What are you listening 2 now?

[vers la flamme]

I don't know this Brahms disc, but I've heard some of his recordings of Beethoven's piano sonatas which I've enjoyed.  They were from this set:



You've got me thinking now:  I don't recall ever hearing Brahms' works for solo piano before.  I do like his piano concertos though. 

PD

You must rectify this at once, especially if you're a lover of solo piano music as I am. If you like Goode's Beethoven then this might not be a bad place to start!

[amw]

I notice this every time, but why does this cover look like it's meant to be a Star Wars movie?

[T. D.]

I notice this every time, but why does this cover look like it's meant to be a Star Wars movie?

I have the reissue (digipak) with much different cover:


I've never gotten the impression that record companies (at least in classical and jazz - jazz covers are typically a notch or more below classical) devote much budget to graphic design.

[vers la flamme]

Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D major, BWV 243. Masaaki Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan

This must be one of the greatest Baroque discs in my collection, and not just for the Bach: the other three Magnificats are also brilliant. But that this is probably my favorite of them will probably come as no surprise to anyone. Suzuki has really put together a hell of an ensemble in the Collegium. Every recording of theirs I have is gold. Too bad they're so damn expensive.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Strauss
Hornkonzert Nr. 2 in Es, TrV 283
Barry Tuckwell, horn
Royal PO
Ashkenazy



A touching dedication to Strauss' father who was the principal horn for the Munich Court Orchestra. The horn was a constant source of inspiration for Strauss throughout his life. Listen to those glorious horn parts in Don Juan for example.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

It sure is. I snagged this Walton set many years ago --- probably around the time this box set came out. It's probably OOP now.

It's been oop for a few years. My only (minor) complaint about the box is that the cover art is mediocre.

[Mirror Image]

It's been oop for a few years. My only complaint about the box is that the cover art is mediocre.

Well, it's a typical botch job from EMI. So many of their covers weren't good, but here's one that I do like (and you might, too):



Oh and this is a fantastic recording, too.

[André]

Bruckner: symphony no 7. Ormandy in Minneapolis (1935).

It was quite adventurous of Ormandy to program and record Bruckner in the Midwest in 1935. The orchestra's response is sincere and quite passionate. They don't seem at all uncomfortable with the music, even though it was probably a first encounter for many of its members. The strings play with plenty of portamento, a natural response to the score's long, romantic, slithering phrases in the first two movements. The sound is not bad at all, if perforce a bit limited in terms of dynamic range (compressed climaxes). It's better than in other incarnations I've heard. Contrary to his stereo remake 33 years later, the Adagio is taken very broadly indeed. The other movements have quasi identical timings. Ormandy may not have had the stature of other conductors as a brucknerian, but his way with the music is entirely natural and totally heartfelt.

[Carlo Gesualdo]

I'm listening to Nicolas Gombert, a holy grail,  The sound and The fury quam pulchra es, mass and Motets it's sublime, outstanding, memorable, this is so darn good melodic.

Here my view on this I read the book on Gombert by Paul Van Nevel L'Aventure polyphonique, we all know the story, he faulter, but perhaps he was gay and reprimated, and snap once, I'm not defending what he did but his superbe music, he is one of my favorite composer of The Franco-Flemish, take in consideration The Gombert back them the familly were filled whit Truand, he had bad gens from his familly three but genius of Leonardo DA Vinci in polyphony,  only one Gombert was pious and honest according to Paul Van Nevel and give to the poor and ect according to Paul Van Nevel, the Gombert all come from northern France La Gorge town.

For Awhile I though is listening to this kind of composer, but realise his works his the most important , not the man, he a super composer also called by certain musicologist the Quasi Baroque= almost Baroque composer and I beleive them, he would do stuff only J.s Bach would focus on, unusual stuff for his era, polyphonic odd cadence, expressive, melancolic music of great beauty.

Same stuff could be said about Dominique Phinot, wonderfuly put in music by Ensemble Brabant and Ensemble Scandinus, he share the same blue print as Gombert the same  sphere of advanced music, therefore Avant-Garde  during early to mid 16 century , this is remarkable.

I am not gay and like to point out I like asian older women, don't care for  18 yrs old or lewd age for me, it's 25+ yrs old to 55 yrs, only explain thing, being gay is not dramatic, but still what he did was embarrasing for king Charles V, he spared his life because his music was too good ,Dominique Phinot did not had this luck was  executed.

[Symphonic Addict]

The first time (who knows if there will be more, though) trying this monumental achievement. Today part one. Dense and restless music.

[Karl Henning]

The first time (who knows if there will be more, though) trying this monumental achievement. Today part one. Dense and restless music.

I haven't yet completed a listen, but I love the listening.

[T. D.]

The first time (who knows if there will be more, though) trying this monumental achievement. Today part one. Dense and restless music.

Around 20 years ago, Juilliard School in New York promoted a concert in which a team of students would perform the entire O C in an evening.
I duly and eagerly showed up, but they wimped out! Only a handful of sections were played. I was crushed.
I enjoyed the smaller Sorabji selections I've heard, but have shied away from spending for the mega recordings.

[Carlo Gesualdo]

Now it's getting late , before , would sleep I'm listening to good old LP's of Josquin, First the one on Supraphon, awesome label, whit delicious Motets, brewed in 1960 that a good year for vinyls, than if I still got insomnia on NON-SUCH roaster Missa Ave Maris Stella B side included four Motets, this is sweet.

Perhaps also Adam DE La Halle on ARKIV PRODUKTION, germany 1951 a super good year for quality vynil media, thick & robust, , voluminous heavy, large sillion= better sounds, I am not learning you guys anything.So MANY record worth of interrest I feel like picking up for a spin Claude Goudimel on Erato, love this LP.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Dvořák
The Hero's Song, Op. 111
Scottish National Orchestra
Järvi

[JBS]

It's been oop for a few years. My only (minor) complaint about the box is that the cover art is mediocre.

The cover art for that set simply follows a template EMI used for several other composer-focused sets, including Mahler, Delius, and Liszt. 

TD
Sviatoslav Richter playing Beethoven
Sonatas no 12 Op 26, no 17 Op 31 number 2, no 23 Op 57
Andante Favori WoO 57

One of my thrift store finds from last week:

A Philips compilation of recordings released by EMI and BMG.

[Que]

Morning listening on Spotify:



Sofar I have not been a big fan of the music by Heinrich Isaac, a contemporary of Desprez. It's a bit tame, predictable and not very inventive.
Well, if any recording should concvince me otherwise, It is this one.
Performances are absolutely sublime. The way the plainchant is done, is hard to be matched. And Vellard has put in much effort to show off the choral colourings - Isaac strongest point IMO.

http://www.musica-dei-donum.org/cd_reviews/Glossa_GCD_P31908_Evidence_EVCD023.html

[Harry]

Early morning listening.

Joan Cabanilles.

Batalles, Tientos & Passacalles.

Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall.
Recorded in 1996.


Well recorded, perfectly played. I was lucky so far with the bunch of CD'S I bought from Alia Fox, despite some unnecessary reciting of poems and historical events, shouted out by over exited Spaniards. But apart from that all is well.
Joan Cabanilles is an interesting composer, who knew how to please by some serious writing. For me he stands apart from some of his contemporaries.

[foxandpeng]

Sergei Prokofiev
Symphony #6
Dmitrij Kitayenko

[Irons]

Digging further into this set:

Bartók
Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2
Contrasts
André Gertler (violin), Diane Andersen (piano), Milan Etlík (clarinet)

Interested in what you think of the Sonata for Violin Solo. I find it a tough listen. Supraphon often used modern art in their LP covers. This issue is good.



Edit: Emil Filla, Musical Still-Life (1928). National Gallery, Prague.

[Harry]

"Ladies Night"

Chamber music by:

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

Thomas Irnberger, Piano.
Barbara Moser, Piano.

Easily one of my favourite CD'S I bought this year. I am thoroughly enthralled with the music. Ladies are no less in the composing department as men. This said:
After a CD with the same artists "Its a Girl I bought "Ladies Night" and marveled again in sumptuous sounds. Assembled on this CD"are all female composers. Every piece is a highlight and adventure, but when I am forced to choose. Amanda Rontgen Maier wrote a piece that would put many a male composer to shame. Six Pieces for Piano and Violin is a virtual master piece, The strong introduction, "Allegro vivace"sets the tone, and from thereon its one event after another. The Sonata in A minor by Amy Beach is another composition that makes an impression that will last. The Third movement  "Largo con dolore"has a ravishing beauty which is almost out worldly through its ephemeral colours. And a great favourite is Dora Pejacevic, I simply love all she composed, and the Elegie and Romance have all the hallmarks of her genius.
The performance is impeccable, and the SACD has great resolution.