What are you listening 2 now?

[Karl Henning]

There might not be much of a selection as far as the Malpiero symphonies are concerned (except for no. 6), but jpc (https://www.jpc.de/s/francesco+malipiero) does have quite a choice of other recordings.

Thanks!

[aligreto]

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 [Schooderwoerd]





Here, as in PC 1 we have the same pared back forces employed but this time we have an accelerated tempo in the opening movement more aligned to what I would expect here. This infuses more of an atmosphere of drama and excitement as a result and it at least has the spirit of Beethoven in the interpretation. The slow movement has a slightly laboured air to it but it does move along fluidly enough. The tempo of the final movement is lively and engaging but one simply misses the greater orchestral forces for impact and atmosphere.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Currently on:

A BBCMM CD which I've enjoyed in the past including the beautiful Pohádka:  A Fairy Tale by Josef Suk (conducted by Jakub Hrusa with the BBC S.O.) which is now playing. 



PD

[prémont]

New arrival:



A reissue of two years ago, and already quite hard to find.
This series must have been printed in pretty small numbers.

Marvelous recording BTW. 

Yes, indeed.    I have owned the original HM issue for many years.

[steve ridgway]

Lukas Foss / Lejaren Hiller / Elliott Schwartz ‎– Paradigm / Algorithms I, Versions I & IV / Signals. A couple of free apps have now trimmed and converted these to my satisfaction.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I think 20th Century Italian music needs a champion, but there doesn't seem to be any in sight. And yes, those Malipiero Almeida recordings aren't great by any stretch of the imagination. If anything, they just give us an idea of what his music might sound like if it were in more capable and passionate hands.

I was wondering if Naxos or other budget labels should consider recording works by lesser-known composers with top-tier orchestras and sell discs for $30-40. It seems to me that the price elasticity in the classical music market is low, especially for lesser-known compositions. Even if the price increases by 100 percent, it may lower the sales by only 10-20 percent. So it would be profitable overall.

[Mirror Image]

I was wondering if Naxos or other budget labels should consider recording works by lesser-known composers with top-tier orchestras and sell discs for $30-40. It seems to me that the price elasticity in the classical music market is low, especially for lesser-known compositions. Even if the price increases by 100 percent, it may lower the sales by only 10-20 percent. So it would be profitable overall.

It's not the orchestra per se that is the problem in the Malipiero Marco Polo recordings, it's with the conductor. He's duller than dishwater. If they had someone like Francesco La Vecchia who has recorded a lot of Casella for Naxos, then I'd probably be whistling a different tune. I have some Marco Polo recordings that are superb like the Robert Duarte Villa-Lobos series for example. These are excellent discs, because the playing is committed and passionate.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

It's not the orchestra per se that is the problem in the Malipiero Marco Polo recordings, it's with the conductor. He's duller than dishwater. If they had someone like Francesco La Vecchia who has recorded a lot of Casella for Naxos, then I'd probably be whistling a different tune. I have some Marco Polo recordings that are superb like the Robert Duarte Villa-Lobos series for example. These are excellent discs, because the playing is committed and passionate.

John, VG opinion. Interesting, I like some other recordings by Almeida, ie. Turina recording. I wonder why his performance was unstable. He had an interesting life. He was a Portuguese American, but later decided to become a French citizen. Before music, AdA studied nuclear chemistry at MIT.

[Mirror Image]

John, VG opinion. Interesting, I like some other recordings by Almeida, ie. Turina recording. I wonder why his performance was unstable. He had an interesting life. He was a Portuguese American, but later decided to become a French citizen. Before music, AdA studied nuclear chemistry at MIT.

A conductor must believe in the music first and foremost. After this, they must communicate this passion with the orchestra to the best of their ability. I personally don't believe that Almeida's heart was into this music at all.

[Karl Henning]

Weinberg
String Quartet № 5 in B^b, Op. 27 (1945)
Quatuor Danel

[Traverso]

Elgar

There are times when I long for Elgar's music, a sort of nostalgia almost and a sense of belonging,no doubt a sentimental thing.

Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma', Op. 36

Pomp and Circumstance – Military Marches, Op. 39  1-5

Serenade in E minor, Op. 20   Sinfonia Of London

Orchestra – Philharmonia Orchestra

[bhodges]

Elgar

There are times when I long for Elgar's music, a sort of nostalgia almost and a sense of belonging, no doubt a sentimental thing.

As another Elgar fan...nothing wrong with that! PS, the Serenade was one of my first encounters with classical music, and I still love it.

--Bruce

[Traverso]

As another Elgar fan...nothing wrong with that! PS, the Serenade was one of my first encounters with classical music, and I still love it.

--Bruce

[kyjo]

I think 20th Century Italian music needs a champion, but there doesn't seem to be any in sight. And yes, those Malipiero Almeida recordings aren't great by any stretch of the imagination. If anything, they just give us an idea of what his music might sound like if it were in more capable and passionate hands.

Well, Gianandrea Noseda has made some fabulous Casella, Petrassi, Dallapiccola, and Rota recordings for Chandos - hopefully he'll eventually get around to Malipiero and Pizzetti (whose sole symphony could use a better recording than the one on Naxos).

[Karl Henning]

Well, Gianandrea Noseda has made some fabulous Casella, Petrassi, Dallapiccola, and Rota recordings for Chandos - hopefully he'll eventually get around to Malipiero and Pizzetti (whose sole symphony could use a better recording than the one on Naxos).

Noseda would be my "dream conductor" for Malipiero.

[aukhawk]

Bach's Sonata No.1 and Partita No.2 played by Antje Weithaas.

Very fine indeed, well played and beautiful sound.  Interleaved with two sonatas by Ysaÿe, which I didn't listen to.
More in the Bach S&P thread.


Bach Sonata 1 & Partita 2, plus two Sonatas by Ysaÿe - Antje Weithaas

[kyjo]

Lalo's Piano Trios have been a pleasant surprise



Listened to the third today, and it is an impressive work, at once lyrical and dramatic. Really first rate, in my opinion. I find the first, second and third trios become successively more intense.

I will be looking for more recordings of Lalo's music. I have the often recorded Cello Concerto and Symphony Espagnol, but I will be looking into the symphony, piano concerto and string quartets.

Yeah, the wonderful 3rd Piano Trio is probably Lalo's masterpiece. Above the much more famous Symphonie Espagnole or Cello Concerto IMHO.

[kyjo]

Currently on:

A BBCMM CD which I've enjoyed in the past including the beautiful Pohádka:  A Fairy Tale by Josef Suk (conducted by Jakub Hrusa with the BBC S.O.) which is now playing. 



PD

A beautiful work!

[ritter]

..
... Interleaved with two sonatas by Ysaÿe, which I didn't listen to....

Wise decision! 

I recently listened to an Ysaÿe Mazurka (op. 10, No. 1 in G Major "Dans le lointain"), and found it revolting....

[Mandryka]

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 [Schooderwoerd]





Here, as in PC 1 we have the same pared back forces employed but this time we have an accelerated tempo in the opening movement more aligned to what I would expect here. This infuses more of an atmosphere of drama and excitement as a result and it at least has the spirit of Beethoven in the interpretation. The slow movement has a slightly laboured air to it but it does move along fluidly enough. The tempo of the final movement is lively and engaging but one simply misses the greater orchestral forces for impact and atmosphere.

Interesting to see these comments, and the ones on PC1. I came to similar conclusions as you years ago about the first concerto -- I never explored the second (I don't like the music!)