What are you listening 2 now?

[T. D.]

Finishing with this set which I started the other day.

[Symphonic Addict]

I have to say, Cesar, that this is one of the strangest, most incomprehensible statements I've ever read on GMG. Care to elaborate it, please?

I meant that, despite the work is great and expertly written, I could live without the singing, not only in this opera, but in others. On the other hand, the choruses have a better impact on me. Generally speaking, I pay more attention to the instrumental forces. I've listened to several operas, but I'm not completely used to the singing.

[Symphonic Addict]

NP
Langgaard: Symphony No.4 'Fall of the Leaf' - my favourite Langgaard symphony:

And that's my favorite recording of it. Love that work so much!!!

[Symphonic Addict]

Geirr Tveitt: Variations on a Folksong from Hardanger.

A magical work! I hope you have enjoyed it.

[Symphonic Addict]

Encouraging to know that you're enjoying Verdi's music...maybe I'll get around to one of his operas at some juncture!

Well, I've also heard Otello and wow, just my cup of tea: dramatic and with tremendous choruses!!

[Symphonic Addict]

Oh yes! The Holberg Suite, in particular, is a tremendously endearing, energetic, and lyrical work which never loses its charm. The solemn and passionate 4th movement Air is an excellent contrast to the other movements. It's easy to underrate Grieg because he didn't compose many works in standard forms (besides the PC, early Symphony in C minor, 3 violin sonatas, Cello Sonata, and String Quartet), but he always excelled at what he did. All his works bear a uniquely personal lyrical stamp.

Quite true, Kyle. I wholly concur with you. The Holberg Suite is quintessential Grieg and it's rather hard to tire of it. But it was the rest of the content of the CD that really impressed me:



There is so gorgeous music in all of those "Two-Piece" works.

[Symphonic Addict]

It's better to be a first rate miniaturist than a second or third rate monumentalist. 

It makes sense to me too. 

[TheGSMoeller]

Finally received this wonderful 7-disc set with Guy Van Waas and Les Agrémens.

From disc 1:

André Modeste Grétry:
Céphale et Procris (Airs de L'Aurore)
Les Deux Avares (Airs d'Henriette)
Sophie Karthäuser - soprano

[JBS]

Finally received this wonderful 7-disc set with Guy Van Waas and Les Agrémens.

From disc 1:

André Modeste Grétry:
Céphale et Procris (Airs de L'Aurore)
Les Deux Avares (Airs d'Henriette)
Sophie Karthäuser - soprano

Synchronicity!

I happen to be playing the exact same CD for the first time right now.

Preceded by

Also a first listen.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Vaughan Williams
Symphony No. 5 in D
Philharmonia
Barbirolli

[Madiel]

Were it not for some ungainly singing from the tenor (an important part in this work) I think I'd choose this performance as a reference for the work. Although 12 minutes slower than Haitink, I was often reminded of the dutch maestro's interpretation. It moves organically and naturally, with beautifully elucidated balances. The chorus sings with good body of tone and fine ensemble (very impressive basses in the intro to Part II). Also, the organ is given just enough presence in the mix.

I really have to try this sometime. It's previously been recommended to me as a version that might suit me better. The 8th can just feel too over-the-top.

[Madiel]

Mozart, Ascanio in Alba



I have access to the Naxos booklet, but they only give the libretto in Italian (with a short English synopsis). The only English translation I can find online is absolutely appalling. Just as well the plot is reportedly predictable and boring and I can pretty much just listen to the music, but I'd still prefer to have a better idea of what they're singing about!

[vandermolen]

NP:

Vaughan Williams
Symphony No. 5 in D
Philharmonia
Barbirolli

One of the greatest and most warm-hearted performances of the 5th Symphony and a great VW photo.

[vandermolen]

Alwyn: Oboe Concerto
This is a lovely CD of Alwyn's shorter works. I especially like the Oboe Concerto, Aphrodite in Aulis, the Elizabethan Dances (like Malcolm Arnold's English Dances) and The Magic Island:

[Que]

Morning listening:




Beautiful and original renaissance programme

http://www.musica-dei-donum.org/cd_reviews/Cypres_CYP1673.html

[Irons]

It's better to be a first rate miniaturist than a second or third rate monumentalist. 

Some of the bigger works are not too shabby either. The Piano Concerto is a mainstay of the repertoire. Maybe a collection of miniatures, the complete Peer Gynt is outstanding and justly famous.
I agree with praise for Holberg Suite. 

[Irons]

One of the greatest and most warm-hearted performances of the 5th Symphony and a great VW photo.

+1

[Irons]

Warlock: Serenade for Strings.



To the untrained ear (mine) Warlock's Serenade is a Delius pastiche. I believe that to be an over-simplification so to say I prefer the copier to the copied is possibly borderline crass.

[Biffo]

Without doubt a legendary recording.

Heard to its best advantage in the 2011 remastering in Warner Masters series. I can't make up my mind whether the disc in the big Barbirolli box is yet another remastering but it sounds fine. The Silvestri is an excellent performance but needs remastering ( along with several other discs in the Icon box). I am not as enamoured with the Winchester acoustic (or possibly it is just the recording) as others seem to be. I prefer Davis/BBCSO recorded in Gloucester Cathedral - a BBC Music Magazine disc.

Barbirolli/Sinfonia of London recorded in the Temple Church in the City of London in the middle of the night is perfection.

[foxandpeng]

Robin Walker
Orchestral Music
Great Rock Is Dead
Odysseus on Ogygia
The Stone King
The Stone Maker
Alexander Walker
Novaya Rossiya Symphony Orchestra

Third spin of this solid British orchestral writing. Lots of meat and potatoes. I'm noticing more grit and gravel this morning, probably due to the overnight distance from Tabakov's relentless wall of drama