What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

Now playing this new arrival:

Strauss
Salome
Hildegard Behrens (soprano), Kurt Rydl (bass), José van Dam (baritone), Agnes Baltsa (mezzo-soprano) et. al.
Wiener Philharmoniker
HvK

[ritter]

Now playing this new arrival:

Strauss
Salome
Hildegard Behrens (soprano), Kurt Rydl (bass), José van Dam (baritone), Agnes Baltsa (mezzo-soprano) et. al.
Wiener Philharmoniker
HvK

Nice! I had that recording on LP (bought it when it was first released), but never got it on CD. Hildegard Behrens was catapulted to fame as a result of this recording. I might look into getting it eventually...

THREAD DUTY:

First listen to this new arrival of chamber music by Reynaldo Hahn.



If everything is as good as the opening movement, andante molto moderato, of the String Quartet No. 1 in A minor, then this is the CD of Hahn's chamber music to have. The Quatuor Tchalik play like gods!

[foxandpeng]

As someone who has always liked Schoenberg, Stravinsky & Rachmaninoff, I cannot hazard any guess.

Nor I....

[Mirror Image]

Nice! I had that recording on LP (bought it when it was first released), but never got it on CD. Hildegard Behrens was catapulted to fame as a result of this recording. I might look into getting it eventually...

Everything sounds fantastic so far --- I really have no objections to any of the vocalists. The orchestral playing is, of course, textbook Karajan. Magnificent! Yes, I would definitely try to acquire the CD set. Preferably the 'Great Recordings of the Century' reissue, which still has the libretto (unlike the later reissue) and has been remastered. It's OOP, but I'd imagine you won't have a problem finding a used copy in a desirable condition.

[aligreto]

Palestrina: Missa lauda Sion [Pro Cantione Antiqua]





This is another fine work by Palestrina. It displays the height to which he brought polyphonic writing. The music throughout these recordings thus far has been recorded in a warm, reverberant acoustic which both evokes and enhances the atmosphere of the musical setting.

[Karl Henning]

From the Hindemith Symphonies Poll:

Mathis, Pittsburgh and Symphonic Metamorphosis.

Sarge

Long time ago, Sarge, at (I believe) a CD shop convenient to the Cleveland Institute of Music, I picked up a CD with the Pgh Symphony.  I do not remember the performing forces, nor what else was on the disc.  I remember feeling that The Tune in the last movement felt campy and artificial—and my disappointment was sharp, as I liked everything else in the piece. Your post reminded me that I had not yet listened to the piece in the Kegel & al. Hindemith set.  God bless Kegel.  Great piece! No reservations!

[Symphonic Addict]

Concerto de Lieja. Brouwer.

One of my greatest discoveries of this year so far.

[Symphonic Addict]

The Saint-Saëns is a stunning work; it's quite dramatic and intense with great themes. It's becoming one of my favorite works by him. I don't find his 2nd cello sonata to be as engaging, however.

How's the Reger? I'm generally not a huge fan of his chamber music, finding it to be too dense and lacking memorable themes. Even the highly regarded Clarinet Quintet didn't really impress me. My favorite works by him remain the Hiller and Mozart Variations, the Böcklin Pictures (despite a rather disappointing 4th movement), and a few of his orchestral songs. The Romantic Suite and 3 suites for solo cello are pretty good, too.

The Saint-Saëns was rather propulsive indeed. The 2nd movement is more relaxed, though. It's nice when you rediscover a work with fresh ears.

This rendition and recording of the Reger is fabulous, and unlike you, I do enjoy the density of this music. I find it forceful and passionate. Not properly a memorable piece, but how the music unfolds draws my attention. The Clarinet Quintet has a similar mood to that of the Brahms, a much more intimate Reger. I didn't enjoy it at first, but now I consider it a worthy addition to the form. It's a work that requires patience. I've felt that Reger is a composer that grows on you with repeated listens, and often the music turns out quite rewarding.

[André]

One of my greatest discoveries of this year so far.

A wonderful work indeed !

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Hindemith
Pittsburgh Symphony
Melbourne SO
Albert

[Karl Henning]

R. Strauss
Festival Prelude. Op. 61
Dance of the Seven Veils. Op. 54

Stravinsky
Pulcinella Suite
NY Phil
Lenny

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

One of my greatest discoveries of this year so far.

A wonderful work indeed !

I think that the concerto is partially based on his guitar work called Nuevos Estudios Sencillos No.8: Omaggio a Villa Lobos.

https://youtu.be/YbH1-JZf410

[Mirror Image]

R. Strauss
Festival Prelude. Op. 61
Dance of the Seven Veils. Op. 54

Stravinsky
Pulcinella Suite
NY Phil
Lenny

Nice! I just received Bernstein's Stravinsky box set today. Looking forward to digging into it.

[Mirror Image]

Dipping into this new arrival:

Stravinsky
Pétrouchka
New York Philharmonic
Bernstein

[Undersea]

Recent Listening:



From:



Vivaldi: La Cetra, Op. 9


A recent addition to my Library - I like Vivaldi's Music but I haven't collected a lot of it so far.
I am pretty interested in checking out his Operas and other Vocal Music too...

[Karl Henning]

Stravinsky
Le sacre du printemps (rec. 28 Jan 1958, at the St Geo. Hotel, Brooklyn
Petrushka
NY Phil
Lenny

[JBS]

Stravinsky
Le sacre du printemps (rec. 28 Jan 1958, at the St Geo, Hotel, Brooklyn
Petrushka
NY Phil
Lenny

And I just finished a listen to Persephone in this recording


We seem to be having an Igortastic evening here.

[Fëanor]

I always enjoy this piece by a composer better known for other sorts of things;  a haunting bassoon concerto ...

John Williams:  Five Sacred Trees ~ Judith Leclair (bassoon);  John Williams & London Symphony

[vers la flamme]

Sergei Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, op.18. Vladimir Ashkenazy, André Previn, London Symphony Orchestra

Not my favorite recording of this work but it is very solid; plus, I love how Ashkenazy plays the very opening of this concerto, like no one else. Damn, I wish I could have gotten to see Ashkenazy perform before his retirement.

[André]

In 1946-7 Munch was very active in the Decca studios in London. Most of the works here were recorded in the Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, often used as a recording studio by record companies. All are played by Munch's own OSCC of Paris. In the Franck symphony that means unusually deep and throaty bassoon sound, a striking effect indeed. Other than that I wish the harp had been played/recorded more prominently (after all, how many symphonies pre-1900 had a prominent harp part ? Yes, the Fantastique of course, but that's about it). Saint-Saens' charming Rouet d'Omphale goes well enough, but pianist Eileen Joyce drains the Symphonic Variations of life, offering a poised but listless account. Munch regularly tries to liven things up with decisive, almost slashing chords, but to no avail. At over 16 minutes this is 2 1/2 minutes longer than Casadesus (just perfect) as long as Crossley-Giulini - but less beguiling.