What are you listening 2 now?

[Mandryka]

This has been discussed here before and people didn't feel positive - including myself. The thought was that it was unpoetic.

However I now think that that judgement was unfair. Tonight I'm listening to them play Babbitt 3 and to me, it sounds like the most beautiful quartet I've ever heard in all my life. I mean, while I'm listening to it, it totally effaces the memory of all other quartets.

Part of the fascination comes from a contradiction. On the one hand, the music is completely unpredictable - as unpredictable as something by Cage constructed by chance processes, even though it's probably diametrically opposed to chance processes, the logic is not something I can hear at all. And on the other, it is so poised, classical and elegant, like a jewel, a diamond.

So I guess they're doing something right.

[Stürmisch Bewegt]

Lotta Scarlatti today :

[Papy Oli]

That is a wonderful, quirky work. Did you like it Olivier?

Façade was good fun, Fergus. Much prefer this orchestral version to the singing one.

[Brahmsian]

Piano Music of Ann Southam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHGm90C_9Vo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl7mgBztb10

Nice. I've only heard "Simple Lines of Inquiry" by Ann Southam.

[Symphonic Addict]

Oboe Concerto

Delightful piece.




Symphony No. 12

Not one of the best on this series. It was too polished for my ears. I was expecting more visceral drama.

[Karl Henning]

First heard this piece live at a NY Phil concert in the park on Sheepshead Bay in Queens

Sibelius
Symphony № 2 in D, Op. 43
Lahti Symphony
Vänskä

[Madiel]

My copy arrived last week and I haven't opened it yet. Have heard good things!

You'll generally hear better things after opening it.

[Daverz]

Albums from Sony's Rodzinski/New York Philharmonic box have started to hit the streaming sites:



Sounds great for a 1948 recording.

[JBS]

Another listen to this.
[Asin]B08NDXD2T7[/asin]
Recommended.

[André]

Superb. Arnell's evolution from no 1 (1939) to no 5 (1962) is fascinating. A wonderful disc.



Listened to the Rosza, Tiomkin, 2 Steiners, 2 Korngolds this week. Amazing production values. Gerhardt was able to secure the participation of the Ambrosian Singers, pianist Earl Wild and contralto Norma Procter (aka the solo alto from Horenstein's famous M3) for what are sometimes very short contributions. Orchestra and recorded sound are top notch. The whole series was recorded in the Kingsway Hall in 1973. DeLuxe stuff.

[André]

Excellent performance by Haitink and the most luxurious execution imaginable from the Concertgebouworkest (best horn section in the world at the time). The slow sections of I, III and VI do not possess the hypnotic beauty and refinement of the BRSO version, as Haitink in 1966 was a faster, cooler conductor. The sound is still beautiful. A classic.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Zemlinsky
Ein Tanzpoem
Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne
Conlon



Utterly enchanting.

[Symphonic Addict]

Rota: Symphony No. 3
Antheil: Symphony No. 6

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Messiaen
L'Ascension
Orchestre Philharmonique de L'ORTF
Constant

[Que]

Morning listening (on Spotify):



PS I kind of expected to be blown away by this recording, but I'm not....

Is it because of the largish ensemble with four tenors? The "pretty" smoothness, sometimes glossing over accents & details? I'm not sure .... this deserves another (comparative) listen some other time.
This mass has also been recorded by Cut Circle/ Rodin, Cantica Symphonia/Boeke, Maletto and an older recording by Dominique Vellard.

[Que]

Another listen to this.
[Asin]B08NDXD2T7[/asin]
Recommended.

Noted!  I'm not surprised. After all, it's Enrico Gatti.. 

[vandermolen]

Rota: Symphony No. 3
Antheil: Symphony No. 6

I have the Antheil disc Cesar but I wonder what the Rota symphony is like. I know that Christo is a fan.

Now, playing (again):
Kalnins: Symphony No.6
It should, I imagine, appeal to admirers of Philip Glass but it is not the same:

[vandermolen]

Superb. Arnell's evolution from no 1 (1939) to no 5 (1962) is fascinating. A wonderful disc.



Listened to the Rosza, Tiomkin, 2 Steiners, 2 Korngolds this week. Amazing production values. Gerhardt was able to secure the participation of the Ambrosian Singers, pianist Earl Wild and contralto Norma Procter (aka the solo alto from Horenstein's famous M3) for what are sometimes very short contributions. Orchestra and recorded sound are top notch. The whole series was recorded in the Kingsway Hall in 1973. DeLuxe stuff.

The Gerhardt box set is high on my wish list and Arnell was a fine composer - but I don't know the SQs.

[Irons]

Kabalevsky: Cello Sonata.



Surprisingly dark and heartfelt which doesn't fit my image of the composer.

[Que]

Stunning!