What are you listening 2 now?

[Traverso]

Hindemith, Hartmann, Martin...oh my! Great selection.

Very nice indeed 

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Khachaturian
Symphony No. 1 in E minor
Armenian Philharmonic
Tjeknavorian

[Traverso]

[SonicMan46]

Boccherini, Luigi (1743-1805) - Fortepiano Quintets on original instruments w/ Ilario Gregoletto on a Schantz fortepiano, c. 1805 (assume a restored original?) - Luigi wrote 12 Keyboard Quintets (Op. 56 & 57, G. 407-418 - Source); these were compose in 1797/99, rather late in his life - I was curious about the cover art (not given in the booklet or sleeve notes) and using Google Images came up w/ 'Portrait of Mrs. Drummond' by Thomas Gainsborough (LINK) - Dave

 

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Dvořák
String Quartet No. 14 in A♭ major, Op. 105, B. 193
Panocha Quartet

[foxandpeng]

I was listening to the disc yesterday!

Dipping my toes. Few more listens to go before I begin to make an assessment, I think.

[Symphonic Addict]

Some of the most outstanding chamber works written by a youngster IMO (at the age of 16!). Completely delightful pieces.

[Mandryka]

This must be the one. Thanks for posting, I wasn't even aware of its existence! 

It is worth hearing, it's good.

[Carlo Gesualdo]

It is worth hearing, it's good.

Dear Mandryka this is a full plate dish of a recording a most own 

[Florestan]

Two of the best piano trios ever penned*, here presented in splendid performance and resplendent sonics.

*Am I alone in actually preferring the second one to the first?

[Florestan]

Some of the most outstanding chamber works written by a youngster IMO (at the age of 16!). Completely delightful pieces.

+ 1! (although I don't have that recording)

[vandermolen]

Kalnins Symphony No.6 (again!)
Can't get away from this one. OK it does, in places, sounds like 'Mike Oldfield meets Philip Glass' but I find it captivating, memorable and it maintains its appeal on repeated listening:

[Florestan]

Mike Oldfield

That's my favorite of him:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvZDuaIq4Y8

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Smetana
Má vlast
Czech Philharmonic
Ančerl



This is certainly one of the classic recordings of Má vlast. Stupendous performance.

[André]

Often regarded as a man of the theatre, Gounod (like Liszt before him) almost became a man of the cloth. As a young man he lived in a convent, took the robe and was known as Abbé Gounod. Eventually he heeded nature's call, shed his robe and became married. He did retain his religious inclinations, as his many religious works testify. Mors et vita is a trilogy lasting close to 3 hours. It is more austere and meditative than his very tuneful and popular Messe de Sainte-Cécile. Framed between a prologue and an epilogue lies a solemn and lengthy (90 minutes) Requiem. Then follows the second part titled Judicium (Judgment) and then the apotheosis (Vita) introduced by the famous vision from John's Book of Revelation (« And I saw a new heaven and a new earth »). Gounod being Gounod, he can't help writing good tunes, fine solos and choruses, but it is rather longish and the prevailing beseeching mood and andante tempos make for a sometimes tedious listening session. Théodore Dubois knew better when he composed his fine Les sept paroles du Christ (1867). That one adopts a similar musical idiom but never overstays its welcome. Franck's Béatitudes is also long and pious, but it is often quite dramatic, with some spectacular moments.

Edit: I have to admit that the work becomes more interesting musically as it progresses. The final part contains some gorgeous melodies and Gounod's flair in developing them is admirable.  The solos by Barbara Hendricks are simply divine. The other soloists and the large chorus are very good,  and the sound spacious and well-balanced.

[VonStupp]

Alan Rawsthorne
Street Corner Overture
Madame Chrysanthème Suite
Practical Cats - Simon Callow, narrator
Theme, Variations, & Finale
Medieval Diptych - Jeremy Huw Williams, baritone
Coronation Overture
Royal Liverpool PO - David Lloyd-Jones

Unintentionally, this week I have been exploring British composers I am relatively unfamiliar with. Constant Lambert, EJ Moeran, and now Alan Rawsthorne. This Dutton recording definitely has both Rawsthorne's cheeky and serious sides.

[SonicMan46]

Boccherini, Luigi (1743-1805) - Cello Sonatas - listening to the first CD of the Brilliant 4-disc box shown, along w/ the Bylsma recording where Bob van Asperen is on a fortepiano; the third CD w/ Tuma on a harpsichord is on order - all of these 'solo cello sonatas' include the addition of some type of 'basso continuo' whether w/ string(s) or a keyboard, so nice to have different instruments and interpretations.

Boccherini wrote about 30 works for solo cello; the first 19 are G. 1-19 (w/ several bis works; G after the Yves Gérard catalogue); most of these were written in the 1760s into 1773 (he moved to Spain in the late 1760s); the cello sonatas from No. 20 to 29 or so (Source) have G. listings of 562-569, plus 570/580.  As can be seen in my compilation quote, the Brilliant box has 26 of these works w/ 3 sonatas not given a G. number (but have to be in that 500 grouping).  The Bylsma disc contains G. 2, 8-10, 15, plus 3 Fugues (2 cellos + BC) from G. 73. The Tuma CD has G. 3,6,8,9,14,16,17.  Hope that helps!    Dave

Brilliant Box - Luigi Puxeddu
CD 1:  G1, G2, G2bis, G3, G4, G4bis, G5 (7)
CD 2:  G6 - G11 (6)
CD 3:  G12 - 18 (7)
CD 4:  G565, G565bis, G566, Sonatas x3 (no G) (6)

   

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Dvořák
Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88, B. 163
Staatskapelle Berlin
Suitner

[ritter]

First listen to some recently ordered CDs that landed today (all the works appearing on these discs are new to me):


I have very little Kodály in my collection, and found these two pieces (the Psalmus Hungaricus and the Peacock Variations) very impressive in their brilliance and overall effect. Really enjoyable!


Dipping into the 3 CPO  sets (15 CDs in total) of Hindemith's complete orchestral works with CD 1 of the third box. Listening to the interesting Clarinet Concerto as I write. TBH, Hindemith has a strange effect on me: not a composer that I rank among my favourites, but I usually enjoy his music (particularly from the later part of his career). It's music that seems not too inspired to me, has a certain "black and white" sound, and appears dated to my ears. But despite (or because of?) this, and because it's so well constructed, it does exert a certain fascination. Strange, isn't it?

[VonStupp]

First listen to some recently ordered CDs that landed today (all the works appearing on these discs are new to me):



I have very little Kodály in my collection, and found these two pieces (the Psalmus Hungaricus and the Peacock Variations) very impressive in their brilliance and overall effect. Really enjoyable!

I love the medieval illumination on this cover!