What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

Antonín Dvořák: Piano Quintet No.2 in A major, op.81. Arthur Rubinstein, Guarneri Quartet.

Beginning to appreciate more and more what a brilliant melodist Dvořák was as his music seems to make more sense with each listen.

Dvořák is my favorite composer of the Romantic Era. Yes, he was an unbelievably good melodist, but the man just wrote incredible music. He's one of those rare composers where I say I haven't heard one bum note from him. The other composer I would say this about is Sibelius.

[Mirror Image]

Well, let me turn now to the second.

Great, sir! Please let me know how you get on with it.

[André]

I have that same recording (but with EMI livery) and, as you, prefer a lighter touch in this music. And yet, it does have a certain charme désuet, doesn't it?

Good evening to you, André.

Good evening to you, Rafael  . That's indeed exactly why I like this set despite its unfashionably old style. And there's no denying the beauty and naturalness of the playing. The Berlin Classics booklet has a facsimile of the german text in gothic calligraphy. No translation. It's a good thing I know the work inside out because sometimes it is undecipherable  .

[Mirror Image]

I'm feeling very drawn (or, rather, even more attracted than usual  ) to Darius Milhaud's music these days, so am revisiting this purchase of earlier this year:


Délicieux!

You know, Rafael, you've inspired me to get out my Milhaud. I've got that Erato set (Une Vie Heureuse), CPO sets (symphonies, PCs), all of those Brilliant Classics recordings of chamber music (+ the one with the Chamber Symphonies), three discs of piano music, the complete SQs on Naive and many other recordings. Tomorrow may just have to be a Milhaud day (or, at least, part of it anyway).

[Symphonic Addict]

https://www.youtube.com/v/52LDs5-u0jM

Irons mentioned Yuri Falik some days ago. Listening to his 2nd SQ on YouTube and Nos. 3 and 4 from the recording below:



Hat tip to him for recommending him. This is some intense, visceral and bitter music. I thought each quartet was better than the previous one. I'm listening to the rest of them tomorrow.




Ibert - Flute Concerto

Clearly one of the greatest concertos for the instrument. It would come second after the Nielsen in my preferences. The slow movement is just beautiful and packed with melancholy. The recording and performance are exemplary.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Villa-Lobos
Suite Infantil Nos. 1 & 2
Sonia Rubinsky



From this superb set:


[/quote]

[Daverz]

A Magnard evening:

Symphony No. 2



I don't think there are any bad Magnard symphony cycles, but I like to think that even in the '80s the Tolouse orchestra retained some semblance of the French style, and the sonics are admirably straightforward and clear.

Violin Concerto:





 

[JBS]

Tchaikovsky SQs 2 and 3

[steve ridgway]

Some compositions from 1968 yesterday. Boulez Livre Pour Cordes, Lutosławski Livre Pour Orchestre, Birtwistle Nomos.

[Harry]

Johann Pachelbel.

Organ Works.

Joseph Kelemen, Organ.

Stertzing organ 1702, Erfurt BüßLeben.
Pitch: a'= 517 Hz .
Meantone temperament after Praetorius

Crapp organ 1722, Pappenheim.
Pitch: a'=467 Hz.
Temperament: Werckmeister III.

For me Kelemen is one of the best organists around. Almost everything he does is more than excellent. Pachelbel is amongst them. I have not heard it better done. Sound is superb. And the organs are a dream to listen too.

[Florestan]

Dvořák is my favorite composer of the Romantic Era. Yes, he was an unbelievably good melodist, but the man just wrote incredible music. He's one of those rare composers where I say I haven't heard one bum note from him. The other composer I would say this about is Sibelius.

Poor Debussy! Poor Villa-Lobos! Betrayed and stabbed in the back. 

[Que]

More of this:



I'm definitely not a fan of the Cantica Symphonia recordings (on Glossa) of Franco-Flemish repertoire, but this is just splendid! 

Q

[listener]

RAVEL: The standard solo piano works and the 2 piano concertos
Vlado Perlemuter, piano
1955 recordings for Vox, not in stereo but that's not a problem for solo piano listening.
2 cds.

[Irons]

https://www.youtube.com/v/52LDs5-u0jM

Irons mentioned Yuri Falik some days ago. Listening to his 2nd SQ on YouTube and Nos. 3 and 4 from the recording below:



Hat tip to him for recommending him. This is some intense, visceral and bitter music. I thought each quartet was better than the previous one. I'm listening to the rest of them tomorrow.




Ibert - Flute Concerto

Clearly one of the greatest concertos for the instrument. It would come second after the Nielsen in my preferences. The slow movement is just beautiful and packed with melancholy. The recording and performance are exemplary.

Good of you to say that. I am surprised as following so many of your recommendations I didn't think for a moment the boot would ever be on the other foot.

The 6th is different, I have not heard a SQ remotely similar. The piece plays on my mind which leads me to think it may be quite good.

[Irons]

Enesco: 3rd Violin Sonata (dans le caractere populaire roumain).



Keyboard plays an important role, perhaps more so then violin. Diane Andersen, wife of André Gertler is jaw-dropping good.

[vandermolen]

NP:

Villa-Lobos
Suite Infantil Nos. 1 & 2
Sonia Rubinsky



From this superb set:

Not heard the piano music but over the last few days I've been enjoying symphonies 3 and 4 on Naxos. These are the favourites of those I know.

[vandermolen]

Farringdon Records!  Our paths might well have crossed.  When I was a student at the Guildhall - which had just moved into the (then) new Barbican Centre around 1979/80 Farringdon Records (and the wonderful of the manager of the CM department in the basement - Tony - became both a mecca and an Aladdin's Cave for me.  Much happy time and much of my student grant spent there!

Oh yes, that was a wonderful shop! I remember the famous Tony telling me that Niels Gade's Eighth Symphony was 'very dear to [his] heart'. I made many great discoveries there including Novak's masterpiece 'The Storm' on a double LP set, Hans Hubert Schoenzeler's recording of Rubbra's 5th Symphony, coupled with Bliss's 'Checkmate Suite', Hilding Rosenberg's 3rd Symphony (with an annoying 'click' throughout the last movement - it was a pressing fault on every copy) and that fine Malcolm Williamson set. I really miss such places.

I went to school next to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on the Victoria Embankment - in those days Captain Scott's 'Discovery' was moored on the Thames just outside.

Now playing:
Honegger's 3rd Symphony 'Liturgique' preceded by Chausson's Symphony - both fine performances:

[vandermolen]

RAVEL: The standard solo piano works and the 2 piano concertos
Vlado Perlemuter, piano
1955 recordings for Vox, not in stereo but that's not a problem for solo piano listening.
2 cds.

That's a fine set which I also have.

[Mandryka]

https://www.youtube.com/v/QREmBW3-Yeg

A clarinet piece by Rebecca Saunders, Aether.

[Florestan]

The Oboe Quartet is a masterpiece of calmness, order and grace and the Adagio & Rondo for flute, oboe, viola, cello and glass harmonica is a beguiling oddity. Both are given very fine performances here, together with the equally delightful Piano & Winds quintet.



Crackerjack performance.