What are you listening 2 now?

[T. D.]

Another spin for this recent acquisition. The more I listen to this quartet series, the more I like it, very strong one IMO.
Next listening project will be to alternate these with Martinů quartets. Kalabis was an admirer of Martinů.

[bhodges]

This looks like a great program, Bruce!

It is, and will likely be available on their YouTube channel for awhile. CMSLC has been doing some outstanding programs lately.

But in a few minutes, the Minnesota Orchestra's live season finale, conducted by Osmo Vänskä (and it's free):

COLERIDGE-TAYLOR: Nonet
VÄNSKÄ: Overture [World premiere]
WEILL: Violin Concerto (with concertmaster Erin Keefe)

https://mnorch.vhx.tv/videos/season-finale

--Bruce

[vers la flamme]

Maurice Ravel: Ma Mère l'Oye. Charles Dutoit, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

First listen; found this CD at the record store last week. So far so good.

[Mirror Image]

Another spin for this recent acquisition. The more I listen to this quartet series, the more I like it, very strong one IMO.
Next listening project will be to alternate these with Martinů quartets. Kalabis was an admirer of Martinů.

Yes, I believe Kalabis was, in some part, responsible for helping get Martinů more exposure, especially after the composer's death. I still need to spend more time with Kalabis' music. He doesn't strike me particularly as a Czech composer in terms of using folk music like Dvořák or Janáček did, but has a sound more inline with composers like Hindemith and to some degree K. A. Hartmann.

[Mirror Image]

It is, and will likely be available on their YouTube channel for awhile. CMSLC has been doing some outstanding programs lately.

--Bruce

Thanks, Bruce. I'll have to check that concert out at some juncture.

[T. D.]

Yes, I believe Kalabis was, in some part, responsible for helping get Martinů more exposure, especially after the composer's death. I still need to spend more time with Kalabis' music. He doesn't strike me particularly as a Czech composer in terms of using folk music like Dvořák or Janáček did, but has a sound more inline with composers like Hindemith and to some degree K. A. Hartmann.

[Emphasis added] Definitely agree with the bolded passage. I was trying to come up with a concise musical description or composer analogue of Kalabis, but that's one of the reasons I struck out (along with general lack of erudition, etc.  ).

[Mirror Image]

[Emphasis added] Definitely agree with the bolded passage. I was trying to come up with a concise musical description or composer analogue of Kalabis, but that's one of the reasons I struck out (along with general lack of erudition, etc.  ).

Well, I'm glad I'm not only one who hears him this way. I also feel this way about Suk, Kabeláč and Novák for example. This doesn't mean that their music is bad of course just that the nationalistic trends that I hear in Dvořák, Smetana, Janáček and Martinů and so clearly identify as Czech aren't there. One of the things that I admire about Martinů, for example, is that even though he experimented with Neoclassicism and jazz, he never lost those Bohemian/Moravian roots. They're almost in everything he's done.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Martinů
Bouquet of Flowers, H 260
Kateřina Kněžíková, Jaroslav Březina, Adam Plachetka, Michaela Kapustová
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Czech Philharmonic Children's Choir
Tomáš Netopil

[Karl Henning]

First-Listen Fridays!

Weinberg
Sonata № 2 for violin solo, Op. 95
Linus Roth

Sonata № 2 for viola solo, Op. 123
Julia Rebekka Adler

Kabeláč
Symphony № 5, Op.41 « Drammatica » for soprano without text & orchestra(1960)
Pavla Vykopalová, sop

Symphony № 6, Op.44 « Concertante » for clarinet & orchestra (1961-62)
Karel Dohnal, cl

Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Marko Ivanovič

Love all these.  Of the two Kabeláč symphonies, no one (perhaps) will fault me for slightly preferring the Sixth.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Myaskovsky
Symphony No. 27 in C minor, Op. 85
Russian Federation Academic SO
Svetlanov



This is thrilling! While I acknowledge the criticisms of a few members here about this composer, revisiting this symphony has softened my own criticisms about the music. This rekindling of a spark may very well inspire me to plough through this set again, but, this time, I'll take my time and try to absorb the music in a more observant fashion. I bought this reissued set on Alto as my older set on Warner had some glitches that must have been either bad transfers or defective CD pressings. This Alto set seems to have cleared up this issue as it uses the masters from Olympia.

[Symphonic Addict]

Four Swedish Dances

There is a rustic charm in these dances that becomes very catchy. Perfect to lift your spirits. A quite delectable work.

[Karl Henning]

NP:

Myaskovsky
Symphony No. 27 in C minor, Op. 85
Russian Federation Academic SO
Svetlanov



This is thrilling! While I acknowledge the criticisms of a few members here about this composer, revisiting this symphony has softened my own criticisms about the music. This rekindling of a spark may very well inspire me to plough through this set again, but, this time, I'll take my time and try to absorb the music in a more observant fashion. I bought this reissued set on Alto as my older set on Warner had some glitches that must have been either bad transfers or defective CD pressings. This Alto set seems to have cleared up this issue as it uses the masters from Olympia.

The 27th is a beauty!

[Mirror Image]

The 27th is a beauty!

Indeed, it is.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Myaskovsky
Symphony No. 24 In F Minor, Op. 63, "To The Memory Of Vladimir Derzhanovsky"
Russian Federation Academic SO
Svetlanov



After listening to the 27th, I felt an urge to revisit the 24th. The slow movement, Molto sostenudo, never fails to leave me breathless --- those climaxes are overwhelming.

[Mirror Image]

Last work for the night:

Weinberg
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op. 24
Gidon Kremer (violin), Giedre Dirvanauskaite (cello), Yulianna Avdeeva (piano)

[Que]

Morning listening on Spotify:



Recorded in 1985 and issued on Klara, the tiny record label of the Flemish broadcasting cooperation, on disc probably an absolute rarity.

Very enjoyable!  But back in the day Van Nevel was quite generous with instrumental accompaniments and instrumentalised versions. Recording is serviceable. Quibbles that dissuade me from hunting a physical copy down,  but an excellent outing on Spotify.

[Irons]

Dvorak: Piano Quintet.

Unable to find image online but worth posting as a striking portrait of the composer.

[Que]

Hi Que - well, may have been one of those days getting out of bed on the wrong side -    The new set w/ Zentilin is special w/ these works almost sounding like modern compositions (published the year George Washington was born!) - they are on Spotify if you care to take a listen.  Dave 

I think we agree the music is of excellent quality and surprisingly innovative! 

I'm a fan of Andrea Coen, and still eagerly waiting for a reissue of his recordings of the Cimarosa piano sonatas (3 discs on Italian Symphonia).

[foxandpeng]

The other day I listened to his 4th Symphony and I thought it was impressive and brooding. I didn't have his music in high esteem before, but now I changed my mind about it. His concertos also contain magnificent music. His orchestration is especially remarkable and the way he conjures up mysterious atmospheres.

I agree. He is quite the discovery for me. I find him immediately rewarding.

NP:

Saygun
Symphony 2

[vandermolen]

I agree. He is quite the discovery for me. I find him immediately rewarding.

NP:

Saygun
Symphony 2

That CD has given me great pleasure as well.

Now playing (new arrival) Robert Kajanus 'Finnish Rhapsody' (Op.5 1881)
My parents-in-law kindly always send me some money for my birthday and so I bought this and Vasks's 'Viola Concerto' with it:


PS Now listening to 'Kullervo's Funeral March' (1880) which is very good - like Sibelius's 'In Memoriam' (a considerably later work which, I suspect, shows the influence of the Kajanus score) and quite Wagnerian as well.