What are you listening 2 now?

[Traverso]

I didn't know that that set existed - it's a fabulous performance which finally appeared on CD in the Warner Bliss box.
:

[TheGSMoeller]

From the new OCO box set...

[Klavier]

I've enjoyed his symphonic works, so I was pleased to see this new release of some chamber music on Qobuz today. It's very good, too.

[Iota]

Liszt: Annees de Pelerinage, Book 1, Suisse
Jorge Bolet (piano)


Bolet's recording of Liszt's Sonata in B minor on an old Everest LP was what first got me into Liszt, and I still really like his way with his music, old school, big, affectionate. What a beauty the final piece of the book is, Les cloches de Geneve, with its tantalising hints of his son-in-law's Tristan (yet to be composed).

[classicalgeek]

Late last night, Rapsodie espagnole, Pavane pour une infante défunte, and Valses nobles et sentimentales, on Spotify:



You can't go wrong with Ravel, and Abbado's one of the best!

[Karl Henning]

From the new OCO box set...

Welcome aboard! Did you ever get a (trivial) email msg I sent?

[Karl Henning]

Shostakovich
Symphony № 6 in b minor, Op. 54
Berlin Symphony
Kurt Sanderling

[SonicMan46]

Beach, Amy (1867-1944) - Piano Music w/ Kirsten Johnson on 4 volumes - my previous post this morning provided a brief bio and several links of interest; Beach was a child prodigy on the piano and composed much music for the instrument; after the death of her 'overbearing' physician husband (24 years her senior), she was then able to travel and performed at many concerts.  Joanne Polk has recorded 3 volumes of the solo piano works, available on Spotify or DLs, plus other recordings of chamber music and songs.  These Johnson performances have been well reviewed except for a 'raking over the coals' by Lynn René Bayley of Fanfare in her review of Vol. 4, basically declaring Johnson a 'poor pianist' (my quotes); however, Dan Morgan of MusicWeb loved the recording - for those interested, reviews of all volumes are attached.  Dave

P.S. at the very end of CD 3 there is a glitch and a tiny visible defect on the edge of the disc - this was noted by the reviewer in the attachment also; I wrote Guild and a new CD was sent but the same defect was present; don't know if it has been corrected?  I burned a CD-R using lossless AIFF and simply skipped the last two short pieces.

         

[classicalgeek]

I've been wondering, since really delved into Koechlin's music, why he's hardly ever performed. Well, YouTube recommended me a live stream of a Frankfurt Radio Symphony Concert - including the very Koechlin work that astounded me with its sheer beauty. The program also included a minimalist violin concerto - that, while some passages went on for far too long, was still fresh and exciting - and a nice Beethoven 6.

Charles Koechlin:
Vers la voûte étoilée

Bryce Dessner:
Violin concerto
(world premiere)

Ludwig van Beethoven:
Symphony no. 6

Pekka Kuusisto, violin
Ariane Matiakh, conductor

[Mandryka]

It's always difficult with a recording like this because basically the music is anonymous and previously known only to scholars - so I have only Andrew Kirkman's reputation to make me bite, make me want to explore the music.

These guys can sing! They are unbelievably cool, poised. Scottish gentlemen. It's a really entertaining sound - if you're the sort of guy who's entertained by Renaissance masses. Kirkman could make a mass by Mandryka sound nice. I can't comment on the quality or importance of the music, but I'm glad to have heard this performance.

[vandermolen]

Looks like a great set.

Now playing:
Klebanov SQ No.4 (1946)
Immediately engaging, soulful music:

Aded later - the Piano Trio No.2 is excellent as well.

[SimonNZ]

The Op.18s

[classicalgeek]

I was reading up on Minna Keal's life story, and how she took a nearly 50-year break from composing before resuming it in her mid-60s. Her Cello Concerto (as well as an early Ballade for cello and piano) have been recorded.



The Cello Concerto is a fine work, which reminded me a little of Michael Tippett in spots, but wholly original. The Ballade is clearly from when she was still finding her compositional voice, but it's a lovely piece.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Well,a good moment to listen to this recording 

Mozart Clarinet Trio "Kegelstatt"

Spohr  Octet - Allegro

Bliss conversations
        Oboe Quintwet
        Clarinet Quintet

Peter Graeme oboe
Gervase de Peter clarinet

That's a great set.  I have it from back when it was still called an EMI Icons set.  Ah, changes. 

PD

[classicalgeek]

That's a great set.  I have it from back when it was still called an EMI Icons set.  Ah, changes. 

PD

It looks like a fantastic box! Some of the cornerstones of the chamber music repertoire, and a lot of 20th-century works it's hard to find anywhere else. Too bad it's long out of print, and sellers are asking a hefty amount for used copies.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

It looks like a fantastic box! Some of the cornerstones of the chamber music repertoire, and a lot of 20th-century works it's hard to find anywhere else. Too bad it's long out of print, and sellers are asking a hefty amount for used copies.

Wow, it's already out of print?!     I suspect that various out-of-print sets will come back after things get better re pandemic.  I could be wrong though.

PD

[TheGSMoeller]

Welcome aboard! Did you ever get a (trivial) email msg I sent?

Yo, Karl! This is one of the best box sets I've ever purchased! Seeing your comments on this set helped me to take that extra step, and to open my wallet a little more than I was expecting 


Was it the Peaks email? I just saw it, sorry I've been bad at email lately I get about 50 a day I don't want to read about 3 I do read, so I miss a bunch.

[VonStupp]

Carl Maria von Weber
Piano Concerto 2 in E-flat Major, op. 32

Nikolai Demidenko, piano
SCO - Sir Charles Mackerras

[vers la flamme]

Johannes Brahms: Symphony No.3 in F major, op.90. Marin Alsop, London Philharmonic

Seriously fine performance, especially the inner movements.

[André]

DVD 2, symphonies 4-6. Not the same performances as on the 4 CDs if I read well (different dates it seems). Interesting to watch vs an audio only CD. However the camera people seem not to know where to focus. We get 20 second shots of double basses seesawing while the rest of the orchestra plays. The important percussion parts in all three symphonies ought to be elucidated by intelligent camera work, but someone in the production room seems to have a fixation on close-ups of rapid-fire drum/timpani sticks. Nielsen has a very peculiar musical language and orchestration, and a lot is going on at times. An attentive look at the whole orchestra helps understand the music. I would have preferred long shots (whole orchestra) the rule, with occasional close ups of instrumental sections. Quibbles apart the performances are excellent and the sound mostly very good - the CDs have a more analytical sound, which I prefer.