What are you listening 2 now?

[Symphonic Addict]

Dmitry Kabalevsky's Symphony No. 1 
Eiji Oue, NDR Radiophilharmonie

The Soviet Union's 'house composer': so rather Socialist Realist, but also distinctly Russian in flavour, which has its charms. Think 'house-trained Shostakovich'.

A favorite of mine. Solid performances of such distinguishable symphonies. The Naxos recordings of Nos. 1 and 2 is a winner too. I hope Naxos will continue the cycle.

[Symphonic Addict]

Super exciting, well-played, the most convinced I have ever been by Glazunov. Like if Svetlanov had a good Western orchestra (not disparaging Russian orchestras, I love that sound, just trying to describe the results). 4 minutes faster than Serebrier and 2 minutes faster than Mravinsky in the Fourth Symphony. The Fifth is 60-90 seconds faster than Serebrier and Jarvi. And live recordings!

Mmm interesting. Japan certainly exports good stuff.

[Symphonic Addict]

NP:

Korngold
Symphonic Serenade, Op. 39
Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie
Albert

Lovely! I especially like the inclusion of violin solo in this performance.

[Symphonic Addict]

Sir Malcolm Arnold's Ballet Music

At least we coincide with some great recording and composer!

[Mirror Image]

That is a great recording of Pulcinella, John! I first got to know the piece through it (on LP).

You've made me want to listen to this miraculous score again. I've chosen this recording:



Boulez had recorded the suite with the NYPO and the complete ballet with the EIC, but this late effort is vastly superior IMHO to the previous recordings, and is actually quite superb (but Abbado has Teresa Berganza, who's simply magnificent).

P.S.: I've just found out that the Spanish National Dance Company will be performing Apollo (Balanchine's choreography) and Pulcinella (new choreography by Blanca Li) this week here in Madrid. Unfortunately, all performances are sold out! 

Hey, Rafael! Yes, it is an incredible ballet. I have that Boulez/CSO recording, but I haven't heard it in years. Thanks for the reminder. Oh and bummer about the Apollo and Pulcinella tickets being sold-out. Maybe you can try the will call window or do they still do this? Like, for example, someone can't go to the concert and they get a refund and you can purchase them.

Now playing: Scriabin Prometheus, Op. 60 (Ashkenazy/Maazel/LPO)

[Mirror Image]

Lovely! I especially like the inclusion of violin solo in this performance.

A superb work, indeed.

[Mirror Image]

Sweet!

+1 Although I still like Mackerras and Netopil.

[Symphonic Addict]

Aram Khachaturian: Symphony No.2 in E minor, "The Bell". Neeme Järvi, Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Gavriil Popov: Symphony No.2, op.39, "Motherland". Gennady Provatorov, USSR Radio & TV Symphony Orchestra

Round two with this work (& I listened to the 1st symphony in the morning). Wow, it is really, really damn good. Happy to have discovered this composer. It would appear he was one of the more talented Soviet symphonists (and there were many of them).

Some exciting and vigorous stuff there!! Järvi did it again with the epic Khachaturian. A sensational recording. And great you have enjoyed Popov's symphonies. he really was one of the Russian greats. It's a shame that doesn't exist any recording of his 4th Symphony. No. 3 is for string orchestra, and what a poignant and compelling music this is!

[Symphonic Addict]

Now playing: Scriabin Prometheus, Op. 60 (Ashkenazy/Maazel/LPO)

From Scriabin I do prefer his orchestral output to his piano one. Truth be told (Unpopular opinion? Who knows, it doesn't matter). Whilst I do find revolutionary his technique at the piano, the colors he could conjures up and configure from a symphony orchestra is nothing short of mesmerizing!

For now, I'm not interested in his solo piano music. I've rediscovered the symphonies along with Le Poème de l'extase and Prometheus - Le Poème du feu and wow, why the heck I was missing this arresting stuff!!

[Symphonic Addict]

Dohnanyi, Erno - Piano Quintets/String Quartet No. 2 w/ the Takacs Quartet and M-A Hamelin - a replacement.

A great recording that does justice to the composer's music. Dohnányi is an outstanding genius!

[Mirror Image]

From Scriabin I do prefer his orchestral output to his piano one. Truth be told (Unpopular opinion? Who knows, it doesn't matter). Whilst I do find revolutionary his technique at the piano, the colors he could conjures up and configure from a symphony orchestra is nothing short of mesmerizing!

For now, I'm not interested in his solo piano music. I've rediscovered the symphonies along with Le Poème de l'extase and Prometheus - Le Poème du feu and wow, why the heck I was missing this arresting stuff!!

I do hope you develop an interest in Scriabin's piano music, because there is so much fine music to hear (i. e. the Piano Sonatas, Etudes, Preludes et. al.). I do like his orchestral music, though. The orchestration and just sheer invention he demonstrated is remarkable. I'm revisiting his Piano Concerto in F sharp minor, Op. 20. What a lush score! Beautiful from start to finish. I have to say my favorite orchestral work from him is Symphony No. 3 in C minor, "Le Divin Poème". Such an incredible rush I get from this symphony --- absolutely ecstatic.

P. S. I still haven't forgiven you for your opinion of Sibelius' Luonnotar. But...I'll get over it.

[Karl Henning]

I do hope you develop an interest in Scriabin's piano music, because there is so much fine music to hear (i. e. the Piano Sonatas, Etudes, Preludes et. al.). I do like his orchestral music, though. The orchestration and just sheer invention he demonstrated is remarkable. I'm revisiting his Piano Concerto in F sharp minor, Op. 20. What a lush score! Beautiful from start to finish. I have to say my favorite orchestral work from him is Symphony No. 3 in C minor, "Le Divin Poème". Such an incredible rush I get from this symphony --- absolutely ecstatic.

P. S. I still haven't forgiven you for your opinion of Sibelius' Luonnotar. But...I'll get over it.

(* chortle *)

[Symphonic Addict]

Martinu: Symphony No. 6

It must be a good one.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Mahler
Symphony No. 4
Elly Ameling, soprano
RCO
Haitink

From this set -



Because sometimes Mahler is all I want to listen to...

[Symphonic Addict]

I do hope you develop an interest in Scriabin's piano music, because there is so much fine music to hear (i. e. the Piano Sonatas, Etudes, Preludes et. al.). I do like his orchestral music, though. The orchestration and just sheer invention he demonstrated is remarkable. I'm revisiting his Piano Concerto in F sharp minor, Op. 20. What a lush score! Beautiful from start to finish. I have to say my favorite orchestral work from him is Symphony No. 3 in C minor, "Le Divin Poème". Such an incredible rush I get from this symphony --- absolutely ecstatic.

P. S. I still haven't forgiven you for your opinion of Sibelius' Luonnotar. But...I'll get over it.

I do enjoy some piano sonatas and other works from that part of his output, almost strictly the early or middle ones. I'm more allergic with his late style at this 2022 that just started.

Oh, how relieved I am! 

[Mirror Image]

I do enjoy some piano sonatas and other works from that part of his output, almost strictly the early or middle ones. I'm more allergic with his late style at this 2022 that just started.

Oh, how relieved I am! 

[Symphonic Addict]

Martinu, Posvícení (translated a dozen different ways, but this album goes with 'Village Feast')

This Martinu series is one of the best things Toccata has made so far. Vol. 3 is my favorite, it is that terrific!

[Symphonic Addict]

Strauss: Ein Heldenleben

Sumptuous! One of those guilty pleasures.

[Mirror Image]

Strauss: Ein Heldenleben

Sumptuous! One of those guilty pleasures.

Not a guilty pleasure for me, Cesar! I wish the work was a bit less in duration, but there are moments in this work that are top-tier Strauss without a doubt.

[Spotted Horses]

Big fan of Jeux, as well, to be sure. The contingency is remote (as Jeeves would say) but if forced to choose, I'd have to go with Ibéria even over Jeux.

Iberia is the only Debussy orchestral piece that doesn't work for me. I had trouble with Jeux until I listened to Lan Shui with the Singapore Philharmonic Orchestra, which is very rhythmically taut. I should revisit some of the other versions now that I get it. I have to make the boring choice and say the La Mer is my favorite orchestral Debussy, along with the Nocturnes.