What are you listening 2 now?

[Madiel]

The op.87 discography continues.

[André]

Another go at this enigmatic composer's music:



I have a disc of symphonies (7+8) that I should revisit. It might tell me if I should invest in the whole set...

[Mirror Image]

Another go at this enigmatic composer's music:



I have a disc of symphonies (7+8) that I should revisit. It might tell me if I should invest in the whole set...

I can't see the image, Andre.

[Mirror Image]

String Quartet No. 1

A marvelous composition. There is a pastoral element on the music that makes it so gorgeous.

I agree. A fabulous work.

[JBS]

Love this album, Jeffrey!


TD
Maiden-Listen Mondays:


https://www.youtube.com/v/IOFJDuCRnwU&t=11s



Only the 2^nd mvt Vivace is in the Melos set.

Was? Sie haben nie vor heute die beruehmtische Regermusik gehoerten?
Und mit Klarinett!
Plotzlich bin ich.

TD
Auch MFM bei mir
Tanayev Quartet spielt Tanayev
String Quartet No 2 in C Opus 5
String Quintet in G Opus 14
String Quintet in C Opus 16

[Mirror Image]

First-Listen Monday

Glazunov
Piano Concerto No. 1 in F minor, Op. 92
Stephen Coombs, piano
BBC Scottish SO
Brabbins



So gorgeous and the performance is top-drawer.

[kyjo]

Vagn Holmboe
Concertos
Norrköping Symphony Orchestra

This recording reminds me (I don't really need reminding) why I enjoy Holmboe's music so much. This is a great trio of world premiere works that show Holmboe at his most accessible and engaging. I particularly like his Concerto for Orchestra included here.

One of my favorite discs devoted to Holmboe's music! One thing that struck me is that the same captivating, energetic spark that infuses the early Concerto for Orchestra (1929) is also present in the very late Viola Concerto (1991-92).

[Mirror Image]

A belated Fourth of July Celebration with Charlie:

Ives
Central Park in the Dark
New York PO
Bernstein

[kyjo]

Wagner - Symphony in C



Jarvi's conducting style and superb partnership with the RSNO is perfectly suited to this boisterous, ebullient early symphony which contains the expected echoes of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Schumann but is not bland or lacking personality. The main theme of the first movement may skirt rather close to banality, but it sure is a real earworm!


Saint-Saëns - Symphony in F major "Urbs Roma"



Another early symphony by a major composer. Composed at age 21, this is effectively his third symphony (the "Organ" is technically his fifth), and it's a substantial, very enjoyable work. It opens with an arresting, memorable horn call which serves as a motto theme. The scintillating, imaginative scherzo is the highlight of the work, and the somber, funeral march-like slow movement is very fine too. The finale, a theme-and-variations, is more "academic" and less distinctive than the previous movements, but it ends with a cool gesture.


Roussel: Symphony no. 3



Fine as Roussel's other symphonies are, the Third remains my favorite. It's a prime example of a "meaty", "emotional" brand of neo-classicism which I find so appealing. I love the contrast between strident, rhythmic passages and the more lyrical "oases" that pop up from time to time. And it goes without saying that the slow movement is a great utterance, with its shatteringly powerful climaxes. Critical consensus seems to be that the Stéphane Denève/RSNO cycle on Naxos is the finest Roussel cycle available - and it is very good indeed! - but a quick comparison in this work revealed Dutoit and the Orchestre National de France to be even better, with a keen balance between Roussel's aggressive and sensuous sides.


Tchaikovsky - String Quartet no. 2 (Antje Weithaas and Byol Kang, violins/Timothy Ridout, viola/Tanja Tetzlaff, cello)



I didn't have very positive memories of this work, but they were soon banished by this wonderful live performance. Tchaikovsky reportedly thought it was his finest work, and while I may not necessarily agree with him, it's still excellent nonetheless. Particularly of note are the hesitant, shyly intimate scherzo with its odd rhythmic pattern and the exuberant finale which boasts a killer secondary theme (which is up there with some of Tchaik's best).


The entire disc:



I can't recommend this disc highly enough! While Dorati's classic Decca recordings of Kodály's orchestral works may be considered the most "authentic", the Philharmonia Hungarica in those recordings was a bit "rough around the edges" and are superseded (IMO) by the magnificent Buffalo Philharmonic here, which really is one of America's up-and-coming great orchestras. The standout for me here is undoubtedly the magnificent Peacock Variations, which is one of Kodály's greatest works as well as one of the finest sets of orchestral variations in the repertoire. If the Dances of Marosszék isn't quite up to the level of inspiration of the other works on the disc, that's a small quibble.

[Madiel]

The op.87 discography continues.

After doing the first half this morning, now listening to the second half. This is a very solid performance.

[vandermolen]

His "Pastoral" symphony. I love it too.

+1

TD
Ole Schmidt: 'Jeanne d'Arc'
A terrific film score from 1927 - my thanks to André for this one:

[vandermolen]

The Kabalevsky/Glazunov disc from this set.



I'm just into the 3rd disc from the set.....

Which Kabalevsky PC is featured?

[vandermolen]

NP:

Myaskovsky
Symphony No. 16 in F major, Op. 39
Russian Federation Academic SO
Svetlanov



More 'middle register only' music from Myaskovsky. Just kidding, this is superb.

It features one of the most moving of NYM's slow movements IMO, inspired by a plane tragedy.

[vandermolen]

I have not heard a note of David Diamond. For some reason he has just never been on my radar—I think I conflate him in my mind with Howard Hanson, who I have listened to and do not like at all. I will try and check out those two Diamond symphonies sometime.

I have a very high opinion of symphonies 1 to 4. For starters I'd recommend No.3.

[vandermolen]

String Quartet No. 1

A marvelous composition. There is a pastoral element on the music that makes it so gorgeous.




String Quartet No. 2 in C major

A fine alternative to those by Beethoven. This piece exudes spark.

Ben Haim has been one of the great discoveries of recent years for me.

[Harry]

Claudio Veggio (1510-after 1543)

Rocco Rodio. (1530-40-after 1615)

Sperindio Bertoldo. (1530-1570)

CD I & 2,
Complete Organ music.

Luca Scandali at the Lorenzo da Prato Organ, (1471-75) Basilica of San Petronio Bologna Italy.

A fine Renaissance organ, and thoughtful performances. So far at second hearing I like what I hear. Both composers are not top tier but they deliver enough insight and creativity to appreciate their effort. Sound is good.

[Que]

[vandermolen]

I'm able to listen to this new release right through from beginning to end with much pleasure. Luonnotar now playing:


Review from the Sunday Times this week:

Davidsen is not the first non-Finnish singer to tackle Sibelius's vocal tone poem but she brings a youthful, Nordic freshness to this music inspired by the creation myth in the Finnish epic poen 'Kalevala'. Gardner proves himself another fine British Sibelian in the late symphonic poem 'Tapiola', in incidental music for 'Pelleas' (Davidsen sings Melisande's song), 'Rakastava', and the brief but lovely 'Spring Song

[Irons]

Wordsworth: Symphony No.2 - a work which continues to grow on me. As with the music of Rubbra it has an understated power which I find affecting:

+1

[Irons]

Dyson: Violin Concerto.

Let down by the last (4th) movement but there are moments of nobility that I find most appealing.