What are you listening 2 now?

[vandermolen]

Told ya this box is a winner

You did indeed Harry!
I'm now on to Moeran's touching 'Rhapsody' - and the performances are so good too.

[Brahmsian]

That SACD version of the Monteux's Franck Symphony has a quite audible electronic hum noise.  The later issue that is in the complete RCA box or the RCA Stereo box does not have the hum.

Good to know this. Thanks Dave.

[Harry]

Starting today listening to the Esoteric K-05Xs, will compare it with the Nu-Vista I have currently. Starting with the SACD/Hybrid , CD 1 of this set.

[steve ridgway]

Ligeti - Concert Românesc. A bit traditional for me but listenable.

[Karl Henning]

Maiden-Listen Monday!

"Wolferl"
Pf Sonata № 1 in C, K.279 (1775)
van Oort


Nice work for a 19-year-old.

[steve ridgway]

Takemitsu - Distance De Fee. I prefer this to the Ligeti.

[steve ridgway]

Berio - Due Pezzi. No problems with this one either.

[kyjo]

Alexandre Tansman's 4th symphony, in 2 very different versions. First, this one from 2005 under Oleg Catani:



Then the 1998 Koch Schwann release under Israel Yinon:



As I was listening to the Caetani disc, curiosity moved me to pull out the Yinon disc from the shelves. That's when I noticed a big difference in timings between the two recordings: Caetani takes 21 minutes to Yinon's 27 - almost 30% less in a score usually described as neo-classical, where rythm is an essential feature. Much of the first movement's difference lies in the lengthy slow introduction with its slow harmonic progressions. Under Yinon it acquires creepy overtones, much as in the first movement of Bartok's MSPC. The ensuing Allegro deciso is trudging and not really deciso - a heavy jog to Caetani's crisp scamper. There's a third recording of the work on the Dux label, with timings practically identical to Yinon's. It would lend weight to his choice of a measured approach, then. Still, I prefer Caetani's interpretation.

For good measure I listened to the other work on the Koch disc, the substantial and very entertaining ballet Bric-à-brac. Tansman is not a major composer in my opinion, but a very accomplished one nonetheless. He seems to have been of a happy countenance whatever the circumstances, so angst and anger are not present in his works. Lest that sound like a putdown, it is not. He was a very fine craftsman capable of genuine sentiment, expressing only the emotions he genuinely felt.

I like Tansman's music a lot, especially his earlier works which have influences of jazz and Impressionism incorporated into his signature neoclassical style. His later works are quite a bit more serious and "severe". Bric-à-brac is a tremendously entertaining and colorful score - there's a great new recording on CPO coupled with his ballet Sextuor.

[Karl Henning]

No surprise! Could you listen to just one? Again, a maiden listen:

"Wolferl"
Pf Sonata № 2 in F, K.280 (1775)
van Oort

[steve ridgway]

Josef Anton Riedl - Musique Concrete, Studie 1B, Studie 1A. Makes a good contrast.

[not edward]

The most incandescent performance of Nielsen's 4th hands down. The outer movements are just insane. Martinon and the CSO were on fire when played this. Playing of the highest bravura. Not a first choice for me, but wow, it does leave an impression!!

This is a fantastic performance, and easily my favourite. Which do you prefer to it?

[asin]B075MVWD3X[/asin]

A 75-minute cycle for string quartet, soprano and clarinet, in what these days is a rather old-fashioned modernist style descending from Xenakis through Francisco Guerrero Marin. I think it's amazing, but YMMV.

[steve ridgway]

Boulez - Polyphonie X.

[T. D.]

Proceeding through this recent acquisition, now have heard all but 2 discs.
It's far surpassing expectations, both musically (the cti I hadn't previously heard) and performance-wise.

[André]

Rachmaninov: symphony no 2. Svetlanov has recorded this work many times over, with different orchestras. This is from 1985 and is a live recording. It's thrilling, a red-blooded performance of great power. The disc is completed with Tchaikovsky's Francesca da Rimini from his 1968 studio integral. The sound here is more blended, even a bit muddy compared to the X-ray brilliance and edge of the Rachmaninov recording. Still, an exciting ride to hell.

[steve ridgway]

Ligeti - Ricercare - Omaggio A Girolamo Frescobaldi. Quite minimal but the organ sound saves it.

[steve ridgway]

Xenakis - Six Chansons Pour Piano. OK, nothing revolutionary but interesting X could write that sort of thing if he wanted to.

[Karl Henning]

CD 2 (albeit several weeks early)
de Victoria
Vere languores nostros — Motet a 4
Pueri Hebræorum — Motet a 4

Officium Hebdomadæ Sanctæ
Incipit lamentatio Jeremiæ a 4
Vau. Et agressus est a 4
Iod. Manum suam misit hostis a 4

O Domine Jesu Christe — Motet a 6
Heth. Cogitavit Dominus a 4
Aleph. Ego vir videns a 5
O vos omnes — Motet a 4
Heth. Misericordiæ Domini a 4
Aleph. Quomodo obscurantum a 4
Incipit oratio Jeremiæ a 4

Ensemble Plus Ultra
Michael Noone

[Mirror Image]

NP: Honegger Symphony No. 1 (Baudo/CzPO)



A great performance marred by subpar fidelity --- the strings are distant while the woodwinds and brass are right up against the ear, especially in the forte passages. But this is still miles better than Dutoit's performances of Honegger.

[SonicMan46]

Brahms, Johannes - Piano Works w/ Geoffroy Couteau - another new box set recorded quickly (April though August of 2015) and in chronological order - reviews seem non-existent except for comments from the Amazonians.  For myself, enjoying both Couteau and Plowright yesterday - if thinking of replacing one or several of your 'old' sets of these works, these pianists are worth a listen - both are available on Spotify (and I'm sure other online streaming services).  Dave

[Karl Henning]

Enjoying this box richly

CD 3
de Victoria
Missa Gaudeamus a 6
Magnificat octavi toni a 4 (Antiphona: Hodie Maria
Vidi aquam — Antiphon a 4
Missa Ave Maris stella a 4

Ensemble Plus Ultra
Michael Noone