What are you listening 2 now?

[Florestan]

OK

[steve ridgway]

I and one of the dogs just chilled out on the sofa with our eyes closed listening to the entire Gruppe Nuova Consonanza  – Improvisationen album. The clearly recorded pieces all had their own distinct characters without the performers ever falling into the trap of playing any form of tune, the last one being an electronic / tape work.

[aligreto]

Mahler: Symphony No. 6 [Tennstedt]





This opening has a wonderfully menacing tone, with intent. It is also a wonderfully intense, atmospheric and sometimes turbulent presentation that is crisp and sharp in its projection. I particularly notice the brass in this movement but the whole orchestra comes through its paces very well indeed. The conclusion to the movement is wonderfully powerful. The Scherzo basically replicates the power, intensity and drama that is evident in the opening movement. We do, however, have a tense edginess as befits a gnarly Scherzo. Once again we have great blaring brass. The slow movement is very appealingly wistful, atmospheric and yearning. The element of intensity is always present but the levels certainly augment towards the conclusion which is wonderfully powerful. The final movement of this work is monumental as we all know. How the movement's architecture is approached and presented by the conductor is important. Tennstedt has a good grip on things here. Power is certainly employed but in a controlled way; he allows the natural progression of the music to proceed unfettered and he unleashes whenever he has to. His sense of dynamics and thus his sense of tension, drama and overall atmosphere are all well judged, for me in a powerful performance.

[Florestan]

A programme of music by George Stephănescu :

National Overture
Octet in G major, for strings and winds
Symphony in A major

Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra
Tiberiu Soare conductor

Your thoughts? 

[aligreto]

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

CD3 AND 4!!  Olivier, are you OK?!?! 

[T. D.]

I suppose the opera [Lulu] 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.

Agreed, I find Lulu suffers from being incomplete, much less coherent than Wozzeck IMO. I'm a big fan of both operas but prefer W.

[kyjo]

Gabriel Pierne.

Orchestral Works Volume I.



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.

I know what you mean about the Pierné PC - he could've done well to include a poetic slow movement as a respite from all the activity of the fast movements. But I think it's great fun, occupying a stylistic world between Saint-Saëns and Rachmaninoff (the latter, btw, hadn't written any of his PCs yet at the time).

[Karl Henning]

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

It is wonderful, Harry.

And thus, now:

CD 20

Stabat Mater, RV 621
Nisi Dominus, RV 608
Gloria in D, RV 589

[kyjo]

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.

I felt this way for a while, but the 8th grew on me recently. Though it perhaps doesn't have the instantly memorable themes of nos. 4-7.

[kyjo]

Yeah, I've been neglecting this stunning work for a while. Now I feel it more cohesive, with purpose, and there is a "gothic" flavour to it in all the movements, ending with that exultant peroration. What is your favorite recording of it, Kyle?

I really want one that doesn't rush the timpani at the very ending. I like the timpani overwhelming but not too fast.

I agree with you about the "gothic" flavor of the work. I think it's one of the most tightly and ingeniously constructed symphonies in the repertoire - with the "motto" theme introduced in the 1st reappearing in various contrasting guises throughout the work. And yes - the timpani at the end! They must be incredibly grand and powerful in a performance of the work. Part of me wishes that S-S had written more works on an "epic" scale like the 3rd Symphony, but of course his "lighter" works are just so delicious!

Regarding a favorite recording, I'm afraid I can't help you there. Most of my exposure to the work comes from actually performing it. Though I know many people (including our beloved Hurwitz ) recommend the Munch/Boston recording on RCA.

[Papy Oli]

CD3 AND 4!!  Olivier, are you OK?!?! 

One was during the Ashes this morning at 7 am, the other at the time of my post. I am not that mad 

[kyjo]

Prokofiev: Symphony No. 7

The "cinderella" among his symphonies. It gives me that impression. In spite of his charming and innocent character, the symphony has bold passages that are not only heartfelt and optimistic, but powerful in the climaxes and in the more heart-on-sleeve passages. I didn't expect the "happy" ending on this recording, nonetheless, it worked quite convincingly.





Arthur Benjamin: Symphony

This work has a good balance between dynamism and "soulfulness". A quite effective work, and even more so taking into account its context.

+1 for both works. Indeed, the Benjamin even reminds me of Prokofiev in places, particularly in their similar uses of the piano in the orchestra. I don't mind the "happy", revised ending of the Prokofiev as much as others do (I love both endings for different reasons). Though it may have been written to "please the authorities", to me it's also totally in keeping with Prokofiev's witty style. It never fails to bring a grin to my face!

[Linz]

Another Venetian Christmas very different

[kyjo]

Paul Gilson: The Sea.

Great piece!

[bhodges]

I and one of the dogs just chilled out on the sofa with our eyes closed listening to the entire Gruppe Nuova Consonanza  – Improvisationen album. The clearly recorded pieces all had their own distinct characters without the performers ever falling into the trap of playing any form of tune, the last one being an electronic / tape work.

Don't know this at all, and sounds promising. Also, it always warms my heart to see these old DG Avant Garde covers. I had maybe 5 or 6 in the series.

--Bruce

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Brouwer: Concierto Eligiaco (Guitar Concerto No. 3)

Isn't that a lovely CD Dave?

PD

[Iota]

Messiaen: Vingt Regards Sur L'enfant Jésus

Håkon Austbø (piano)


No other recording of the Vingt Regards ever sounds as right as this one does to me. The music feels like it just emanates from the score rather than being interpreted from it. And with  music that achieves such surpassing depths, such a quality feels at times almost like a sine qua non.

[timwtheov]

If your university library does maintain an NML subscription, some Exton/Triton recordings which will really reward your time are the Honeck/Pittsburgh Mahler 1, 3, 4, 5, Svetlanov's Tchaikovsky live performances in Tokyo, and Yusuke Kikuchi's Beethoven piano sonatas.

Thanks Brian! Yes, I'm familiar with the Honeck/Mahler recordings, though I don't know them well (have only listened to them in the background). I'll check out the Kikuchi, though the Svetlanov seems to be gone from Naxos, unless I missed it.

[Florestan]

Well it's not really my normal listening fare - which, with a few exceptions, rarely predates the 20th Century - but it's certainly enjoyable and full of interest.  For me the Octet has the most appeal.  I'm slightly surprised that someone like Dutton hasn't picked up on Stephanescu - as they did, for example, with the similarly neglected Maliszewski.  Definitely repays investigation.

Thanks. Stephanescu's is the first symphony ever composed by a Romanian.

Honestly, I'm not that much of a patriot musically speaking. Not even when it comes to Enescu. 

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Great piece!

I love it. Have a great weekend!