What are you listening 2 now?

[aligreto]

Hi Rafael,
I did enjoy some of his piano music earlier in the week. The rest so far is not really convincing me.

I would not worry about this. It is great that you are trying all of these various composers [far more that I have!] and, as you know by now, everything is not for everyone 

[Mirror Image]

I would not worry about this. It is great that you are trying all of these various composers [far more that I have!] and, as you know by now, everything is not for everyone 

Yes, I think it's important to continue to explore composers, especially from the eras that one enjoys. I have found some nice discoveries, but also many that are forgettable and not worth pursuing any further. But you'd never know this unless you were actually curious enough to take that musical risk into the unknown.

[Mirror Image]

Continuing with this recording:

Ligeti
Études, Book II
Driver

[Papy Oli]

I would not worry about this. It is great that you are trying all of these various composers [far more that I have!] and, as you know by now, everything is not for everyone 

Yes, I think it's important to continue to explore composers, especially from the eras that one enjoys. I have found some nice discoveries, but also many that are forgettable and not worth pursuing any further. But you'd never know this unless you were actually curious enough to take that musical risk into the unknown.

Oh yes, I have let go of that musical worry now  I keep sampling anyway and now I just tend to move on more quickly if something doesn't stick because a) I still have some way to go on the French list and b) I still make some musical gains along the way anyway and there's been some substantial ones at that. Even if the gain is minimal, It still works for me    (e.g. for Dutilleux, only the symphonies worked for me this time, not the rest of the works I tried. I know I will go back to those symphonies in the weeks or months ahead. Maybe then, I'll be curious again and then more receptive to his other works).

TD: Delibes - Coppélia

[Florestan]

No. 1 (again)

This one of the greatest Late Romantic symphonies.

[Mirror Image]

No. 1 (again)

This one of the greatest Late Romantic symphonies.

Wait until you hear the 2nd.

[Florestan]

Wait until you hear the 2nd.

I've heard them all long time ago. Now I'm only reacquainting myself with them.

[Mirror Image]

I've heard them all long time ago. Now I'm only reacquainting myself with them.

Very good. You'll notice a stylistic shift in the 3rd symphony, which is more compact than the 1st and 2nd.

[Florestan]

Very good. You'll notice a stylistic shift in the 3rd symphony, which is more compact than the 1st and 2nd.

Yes, I remember that.

[Mandryka]

Much praised, but I really cannot see what the fuss is about, on the basis of their op 50/1. This is tame tame tame.

[North Star]

First listen (this recording)

Strauss
Salome
Montserrat Caballé, Sherrill Milnes, Richard Lewis, Regina Resnik, James King
London Symphony Orchestra
Erich Leinsdorf

[Traverso]

Bach

CD 2

[aligreto]

Miaskovsky: Symphony No. 3 [Svetlanov]





What a wonderful, powerful and engaging opening to a symphony. There is tension, drama, excitement, wonderful orchestration and great playing here. The opening movement is very well driven. It is terrifically orchestrated with a powerful result. Drama and tension abound in a wonderful sound world.

The second movement is a wonderful contrast to the first. The tempo and intensity are both initially increased here, followed by calm oases throughout the movement. The sound of the string section, both higher and lower register, is very appealing and noticeable here. I find it to be a wonderfully powerful presentation, particularly the conclusion of the work.

[aligreto]

Oh yes, I have let go of that musical worry now  I keep sampling anyway and now I just tend to move on more quickly if something doesn't stick because a) I still have some way to go on the French list and b) I still make some musical gains along the way anyway and there's been some substantial ones at that. Even if the gain is minimal, It still works for me    (e.g. for Dutilleux, only the symphonies worked for me this time, not the rest of the works I tried. I know I will go back to those symphonies in the weeks or months ahead. Maybe then, I'll be curious again and then more receptive to his other works).

TD: Delibes - Coppélia

Yes, that is a very positive way of looking at your odyssey. Good for you 

How did you find Bonynge's version of Coppelia?

[aligreto]

No. 1 (again)

This one of the greatest Late Romantic symphonies.

An absolutely superb work by any standard.

[Mirror Image]

Speaking of superb works...

NP:

Mahler
Symphony No. 7 in E minor
New Philharmonia Orch.
Klemperer

[aligreto]

Speaking of superb works...

NP:

Mahler
Symphony No. 7 in E minor
New Philharmonia Orch.
Klemperer

Yes, indeed, but it took me many years of listening to crack it.

[Mirror Image]

Yes, indeed, but it took me many years of listening to crack it.

With Mahler, I understood almost everything right away and I suppose that's the mark of a composer that speaks to you. It did take me some time to fully appreciate Das Lied von der Erde, but this is mainly because I had some kind of mental block against vocal music back then. Now, it's one of my favorite works from anyone. Three genres that have really opened up for me in the past 4-5 years have been songs/lieder/melodies, solo piano and opera.

[North Star]

Mahler
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen
Christian Gerhaher
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
Kent Nagano

[Traverso]

Mozart

"Gran Partita"

A recording that I love from my childhood, the wonderful sonorous sounds lead to rapture almost immediately. Still my favorite recording