What are you listening 2 now?

[vers la flamme]

Georg Philipp Telemann: Overture in C major, TWV 55/C6. Helmut Mühler-Brüll, Cologne Chamber Orchestra

Excellent recording! Not PI, or at least I don't think so, so that may be a deterrent for some, but not for me.

[kyjo]

More Stenhammar!

Stenhammar
Serenade in F major
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Järvi
(on Spotify)



Tuneful and delightful, and as much a Symphony as a Serenade. I was reminded of Richard Strauss at times, with a touch of Sibelius in the wistful Notturno movement. Once again, it's apparent Stenhammar loves writing for horns!

Stenhammar
Symphony no. 2
Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
Stig Westerberg
(also on Spotify)



The Second Symphony was a tougher "nut to crack" for me... I think I'm going to need to listen again to get the full measure of the piece. It definitely had its moments of brilliance, though,

I didn't completely "get" the 2nd Symphony either the first time I listened, but a second listen revealed its personal mastery to me. Also worth investigating is Blomstedt's recent recording of it and the Serenade on BIS.

[classicalgeek]

I didn't completely "get" the 2nd Symphony either the first time I listened, but a second listen revealed its personal mastery to me. Also worth investigating is Blomstedt's recent recording of it and the Serenade on BIS.

It sometimes takes me multiple hearings for a less familiar work to register - I just recently 'got' Vaughan Williams' Sixth! I look forward to further exploring Stenhammar, and I'll definitely check out Blomstedt's recording.

Thread duty:

Just learned of John Kinsella's death - I was familiar with his name but not his music.

Kinsella
Symphony no. 4
National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
Proinnsias O'Duinn



Big, bold, dramatic, and turbulent. I think Jeffrey describes it best:

I found the powerful ending, as the prevailing wind motto theme sweeps across Ireland and out to sea (as I like to imagine it) overwhelming, having just heard of Kinsella's death.

[VonStupp]

I really like Jubilate Deo

Yes, it's a beaut, especially with the orchestration. The whole album is extremely digestible. Bad for my figure, though...

VS

[André]

Hi André - yes, the comments on the 'drum guy' have been made in several reviews, e.g. "The timpanist, in particular, brings something to this music that has simply never been heard before, and needs to be heard to be believed." in one of the Fanfare reviews attached w/ some contrasting thoughts in the other; in another review I read, the timpanist may have 'double vision' and sees ff instead of just one f -    Dave

Indeed. Very attention seeking if you ask me. The unfortunate result is that once the disc was over, I wondered if there were any strings or winds playing in these performances. I couldn't recall whole musical phrases, only those timpani tattoos  .

[André]

Comments in the 'Pieces that have blown you away recently' thread.

[Symphonic Addict]

Schnittke: Symphony No. 5

Amazing work and performance. It could easily be my favorite Schnittke symphony.




Marek: Sinfonia, op. 28

This is the kind of works that invites you to revisit it because of its fascinating musical discourse. It's not straightforward but it's not hard to follow either, tinged with post-Romantic (?) ideas. There are some imposing climaxes, but most of the work is subdued. Very interesting piece overall.

[classicalgeek]

Comments in the 'Pieces that have blown you away recently' thread.

I read your entry in the 'Pieces that have blown you away thread' and it sounds fascinating! I'll put it on my to-listen list - interesting that Marteau has a connection to Sweden, given I've been on a Stenhammar-and-Alfven kick today (and he was friends with Stenhammar.)

Speaking of which, thread duty:

Hugo Alfvén
Uppsala Rhapsody
Symphony no. 1
Drapa in memoriam King Oscar II
Andante religioso
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic
Neeme Järvi
(on Spotify)



Tuneful and approachable music all around; the Rhapsody and the Andante were true winners, and the symphony, while not a true masterpiece, did have some great moments. I don't think the 'Drapa' really worked for me - I guess I was expecting more of an elegy, a reflective piece, instead of a celebratory march-like affair! But I'm looking forward to listening to more of this set.

[Daverz]

Dvorak Cello Concerto



A very fine performance.  Excellent accompaniment from the Russian orchestra (can't they have simpler names?)

Weber: Clarinet Concerto No. 1



I have lots of recordings of this wonderful concerto, but Neidich stands out for his fluidity.

[JBS]

Dvorak Cello Concerto



A very fine performance.  Excellent accompaniment from the Russian orchestra (can't they have simpler names?)

IIRC Svetlanov's name was added as a posthumous tribute. They were the orchestra on Ibragimova's Shostakovich CD.

TD
Tonight so far
Arnold Symphonies 7 and 8
Saint Saens Symphony 3, Symphony in A Major, Omphale's Spinning Wheel
Prokofiev SQ 2/Malipiero SQ 4 (1955 recording)




I think this Arnold set is turning out to be the best set of his symphonies*. The Saint Saens is nothing to look down on either.

*I've got the Conifer/Sony and Chandos sets as well as this one. Are there any other complete sets?

[Mirror Image]

More Stenhammar!

Stenhammar
Serenade in F major
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Järvi
(on Spotify)



Tuneful and delightful, and as much a Symphony as a Serenade. I was reminded of Richard Strauss at times, with a touch of Sibelius in the wistful Notturno movement. Once again, it's apparent Stenhammar loves writing for horns!

Stenhammar
Symphony no. 2
Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
Stig Westerberg
(also on Spotify)



The Second Symphony was a tougher "nut to crack" for me... I think I'm going to need to listen again to get the full measure of the piece. It definitely had its moments of brilliance, though,

Sweet! Yeah, just keep trying with Stenhammar's 2nd. It really is a masterpiece, IMHO. So wonderfully melodic and lyrical.

[Mirror Image]

Looks great! Hope to receive it soon.

+ 1

[Mirror Image]

NP:

[Linz]

Another Bruckner 9

[Linz]

Böhm coducting bruckner 7 at the Lucerne Festival along with Paul Hindemith's Concerto for Woodwinds, Harp & Orchestra

[amw]

Symphonies 1 and 2. Probably the rest tonight. That is, if I can stand the assaults of the Mad Timpanist for three more symphonies...

This was a very well regarded set when it came out, and I did love the timpani, the fast tempi, all the usual HIP affectations—but the brass and wind players seemed kind of sloppy where it counts, not bringing the kind of crack virtuosity we get from e.g. Krivine, Gardiner, Norrington (my test for this is the scherzo of the Eroica & the Concert des Nations horns in particular didn't perform well by comparison with other HIP recordings. Obviously given the difficulty of the horn writing we can't expect the clean effortless sound of the valve horns in Järvi/Bremen or Mackerras/SCO, but existing natural horn recordings have set the expectations pretty high).

I would still recommend those two—Krivine as best overall if one can deal with the somewhat brickwalled audio, Gardiner a bit less sharp-edged and French Revolution-y but necessary for the essential (ish) repeat in the scherzo of the Fifth. I still like Norrington/LCP a lot as well, but it is not completely accurate historically, and probably superseded interpretively by his modern instruments recording. I'll check the rest of the Savall symphonies out when they do appear, obviously, since I'm a nutcase.

[Daverz]

Sweet! Yeah, just keep trying with Stenhammar's 2nd. It really is a masterpiece, IMHO. So wonderfully melodic and lyrical.

Listened to this earlier tonight.  Certainly Stig Westerberg convinces me that it is a masterpiece.

[vandermolen]

Before work, John Kinsella Symphony No.3 'Joie de Vivre'. Probably my favourite of the symphonies that I have heard. He was my favourite living composer:

[Roasted Swan]

Listened to this earlier tonight.  Certainly Stig Westerberg convinces me that it is a masterpiece.

Another work/LP I was introduced to by Tony of Farringdon records on London's Cheapside circa 1980......

[Harry]

Anthony Van Noordt.
Complete Organ Works, Volume I & II.
Manuel Tomadin, Organ.

Today I play this whole set again in one go, because its a beautiful release. The Stellwagen organ is a big draw in affair for me obviously, but without Tomadin it would be a different context.