What are you listening 2 now?

[Valentino]

Listened to the Bartoli Norma twice now, first over Spotify as unprocessed as possible from there and then to the 24/96 download bought from Presto.
A very short verdict: I wouldn't buy it for Bartoli's Casta Diva, but I'd buy it for everything else. All other recordings I've heard sound like the equivalent of a Morris Minor more or less. Also: My dive into the bel canto repertoire shall continue.

Btw this shot from the pdf (or inlay if yoy're into disks) is rather good I think.

[ritter]

Listened to the Bartoli Norma twice now, first over Spotify as unprocessed as possible from there and then to the 24/96 download bought from Presto.
A very short verdict: I wouldn't buy it for Bartoli's Casta Diva, but I'd buy it for everything else. All other recordings I've heard sound like the equivalentog a Morris Minor more or less. Also: My dive into the bel canto repertoire shall continue.

Btw this shot from the pdf (or inlay if yoy're into disks) is rather good I think.

Bartoli impersonating Anna Magnani? 

[Mirror Image]

NP: Martinů: String Quartets Nos. 6, 3, & 1 (Pražák Quartet/Zemlinsky Quartet)

[Biffo]

Berg: Lulu Suite - Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Kirill Petrenko with Marlis Petersen soprano - from a concert in August 2019

[Florestan]

Bartoli impersonating Anna Magnani? 

Looks more like a Carmen who survived the stabbing and ended up as a drug-addicted streetwalker than Norma. 

[Traverso]

Beethoven

A very good performance of the overture "Egmond"

[Mirror Image]

Berg: Lulu Suite - Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Kirill Petrenko with Marlis Petersen soprano - from a concert in August 2019

Nice! Even as a huge Berg fan, I prefer the Lulu Suite to the opera. Wozzeck, of course, is a different matter completely. This is probably Berg's greatest achievement.

[bhodges]

Rimsky-Korsakov: "Dance of the Tumblers" from The Snow Maiden (Ormandy / Philadelphia) -- Hadn't heard this in years, and it's so much fun. Went down a rabbit hole, comparing to other versions (arrangements for wind ensemble!), but ultimately this one is the most satisfying, with some knockout playing from the orchestra.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUxtBbrEmL4

--Bruce

[Traverso]

Ravel

Valses nobles et sentimentales

London Symphony Orxchestra London

Claudio Abbado

[Papy Oli]

JS Bach - Various organ works (CD3 & 4) by Isoir.

[Karl Henning]

First listen.



The most interesting work on this CD is the String Quartet. The Introduction Nocturne and Rondo is a pleasant duo for mandolin and guitar. The three choral works are exactly the sort of music you would expect to find on a program by your local church choir.

In a twist on the usual situation, at the first performance of the Wedding Cantata (a wedding in Harvard's chapel) the composer had to play the keyboard part on a harpsichord because the Chapel had no piano, the instrument he had written it for.

Fun story!  Nowadays there is indeed a piano in Memorial Church.

[Karl Henning]

Messiaen, Et Exspecto Resurrectionem Mortuorum



On a second listen, this piece made a strong impression. Impressive, dramatic harmonies in the first and last movements, zig-zaggy melodies harmonized in a way that reminds me of the Miles Davis/Gil Evans collaboration, "The Birth of Cool." There is some very effective use of tuned percussion, although the heavy use of gongs and tam-tams in parts of the work was off putting.

Glad you enjoyed it! Et exspecto ... hit mw good and hard the first I heard it live at Eastman.

[Traverso]

Debussy

CD 10   Works For Piano Duet & Two Pianos

[SonicMan46]

Bach, JS - Christmas Oratorio w/ Gardiner (first 2 discs in the 22-CD box below; oratorio recorded in 1987) and Layton w/ the Orch Age Enlightenment and singers/choir listed, recorded in 2013 - period instrument performances both sounding fine to me - remember culling out other performances in the past but not sure which ones?  Looking on Amazon there are plenty of older and newer options - any favorites?  Dave

 

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Paul Gilson: The Sea.

[Karl Henning]

CD 19

Trio Sonata « La Folia » RV 63
Concerto « per flautino » RV 443
Cantata « Amor, hai vinto » RV 651
Cantata « Nulla in mundo pax sincera » RV 630

Emma Kirkby, soprano
Michael Copley, sopranino recorder
Clare Shanks, baroque oboe
Christopher Hogwood, harpsichord

Concerto in A « in due cori » con flauti obligati, RV 585

Amdterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet
Daniel Brüggen, Bertho Driever, Paul Leenhouts, Karel van Steenhoven

[Biffo]

Nice! Even as a huge Berg fan, I prefer the Lulu Suite to the opera. Wozzeck, of course, is a different matter completely. This is probably Berg's greatest achievement.

I suppose the opera is problematic in that it is incomplete. I have only seen the opera live once but heard the Suite numerous times, live and on record. I agree about Wozzeck.

[Harry]

JS Bach - Various organ works (CD3 & 4) by Isoir.

In my opinion that is a very good set. I rate it very high of all the sets I have!

[Harry]

CD 19

Trio Sonata « La Folia » RV 63
Concerto « per flautino » RV 443
Cantata « Amor, hai vinto » RV 651
Cantata « Nulla in mundo pax sincera » RV 630

Emma Kirkby, soprano
Michael Copley, sopranino recorder
Clare Shanks, baroque oboe
Christopher Hogwood, harpsichord

Concerto in A « in due cori » con flauti obligati, RV 585

Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet
Daniel Brüggen, Bartho Driever, Paul Leenhouts, Karel van Steenhoven

Its nice to know Karl, that you hugely enjoy this iconic set from the past. It has given me many hours of intense pleasure.

[Mandryka]

The talk about snyprrr in the missing thread reminded me of his recommendation for the Shostakovich String Quartet No. 5 played by the Manhattan. Listening now:




Sarge

Thanks for drawing my attention to this interesting performance of 5. It's the first time I've heard the Manhattan Quartet, the tone they make is very much me, it rather reminds me of the St Petersburg String Quartet.