strings: This disc is kind of recognized for its inclusion of the only (I think) recording on disc of Kabelac's masterpiece Mystery of Time, but this work by his compatriot Hanus also deserves several listens. It's an exciting and intense piece whose somewhat regrettable recording doesn't do justice to it. An interesting discovery.

[Symphonic Addict]

Re: Steinberg

I prefer nos. 1 and 2 to no. 4. For some reason I didn't really connect with the latter (a bit too "Social Realist"?).

I agree, for my ears they're also better.

[kyjo]

Grechaninov: Symphony no. 5



While this isn't a masterpiece (Grechaninov's orchestration is a bit heavy), I found it quite enjoyable and it held my attention throughout. I thought the final two movements were the strongest, in particular the finale with its lovely and memorable secondary theme.


Atterberg: Double Concerto



It's great to hear a double concerto for violin and cello besides the one by Brahms. This folksy, lyrical work by Atterberg certainly deserves a place in the repertoire.


Moeran: String Quartet in E-flat



Sheer sublimity. That's all I need to say.


Walton: Violin Sonata



A really strong, meaty sonata with a great sense of color, superbly performed here. It's interesting to note how some of the thematic material here seems to prefigure that of the Cello Concerto.


Berlioz: Te deum



I've expressed a distaste for several other Berlioz vocal works on this forum, so it came as a shock to me how much I enjoyed this work! This is inspiriting, celebratory music, with a marvelously imposing organ part at times. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the final movement, Judex crederis is one of the most stunning things I've heard recently. It builds inexorably to a conclusion that keeps the listener awaiting with bated breath as to how it will resolve. Abbado and his forces turn out a magnificent performance, caught with great impact by the DG engineers.

[vandermolen]

Re: Steinberg

I prefer nos. 1 and 2 to no. 4. For some reason I didn't really connect with the latter (a bit too "Social Realist"?).

My order of preference is 4,2,1
I much prefer 4 and 2 to 1

Early morning listening before work.
'The Sea' by Frank Bridge
This is the best disc I know of Bridge's orchestral music:

I preferred the Winslow Homer painting LP cover which was fortunately retained in the boxed set devoted to recordings by Sir Charles Groves:

[T. D.]

Jan Hanus - Sinfonia concertante for organ, harp, timpani and strings: This disc is kind of recognized for its inclusion of the only (I think) recording on disc of Kabelac's masterpiece Mystery of Time, but this work by his compatriot Hanus also deserves several listens. It's an exciting and intense piece whose somewhat regrettable recording doesn't do justice to it. An interesting discovery.

I acquired this fairly recently and agree. The Hanus was a pleasant surprise.

   

[Irons]

That's a good one. Do you know his symphonies 1 and 2? No. 2 is particularly impressive.

Hopefully the other symphonies will be recorded some day.

I do not will investigate. Impressive depiction of a shunting steam engine in finale of "Turksib".

I enjoyed the other work on CD the Violin Concerto too.

[Papy Oli]

[Papy Oli]

[Christo]

An old favourite, 'A Colour Symphony':

[Christo]

Another old favourite, 'Morning Heroes', a symphony for speaker, chorus and orchestra (1930) in this recording:

[MusicTurner]

Andsnes plays piano concertos by Lutoslawski and d'Albavie, solo pieces by Kurtag and Sørensen.

A fine, beautiful disc, bought at a barn sale when I visited the island of Møn recently. More delicate and crystalline than outwardly dramatic in the playing.
I've always agreed that d'Albavie's concerto isn't among the best, but it can be entertaining at times.

However, those who don't want too many records/recordings, and who prefer substantial-programmes only, might benefit from an all-Lutoslawski programme (DG, Naxos), or the combination with piano concertos by Szymanski and Panufnik (Polish Accord label).

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/leif-ove-andnes-shadows-of-silence

[Traverso]

Haydn

I still remember waking up one Saturday morning and lying in bed turning on the radio next to my bed and hearing the report that the tenor Fritz Wunderlich (aptly named) had died in a fall from the stairs.
Even though I was very young, I felt it as a great loss. This Schöpfung is the last recording he took part in.
Werner Krenn has taken care of the missing parts. (He sang the part before under Karl Münchinger)

[Todd]

Disc three equivalent.

[Madiel]

La Mer

[Papy Oli]

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Does anyone happen to know where I can find an English translation of Mozart's La finta semplice?

Unfortunately the sources I readily have to hand don't have a booklet and I can only find the Italian version online so far.

I found an Italian/Spanish translation here (if you speak Spanish):  http://kareol.es/obras/lafintasemplice/acto1.htm

Suggestion:  have you tried borrowing a recording through your library or interlibrary loan?  Either a recording or a book with the libretto in it?

Good luck!

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Jan Kalivoda - String Quartets 1 and 2: My goodness, this is some truly brilliant music by this Bohemian composer! One doesn't need to be an expert to notice that these quartets are remarkable and fine in every way. They seem to lie in the middle of Classical and Romantic styles. Beethoven and Cherubini would have given their approval, no doubt on it. I'm listening to the 3rd quartet tomorrow. Recommended with enthusiasm.




Jan Hanus - Sinfonia concertante for organ, harp, timpani and strings: This disc is kind of recognized for its inclusion of the only (I think) recording on disc of Kabelac's masterpiece Mystery of Time, but this work by his compatriot Hanus also deserves several listens. It's an exciting and intense piece whose somewhat regrettable recording doesn't do justice to it. An interesting discovery.

Thank you for reminding me about Kalivoda; I've been meaning to purchase some of his music.  Hanus I haven't heard of before now...more music to explore! 

PD

[Madiel]

I found an Italian/Spanish translation here (if you speak Spanish):  http://kareol.es/obras/lafintasemplice/acto1.htm

Suggestion:  have you tried borrowing a recording through your library or interlibrary loan?  Either a recording or a book with the libretto in it?

Good luck!

PD

Thanks, but my Spanish is even more limited than my Italian.

I hadn't looked at what the library system can offer me.

[Traverso]

Haydn

String Quartets op.33 No.1-2-3-4

CD10

[Papy Oli]

Myaskovsky 13th.

[Symphonic Addict]

I acquired this fairly recently and agree. The Hanus was a pleasant surprise.

I hope his other works will be as good.

[Symphonic Addict]

Thank you for reminding me about Kalivoda; I've been meaning to purchase some of his music.  Hanus I haven't heard of before now...more music to explore! 

PD

I'm pretty sure you would enjoy the content of both discs. The Ancerl one has more serious pieces, though.

[Papy Oli]

Arnold
Concerto for 2 Pianos (3 hands)
Concertino for Oboe and Strings
Beckus the Dandipratt
Water Music
Anniversary Overture

[Traverso]

Demessieux


Te Deum Op. 11 [1957/58]    
Prelude et Fugue Op. 13 [1964]    
Prelude et Fugue Op. 13 [1964]    
Six Etudes Op. 5 [1944]    
La Nativité - Op. 4 [1943/44]    
Twelve Choral Preludes Op. 7 [1947]    

[Todd]

Disc two equivalent.

[Christo]

William Alwyn, Symphony No. 4 (1959):

[Roasted Swan]

My order of preference is 4,2,1
I much prefer 4 and 2 to 1

Early morning listening before work.
'The Sea' by Frank Bridge
This is the best disc I know of Bridge's orchestral music:

I preferred the Winslow Homer painting LP cover which was fortunately retained in the boxed set devoted to recordings by Sir Charles Groves:

going over old ground! - +++++100 for this disc!

[vandermolen]

going over old ground! - +++++100 for this disc!

Indeed haha 

Now playing - my favourite Bax CD
I love all the works on the CD and Thomson's magnificent performances.
Starting off with the unpromising sounding 'Festival Overture' (1918) - which develops into an entirely characteristic and moving Baxian work and then including my very favourite recording of the magical and poetic 'Nympholept' the profoundly moving 'Christmas Eve' (1912) and a very fine 'Tintagel'. These were basically the 'fill-ups' for Thomson's Bax symphony cycle individual releases.

[vandermolen]

William Alwyn, Symphony No. 4 (1959):

The first movement (a kind of mini-symphony in itself) is my favourite movement in any Alwyn symphony, but the second movement, which I find banal, is, unfortunately, my least favourite movement in any Alwyn symphony.

[Christo]

The first movement (a kind of mini-symphony in itself) is my favourite movement in any Alwyn symphony, but the second movement, which I find banal, is, unfortunately, my least favourite movement in any Alwyn symphony.

But, but .... the second movement is mostly lyrical, the 'banal' opening is nothing but a curtain raiser, followed by beautiful music. 

[vandermolen]

But, but .... the second movement is mostly lyrical, the 'banal' opening is nothing but a curtain raiser, followed by beautiful music. 

I'll have to give it another listen. I think that the Hickox recording might be better than the Alwyn version which I grew up with.

[Madiel]

Thanks, but my Spanish is even more limited than my Italian.

I hadn't looked at what the library system can offer me.

It turns out that my library system gives me access to the Naxos Music Library. Where there are booklets. Eventually found the one recording where the booklet is supplied (crazily, the recent Mozart 225 box set still doesn't offer one). It's the Orfeo label, and in a proper booklet it would have Italian, German, English and French across a double page spread. Online, though, it's all shown as single pages and the English/French gets bumped down below!

But it turns out that I can download it, and within a proper PDF view I can get it to show 2 pages at a time, and then can tell it to treat the first page as a cover so that the right of pages line up.

So there you go. A libretto of La finta semplice that I can read!

[Traverso]

Dufay

Ma Belle Dame Souverraine

One of the most beautiful songs I ever heard.


Ma belle dame souverainne,
Faites cesser ma grief dolour
Que j'endure pour vostre amour
Nuit et jour, dont j'ay tres grant painne.

Ou autrement, soiés certainne,
Je finneray dedens brief jour.
  Ma belle [dame souverainne,
  Faites cesser ma grief dolour.]

Il n'i a jour en la sepmainne
Que je ne soye en grant tristour;
Se me veulliés par vo doulcour
Secourir, de volonté plaine.

  Ma belle [dame souverainne,
  Faites cesser ma grief dolour
  Que j'endure pour vostre amour
  Nuit et jour, dont j'ay tres grant painne.]

[vandermolen]

Miaskovsky: Cello Sonata No.2 (a new release - beautifully recorded and performed)

[Irons]

Roussel: 1st Violin Sonata.



What a fine work this is! Bears comparison with the equally Romantic Franck sonata. It is that good.

A travesty that the performers Olga Galperin (piano) and Eric Alberti (violin) are not credited on the front cover as they are artists of the highest calibre.

Sort of sat on the fence regarding Roussel, but the 1st Violin Sonata has well and truly placed me in the admirer camp.   

[Irons]

Miaskovsky: Cello Sonata No.2 (a new release - beautifully recorded and performed)

Looks a good one, Jeffrey. Love the lyrical Miaskovsky 2nd Cello Sonata.

[vandermolen]

Looks a good one, Jeffrey. Love the lyrical Miaskovsky 2nd Cello Sonata.

Yes Lol, it's one of my very favourites of his chamber music along with SQ 13. It has a wistful and elegiac quality which I find very appealing. The Glazunov works make a nice programme.

[Symphonic Addict]

The Suite contains the most memorable music, but the complete work has other good movements like the March and Dance and Chorus from the act III and The struggle between Hindbad and Aladdin from the act V. A nice work overall.

[Madiel]

Dvorak, Cypresses (string quartet version)



I find Dvorak's fascination with his own very early songs, well... fascinating. I'm slowly getting to know the actual songs, so I think that might make the string quartet versions more interesting as well.

[Madiel]

Beethoven, string quartet in A minor, op.132

[André]

Pierrot lunaire is one of those works more talked about than actually listened. I've been fascinated by it since my teen years, but that fascination has almost always yielded to incomprehension in the end. And yet, I go back to it every once in a long while. This version by Sinopoli is easily the most immediately accessible I've heard. Luisa Castellani is superb as the speaking voice. One can tell she can actually sing: a good soprano voice is detectable throughout. She seems to specialize in contemporary music and has performed under Boulez, Eötvös, Sinopoli, Berio etc. What I found most appealing is that she never uses declamation or 'enhanced' speech. Her delivery is natural and she always blends with the instrumental group.

I am much less familiar with Erwartung, Schoenberg's monodrama The composer described it as follows:

In Erwartung the aim is to represent in slow motion everything that occurs during a single second of maximum spiritual excitement, stretching it out to half an hour

The music has been characterized as athematic - whatever that means. I think that description hints at the fact that no material is ever developed or restated. It just starts and evolves as if in a musical stream of consciousness (echoing that of the heroine). It is eminently approachable stuff. Contemporary with Bartok's Bluebeard Castle, it is sometimes staged alongside it. The plot reminds me of the scene by the lake in Wozzeck. Creepy stuff. The soloist this time is not merely speaking, but singing throughout in true operatic fashion. It takes a big voice with an ample tessitura and soprano Alessandra Marc is really ideal IMO. Her voice is closer to that of a mezzo, and she reminds me of Martha Mödl with her glottal attacks and fearless up and down leaps. Very impressive.

[Todd]

[Carlo Gesualdo]

Surprise surprise deprofondis  stumble on an old download and decided heck download are  lame, they kill the sound  or atmosphere  something in the music, so I decided to pick up this Triple CD album and it's on Glossa Platinum so were can I falter hey, Nice work Bjorn & ensemble GRAINDELAVOIX this is epic, surreal, Riveting.

And the funny part his I had it in simple download and could get ''fun'' out of it, but buying the media whit my sound gear yes yes oh yes, this blow my mind, Like folks said in the past, a bit experimental manicotage of Byzantium ornaments, thee charming velvety warm voice of graindelavoix.

This triple album sound like a mile stone of evolution & revolution of what Carlo Gesualdo, could had sound like in other place like Greece or some Mediterranean southern part of Europa, love you folk,  bene and salute deprofundis fine this album so far fantastic and will support more CD media, a good album is a good album it's better to a download should I say, out of music critic !!!

You should buy thee album it's splendid 3 CD's of material , amazing prestation recording.Final though for beginners and advanceds this remind me a bit sometime  to what Herreweghe but more  like I said more daring more experimental, and Gesualdo all about it, yet ensemble graindelavoix when further in experiments, brilliant , bravo, triumphant sounding.

[Symphonic Addict]

String Quartet No. 3

I confirm this is a thoroughly delightful disc, almost perfect in every regard (music, performance, sound quality). This specific quartet has virtuoso features mostly appearing in the buoyant Scherzo and the impressive Allegretto grazioso. Kalliwoda has been a real surprise to me. I'm glad I discovered this exquisite music.




Sonatina - Ballet

Another wonderful work today. In style it shares features with his Sinfonietta in the use of Baroque dances and tunes. A joy to hear.

[SimonNZ]

[Madiel]

String Quartet No. 3

I confirm this is a thoroughly delightful disc, almost perfect in every regard (music, performance, sound quality). This specific quartet has virtuoso features mostly appearing in the buoyant Scherzo and the impressive Allegretto grazioso. Kalliwoda has been a real surprise to me. I'm glad I discovered this exquisite music.

I decided to give this album a whirl this afternoon.

EDIT: I've enjoyed quartets 1 and 2, perhaps no.2 a bit more. Now in the opening movement of no.3 and it's sounding rather good.

The symphonies are recorded so I might try that as well.

[Symphonic Addict]

I decided to give this album a whirl this afternoon.

EDIT: I've enjoyed quartets 1 and 2, perhaps no.2 a bit more. Now in the opening movement of no.3 and it's sounding rather good.

The symphonies are recorded so I might try that as well.

Good to know your impressions, Madiel. These quartets may not have the depth of Beethoven's, but it's undeniable there is very fine writing there.

[Florestan]

Dufay

Ma Belle Dame Souverraine

One of the most beautiful songs I ever heard.


Ma belle dame souverainne,
Faites cesser ma grief dolour
Que j'endure pour vostre amour
Nuit et jour, dont j'ay tres grant painne.

Ou autrement, soiés certainne,
Je finneray dedens brief jour.
  Ma belle [dame souverainne,
  Faites cesser ma grief dolour.]

Il n'i a jour en la sepmainne
Que je ne soye en grant tristour;
Se me veulliés par vo doulcour
Secourir, de volonté plaine.

  Ma belle [dame souverainne,
  Faites cesser ma grief dolour
  Que j'endure pour vostre amour
  Nuit et jour, dont j'ay tres grant painne.]

Honestly, I think the Old French orthography is more pleasing to the eye than the contemporary one. 

[Madiel]

Good to know your impressions, Madiel. These quartets may not have the depth of Beethoven's, but it's undeniable there is very fine writing there.

No.3 might have been the flashiest. There's plenty of bounce and zip there, and yes, clearly a lot of skill.

[Daverz]

I decided to give this album a whirl this afternoon.

EDIT: I've enjoyed quartets 1 and 2, perhaps no.2 a bit more. Now in the opening movement of no.3 and it's sounding rather good.

The symphonies are recorded so I might try that as well.

Symphony No. 5 on CPO is a good place to start.

[asin]B000GQL8OA[/asin]

[Mandryka]

Honestly, I think the Old French orthography is more pleasing to the eye than the contemporary one. 

Too many consonants - sepmainne, vostre , , , ,

[Florestan]

Too many consonants - sepmainne, vostre , , , ,

Well, in Romanian one can have a whole dialogue with vocals only.

- Oaia aia e a ei?
- A ei e.
- O iau eu.
- Ia-o!

ie

- Is that sheep hers?
- It's hers.
- I'll take it.
- Take it!

[ritter]

Well, in Romanian one can have a whole dialogue with vocals only.

- Oaia aia e a ei?
- A ei e.
- O iau eu.
- Ia-o!
...

So it turns out yodelling isn't Tyrolean at all, but originally Romanian? 

[Que]

Wonderful recording. 

[Que]

Morning listening  (via Spotify):



Q

[Mandryka]

Well, in Romanian one can have a whole dialogue with vocals only.

- Oaia aia e a ei?
- A ei e.
- O iau eu.
- Ia-o!

ie

- Is that sheep hers?
- It's hers.
- I'll take it.
- Take it!

That reminds me of a wonderful French sketch by Raymond Devos

" L"ouïe de l'oie de Louis a ouï "
" A oui ? "
" Et qu'a ouï l'ouïe de l'oie de Louis ? "
" Elle a ouï ce que toute oie oit.. "
" Et qu'oit toute oie ? "
" Toute oie oit, quand mon chien aboie le soir au fond des bois, toute oie oit : OUAH ! OUAH ! "
" Qu'elle oit, l'oie ! "

https://www.youtube.com/v/fuwPg_5oveE

[Florestan]

That reminds me of a wonderful French sketch by Raymond Devos

Brilliant! 

[Papy Oli]

Good morning all,

Myaskovsky 4th to start the day.

[Papy Oli]

That reminds me of a wonderful French sketch by Raymond Devos

https://www.youtube.com/v/fuwPg_5oveE

Oh thank you for this and the memories it brought back. I loved Raymond Devos and I got offered the book with all his sketches for a birthday early in my teenage years. It is a delightful read at any time

[Papy Oli]

Arnold
Philarmonic Cnoncerto
Peterloo Overture
A Flourish for Orchestra
Symphony for Strings

[Christo]

Stanley Bate, Symphony No. 4 (1955). Sometimes I think: even better than the sparkling Third, this introvert and brooding symphony.

[Papy Oli]

Duruflé - Prelude, Reciatif et Variations, Opus 3

[Papy Oli]

[Maestro267]

Penderecki: Magnificat
Soloists, Warsaw Philharmonic Choir
Warsaw PO/Wit

Buckley: Organ Concerto
NSO Ireland/Pearce

Myaskovsky: Symphony No. 4
RFASO/Svetlanov

[Todd]

[Iota]

Christopher Rouse: Flute Concerto

Sharon Bezaly, flute


A maiden listen to the flute concerto prompted by the Rouse composer thread, and a most enjoyable one. He has a very deft way with orchestral colours and a nimble imagination, I can well imagine him being genial and sophisticated company, as suggested on that thread.

I think the trombone concerto will follow.

[Traverso]

Bruckner

Symphony No.8

[Maestro267]

Schnittke: Symphony No. 5/Concerto Grosso No. 4
Gothenburg SO/N. Järvi

[Traverso]

Vivaldi

an oldie but a beautiful live performance at the "Holland" festival 1973

Vivaldi  "La Notte"
Handel  Concerto Nop.3 for Oboe,strings and basso continuo
Marin Marais  Suite from "Alcyone"
Rameau Suite "Castor et Pollux"
Biber Sonatas 1,8 & 10 from "Fidicinium sacro-profanum

[Mandryka]

Vivaldi

an oldie but a beautiful live performance at the "Holland" festival 1973

Vivaldi  "La Notte"

Yes, I remember that one.

[Christo]

Lyra Angelica:

[vandermolen]

Paul Ben Haim. Symphony No.1 live on BBC Radio 3. I've ordered the forthcoming Chandos LP.

[listener]

Today being Friday, it felt like a good idea to open up the Brilliant 50-disc set of 500 Years of Organ Music and listen to some VIERNE.  The set seems to be out-of-print, and the booklet of notes no longer is on the Brilliant website.  Any one getting the second box should download the booklet before it disappears too.   And there's no Vierne in box 1!
So it's HANDEL: 5 Concertos for Organ and Orchestra
Christian Schmitt, Mühleisen organ (1992), Evangelische Schlosskapelle Solitude, Stuttgart
Stuttgart Chamber Orch.  Nichol Matt, cond.
GUILMANT:  Organ Symphonies 4,5,& 6
Adriano Falcioni, Vegezzi-Bossi organ (1897), Sacre Cuoro di Gesu Church, Cuneo
and a Sonata and some short pieces by BUSONI for Clarinet and Piano
Wolfgang Meyer, clarinet    Matthias Kirschnereit, piano

[j winter]

For all of the obvious reasons, I'm feeling the need for some classical order and serenity at the moment; so I've acquired and started my way listening through this box.  First two discs this morning, symphonies 1-8.  I'm quite enjoying it so far... I wanted something a bit lighter and more sprightly than Dorati, but still with modern instruments -- for me this seems to strike a good balance. 

I really didn't need another Haydn set (besides Dorati I've also got Fischer and Marzendorfer on the shelf), but I had picked up a single from this set in a $1 bin last year, and the box has been whispering to me ever since...   

[Traverso]

Yes, I remember that one.

You were there ? 

[Traverso]

Villa-Lobos
   
CD2

String Quartets  3-8 & 14

[Todd]

[Mandryka]

You were there ? 

Is that typical Dutch humour?

[Traverso]

Bartók

String Quartet No.6

[Traverso]

Locatelli

Concerto 1-2-3 & 4

[MusicTurner]

Bliss - Cello Concerto etc. - Hugh, L-Jones - Naxos CD

An excellent disc, on repeat on an otherwise quiet day.

[Todd]

Disc one equivalent.

[vandermolen]

Bax: Christmas Eve in the Mountains - I find this a very moving work, especially when the organ comes in towards the end:

[vandermolen]

Bliss - Cello Concerto etc. - Hugh, L-Jones - Naxos CD

An excellent disc, on repeat on an otherwise quiet day.

I agree. Bliss originally called it a Cello 'Concertino' but Britten thought the title was too diminutive for such a work, so Bliss, rightly, re-designated it as a concerto.

[vandermolen]

Stanley Bate, Symphony No. 4 (1955). Sometimes I think: even better than the sparkling Third, this introvert and brooding symphony.

I agree and find the Fourth Symphony just as powerful than No.3 and more-so in places.

[vandermolen]

The Suite contains the most memorable music, but the complete work has other good movements like the March and Dance and Chorus from the act III and The struggle between Hindbad and Aladdin from the act V. A nice work overall.

On my wish list.

[JBS]

Landed this afternoon, into the CD player first thing.

[SimonNZ]

[SimonNZ]

[Symphonic Addict]

Behold the Sea!!

Nystroem: Symphony No. 3 Sinfonia del mare
Glazunov: The Sea
Borresen: Symphony No. 2 in A major The Sea




I love how rugged the Nystroem sounds, although to be fair there are lots of poetry as well, mostly in the evocative third movement whose climax is a mini-wallow, very in the vein of Bloch, and that 4th movement is so angry!! The big climax before the quiet ending is so exciting and marked. Just arresting.

The Glazunov has traces of Wagner. It's a vivid and exciting piece. I should play this work more often. Stunning.

Last but not least, Borresen's 2nd Symphony is practically as good as any symphony by Tchaikovsky or Svendsen, if not better than some. Vibrant, colourful, tuneful. When it's over you feel energized in a similar way like when you hear Nielsen's Espansiva.

[JBS]

This

From
[asin]B07T2GN9T2[/asin]

[Symphonic Addict]

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1



Two works I can't live without.

[Florestan]

[Madiel]

First exposure (finally) to Durufle's Requiem.

[Que]

Q

[vandermolen]

Early morning listening.
Miaskovsky Cello Sonata 2 from this fine new release.
Even my wife (working in the same room as me) is enjoying this:

[vandermolen]

First exposure (finally) to Durufle's Requiem.

Hope you enjoyed it - I think that it's a great work.

[Que]

[pjme]

Saturday - quite chilly but sunny. Coffee, newspaper, croissant +



Holst : Seven part songs



Atterberg, de Frumerie etc;

[Christo]

Coffee at Saturday morning + 

[Irons]

Bax: The Garden of Fand.

Handley is superb in The Garden of Fand, a seascape perfectly captured. Big thumbs up for "In the Faery Hills" too, Debussy seems to be an influence and the piece is no worse for that. I have a problem with "November Woods" as the urgent Thomson recording has left such an imprint that everything else to my ears comes over tame and slow. If lost in Handley and Boult's woods I would be worried. In Thomson's I would be worried and scared.

[Papy Oli]

Coffee at Saturday morning + 

Not a British composer I remember exploring. I'll add it to the streaming list, thank you.

[Papy Oli]

Bax: The Garden of Fand.

Handley is superb in The Garden of Fand, a seascape perfectly captured. Big thumbs up for "In the Faery Hills" too, Debussy seems to be an influence and the piece is no worse for that. I have a problem with "November Woods" as the urgent Thomson recording has left such an imprint that everything else to my ears comes over tame and slow. If lost in Handley and Boult's woods I would be worried. In Thomson's I would be worried and scared.

My two favourite tone poems to date.

I never looked closely enough before ordering the Orchestral works Vol.2/3/4/5. Had always assumed that what was on the older Tone Poems Vol.1 & 2 would be part of the Orchestral Works series but that is not the case, is it ? It is mostly Thomson on one and Handley on the other. I'll need to stream Handley again to see if i need another duplication (got the Boult already too)   0:)

[Christo]

Not a British composer I remember exploring. I'll add it to the streaming list, thank you.

The Third Symphony, 'Westmorland', is a moving, very personal work. Recommended.

[Que]

Q

[Roasted Swan]

My two favourite tone poems to date.

I never looked closely enough before ordering the Orchestral works Vol.2/3/4/5. Had always assumed that what was on the older Tone Poems Vol.1 & 2 would be part of the Orchestral Works series but that is not the case, is it ? It is mostly Thomson on one and Handley on the other. I'll need to stream Handley again to see if i need another duplication (got the Boult already too)   0:)

I always felt that the two volumes of Tone Poems that Thomson did in Ulster alongside his Symphony No.4 (which originally included Tintagel as the filler) were his best Bax discs and indeed some of Chandos' finest bar none.  Both interpretatively and as engineering I find those earlier discs simply superb.  You are right - Thomson's "Woods" are a more threatening tormented experience than Handley and certainly Boult.  As much as I admire Boult in so much repertoire I find his Bax lacking impulsiveness....  You are right - the Thomson recordings were remastered as part of the "Bax Orchestral Works" series differently (usually more generously) coupled than originally.  The Handley Symphonies & Tone Poems post-date that remastering and were completely new recordings.

In reply to a different post - that Armstrong-Gibbs disc is well worth exploring.  The Symphony very poignant as a memorial to his son who was killed in the war.  Probably the finest Armstrong-Gibbs disc there is.  His chamber music is lovely but the bulk of his other writing does not explore such emotional depths.....

[Traverso]

Beethoven

Missa Solemnis

[Papy Oli]

I always felt that the two volumes of Tone Poems that Thomson did in Ulster alongside his Symphony No.4 (which originally included Tintagel as the filler) were his best Bax discs and indeed some of Chandos' finest bar none.  Both interpretatively and as engineering I find those earlier discs simply superb.  You are right - Thomson's "Woods" are a more threatening tormented experience than Handley and certainly Boult.  As much as I admire Boult in so much repertoire I find his Bax lacking impulsiveness....  You are right - the Thomson recordings were remastered as part of the "Bax Orchestral Works" series differently (usually more generously) coupled than originally.  The Handley Symphonies & Tone Poems post-date that remastering and were completely new recordings.

In reply to a different post - that Armstrong-Gibbs disc is well worth exploring.  The Symphony very poignant as a memorial to his son who was killed in the war.  Probably the finest Armstrong-Gibbs disc there is.  His chamber music is lovely but the bulk of his other writing does not explore such emotional depths.....

Thank you for the clarifications RS.

I have not listened to the Handley cycle yet. So far, I have been happy with my made-up cycle (Lyrita 1/7 - Lyrita 2/5 - Lloyd Jones 3 and 6 - and that Thomson 4/Tintagel) but i'll have to make time to try Handley's too.

Just to add to the fun and the confusion, I am sampling a couple more Bax Chandos CD's at the moment...



Sounds like I'll have to listen to Gibbs sooner rather than later !

[Papy Oli]

The Third Symphony, 'Westmorland', is a moving, very personal work. Recommended.

thank you, added to the queue 

[Todd]

[Biffo]

Purcell: The Indian Queen - Soloists, Monteverdi Choir & English Baroque Soloists directed by John Eliot Gardiner

[JBS]

Sibelius
Symphony no 1 in e minor Op 39
Karelia Overture Op 10
Karelia Suite Op 11
Finlandia Op 26
J-P Saraste/Finnish RSO

[Traverso]

Prae BACH torius

[Maestro267]

Joubert: Symphony No. 1
London PO/Handley

Mathias: Symphony No. 2
BBC Welsh SO/Mathias

[vandermolen]

The Third Symphony, 'Westmorland', is a moving, very personal work. Recommended.

+1

[vandermolen]

I always felt that the two volumes of Tone Poems that Thomson did in Ulster alongside his Symphony No.4 (which originally included Tintagel as the filler) were his best Bax discs and indeed some of Chandos' finest bar none.  Both interpretatively and as engineering I find those earlier discs simply superb.  You are right - Thomson's "Woods" are a more threatening tormented experience than Handley and certainly Boult.  As much as I admire Boult in so much repertoire I find his Bax lacking impulsiveness....  You are right - the Thomson recordings were remastered as part of the "Bax Orchestral Works" series differently (usually more generously) coupled than originally.  The Handley Symphonies & Tone Poems post-date that remastering and were completely new recordings.

In reply to a different post - that Armstrong-Gibbs disc is well worth exploring.  The Symphony very poignant as a memorial to his son who was killed in the war.  Probably the finest Armstrong-Gibbs disc there is.  His chamber music is lovely but the bulk of his other writing does not explore such emotional depths.....

Very much agree here although I haven't heard Thomson's 'November Woods' in a long time so will rectify that soon. My favourite Bax disc is the Thomson one featuring the fill-ups from the symphony cycle, in particular the Festival Overture, Nympholept, Pan, Christmas Eve and a fine Tintagel. I didn't like it when they reissued it without Tintagel and included a less interesting work.

[Harry]

New acquisition, first listen.

Karl Goldmark.

Symphony No. 1 & 2.

Singapore SO, Lan Shui.

Everyone is familiar with Goldmark's first symphony "Ländliche Hochzeit", to my ears a work of great beauty, and perhaps his best composition. Never heard a better interpretation as the present one. But no one knows his second symphony, which is every bit worthwhile to listen. Fact is that it is hardly recorded, and therefore not known. I for one, admired Goldmark's skill in orchestrating both works. In this he is one of the greats in this field, and it makes for repeated listening, for it never bores me. BIS delivered a State of the Art recording, for the world class Singapore orchestra. Over the years they assembled the finest musicians from all over the world, and Shui made them into a sublime musical body.

[Irons]

My two favourite tone poems to date.

I never looked closely enough before ordering the Orchestral works Vol.2/3/4/5. Had always assumed that what was on the older Tone Poems Vol.1 & 2 would be part of the Orchestral Works series but that is not the case, is it ? It is mostly Thomson on one and Handley on the other. I'll need to stream Handley again to see if i need another duplication (got the Boult already too)   0:)

When I invested in my first CD player, one of those Philips top loading jobs, my second CD purchase was the Chandos release of the tone poems by Thomson (the first was Haitink's Shostakovich 5). I still have both which must be coming up 40 years old. . I would guess that there have been various remastering's in the interim. Without a doubt Handley is in better sound but from the first time I heard it I have had an attachment to Thomson's "November Woods".

[Harry]

New acquisition, first listen.

Maximilian Steinberg.
Violin Concerto, opus 37.
Symphony No. 4, "Turksib" , opus 24.
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Martin Yates.
Sergey Levitin, Violin.

Much is already said about this recording on GMG, so I add a little of my impressions. The Violin concerto is a well written piece of great art, thoroughly romantic in nature, and so well performed by the Violinist and Orchestra, they form a perfect synergy in this music, and there conversation is well informed. As a whole this symphony is arguing quite a case for this composer, and I love every note of this music. Again well argued, and presented in lush and bold colours. Really a trip to remember, and as a side effect, for my wife was listening too, she exclaimed, ' I join the fanclub' .
This Dutton CD is really one of the best State of the Art recordings I heard so far.

[Todd]

4.  Clearly the best of the symphonies, or at least the most to my taste, it's in league with other death of loved ones inspired works (Suk's Asrael, Berg's VC, Mahler 9), and exceptionally beautiful.  Though I've not heard Mehta's take, the music seems almost tailor made for him.  I may end up buying his take in the next few years.

[Harry]

New acquisition, first listen.

Erkki Salmenhaara.
Suomi Finland.
Tampere PO, Eri Klas.

Well, well, if I would not have been a fan of this composer, the present CD hooked me stock and barrel. What a amazing composer, if you are able to write such gorgeous music. The third movement "Adagietto" is to die for. Salmenhaara's life is told in these four movements, and especially the last movement "Le Bateau ivre" is an eulogy of his journey through his short life. The last 20 bars or so, gave me the shivers as if the boat was drawn into utter darkness that begets darkness. It made me think of the wise words of Lao Tzu.

""The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth.
The named is the mother of ten thousand things.
Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.
Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations.
These two spring from the same source but differ in name;
this appears as darkness.
Darkness within darkness.
The gate to all mystery."

The 24 bit recording is one of the best I ever heard from this label. The performance is exemplary.

Note to Jeffrey:

My wife wants to join the "unofficial international fanclub of Salmenhaara"

[Traverso]

Dufay

CD3

[Maestro267]

Tippett: Symphony No. 2
Bournemouth SO/Hickox

[ritter]

Bought today for €1,50 at FNAC here in Madrid, and listening to it right now:

[asin]B000I2K9ME[/asin]
So far Jeanette Scovotti sounds great in A Berenice. Let's see how she manages my favourite Mozart concert aria, Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio! (with its Viscontian connotations)—it's at the end of the disc. Edda Moser sings the more famous Misera, dove son! and Bella mia fiamma.

[Florestan]

Bought today for €1,50 at FNAC here in Madrid, and listening to it right now:

[asin]B000I2K9ME[/asin]
So far Jeanette Scovotti sounds great in A Berenice. Let's see how she manages my favourite Mozart concert aria, Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio! (with its Viscontian connotations)—it's at the end of the disc. Edda Moser sings the more famous Misera, dove son! and Bella mia fiamma.

Edda who? Jeanette who? 

Be they as they may, if it's Mozart it's of the greatest interest to me.

[ritter]

Edda who? Jeanette who? 

Be they as they may, if it's Mozart it's of the greatest interest to me.

The great Edda Moser: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edda_Moser. Her superb Der Hölle Rache (from the complete recording of The Magic Flute under Sawallisch) is literally stratospheric (and much beyond) as it was sent to space in the Voyager 1 probe.

Jeanette Scovotti was perhaps less famous, but a very accomplished coloratura soprano: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanette_Scovotti. I had previously encountered her in the first commercial recording of Strauss's Die schweigsame Frau and in Harnoncourt's recording of Rameau's Castor et Pollux.

BTW, Mme. Scovotti acquits herself wonderfully in Vorrei spiegarvi. A great disc on all accounts (even if 61+ minutes of concert arias for high soprano may be a bit too much for one sitting  ).

[Florestan]

The great Edda Moser: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edda_Moser. Her superb Der Hölle Rache (from the complete recording of The Magic Flute under Sawallisch) is literally stratospheric (and much beyond) as it was sent to space in the Voyager 1 prove.

Jeanette Scovotti was perhaps less famous, but a very accomplished coloratura soprano: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanette_Scovotti. I had previously encountered her in the first commercial recording of Strauss's Die schweigsame Frau and in Harnoncourt's recording of Rameau's Castor et Pollux.

BTW, Mme. Scovotti acquits herself wonderfully in Vorrei spiegarvi. A great disc on all accounts (even if 61+ minutes of concert arias for high soprano may be a bit too much for one sitting  ).

Thanks. Will investigate.

[ritter]

Now revisiting (after IIRC a long hiatus) Florent Schmitt's music, with this (shabbily produced Amazon made-to-order reissue of a) Marco Polo CD.

[asin]B000004630[/asin]

Leif Segerstam conducts pieces spanning more than 40 years of Schmitt's career, from Rêves, op. 75 (1915) to the Symphony No. 2, op. 137 (1957). So far, the first work on the disc, Danse d'Abisag, op. 75, is sounding fantastic, the composer at the top of his "orientalist" game. The real reason to pull out the disc, though, is the Symphony, which I found a tough nut to crack when I first listened to it. Let's see what impression it makes thus time around. The other work included is Habeyssee, op. 110 (another late work, with solo violin).

[Maestro267]

Tishchenko: Symphony No. 7
Moscow PO/Yablonsky

[Mandryka]

Listening to the 6th, it's rather good!

[Christo]

William Alwyn conducting his own Second Symphony (1953) - a very atmospheric recording, one to cherish:

[pjme]

Edda who? Jeanette who? 

Be they as they may, if it's Mozart it's of the greatest interest to me.

I have only one recording that features Edda Moser: Hans Werner Henze's Cantata della fiaba estrema. Coloratura sopranos aren't everybody's cup of tea, I know. But this short (1963 - ca 22 mins.) work is, for me,  pure bliss. Not only Henze found a delicate, shimmering sound (13 instruments + small chorus) to illustrate the love poem by Elsa Morante, but he had the luck that Edda Moser has this incredibly supple voice capable of all the wondrous, surprising inflections and melismata he invented. Quelle artiste!

Fragment:
https://youtu.be/SI9QodWcrtw

[ritter]

I have only one recording that features Edda Moser: Hans Werner Henze's Cantata della fiaba estrema. Coloratura sopranos aren't everybody's cup of tea, I know. But this short (1963 - ca 22 mins.) work is, for me,  pure bliss. Not only Henze found a delicate, shimmering sound (13 instruments + small chorus) to illustrate the love poem by Elsa Morante, but he had the luck that Edda Moser has this incredibly supple voice capable of all the wondrous, surprising inflections and melismata he invented. Quelle artiste!

First listen to H.W. Henze's Cantata della fiaba estrema, on CD 8 of the big DG box:

[asin]B00CTKYO6U[/asin]

Indeed, a fascinating piece (among the best I've heard by the composer).

So...

...to Peter.

[MusicTurner]

Some Busoni orchestral with Järvi/Goerner/chandos and Masini/Swann/agora.

The Indian Phantasy, though not a masterpiece, is more interesting, stringent and modern-sounding in the Järvi-recording, IMHO.

[ritter]

And to end tonight's listening, some Krenek from a recent arrival:


The Sestina is new to me, while I've known (and admired) the Lamentions—here given in a severely abridged version—for many years.

CD 5 of this set:

[asin]B083X6NLMQ[/asin]

[vandermolen]

William Alwyn conducting his own Second Symphony (1953) - a very atmospheric recording, one to cherish:

IMO that's the best performance of Alwyn's favourite of his own symphonies.

[vandermolen]

4.  Clearly the best of the symphonies, or at least the most to my taste, it's in league with other death of loved ones inspired works (Suk's Asrael, Berg's VC, Mahler 9), and exceptionally beautiful.  Though I've not heard Mehta's take, the music seems almost tailor made for him.  I may end up buying his take in the next few years.

I sampled No.4 from this set and it sounded wonderful. Furthermore a friend of mine has recently acquired the set and described it to me as excellent in every way. I'm not sure that I'll get it as I only really like the 4th Symphony but I may get it just for that.

[Symphonic Addict]

Some Busoni orchestral with Järvi/Goerner/chandos and Masini/Swann/agora.

The Indian Phantasy, though not a masterpiece, is more interesting, stringent and modern-sounding in the Järvi-recording, IMHO.

That Busoni series allowed me to enjoy some intereting works.

[vandermolen]

New acquisition, first listen.

Maximilian Steinberg.
Violin Concerto, opus 37.
Symphony No. 4, "Turksib" , opus 24.
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Martin Yates.
Sergey Levitin, Violin.

Much is already said about this recording on GMG, so I add a little of my impressions. The Violin concerto is a well written piece of great art, thoroughly romantic in nature, and so well performed by the Violinist and Orchestra, they form a perfect synergy in this music, and there conversation is well informed. As a whole this symphony is arguing quite a case for this composer, and I love every note of this music. Again well argued, and presented in lush and bold colours. Really a trip to remember, and as a side effect, for my wife was listening too, she exclaimed, ' I join the fanclub' .
This Dutton CD is really one of the best State of the Art recordings I heard so far.

I'm delighted that you enjoyed it Harry but I think that we're in the minority here! 

[vandermolen]

New acquisition, first listen.

Erkki Salmenhaara.
Suomi Finland.
Tampere PO, Eri Klas.

Well, well, if I would not have been a fan of this composer, the present CD hooked me stock and barrel. What a amazing composer, if you are able to write such gorgeous music. The third movement "Adagietto" is to die for. Salmenhaara's life is told in these four movements, and especially the last movement "Le Bateau ivre" is an eulogy of his journey through his short life. The last 20 bars or so, gave me the shivers as if the boat was drawn into utter darkness that begets darkness. It made me think of the wise words of Lao Tzu.

""The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth.
The named is the mother of ten thousand things.
Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.
Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations.
These two spring from the same source but differ in name;
this appears as darkness.
Darkness within darkness.
The gate to all mystery."

The 24 bit recording is one of the best I ever heard from this label. The performance is exemplary.

Note to Jeffrey:

My wife wants to join the "unofficial international fanclub of Salmenhaara"

Haha - great to hear that Harry and I enjoyed the extract from the Tao te Ching as well - a book which I often consult.

[André]

Bought today for €1,50 at FNAC here in Madrid, and listening to it right now:

[asin]B000I2K9ME[/asin]
So far Jeanette Scovotti sounds great in A Berenice. Let's see how she manages my favourite Mozart concert aria, Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio! (with its Viscontian connotations)—it's at the end of the disc. Edda Moser sings the more famous Misera, dove son! and Bella mia fiamma.

A superb series. Berlin Classics issued 3 discs of Mozart concert arias For soprano split btw Moser and Scovotti. Although very different in tone both ladies display spunk and finesse in equal measure. Note that Moser's account of the fiendishly difficult scena Popoli di Tessaglia is a different one than that on her famous Mozart arias disc issued by EMI Electrola.

[Daverz]

I sampled No.4 from this set and it sounded wonderful. Furthermore a friend of mine has recently acquired the set and described it to me as excellent in every way. I'm not sure that I'll get it as I only really like the 4th Symphony but I may get it just for that.

The whole set is pretty cheap (at least for download), so I can also recommend it for 2 and 3 (haven't listened to 1).

TD:  Holmboe: Concerto for Recorders, Celesta & Vibraphone



Why aren't there more modern recorder concertos?  As long as the concerto is not too long (under 20 minutes here), it's an enjoyable bright and perky sound.  Even the overblowing used here (judiciously) is charming.

Earlier:

Haydn: Symphony No. 97

[asin] B0000041AR[/asin]

Oops, I misheard the Hurwitzer, it's Davis's No. 98 that he recommended.  Anyway, this is lovely.

[Symphonic Addict]

String Quartet No. 2

Revisiting this coruscating piece. This stuff makes me say "wow!".

[Todd]

[Madiel]

TD:  Holmboe: Concerto for Recorders, Celesta & Vibraphone



Why aren't there more modern recorder concertos?  As long as the concerto is not too long (under 20 minutes here), it's an enjoyable bright and perky sound.  Even the overblowing used here (judiciously) is charming.

Basically, many modern recorder concertos can be traced back to Michaela Petri. Including this one. In my personal opinion her own performance is a much better one, I found the BIS performance disappointing compared to the flute concertos on the same disc.

[Daverz]

Basically, many modern recorder concertos can be traced back to Michaela Petri. Including this one. In my personal opinion her own performance is a much better one, I found the BIS performance disappointing compared to the flute concertos on the same disc.

Yes, the flute concertos are very lovely.  I'll seek out the Petri recording.

TD:  Sean Hickey, Cello Concerto

[asin] B00BR6Y750[/asin]

Neo-classical/neo-Romantic in style, I'm reminded somewhat of Piston.  The Clarinet Concerto is even finer.

[Symphonic Addict]

Taneyev: Piano Quartet in E major
Fauré: Piano Quintet No. 2 in C minor



How wonderful Taneyev's chamber music is. The outer movements of this PQ have some interesting harmonic and rhytmic gestures, whereas the slow movement has an idyllic nature featuring a great melody.

Fauré knew how to make C minor sound contemplative. This work is just poetry. The slow movement is precious. There is a distended and sincere lyricism that seems coming from the bottom of his heart. It's rather touching.

[kyjo]

Taneyev: Piano Quartet in E major
Fauré: Piano Quintet No. 2 in C minor



How wonderful Taneyev's chamber music is. The outer movements of this PQ have some interesting harmonic and rhytmic gestures, whereas the slow movement has an idyllic nature featuring a great melody.

Fauré knew how to make C minor sound contemplative. This work is just poetry. The slow movement is precious. There is a distended and sincere lyricism that seems coming from the bottom of his heart. It's rather touching.

Two wonderful works, both among my most cherished pieces of chamber music ever composed. The coda of the Taneyev, where that wonderful theme from the slow movement is reprised in a most touching way, never fails to bring a tear to my eye. The passionately played CPO recording is the finest available.

[Carlo Gesualdo]

Hello guys I'm currently listening to Gesualdo  Tenebrae by ensemble graindelavoix, I did not like it at first, because download did not render justice to this ''tour de force'' triple album of Gesualdo I have it now in CD media and it fantastic.

My first listen did not like it , but now I consider this a great album, it sound like nothing I heard from Carlo Gesualdo, very colorful & brilliant.

graindelavoix really nails it this time, whit this awesome release, whit all the Tenebrae Responsoria I have this is one of the best new one since release in 2020, the voices are  melancholic & warm, what do you think folks 4/5 or 5/5 stars, I like it more than the Herreweghe Tenebrae Responsoria, this is telling, but I don't denied mister Herreweghe works in general R.I.P

[kyjo]

Gernsheim: String Quartet in A minor, op. 31



I find this composer to be rather hit-or-miss, but I'd mark this work down as a "hit". It's dramatic, lyrical, compellingly argued, and rarely slips into "Brahms-lite" mode like some of his works can. As usual, the Mandelring Quartett perform superbly, and I see the equally fine Diogenes Quartett have recently started a Gernsheim SQ cycle on CPO.


Mozart: Piano Concertos nos. 17 and 20



Of these two concerti, I prefer no. 17 for its infectious joyouness and freshness of invention. In no. 20, it sounds a bit to me like Mozart is "trying too hard" to be dark and dramatic (I don't feel that way about most of his minor-key works, btw), and I don't find the slow movement as special as many do. Superb performances from Andsnes and the Norwegian CO, whose woodwinds play with such great character it made me smile on multiple occasions!


Szymanowski: Piano Sonata no. 2



Despite the fact that it might lack indelibly memorable thematic material, this sonata still makes a significant impact (that final fugue is thrilling!), especially when performed as coruscatingly as it is here. Debargue is a powerhouse of a pianist, and I particularly admire his imaginative programming.


Vierne: Cello Sonata



A passionate, melodically strong work. I'll have to pay more attention to this composer. It's been ages since I've listened to his Piano Quintet...


Dvořák: Rusalka



This is one of those instances where I repeatedly ask myself: "Why did I wait so long to listen to this??". This is absolutely glorious music; I really don't have enough superlatives to describe it!! It confirms Dvořák's status as one of my most cherished composers, perhaps my most cherished. Really, this is more like a gigantic tone poem with voices than an opera; it all flows so seamlessly and organically, with the glittering strands of Dvořák's masterly orchestration driving the action. And I really can't imagine a more magnificent recording that the one here. Discovering music like this is why I will always - as the Hurwitzer says - "keep on listening"!

[kyjo]

Raff: String Quartet no. 7 Die schöne Müllerin



Listened to this at Cesar's recommendation. What lovely music it is, above all the first movement with its flowing lyricism and bittersweet harmonies. It's also a rare example of a programmatic chamber work (I can also think of Schoenberg's Verklarte Nacht and Onslow's String Quintet The Bullet). And unlike Schubert's song cycle of the same name, the work ends happily (well what do you expect, it is Raff after all)!


Zemlinsky: String Quartet no. 1 and Clarinet Trio

 

The quartet is one that improves with each successive movement, culminating in a riveting, joyous, thematically memorable finale in which the spirit of Dvořák can be heard. In the trio, it's the brooding, passionate first movement which is the highlight, with its deeply haunting main theme.


Kinsella: Symphony no. 10



I enjoyed this more than his Symphonies nos. 3 or 4. Scored for a classical-sized orchestra, I loved the punchy rhythmic energy this music possesses. The music's dynamism is helped in so small part by the prominent and virtuosic timpani part.


Rouse: Symphony no. 4



Another superb 21st-century symphony. It's in a bipartite form, with two movements titled Felice (happy) and Doloroso. They are, as you would expect, polar opposites. Rouse's masterful orchestration effectives highlights the differences in mood and texture between the two movements.


Boëllmann: Piano Quartet



An absolutely marvelous work, with one memorable melody following after the other. It's quite similar to Saint-Saëns in style (witness the secondary themes of the scherzo and finale, for instance), and, indeed, can match that composer in terms of inspiration. I have a hard time choosing between this recording and the one by Hungarian musicians on Marco Polo; the Trio Parnassus have a more elegant, "French" sound and can boast the excellent partnership of violist Gérard Caussé, while the Hungarian musicians play with more overt passion and I overall prefer their brisker tempi.

[Artem]

Beautiful music beautifully performed.

[Papy Oli]

Dubois, Pierre-Max (1930-1995):

Quatuor pour clarinettes



Saxophone Concerto No. 2



Quatuor pour trombones

[Papy Oli]

[Que]

Morning listening:



Q

[vandermolen]

The whole set is pretty cheap (at least for download), so I can also recommend it for 2 and 3 (haven't listened to 1).

TD:  Holmboe: Concerto for Recorders, Celesta & Vibraphone



Why aren't there more modern recorder concertos?  As long as the concerto is not too long (under 20 minutes here), it's an enjoyable bright and perky sound.  Even the overblowing used here (judiciously) is charming.

Earlier:

Haydn: Symphony No. 97

[asin] B0000041AR[/asin]

Oops, I misheard the Hurwitzer, it's Davis's No. 98 that he recommended.  Anyway, this is lovely.

Thanks.

Thought that I should have another go with Bax's 6th Symphony. Thomson's is a much stronger performance and much better recorded than Del Mar's Lyrita version. I also like the 'Festival Overture' coupling which I think is a much finer work than the title suggests.

[Que]

Simple psalm settings for liturgical use.
Nothing fancy, but pretty and in luxurious performances.

Q

[Madiel]

Kyjo, you would give me many interesting paths to follow you down, if only I wasn't so busy following Papy Oli through French composers.   

[Papy Oli]

Kyjo, you would give me many interesting paths to follow you down, if only I wasn't so busy following Papy Oli through French composers.   

You have my blessing to temporarily stray off the French path  ...but only to go and check Kinsella 3/4/10   

[Madiel]

You have my blessing to temporarily stray off the French path  ...but only to go and check Kinsella 3/4/10 

Between my own 25 listening projects, and my discovery of database software that might finally let me redo my Holmboe discography, there's no time!

[Papy Oli]

Cecil Armstrong Gibbs - Symphony No.3 "Westmorland"

[MusicTurner]

Shosty -
- Symphony 9 /Rozhdestvensky, USSR CultSO /melodiya CD
- Symphony 10 /Shipway, RPO /membran CD
- Piano Concerto 2 /Uhlig, Starek /hännssler CD
- Cello Concerto 2 /Ma, Ormandy /cbs-sony CD
- String Quartets 3+7+9 /Rubio Quartett /brilliant classics CD
- Symphony 8 /Haitink, CtGeb /decca CD

[Christo]

Cecil Armstrong Gibbs - Symphony No.3 "Westmorland"

[Todd]

Rock 'n' roll Eroica.

[Traverso]

Machaut

CD2

[Iota]

Prokofiev: Sonata No.6

Oleg Marshev (piano)


A less relentless, more nuanced performance than many, though there's plenty of turbo in the tank when required. An impressive combination of poet and lion. Have already set course for more of his Prokofiev.

[Maestro267]

Corigliano: Symphony No. 1
NOI PO/Miller

Benjamin: Symphony
London PO/Wordsworth

[Symphonic Addict]

Raff: String Quartet no. 7 Die schöne Müllerin



Listened to this at Cesar's recommendation. What lovely music it is, above all the first movement with its flowing lyricism and bittersweet harmonies. It's also a rare example of a programmatic chamber work (I can also think of Schoenberg's Verklarte Nacht and Onslow's String Quintet The Bullet). And unlike Schubert's song cycle of the same name, the work ends happily (well what do you expect, it is Raff after all)!


Zemlinsky: String Quartet no. 1 and Clarinet Trio

 

The quartet is one that improves with each successive movement, culminating in a riveting, joyous, thematically memorable finale in which the spirit of Dvořák can be heard. In the trio, it's the brooding, passionate first movement which is the highlight, with its deeply haunting main theme.


Kinsella: Symphony no. 10



I enjoyed this more than his Symphonies nos. 3 or 4. Scored for a classical-sized orchestra, I loved the punchy rhythmic energy this music possesses. The music's dynamism is helped in so small part by the prominent and virtuosic timpani part.


Rouse: Symphony no. 4



Another superb 21st-century symphony. It's in a bipartite form, with two movements titled Felice (happy) and Doloroso. They are, as you would expect, polar opposites. Rouse's masterful orchestration effectives highlights the differences in mood and texture between the two movements.


Boëllmann: Piano Quartet



An absolutely marvelous work, with one memorable melody following after the other. It's quite similar to Saint-Saëns in style (witness the secondary themes of the scherzo and finale, for instance), and, indeed, can match that composer in terms of inspiration. I have a hard time choosing between this recording and the one by Hungarian musicians on Marco Polo; the Trio Parnassus have a more elegant, "French" sound and can boast the excellent partnership of violist Gérard Caussé, while the Hungarian musicians play with more overt passion and I overall prefer their brisker tempi.

Very nice, Kyle. Good to know you enjoyed the Raff. Yesterday, curiously, David Hurwitz uploaded a video talking about that quartet:

https://www.youtube.com/v/Dh0pqZ1veC4

Thumbs up for the other works, except Zemlinsky' Clarinet Trio which is not much of my liking.

[Traverso]

CE DIABOLIC CHANT

[Christo]

Celebrating Vasks:

[Maestro267]

Fricker: Symphony No. 1
BBC PO/Thomson

Simpson: Symphony No. 1
Royal PO/Handley

Simpson: Symphony No. 2
Bournemouth SO/Handley

[vandermolen]

Nympholept

[Todd]

I really, really wanted to love this recording.  Alas, the period piano prevents that from happening.  The decays don't last long enough, and the playing cannot thunder when it should (eg, Funérailles).  Bonatta can play, as his Brahms indicates, but this is something of letdown.

[JBS]

A double dose of English Baroque opera
Before lunch
[asin]B084P2QZP2[/asin]
After lunch
[asin]B08DBZD7TD[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

I have this one

I am guessing, Jan, that is the Suite from Le pas d'acier?  The fantasy of Markevich recording the complete ballet, I find alluring.

[Karl Henning]

A bunch of Haydn lately from these sets

   

Hi, Karlo!

[Karl Henning]

Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky [Ancerl]





This work apparently started life as film music. Prokofiev apparently then arranged it as a cantata. This is big and epic music, befitting the subject matter. It is very "Soviet" in feel, I must say.

Excellent!

[Florestan]

A bunch of Haydn lately from these sets

   

[asin]B001DSR9PC[/asin]

When sanity needs to be restored, Haydn is the man.

[Karl Henning]

Igor Fyodorovich
Serenade in A
Sonata

Arnold
Suite, Op. 25
Two pf pcs, Op 33a & 33b
Rosen

Not my favorite Stravinsky works, by a country mile, but a fine disc nonetheless.

[André]

7-9

Each quartet is different, although they often take off where the preceding one left. All three here were composed in 1965. Holmboe seems to have been working with sets of three in mind. The abundance of material doesn't seem to have been a challenge, as every work is self-contained in terms of musical ideas and structure. Nos 8 and 9 for example are mirror images of each other, each in 5 movements, with no 8 having a structure of fast-slow-fast-slow-fast while no 8 is slow-fast-slow-fast-slow.

That being said, I didn't enjoy no 8 (agitated, hyperkinetic) as much as the more settled ones framing it. It could be that I prefer Holmboe's slow movements to his fast ones. Come to think of it, that's the case also with the quartets of Beethoven, Shostakovich and Bartok, too...

[vers la flamme]

Bohuslav Martinů: Sinfonietta Giocosa for piano & orchestra. Dennis Hennig, Charles Mackerras, Australian Chamber Orchestra

This is the first Martinů work I ever heard and I still enjoy it a good bit, even if the composer's other works as a whole has yet to really click with me.

[vers la flamme]

Changing it up...



Olivier Messiaen: Trois Petites Liturgies sur la présence divine. Myung-Whun Chung, Maîtrise et Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France

Messiaen's music is so out there, especially his sacred works. It sounds like nothing before or since. I have to really be in the mood for it. Lately, this has been really clicking with me.

[staxomega]

When sanity needs to be restored, Haydn is the man.

Thoughtful of you to include the link for the Brautigaum box in your edit  0:) Maybe one or two more drinks and my finger will hover towards the purchase button.

Some of my listening from later this evening - Ives Ensemble in Feldman's first String Quartet and 13, 14 and 15 Weinberg String Quartets.

[André]

Along with the Lulu-Suite and the three movements for strings from the Lyric Suite, this disc includes Three Fragments from Wozzeck for a generous repast of 80 minutes' duration. The so-called fragments are actually a suite devised by Berg himself to promote his opera. Soprano Alessandra Marc's chestnut tones and absolute security over a wide tessitura are a big plus here, imparting an instrumental quality and a concertante feel to her participation.

Berg chose the movements of the Lulu-Suite (premiered in 1934) to give audiences an avant-goût of his newest project. He didn't live to complete the work. I was not aware of that fact. I had always assumed that the Lulu-Suite had been put together by another hand, after Berg's death in 1935. Sinopoli and the Dresdeners produce hothouse performances, passionate, sumptuous, luxuriant. This is cd 6 of the Second Viennese School works Sinopoli and the SD recorded for Teldec just a year or two before his sudden death. A very important collection.

[Symphonic Addict]

Rautavaara: Garden of Spaces
Rubinstein: Don Quixote



One of the features why I find Rautavaara fascinating is his ability to conjure up mesmerizing and puzzling atmospheres. This work has much of that, and some impressive climaxes too! The whole disc is great. The Clarinet Concerto makes a strong impression too.

The epic story of Don Quixote has inspired various kind of substantial musical pieces. I'm not sure if this Rubinstein's work is one of them, but it's certainly a pleasant listen. The way some tension is built up in some passages is effective.

[kyjo]

Very nice, Kyle. Good to know you enjoyed the Raff. Yesterday, curiously, David Hurwitz uploaded a video talking about that quartet:

https://www.youtube.com/v/Dh0pqZ1veC4

Thumbs up for the other works, except Zemlinsky' Clarinet Trio which is not much of my liking.

Yeah, I noticed that. Funny coincidence!

[MN Dave]

. [asin]B00FGFDENE[/asin]

[SimonNZ]

[Mandryka]

I listened to his Barolotti CD last night! He's very good, though I never managed to get into Rainer's music - I'll give it another go someday.

[Madiel]

Holmboe, Viola Concerto op.189

[Carlo Gesualdo]

What the hell is an Oratorio please classical knowledge people explain to me  this about baroque music, because to me per. se thee Oratorio of  Leopold L  DIE KAISER OF BELGIUM OR EMPEROR
whit thee IL Sagrificio d'Abramo - Miserere
Weser-Renaissance at it'S finest super neat incredible sound melody, it's pleasant to hear great job  Manfred Cordes  nail it, wow.


My note is 5/5+ this mean I stay riveted stoic like Rodin the thinker and listen, focus, think, imagine, all in all good music  but heck guys it's CPO, who can blame them.

[Que]

Morning listening, my curiosity was piqued.... 



Q

[vandermolen]

Excellent!

That was my introduction to Alexander Nevsky. Nice to see the old Supraphon LP.

Thought I should play some VW today (born 12th October 1872):

[Irons]

Schumann: 3rd Symphony "Rhenish".



Inspired to play this by a BBC Radio 3 recent "Building a Library". Top choice in the programme for the "Rhenish" is Paavo Jarvi.