What are you listening 2 now?

[Traverso]

Stravinsky

Le Roi Des Étoiles (Zvezdolikiy) (1911/2): Sung In Russian

Russian Peasant Songs (1914-17): Sung In Russian

Pater Noster (Otche Nash) (1926): Sung In Russian

Symphony Of Psalms (1930)

Babel (1944): Cantata For Narrator, Male Chorus And Orchestra
   
Mass For Mixed Chorus And Double Wind Quintet (1944-48)

Cantata (1951/2): For Soprano, Tenor, Female Chorus And A Small Instrumental Ensemble

[Papy Oli]

Continuing a first listen to Melartin's symphonies (No.5)

[Harry]

"Ladies Night".

Works by Amy Beach, Luise Adolpha le Beau, Pauline Viardot Garcia, Amanda Rontgen Maier, Maria Theresia Paradis, Dora Pejacevic.

Thomas Irnberger, Violin.
Barbara Moser, Piano.
SACD recording.

One of my favourite chamber music albums I bought this year, together with a album from the same artists, "Its a Girl".
It gives me so much in the sense of emotion, spirituality, and utter bliss. Both releases are recommended.

[Harry]

Continuing a first listen to Melartin's symphonies (No.5)

Remembers me that I should re-listen them soon.....

[Papy Oli]

JS Bach - Cantata BWV 168 'Tue Rechnung! Donnerwort'

   

[kyjo]

It's this:



Stokowski conducting the New Philharmonia Orchestra. The 1st movement is quite striking in that fast tempo.

Oh yes, I remember Hurwitz chose this recording of the 4th for his ideal Brahms cycle. I sampled it and was quite impressed - the fast tempo works very well indeed.

[Papy Oli]

BWV 168

[kyjo]

Britten: Piano Concerto, Op.13

Joanna MacGregor, Steuart Bedford, ECO


Full of youthful optimism (comp.1938)and diverse influences, Prokofiev presence seems very tangible at times, and illuminated by myriad sparks of BB's natural orchestrational flair.
Its often un-ironic optimism is almost entirely absent from later Britten, though can be heard in Diversions and Young Apollo composed in the following two years, which are both works I find more engaging than the piano concerto in truth. That's not to say that I don't enjoy many things about the concerto.

Britten premiered it himself at the Proms, which I thought I might mention as, 83 years later the very same Proms have just kicked off again here in the UK - non-social distancing audiences and all!

I love Britten's Piano Concerto - what a sparkling work! Sure, the influence of Prokofiev is audible in places, but that just makes it all the more enjoyable for me.

[Karl Henning]

Stravinsky
Symphony in Three Movements—Man, do I dig this piece!
Philharmonia
Silvestri

And CD 5:

Stravinsky
Concerto per due pianoforti
Scherzo à la russe

Rimsky-Korsakov
Dance of the Tumblers from The Snow Maiden (arr. V. Babin)

Victor Babin
Russian Village

Arensky
Waltz from Suite for 2 pianos № 1 Op. 15 (arr. V. Babin)

Rimsky-Korsakov
Cradle Song from Sadko (arr. V. Babin)

Stravinsky
Circus Polka composed for a young elephant (arr. V. Babin)
Tango (arr. V. Babin)

Vitya Bronsky & Victor Babin

[kyjo]

Happy birthday, Arthur!

The 2nd SQ is a tremendous piece. Its place into the greatest British SQs must be taken into account.

I listened to this work for the first time a few weeks ago. I love the nervous, tightly wound energy that Bliss permeates the music with.

[Karl Henning]

Stravinsky

Le Roi Des Étoiles (Zvezdolikiy) (1911/2): Sung In Russian

Russian Peasant Songs (1914-17): Sung In Russian

Pater Noster (Otche Nash) (1926): Sung In Russian

Symphony Of Psalms (1930)

Babel (1944): Cantata For Narrator, Male Chorus And Orchestra
   
Mass For Mixed Chorus And Double Wind Quintet (1944-48)

Cantata (1951/2): For Soprano, Tenor, Female Chorus And A Small Instrumental Ensemble

The more I listen to the Cantata, esp., Jan, the more I love it!

[kyjo]

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.

Excellent, Cesar! I'll be giving this one a spin soon.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Ginastera
Estancia, Op. 8
Luis Gaeta, bass-baritone
London Symphony Orchestra
Gisele Ben-Dor



A work that should be a part of the mainstream repertoire. Sizzling performance, too.

[kyjo]

Honegger: Cello Concerto.

French/Swiss with a Czech accent.

A gloriously delightful and succinct work. That blissful opening takes my breath away every time!

[kyjo]

Dutilleux: Symphony No.1 (in my car).
Such an impressive and captivating work - like a more modernistic Debussy:

I love this work without any reservations. Such a fascinating, colorful score full of mysterious, nocturnal atmosphere but also couched in organized musical forms (e.g. the first movement is a passacaglia).

[kyjo]

NP:

Dvořák
Piano Trio No. 3 In F Minor, Op. 65
Smetana Trio

Pounds the table! A fine performance of this serious and substantial trio.

[kyjo]

Continuing a first listen to Melartin's symphonies (No.5)

What did you think, Olivier?

[Papy Oli]

What did you think, Olivier?

Kyle,
Like the previous symphonies, definitely some very interesting segments here and there where my ears pricked up. It will be one cycle I will have to revisit with undivided attention.

[Mirror Image]

Pounds the table! A fine performance of this serious and substantial trio.

Yes, indeed! Great stuff.

[SonicMan46]

It does indeed make a big difference.

The Planès is a new recording that I haven't heard yet. Sofar this has served me well:

 

Hi Que - I have the Michèle Boegner (1941-2021) recording as a MP3 DL w/o a booklet - quoted below suggests that she used an original 1836 Pleyel (of course likely restored?); I do enjoy but not completely happy w/ the 'mechanics' of the piano (probably need to listen again), but I'll be quite interested in this version w/ Alain Planès and which 1836 Pleyel piano (or copy?) he used?  Dave

Ignaz Pleyel (1757-1831) was active as a composer, music publisher and piano builder. He founded the firm of Pleyel et Cie in Paris in 1807. His eldest son, Camille Pleyel (1788-1855), was taken in as a partner in 1815, and assumed a leading role in the 1820s, maintaining a close relationship with many famous musicians and artists, including Chopin. A concert hall, Salles Pleyel, was opened in 1830, and in this hall Chopin gave his first (1830) and last (1848) Parisian concerts, along with many others between these years. The 1836 Pleyel used in Michel Boegner's recent recording of the nocturnes is known to have been used in the Salles Pleyel during the time when Chopin was active there. (Source)