What are you listening 2 now?

[JBS]

CD 1 of 21

12 lieder with D numbers ranging from 7 to 101

It's been rather a while since I listened to any Schubert lieder (other than the recent Winterreise from DiDonato and Nezet-Seguin), and at least a decade since I listened to this set.  So out it comes. I know DFD is not to everyone's taste, but I have few problems with his style, and unless I succumb to the temptation of the Hyperion or Naxos complete sets,  this is the biggest swathe of Schubert songs I have. And to be honest many of the songs, such as most of those on the first CD, require no more than one recording.

[Symphonic Addict]

Re: Andreae

I listened to the 1st SQ last night, and I definitely concur with your enthusiasm! Your description of it as a "meaty" work certainly is accurate - it's full of substance and variety. I was particularly struck by the brilliant, folksy scherzo and the poignant slow movement. Throughout the work, there's a contrast between tuneful diatonic themes and a dark, rigorous chromaticism that I found really compelling. I could've done without the "Regerian" fugal episode in the finale, but that's a minor quibble. I'll be listening to the 2nd SQ soon. I'm endlessly thankful to Guild for resurrecting Andreae's marvelous music - and in great performances too!

Good to know, Kyle. Thus far, that's been the chamber work of his that has impressed me the most. I also listened to the Flute Quartet, Violin Sonata and the Six Pieces for piano duo, all quite consistent and engaging.

[Mirror Image]

Dmitri Shostakovich
Complete String Quartets
SQ #10
Mandelring Quartett

Wow.

This is the first Quartet in my journey so far with DSCH that I have immediately loved. Everything else has taken some work before opening up, but this has been surprisingly easier. I don't know whether something is different here musically, whether my ear is acclimatising to the works themselves, or whether this is simply more accessible. I wonder whether the recording itself should take some of the credit - the second movement in particular comes to life with the way in which the stereo sound really lifts the back and forth of motifs and energy running between the players.

Tuneful and engaging from the outset 🙂
The intensity of the second movement with the excitement of the interplay between instruments, was just captivating. The adagio with its melody and pathos... stunning. The closing movement is a fitting finale.

I'm very much developing a love affair with these works.

Great to read, foxandpeng. They really are fantastic pieces and if someone loves SQs and haven't heard Shostakovich's, then all I can tell is to check them out. Of course, the later SQs aren't for the faint of heart as things do get rather bleak, but even in these works, there's much to dig into and enjoy.

[Symphonic Addict]

I'm glad you finally discovered these exquisitely beautiful songs! I totally agree about Gens' voice being ideally suited to this music.

I remember you posting these works much before, and I had saved the recommendation, so thank you for bringing these discs to my attention. It's been some of the most delectable music I've heard recently.

[Mirror Image]

I'm glad you finally discovered these exquisitely beautiful songs! I totally agree about Gens' voice being ideally suited to this music.

+ 1 I'm quite a fan of Gens' voice. I have these recordings somewhere. I need to revisit them, but my reaction was much like your's and Cesar's.

[kyjo]

Good to know, Kyle. Thus far, that's been the chamber work of his that has impressed me the most. I also listened to the Flute Quartet, Violin Sonata and the Six Pieces for piano duo, all quite consistent and engaging.

His two piano trios remain my favorite. They're just overflowing with gorgeous and memorable melodies!

[The new erato]

Wonderful works and a great disc even though slightly long in the tooth soundwise:



Why aren't there more recordings of these works (Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, I'm looking at you!)

[The new erato]

Also played last night:



Great music and great disc.

[vandermolen]

Also played last night:



Great music and great disc.

+1 to both of your Bloch choices.

TD
Nino Rota: Symphony No.1 (1936-39)
I enjoyed this, rather sunny neo-classical, work. The affirmative conclusion reminded me of Braga Santos:

[Que]

Morning listening:



Wonderful recording! 

And now we wait... for more recordings of the 23 masses and over a hundred motets by Jacquet of Mantua aka Jacques Colebault. An untouched goldmine!

[aligreto]

Couperin, F: Première Livre de Pieces de Clavecin [Rousset]





Finishing off CD 2 with the Troisième Ordre

[Tsaraslondon]

More Britten.





Lott's gorgeous singing of Les Illuminations might just be my favourite version of this work, but Rolfe Johnson doesn't quite erase memories of Pears in the Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings. This one, transferred from sometimes crackly 78s, recorded in 1944 has the incomparable Dennis Brain on the horn and finds Pears in fesher voice than he was in his later, sonically superior recording. The Serenade is almost a love song to Pears and no other singer has quite matched Pears's insights into the poetry, though others may have sung with sweeter tone.

[vers la flamme]

Arvo Pärt: Lamentate. Alexei Lubimov, Andrey Boreyko, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

First listen to this piece. Wow, I'm impressed; it's quite unique among his works. Full of quiet, slow gesture, very still.

[Que]

The mania continued:



I mean: what is there not to love about this elegant and inventive music in SOTA performances?

OK, there is a lot of it .... But an abundance of good music hasn't bothered anyone here before... 

[Biffo]

Berlioz: Les nuits d'été – Véronique Gens  soprano with Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Lyon conducted by Louis Langrée - I bought this recording when it was first issued but haven't listened to it very often since. I find it beautifully sung but a bit lacking in character.

[foxandpeng]

Dmitri Shostakovich
Complete String Quartets
SQ #11 and reviewing 10, 12, 14
Mandelring Quartett

There is something satisfyingly mournful and anguished about the later quartets. The death of Shirinsky aside, the concept of mortality and our response to it as seen through the lens of DSCH is really powerful. Like Larkin in works such as Next Please, or Aubade, or the bleak honesty of Matthew Arnold's Dover Beach. Hard to hear, but infused with something we need to hear.

I agree with MI about the faint of heart, but these are striking, and more rewarding than simply a musical experience.

Again, I am very much enjoying the Mandelring versions of these pieces.

Potent stuff.

[Que]

One more Telemann:



http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2018/May/Telemann_melodious_RES10207.htm

PS The music, written for domestic use, is interesting because of Telemann's use of counterpoint. But it's also a bit boring...Unlike his solo instrument "fantasias" BTW, which are more demanding and very imaginative.
Performances and recording are absolutely flawless.

[Traverso]

Enescu

CD 1

Prelude and Fugue in G major
Nocturne
Scherzo
Pièce sur le nom de Fauré

[Papy Oli]

Good afternoon all,

Bach - Musical Offering (Musica Antiqua Köln)

[Florestan]

The mania continued:



I mean: what is there not to love about this elegant and inventive music in SOTA performances?

OK, there is a lot of it .... But an abundance of good music hasn't bothered anyone here before... 

Amen to all of the above!