What are you listening 2 now?

[Harry]

La Lira d'Esperia II.
Galicia, Tradicionais
Alfonso X O Sabio, Cantigas & Dancas Antigas.

Anónimos
Dancas, Cantigas & Cantos de Terra.

Jordi Savall, Pedro Estevan, David Mayoral.
SACD recording.

A very interesting and rewarding musical journey. It creates quite naturally a vivid image, and is sustained throughout this recording. An acquired taste. Sound is extremely good, as is the performance.

[Papy Oli]

Good morning all,

CD2 from the Koopman Novalis / Bach Organ works set.

[foxandpeng]

That's one of my best CD purchases of recent years Danny - especially for Symphony No.4, which I rate very highly. No.2 is great as well but I already knew that through a different recording. Let us know what you think of it.

I was drawn to Gipps by Alex Burns' website, which I quite enjoy:

https://classicalexburns.com/2021/02/13/ruth-gipps-symphony-no-4-classic-british-style/

I certainly need to spend more time with Gipps. It's a shame that the time in which she lived didn't allow a greater exposure, development and appreciation. In some senses, I really don't care about the gender, self-identification or background of the composers I hear, but considering the appropriate attention given to excellent female writers such as Beamish, Rehnqvist, Pavlova et al., her musical career could have been so much more. I guess her 'out of fashion' voice was never going to fit the BBC establishment style favoured in her day, aside from issues of underlying inequality, but this is intelligent and well-constructed music, it seems.

I like what I've been listening to so far. While not reaching the heights of some of the real British standouts, #2 and #4 certainly deserve recognition. I have her on repeat this morning. The energy of her #4 first movement was a nice kick-start to my day. I also like her Clarinet Concerto.

I know it's easier to assess her work after the passage of time, but she merits a greater place than she currently occupies.

[Que]

On Spotify:



Wonderful - the entire series seems a no-brainer. 

I am waiting for them Que, please remember when you roam the streets of Sevilla Don't you come back without them

Fingers crossed...

[Harry]

William Wordsworth.

Orchestral music, Volume II.
Piano Concerto in D minor.
Three pastoral Sketches.
Violin Concerto in A major.

Arta Arnicane, Piano,
Kamila Bydlowska, Violin.
Liepaja SO, John Gibbons.

Indispensable when you like the first volume. Grandiose performances of all works on this CD.
Very much recommended. Excellent sound too.

[Spotted Horses]

Hindemith, String Trio No 1. Trio Zimmerman, BIS



An interesting work, in vaguely Neo-Baroque style, from relatively early in Hindemith's career when he was a bit of a radical. Contrapuntal character throughout, lively opening toccata, sensuous slow movement, pizzicato scherzo-ish movement and a fugal finale which alternates between fast and slow material. Fine performance and recording. Thoroughly enjoyed.

[Traverso]

Richard Strauss

Symphonia domestica

Tod und Verklärung

Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Lorin Maazel

[Que]

I have my favourite complete cycles, but this is a delectable recording. 

[Harry]

"Its a Girl"

Amy Beach, Sonia Eckhardt Gramatte, Louise Farrenc, Mel Bonis, Julia Smith.

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

One cannot be without this release. Some top compositions are assembled here, and get first class interpretations. Could not single out one work without doing an injustice to the rest.
The SACD sound is just perfect, and that means that the CD sound is also perfect. I have listened to both.

[Karl Henning]

CD 6:

Orpheus NYC Manhattan Center 22/23 Feb 49
Mass NYC Town Hall 24/25 Feb 49

[Harry]

Ludwig van Beethoven.

Symphonies Bo. 6 & 8.

Anima Eterna, Jos van Immerseel.

Good wine doesn't need praise, it has to be tasted. This complete set has for me reference status, apart from the terrible vocal parts in No. 9 that is. Beethoven should have given us a version without the vocal windbags.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Bartók
Five Hungarian Folksongs, Sz 101, BB 108
Júlia Hamari, mezzo-soprano
Hungarian State Orchestra
András Kórodi



Absolutely exquisite.

[Traverso]

CD 6:

Orpheus NYC Manhattan Center 22/23 Feb 49
Mass NYC Town Hall 24/25 Feb 49

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Isaac Albeniz, Iberia Suite. Arr. Arbos/Surinach.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Koechlin
Violin Sonata, Op. 64
Stéphanie Moraly, violin
Romain David, piano

[kyjo]

NP:

Henze
Symphony No. 3
Berliners
Henze

What did you think, John? I'm not too familiar with Henze's music.

[Roasted Swan]

Ludwig van Beethoven.

Symphonies Bo. 6 & 8.

Anima Eterna, Jos van Immerseel.

Good wine doesn't need praise, it has to be tasted. This complete set has for me reference status, apart from the terrible vocal parts in No. 9 that is. Beethoven should have given us a version without the vocal windbags.

I'm not anti-HIP by any means and I know a lot of people rate this set VERY highly but I struggle with it every time I hear it!  Stunning stunning playing for sure backed up by good sound but I find these performances without any elegance and just hard-driven.  Exciting and invigorating but little else.  A minority opinion I know!

[Spotted Horses]

Ludwig van Beethoven.

Symphonies Bo. 6 & 8.

Anima Eterna, Jos van Immerseel.

Good wine doesn't need praise, it has to be tasted. This complete set has for me reference status, apart from the terrible vocal parts in No. 9 that is. Beethoven should have given us a version without the vocal windbags.

Agree with every word. I remember reading somewhere that Beethoven had considered replacing the finale of the ninth with an instrumental movement, and I wish he had lived to carry it out.

[Karl Henning]

CD 8

RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra

Divertimento from Le baiser de la fée

Danses Concertantes

Voncerto for pf and winds
Soulima Stravinsky, pf

Scherzo à la russe

[Traverso]

CD 8

RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra

Divertimento from Le baiser de la fée

Danses Concertantes

Voncerto for pf and winds
Soulima Stravinsky, pf

Scherzo à la russe

Scherzo à la russe,I love that piece and the recording with Stravinsky is the finest It's humorous with  mischievous undertones