What are you listening 2 now?

[André]

Sonatas 1 and 2 for cello and piano, Improvisation for cello solo and 5 Aphorisms for solo piano.

[JBS]

AFAIK, those prewar Stravinsky recordings are included in the recent Warner box (I don't have it, and don't plan to get it)...


On CDs 20 to 23 ("Historical Recordings")

Indeed: that's exactly what I have.  I posted those links for the benefit of anyone who might want those recordings but like you are not  intending to get the set itself.

TD
Speaking of Stravinsky

This landed today. Right now CD 1: Le Sacre and Petroushka.

First impression is that this is one of the best LSdP recordings I've heard

[JBS]

I was listening to that same disc just a couple of days ago, and very much liked what I heard (the works were new to me).

My first and for some time only recording of the Hindemith sonatas was Glenn Gould's. It's the one GG recording I do not like. (I admit there are some Beethoven recordings I'm not keen on because they were seriously marred by his vocalizing.)

So consider that a dis-commendation.(?)

[Mirror Image]

TD
Speaking of Stravinsky

This landed today. Right now CD 1: Le Sacre and Petroushka.

First impression is that this is one of the best LSdP recordings I've heard

Nice, Jeffrey. I think I'll join you, but only in this recording:

Stravinsky
Le sacre du printemps
Czech PO
Ančerl



A sizzling performance. I'm not a download guy but I was hunting all three of the Stravinsky Ančerl Gold recordings and couldn't find the physical releases for a decent price, so I downloaded these from Qobuz --- they were each $4.99. Not a bad deal.

[Madiel]

I'm on my iPhone so no cover, but:

Szymanowski, Mandragora, Antoni Wit on Naxos.

This is fascinating and fabulous.

[Mirror Image]

I'm on my iPhone so no cover, but:

Szymanowski, Mandragora, Antoni Wit on Naxos.

This is fascinating and fabulous.

Oh yeah, I dig that work as well. One of the hidden gems in Szymanowski's oeuvre.

[Mirror Image]

Now playing from this new arrival:

Shostakovich
Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43
Tatarstan National SO
Sladkovsky



As you can see, I went right for the hard stuff and Sladkovsky and his Tatarstan forces don't disappoint.

Special edit: Man...this is outstanding! It has that old Soviet sound, but with better sonics. To those that don't own this cycle and have been considering it, just go ahead and buy it. Yes, it's expensive, but it's worth every penny.

[Symphonic Addict]

Viola Concerto

Very poignant stuff. Vasks is specialised in composing music like this, and he always succeeds.

[Mirror Image]

Viola Concerto

Very poignant stuff. Vasks is specialised in composing music like this, and he always succeeds.

Yep, a great recording. The Viola Concerto is gorgeous.

[Madiel]

Oh yeah, I dig that work as well. One of the hidden gems in Szymanowski's oeuvre.

One of the things about it is that it seems to be when his style has changed (I'm doing my chronological thing again). It's not so florid and oriental, more folk-sounding.

There doesn't seem to be many recordings, but Wit knows what he's doing so I'm happy with what I heard.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Schnittke
Symphony No. 4
Iaroslav Zdorov (counter-tenor), Dmitri Pianov (tenor), Igor Khudolei (piano), Evgeniya Khlynova (celesta), Elena Adamovich (harpsichord)
Russian State Symphonic Cappella
Russian State Symphony Orchestra
Polyansky

[Mirror Image]

One of the things about it is that it seems to be when his style has changed (I'm doing my chronological thing again). It's not so florid and oriental, more folk-sounding.

There doesn't seem to be many recordings, but Wit knows what he's doing so I'm happy with what I heard.

Yeah, that Wit series is quite good and I've been pleased with it. It's certainly much better than that earlier Marco Polo series (I forget the conductor's name).

[Mirror Image]

Last work of the night:

Mahler
Symphony No. 4 in G major
Barbara Bonney, soprano
RCO
Chailly

[Madiel]

Yeah, that Wit series is quite good and I've been pleased with it. It's certainly much better than that earlier Marco Polo series (I forget the conductor's name).

Stryja?

[Mirror Image]

Stryja?

Thanks. That's the name I couldn't think of.

[Symphonic Addict]

As almost always with CPO, this is another of its uncommon yet pretty interesting releases. Ludolf Nielsen's ballet Lackschmi is just sensational! Anyone who cherishes late-Romanticism tinged with exoticism should get lots of fun from it. Several of its numbers are just stirring, e.g. Padmavati's Dance, The Tournament, The Contest between the Prince and Veramadeva and The Dance of Death - The Flames, as others more lyrical, like Lento appassionato and Bayadere Dance. This was a really nice discovery, I must say.

I suspect Kyle could enjoy it very much since he's a fan of this composer, unless he feels that the work doesn't have depth enough. 

The filler is the fine Overture Isbella, which is mostly lyrical, albeit it ends in a tragic way.

[Symphonic Addict]

Yep, a great recording. The Viola Concerto is gorgeous.

The Symphony for Strings also drew my attention.

[Mirror Image]

The Symphony for Strings also drew my attention.

His writing for strings is excellent. I can't say I'm a fan of his larger symphonic works. It's strange to think about, but for some reason his writing for a full orchestra just doesn't seem all that cohesive to me. Maybe I'm just missing something? I don't know...

[listener]

BEETHOVEN  The Creatures of Prometheus op. 43
Rochester Philharmonic Orch.   David Zinman cond.
Some nice bits and pieces and of course the Eroica tune, a selection of movements would be more appreciated by a concert audience than the whole thing.
Granville BANTOCK: Old English Suite, Russian Scenes, Hebridean Symphony
Czechoslovak State Philharmonic (Košice)     Adrian Leaper, cond.
now on Naxos at a lower price.
TARTINI: Violin Concerto in G    Giovanni Guglielmo, baroque violin,   L'Arte dell' Arco
VIOTTI: Violin Concerto in d       Franco Mezzeno, violin     Symphonia  Perusina
PAGANINI:  Sonata per la Gran Viola         Luigi Alberto Bianchi, viola    RIAS Orchester Berlin
PAGANINI: Maestosa Sonata Sentimentale       Massimo Quarta, violin   Stefania Redaelli, piano

[Harry]

Jean Baptiste Lully.

L' Orchestre du Roi Soleil.
Symphonies, Ouvertures & Airs de jouer.

Suite No. 1. "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme".
Suite No. 2. "Le Divertissement Royal".
Suite No. 3. "Alceste".
Chaconne de l' Amour Médecins. (1665)

Le Concert des Nations, Jordi Savall.

SACD recording.

Scintillating, exuberant at times, melodies that glow, and adorned with a sweeping energy that makes you want to swing along with the musicians. It has a foot tapping quality to it. Highly recommended.