What are you listening 2 now?

[Papy Oli]

[Que]

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Not directed directly at PD but pardon me for interposing here, not to denigrate one's choice, but I am quite passionate about people hearing the very late Shostakovich String Quartets. People who buy this incomplete set surely miss out on String Quartets Nos. 14 & 15 which are absolutely two Life affirming works. Be aware of this if you are contemplating a purchase of this particular String Quartet cycle. Please make sure that you eventually listen to String Quartets Nos. 14 & 15. This is in your own interest   

A good point Fergus.  And fear not, I do also have another--a complete set--with the Fitzwilliam Quartet too. 



PD

[aligreto]

Bach: Cantata BWV 36, Schwingt freudig euch empor [Mallon]





I find the sound to be a little light and scant overall but even though it is on the sparse side it is very well recorded. Perhaps it is just that the recorded acoustic is too big for the smaller forces [OVPP]. However, this is not a major issue here; it is quite a pleasant listen and is simply something that I was aware of throughout. The music is well played and sung and I also like the pacing and tone of this version.

[The new erato]

Lloyd is definitely one of my major discoveries of this year too.

Strangely enough I listened to Lloyd's 8th yesterday (amongst tons of Machaut) and found it a letdown after the quite appealing 4th and 5th.

[The new erato]

Although I like Pierne's oeuvre very much, I have a distinct aversion against the overloud Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, opus 12, especially the first and third movement. Bavouzet's approach is rather agressive, and undermines the poetic side of the music. The virtuosic element is predominant. And I rather dislike that. No room for the music to breath.

Breathing is important in these Corona times. I hope all is well with you and everybody.

[aligreto]

A good point Fergus.  And fear not, I do also have another--a complete set--with the Fitzwilliam Quartet too. 



PD

Cheers PD. I have come across people who thought that Shostakovich only wrote 13 String Quartets and were missing out, in my opinion, on two of the greatest quartets ever written.

[aligreto]

Strangely enough I listened to Lloyd's 8th yesterday (amongst tons of Machaut) and found it a letdown after the quite appealing 4th and 5th.

Not a work for everyone, apparently, but I like it because it is quite different.

[The new erato]

Cheers PD. I have come across people who thought that Shostakovich only wrote 13 String Quartets and were missing out, in my opinion, on two of the greatest quartets ever written.

Definitely +1.  Final words from one of the ultimate String Quartet masters.

[aligreto]

Couperin: Le Parnasse Ou L'Apothéose de Corelli [Christie, Rousset]

[Traverso]

Schubert

Symphony No 8

[Harry]

Breathing is important in these Corona times. I hope all is well with you and everybody.

Of course it is, getting the Pfizer boost on the 21th, have my wine cellar full to the brim, due to about 400 bottles from an old friend who sadly died in March this year. To my surprise he left me in his will high quality stuff, that will pleasure me for years. Its somewhat less with my wife, but we battle through as everyone in these dire times.
Hope all is well with you too, and I am rather curious about your new speakers you bought recently. Still good to your ears?

[Traverso]

Schubert

String Quintet in C  D 956

Brandis Quartet with Wen-Sinn Yang

[Biffo]

Brahms: Symphony No 4 in E minor - Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Kirill Petrenko - from the opening concert of the 2020 season

[aligreto]

Dvorak: Symphony 9 [Rowicki]





The opening introductions are wonderfully serene and lyrical and the subsequent orchestral chords are massive and threatening. I like the somewhat underlying disconcerting tone as the movement progresses. It is a powerful presentation that is well driven and it also has a wonderful sense of exuberance. The recording sounds wonderfully expansive. The introduction to the Largo is wonderful in its depth and the main theme is delicate, wistful and soulful. As the movement progresses the rich scoring is very well presented. The tone is gentle and lyrical. This third movement is a stirring affair and it is well driven yielding much excitement in the outer sections of the movement whereas inwardly it is expansive and atmospheric. The opening of this final movement is wonderful with great brass. Once again the sense of power and expanse in the music is well portrayed. The conclusion is exhilarating. A very fine version.

Dvorak: Symphony 9 [Kubelik]





The opening introductions are quite on the solemn side here and the subsequent orchestral chords are powerful and menacing. This sense of power and menace pervades throughout the movement where the tutti is employed and the sense of menace diminishes somewhat into a more lyrical presentation occasionally. This is a big and bold presentation that is well driven. The main theme of the Largo is gentle, yearning and soulful and this tone pervades throughout the movement. This is aided by a very expansive presentation but the music never feels ponderous. It is always lyrical and eloquent. This version of the third movement is quite powerful and it has great presence to it; even those more lyrical passages are robustly presented. The opening of the final movement is assertively presented here and that tone prevails throughout the movement. A very fine version.

[The new erato]

Of course it is, getting the Pfizer boost on the 21th, have my wine cellar full to the brim, due to about 400 bottles from an old friend who sadly died in March this year. To my surprise he left me in his will high quality stuff, that will pleasure me for years. Its somewhat less with my wife, but we battle through as everyone in these dire times.
Hope all is well with you too, and I am rather curious about your new speakers you bought recently. Still good to your ears?

I love them. Their ability to fill the room and present a detailed soundstage is amazing. All is well here as well.

[vandermolen]

Walton conducts Walton 'Belshazzar's Feast' (Dennis Noble, Huddersfield Choral Society, Royal Liverpool PO and Brass Bands).
What a performance! (from 1943), especially from Dennis Noble who sang at the premiere performance:

[Traverso]

Britten

CD 17

Hymn to St Cecilia   
A Ceremony of Carols   
Missa brevis   
Festival Te Deum   
Rejoice in the Lamb   
Te Deum in C   
Jubilate Deo

The King's College Choir Of Cambridge, David Willcocks & Philip Ledger

[foxandpeng]

Elizabeth Maconchy
Complete String Quartets
SQs #1 - 4
Hanson String Quartet

These initial quartets are proving to be worth the investment of time. I'm not coming cold to them  which helps, but spending more focused time with them is positive. I'd like to get my head round the Miaskovsky and Weinberg during 2022, revisit the Rosenberg cycle, and break my unfortunate disinterest in Bartók, but digging at Maconchy seems a good way to end 2021's SQ odyssey.

[Spotted Horses]

Elizabeth Maconchy
Complete String Quartets
SQs #1 - 4
Hanson String Quartet

These initial quartets are proving to be worth the investment of time. I'm not coming cold to them  which helps, but spending more focused time with them is positive. I'd like to get my head round the Miaskovsky and Weinberg during 2022, revisit the Rosenberg cycle, and break my unfortunate disinterest in Bartók, but digging at Maconchy seems a good way to end 2021's SQ odyssey.

Maconchy is fabulous. Have you heard her clarinet quintet?