What are you listening 2 now?

[Sergeant Rock]

Haydn Symphony No. 36 in E flat major, Fey conducting the Heidelberger Sinfoniker



Sarge

[aligreto]

I very much like that set!   

Yes, it is very charming Que.
I had not come across it until very recently. I am glad that I did. 

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Martinů
Oboekonzert
Ivan Séquardt, oboe
Czech Philharmonic
Neumann

[kyjo]

Piano Concerto No. 4

An underrated cycle IMO. Simply I can't tire of this unabashed romanticism. It speaks straight to my soul and heart.

I'll have to investigate this cycle - sounds like a very appealing combination of performers. Shelley is a brilliant pianist who has recorded such a wide range of repertoire.

[kyjo]

Adam Zero

I didn't recall how brilliant this work is. It shows Bliss as a terrific orchestrator. There is some imaginative writing here.

Love that work! Bliss is increasingly becoming one of my favorite British composers behind RVW, Bax, Walton, Lloyd, Arnold, and Elgar. As you say, his orchestration is so imaginative (great use of percussion!), and I find the way he works out his musical material to be very satisfying.

[kyjo]

Nadia Boulanger: Fantaisie for piano and orchestra

A first listen. I'm not sure how many works she composed, but this one is just exceptional. Very impressed.

Oh yes, a gorgeous work. It's a pity that Nadia basically stopped composing when her sister Lili died in 1918 - as she left us with very little. The only other work I know by her (besides a few songs) is her brilliant 3 Pieces for cello and piano. Btw, the Tansman PC no. 2 on that disc is also fantastic!

[kyjo]

It is thrilling (Popov 1). My first time hearing it and I was mightily impressed.

Sarge

That finale is something else, isn't it?!

[Harry]

The soloists aren't my favourite compared to other versions, but it's a good ride and I kind of dig the differences. FYI, I'm glad I'm not the only one with those piles!  0:)

Good God no, many of us have huge amounts of unplayed discs. At one time I had almost 1400 in the waiting line. Now at least its 1399, thats an improvement.

[SonicMan46]

Bach, JS - Well-Tempered Clavier, Bks. I & II w/ Ivo Janssen on piano from his 20 CD box below - Dave

[aligreto]

Bruckner: Mass in F minor [Herreweghe]



This is a very powerful work and Herreweghe does it great justice here. As one would expect under his direction, the delivery of the choral music is top tier; it is emotional and very engaging. The performance from the orchestral forces is similarly impressive and dramatic. This would be a very complete performance but for the fact that I do find the vocal soloists a bit trying on my ear but that is just me. All in all this is a terrific performance.

[Karl Henning]

Ravel

Boléro
Alborada del gracioso
La Valse
Orchestre National de France
Lenny

Rapsodie espagnole
NY Phil
Lenny

Amusingly, the next disc:

Ravel

Boléro
La Valse
Rapsodie espagnole
Alborada del gracioso
NY Phil
Lenny

The La Valse here (rec. 6 Jan 1958 in the St George Hotel in Brooklyn) is especially sweet!

[Karl Henning]

Ravel

Daphis et Chloé
La Valse

Schola Cantorum
NY Phil
Lenny

Yes, this is the third La Valse in this box (and I don't mind) — rec. in Philharmonic Hall (now Avery Fisher Hall) 21 Jan 1963

[Artem]

Another new composer to me. This year's release.

[Florestan]

I very much like that set!   

Yes, it is very charming Que.
I had not come across it until very recently. I am glad that I did. 

That set is not bad, but this one is better... 

[Florestan]

I'll have to investigate this cycle - sounds like a very appealing combination of performers. Shelley is a brilliant pianist who has recorded such a wide range of repertoire.

Shelley's is one of the best, most passionate, white-hot Op. 23 / 5 I've ever heard.

Rumor has it, though, that the best modern Rachmaninoff PC cycle is this:



which I have but didn't listen to yet.

Anyone familiar with it?

[André]

Ravel

Daphis et Chloé
La Valse

Schola Cantorum
NY Phil
Lenny

Yes, this is the third La Valse in this box (and I don't mind) — rec. in Philharmonic Hall (now Avery Fisher Hall) 21 Jan 1963

My favourite performance of La valse is also with the NYPO, but led by Boulez. One of the very rare instances where I choose Boulez over other conductors 

[Brahmsian]

Bruckner: Mass in F minor [Herreweghe]



This is a very powerful work and Herreweghe does it great justice here. As one would expect under his direction, the delivery of the choral music is top tier; it is emotional and very engaging. The performance from the orchestral forces is similarly impressive and dramatic. This would be a very complete performance but for the fact that I do find the vocal soloists a bit trying on my ear but that is just me. All in all this is a terrific performance.

I love this disc! Unfortunately, I lent it to a friend and it has been misplaced, for the time being.

[Que]

[Karl Henning]

My favourite performance of La valse is also with the NYPO, but led by Boulez. One of the very rare instances where I choose Boulez over other conductors 

Très intéressant.

[SonicMan46]

Shelley's is one of the best, most passionate, white-hot Op. 23 / 5 I've ever heard.

Rumor has it, though, that the best modern Rachmaninoff PC cycle is this:

   

which I have but didn't listen to yet. Anyone familiar with it?

Hi Andrei - the recording w/ Hough piqued my interest - I've not changed/added/culled my Rach Piano Concertos recordings for years - and looking the two sets that I own are relatively 'old' - however, I was reading reviews of the Hough set, recorded live, and mostly laudatory although audience clapping is mentioned at the end of each work, something that I cannot tolerate well (just me although the reviewer mentioning this was also annoyed) - BUT when you listen let us know?  Also, I do enjoy the performances of Eresko (what happened to him?) but could replace the Wild, so any other 'more recent' recommendations from all would be appreciated.  Dave