What are you listening 2 now?

[aligreto]

Miaskovsky: Symphony No. 17 Op. 41 [Svetlanov]





This one is an epic; mighty and weighty. Having said that, there are many lyrical passages that enliven the multi-faceted work. Drama, tension and excitement prevail through the excellent orchestration, and once again, the writing for the wind section is wonderfully effective. The second, slow movement really is a thing of beauty. That third movement is also very appealing and also a bit quirky.

[Papy Oli]

Chausson - Poème

From the Martinon Icon box.

[Traverso]

Miaskovsky: Symphony No. 17 Op. 41 [Svetlanov]





This one is an epic; mighty and weighty. Having said that, there are many lyrical passages that enliven the multi-faceted work. Drama, tension and excitement prevail through the excellent orchestration, and once again, the writing for the wind section is wonderfully effective. The second, slow movement really is a thing of beauty. That third movement is also very appealing and also a bit quirky.

I have been informed that the 17th symphony must be something special   

[aligreto]

I have been informed that the 17th symphony must be something special   

Yes, Jan, It is and I had also read that it was so before I heard it. But I do things the boring way with a new box set or conductor with a new cycle. I like to start at the beginning to see how things evolve and progress. So I waited patiently and I was not disappointed.

[ritter]

Staying on Mediterranean shores, but moving eastwards from Italy to Greece, with Nikos Skalkottas' String Quartets No. 3 & No. 4 (played by the New Hellenic Quartet).

[Mirror Image]

Staying on Mediterranean shores, but moving eastwards from Italy to Greece, with Nikos Skalkottas' String Quartets No. 3 & No. 4 (played by the New Hellenic Quartet).

What do you think about Skalkottas' music, Rafael?

[ritter]

What do you think about Skalkottas' music, Rafael?

I think it's very attractive, even if I don't return to it that often. The alternation between his serious sounding Schoenbergism and his Greek folk style is quite fascinating actually, and to me it sounds like very well crafted music. In any case, my knowledge of it isn't that intimate...

[Mirror Image]

I think it's very attractive, even if I don't return to it that often. The alternation between his serious sounding Schoenbergism and his Greek folk style is quite fascinating actually, and to me it sounds like very well crafted music. In any case, my knowledge of it isn't that intimate...

Thanks for the feedback. I haven't really heard anything of great distinction of his work yet, but I should plan a revisit at some point.

[ritter]

And from Greece, on to the Greek Stravinsky: Riccardo Chailly conducts the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Apollon Musagète.

From the not so old and not quite complete DG "Stravinsky Complete Edition"

[Mirror Image]

And from Greece, on to the Greek Stravinsky: Riccardo Chailly conducts the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Apollon Musagète.

From the not so old and not quite complete DG "Stravinsky Complete Edition"

Lovely! Great performance, too.

Thread duty -

Schoenberg
A Survivor From Warsaw (Ein Überlebender Aus Warsaw) Op. 46
Variations for Orchestra, Op. 31
Five Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 16
Accompaniment To A Cinematographic Scene (Begleitmusik Zu Einer Lichtspielszene-Drohende Gefahr, Angst, Katastrophe) Op. 34
Günter Reich, speaker
BBC SO
Boulez



A stunning tour-de-force of Schoenberg vocal/orchestral works. Today has been kind of a Second Viennese School kind of day, which is always a gratifying experience.

[Karl Henning]

Yes, Jan, It is and I had also read that it was so before I heard it. But I do things the boring way with a new box set or conductor with a new cycle. I like to start at the beginning to see how things evolve and progress. So I waited patiently and I was not disappointed.

You don't need me to say this, but: Nothing wrong with that approach, Fergus.

[Karl Henning]

Staying on Mediterranean shores, but moving eastwards from Italy to Greece, with Nikos Skalkottas' String Quartets No. 3 & No. 4 (played by the New Hellenic Quartet).

Mmmmm.

[Cato]

I think it's very attractive, even if I don't return to it that often. The alternation between his serious sounding Schoenbergism and his Greek folk style is quite fascinating actually, and to me it sounds like very well crafted music. In any case, my knowledge of it isn't that intimate...

From my experience, everything by Skalkottas is worth your time!

https://www.youtube.com/v/mpOnx4p9NUw

[Daverz]

Boris Papandopulo.

Piano Concerto No 3
Violin Concerto.

I've really enjoyed the CPO discs of his music that have come out so far.  He was a very prolific composer, so hopefully there will be much more.

TD: Frankel: Symphony No. 5



My previous encounter with Frankel was his film score for The Battle of the Bulge, which I found boring.  Probably works better in the context of the film.  This symphony however is quite engaging, lyrical and martial by turns and very well orchestrated.  It's also concise.  The recording is fantastic.

[Karl Henning]

First-Listen Friday:

Myaskovsky
Silence, Op. 9 (1910)
Svetlanov & al.

The fact is, I listened to this four times today. It has shot straight to my second-favorite Myaskovsky score (after the a minor quartet, № 13, Op. 86)  Twenty minutes of wonderfully colorful and atmospheric music which engages the ear from start to end, which has not always been my own experience with the composer.

Dmitri Dmitriyevich
Symphony № 7 in C, Op. 60 « Leningrad »
First I've listened to thus recording.  I've kept it at arm's length, because of the cuts (which Lenny himself later restored in his recording with the CSO.) I don't say that I expected otherwise, but of course, unless I were to follow the score, I don't notice the cut variation[ s ] and putting that musical malfeasance out of mind, I find it in all other respects a fantastic account.

(* typo *)

[JBS]

I think it's very attractive, even if I don't return to it that often. The alternation between his serious sounding Schoenbergism and his Greek folk style is quite fascinating actually, and to me it sounds like very well crafted music. In any case, my knowledge of it isn't that intimate...

Fully in agreement with this, although I must say his "Schoenbergism" is sometimes too thorny for me. But that should be less of a problem to those who, unlike me, often find Schoenberg too thorny. But he's well worth hearing.
[Also Skalkottas had his own distinct voice and style, by no means an epigone of AS.]

TD
From this set

This CD

[Mirror Image]

Now, for something completely different and from a Schoenberg student nonetheless...

NP:

Harrison
Seven Pastorales
Brooklyn Philharmonic
Dennis Russell Davies

[Mirror Image]

Selections from this recording:



Exceptionally beautiful.

[Symphonic Addict]

Well, the fact that you're enjoying should mean something, right? I've read Toch's idiom is better suited in chamber music, but there's much about the composer I don't know.

It's true, but we all don't enjoy music in the same way, we prefer some composers and works over others, so I sometimes prefer to be more prudent, although with these works I can't hide my enthusiasm.

[JBS]

Been a while since I last listened to anyone playing the Sonata, so maybe my memory is faulty--but I don't remember this work being played with so many extreme shifts in dynamics and tempo as BG does here.