What are you listening 2 now?

[Brahmsian]

"Christmas music" should not be limited to holiday listening (nor should gifts to me be presented only on Dec. 25th and my birthday...)

Love NRK's Christmas Eve. Particularly that absolutely marvelous Polonaise! 

[Mirror Image]

Love NRK's Christmas Eve. Particularly that absolutely marvelous Polonaise! 

+1 A gorgeous work that I might have to revisit shortly.

[Mirror Image]

Let me jump on this Tchaikovsky bandwagon here... 



Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Francesca da Rimini, op.32. Vladimir Ashkenazy, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

All aboard!

[vers la flamme]

Eduard Tubin: Symphony No.6. Neeme Järvi, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Great playing from the Swedes, great BIS sound. Not sure I understand what the music is really all about (preferring Tubin's 2nd, 3rd and 4th symphonies), but I'm enjoying it nonetheless.

[André]

Martin Frost - Nordic Concertos
Vagn Holmboe Clarinet Concerto 3
Karin Rehnqvist 'On A Distant Shore' (A Poem for Clarinet and Orchestra)
BIS

I picked this up to hear the Holmboe Clarinet Concerto 3. As an amateur listener who likes Holmboe very much, this seems to me to be a performance I'll revisit. The unexpected bonus here for me, however, is Karin Rehnqvist's Poem for Clarinet and Orchestra, 'On A Distant Shore'.

I don't find this work easy, but having played it, I've found myself wanting to hear it again. Short movements, lots of quarter notes and sparse orchestration, with little initially identifiable melody of any sort. The scenes of Light, Dark, the Wild, and bird calls presented by the clarinet all have their own individual interest. I like it, even if I'm not sure why.

*edit*

On a Distant Shore is a quite superb work, extremely evocative. Rehnqvist has a very personal voice. Arktis ! Arktis ! is a great piece as well.

[Mirror Image]

Eduard Tubin: Symphony No.6. Neeme Järvi, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Great playing from the Swedes, great BIS sound. Not sure I understand what the music is really all about (preferring Tubin's 2nd, 3rd and 4th symphonies), but I'm enjoying it nonetheless.

For me, the symphonies that made the greatest impression on me were the 1st and the 4th. I have trouble remembering the rest of them.

[André]

Currently enjoying this disc (very fine program) ofmusic by Davis Matthews:

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Dvořák
Hussite Overture, Op. 67
Polish National RSO
Antoni Wit

Selma Sedlak (The Cunning Peasant), Op. 37, B. 67
Dramatic (Tragic) Overture, B. 16a
Slovak Philharmonic Orch.
Libor Pešek

Scherzo capriccioso, Op. 66
Slovak Philharmonic Orch.
Zdeněk Košler

The Hero's Song, Op. 111
Polish National RSO
Antoni Wit

From this new acquired set -



This is turning out to be an excellent set and I'm quite satisfied with the performances so far.

[Brahmsian]

NP:

Dvořák
Hussite Overture, Op. 67
Polish National RSO
Antoni Wit

Selma Sedlak (The Cunning Peasant), Op. 37, B. 67
Dramatic (Tragic) Overture, B. 16a
Slovak Philharmonic Orch.
Libor Pešek

Scherzo capriccioso, Op. 66
Slovak Philharmonic Orch.
Zdeněk Košler

The Hero's Song, Op. 111
Polish National RSO
Antoni Wit

From this new acquired set -



This is turning out to be an excellent set and I'm quite satisfied with the performances so far.

Excellent John. Glad to hear it! 

[Stürmisch Bewegt]

Un de mes trésors les plus chers et beaux.  Enregistrement original '64, vinyle en condition presque parfaite : 

[Symphonic Addict]

Tippett - Symphony no. 2 (LSO/Colin Davis)



The opening of this symphony is so arresting that it proves a hard act to follow! I found that the first movement contains the most engaging music of the work - the slow movement, in particular, is very elusive. The ending of the work is quite unique and effective, though. Tippett is, on the whole, more of a "intellectual" than an "emotional" composer, with two notable exceptions - the Concerto for Double String Orchestra and A Child of Our Time (both great favorites of mine).


Rautavaara - Symphony no. 8 The Journey



A very atmospheric work which attains an epic feel at times. Rautavaara's use of tone clusters (often given to the massed violins) often becomes a bit wearisome to me, though I recognize that it's an integral element of his style.


Bortkiewicz - Symphony no. 2



I know this composer has his fans here, but I must say I found this work in particular to be simply too derivative of previous Russian Romantic composers for me to enjoy. I certainly don't mind music that is conservative for its time, as long as it exhibits somewhat of an individual voice. IMHO, Bortkiewicz doesn't, though the music is undoubtedly attractive and well-written.


Hoddinott - Symphony no. 6



A nocturnal, atmospheric, and quite accessible symphony. I should investigate more of this composer's music.


Voříšek - Symphony in D



The first movement is rather generic, but the slow movement and finale contain music of considerable imagination and distinction. Certainly worth hearing if you're looking for new late Classical/early Romantic symphonies to check out.

Many could prefer Tippett's first two symphonies because they sound more approachable, but for me it's the 4th which really catches my attention. What an intriguing and kaleidoscopic composition. The percussion and the orchestral textures have special relevance. A quite fascinating piece IMO.

Bortkiewicz's symphonies have good music. For me what matters the most is that the music sounds engaging and memorable, and effectively they are like that. I hear echoes of Tchaikovsky in them, but it's not an impediment to enjoy the vitality and the tuneful music. I don't necessarily need that the music is quite distinctive or very original.

That Vorisek symphony is a good example of a remarkable classical symphony, and I also include the one by Arriaga.

[Symphonic Addict]

Clarinet Quartet in E flat major Op.21





A terrifically exciting and youthfully exuberant opening movement. What follows, musically, is also consistently excellent. It is a terrific work. The recorded sound is also top quality.

Good to know, aligreto. That work could improve my opinion of this composer.

[Symphonic Addict]

First-Listen Tuesday

Tchaikovsky
The Seasons, Op. 37bis
Ashkenazy



So gorgeous. I believe I'm starting to catch Tchaikovsky fever.

It looks like the Tchaikovsky fever is getting better and better.

[Symphonic Addict]

NP:

Martinů
The Miracle of Our Lady (I. The Wise and the Foolish Virgins)
Various soloists
Prague Radio Chorus
Prague SO
Bělohlávek

How is this work, John? Looks intriguing.

[T. D.]

OK, I'll play.
Forgot I owned this. I think this Souvenir de Florence performance (rec. 1965) is likely the one reissued on Chandos.

[Symphonic Addict]

Symphony No. 1

Revisiting this set. A while ago I had listened to this string quartets finding them wholly inspired and impeccably written. Now, this symphony is also proving that is a quite accomplished composition. For some reason it brought to my mind Nielsen's 6th Symphony and Shostakovich's 15th Symphony, There is a sort of gripping and mysterious atmosphere that really grabs your attention. The very ending struck me like quite interesting as well, but I'm not going to spoil it for you. 

[Mirror Image]

Excellent John. Glad to hear it! 

Indeed, Ray. Are you enjoying your set as well?

[Mirror Image]

It looks like the Tchaikovsky fever is getting better and better.

Drats! Don't ruin this for me!!! But, yes, it does seem that I'm coming down with something that I can't get rid of and I'm not even worried about it!

[Symphonic Addict]

Eduard Tubin: Symphony No.6. Neeme Järvi, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Great playing from the Swedes, great BIS sound. Not sure I understand what the music is really all about (preferring Tubin's 2nd, 3rd and 4th symphonies), but I'm enjoying it nonetheless.

From this symphony on Tubin's style became more aggresive and less tuneful, but even so I find this symphony and the next ones with enthralling material. My favorites are 2-6 and 10.

[Mirror Image]

How is this work, John? Looks intriguing.

Oh, this is an excellent work, Cesar. I haven't heard it in ages. I didn't listen to this complete cycle, but think Bouquet of Flowers mixed with Romance of the Dandelions and it's pretty close to its sound-world. I'm not even sure if this comparison worked, but that's all I could think of at the moment.