What are you listening 2 now?

[classicalgeek]

What a coincidence - I was just listening to this yesterday! I agree, that slow movement is really something special. In its concision and good-humored nature, I feel this symphony is Lloyd's homage to the Classical Era.

You have it exactly right! Of course, a lot of Lloyd's music is witty and charming - considering what happened to him serving in WWII, that's no small feat.

[Symphonic Addict]

Intimate Letters

Shockingly riveting in all the possible ways. I must confess that the 2nd movement and 4th movements moved me to tears.

[Symphonic Addict]

+1 for the 'Legendary' perhaps my favourite of the Tubin symphonies and one which should be much better known.

One day this is my favorite. The next one it is the 3rd, and other days it could be the 4th or the 6th. They're my absolute favorites.

[Symphonic Addict]

This album has come up more than once in recent times. I really like the cover art. Can somebody please tell me who the artist is.

It appears on the CD info:

Young woman at the beach, Walberswick (Suffolk) c. 1886/88 by Philip Wilson Steer (1860–1942)

[Symphonic Addict]

Amarus is one of Janacek's most interesting vocal works IMO.

Agreed. And the Suk isn't bad either. I wonder if it exists a complete recording of that work.

[Symphonic Addict]

Freitas Branco: Symphony No.4 - easily the finest of his symphonies, with echoes of the music of his student Braga Santos:

A fabulous symphony indeed. I love all the four.

[Symphonic Addict]

Eduard Tubin: Symphony No.6. Neeme Järvi, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Hmm, I'm now detecting a connection between this work and Bruckner's 6th. Both seem to be quite driven by rhythmic motifs—thanks to Symphonic Addict in another thread for pointing out the rhythmic vitality of this symphony, prompting me to revisit the work after some months. Very fine symphonist Tubin was. Great performance from the Swedes under the direction of the world's most famous Estonian conductor.

Yes, I also am sure about the greatness of Tubin as both a symphonist and a composer overall.

[Symphonic Addict]

This symphony is growing on me. I still think the first movement is the strongest with its lovely tunes. The remaining three movements are surprisingly turbulent and even heavy at times compared to the bucolic first movement.

You're right. Even the Preludio (4th movement) is rather serious and solemn.

[Symphonic Addict]

I agree that it's easily the finest of his symphonies. I find that the earlier ones are, for the most part, stubbornly conservative and academic "Franck-lite". One can sense in the 4th Symphony that he had sat up and took notice of how wonderful his student Braga Santos' works were and was inspired by them to have a compositional "reawakening"!

They're more than conservative IMO. There are some fine moments in each of them. The 2nd features a lovely Barcarolla-like slow movement with a great tune IIRC.

[Mirror Image]

A gripping, thrilling work! Btw, the performances I have heard from the newer Challenge Classics set are excellent.

Cool, Kyle. I should get around to re-listening to that set. Thanks for the push!

[Mirror Image]

NP:

[Symphonic Addict]

Unsuk Chin: Violin Concerto

An extraordinary and atmospheric piece. It's the first work I've ever heard by her, and it struck me like very impressive. The style is quite approachable if you are familiar with, say, Dutilleux, Lutoslawski and Penderecki. Her sound world is quite oniric, somewhat bizarre, albeit it's not desolate or depressing, but fascinating.

[Mirror Image]

Unsuk Chin: Violin Concerto

An extraordinary and atmospheric piece. It's the first work I've ever heard by her, and it struck me like very impressive. The style is quite approachable if you are familiar with, say, Dutilleux, Lutoslawski and Penderecki. Her sound world is quite oniric, somewhat bizarre, albeit it's not desolate or depressing, but fascinating.

I should revisit this work. One thing that I also detected was the Ligeti influence, who was, of course, her teacher.

[Bachtoven]

[Symphonic Addict]

I should revisit this work. One thing that I also detected was the Ligeti influence, who was, of course, her teacher.

Since you mention it, yes, Ligeti's hints appear here and there.

[vandermolen]

NP:

A great performance John. Many years ago I attended a fine performance of the work conducted by Haitink at the Proms - it remains one of my favourite versions. I also like the recordings by Mravinsky, Previn (EMI not DGG) and Slatkin.

Out of curiosity I just looked up the concert - it was in 1983.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e6xc8g

NP

Sauguet: Symphony No.1 'Expiatoire':

[vandermolen]

Since my daughter landed at Toronto, on her current visit to Canada, I thought that this would be appropriate listening:
Oboe Concerto by Vaughan Williams  (Sarah Jeffrey/Toronto SO/Peter Oundjian). I see that the orchestra has recorded VW's 4th and 5th symphonies (download only AFAIK):

[foxandpeng]

I can't get enough George Lloyd these days! Good to see you're enjoying him too. I just completed a listen to the same album (on Spotify) and found it endlessly rewarding! I know his complete symphonies have all been recorded, as have most of his concertos, but some of the recordings seem hard to find.

You have my deepest sympathies for your recent encounters with spiders!

Thank you, CG. I shall be avoiding them as much as possible. Thanks too, to PD and others for your kind words 😁

The Lloyd symphonies really are top quality. My only frustration is having to go to YouTube for those that I can't stream!

[vandermolen]

Piano Concerto - my favourite of the VW concertos:

[aligreto]

Josquin: Ars Musica [Dufay Ensemble]





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