What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

Do you still have the same opinion about William Walton's Cello Concerto?

Yeah, pretty much. Its a work that just doesn't do anything for me. YMMV of course.

[Symphonic Addict]

Barbirolli is definitely a good recommendation. Beecham is also recommended and Hickox is also fine.

I suggest you this box, there is a lot in it that is very attractive like "Hassan" for example 

You're very kind, Jan. Thanks! I'll make sure to give the Beecham and Hickox a listen.

[Symphonic Addict]

NP: Saint-Saëns La Foi, Three Symphonic Pictures, Op. 130 (Plasson/Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse)



My only previous exposure to this work was in the Thierry Fischer recording on Hyperion, which, to be honest, was dull. This performance from Plasson is much more 'alive'. Such an atmospheric work, which sounds as if Saint-Saëns had absorbed some of the Impressionist ideas from Debussy. Gorgeous piece of tone-painting.

Oh yes, I wasn't enthusiastic about that Hyperion release either. This La Foi is much more magical and bewitching as you mention.

[Symphonic Addict]

Fauré: String Quartet

I had forgot that particular intimate atmosphere Fauré provides on this score.

[Symphonic Addict]

NP: Saint-Saëns Symphony In F Major "Urbs Roma", R 163 (Martinon/Orchestre National de l'ORTF)

This still seems the performance to beat in terms of French authenticity and style of performing.

[Linz]

Hilary Hahn Mozart Concerto 5 and the Veutemp Concerto 4 with Paavo Jarvi and the Deutsche Philharmonie

[VonStupp]

PI Tchaikovsky
Serenade for Strings in C Major, op. 48
Berlin Philharmonic - Herbert von Karajan

For tonight:

VS

[Todd]

Vibrant and engaging, as expected.  Ms Melikyan really must record more.

[Symphonic Addict]

Alwyn: Lyra Angelica



This has to be one of the most f****ngly immensely lovely compositions I've ever heard in my entire life by anyone. Thanks for being born, William Alwyn!


And also this:



Each quartet has their distinctiveness and conciseness. Rewarding works overal.

[vandermolen]

I just heard this work, Jeffrey. I've seen you have posted several times about it.

And I'm glad I did listen attentively to this. It reminded of something like Barber's Toccata Festiva meets Alwyn's Lyra Angelica (without solo harp) meets Poulenc'c Organ Concerto (just that much less quirky). It gave me that impression, is a superb and accomplished piece. Thanks for mentioning this work, Jeffrey!

Thanks Cesar! I'm very glad that you liked it. I'd seen little enthusiasm for his music on the forum, but I was intrigued by the title and thought that I'd give it a go. I found it moving in places and memorable (the themes stay with me) and think that your Barber/Alwyn/Poulenc analogy is spot on. I wrote something positive about it on his website and had a very nice exchange with Paulus's son.

[Daverz]

The orchestra is not the Wiener Phil (Mackerras) or the Czech Phil (Neumann), but they are very attuned to the idiom.  The singers are excellent.  Gregor's tempos are more expansive.  Excellent analog sonics, too.

[aukhawk]

I was saying, I like listening to it [Adams; Shaker Loops], but can't shake the feeling that I'm being taken for a fool by the whole minamalist 'schtick'. It is 'clever'. But is it 'profound'? I'm not saying it isn't, by the way. Just that I question its sincerity at times.

Hah - well yes I concede that if you seek profundity in the music you listen to, then maybe Shaker Loops isn't the most obvious place to look.  (Though that said, I do still think it's a more substantial piece than the vast majority of so-called 'minimalist' music - in fact I'd say it's an ideal introduction to the genre.)

Anyhoo - recently-played -
Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto - Kopatchinskaja
This is well away from my usual stomping ground - it must be over 30 years since I last listened to this concerto.


Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, Stravinsky Les Noces: Kopatchinskaja, Currentzis

She has a whole lot of fun with the 1st movement, is intense to the extreme in the Andante, and carries the Finale with panache - backed by a small and agile orchestra.  Nothing profound here either.  I liked it.

[Symphonic Addict]

Pettersson: Symphony No. 5
Hartmann: Symphony Nr. 4 for string orchestra

The Pettersson was kind of a disappointment. The music has some purpose, but it doesn't exclude it does meander quite a bit. The Hartmann, on the other hand, is intense and terrifying! Superb account this!

[foxandpeng]

Holmboe, Quartetto (for flute, violin, viola and cello), op.90

Always challenging, always worthwhile. Playing now.

[SonicMan46]

Farrenc, Louise (1804-1875) - Chamber Works below (first two CDs; other two MP3 DLs burned to CD-Rs); the most represented female composer in my collection (total of 9 recordings at the moment, remainder orchestral & solo piano works) - Farrenc was a French composer, virtuoso pianist and teacher; piano teachers included Ignaz Moscheles and Johann Hummel, and studied composition with Anton Reicha; in 1842 she was appointed a Professor of piano at the Paris Conservatory, a position she held for thirty years and one which was among the most prestigious in Europe (Source) - BOY, what a woman! 

I'm now reviewing my 'Symphonic' compositions by her (3 works) w/ Goritzki on CPO, but there is some competition - for those who know these competitors, please provide some guidance - thanks.  Dave

     

[Symphonic Addict]

I'm listening to the most impressively gargantuan, epic, glorious, perfectly played Beethoven's 9th! Overwhelming to the bone.

Furtwängler, Philharmonia Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Choir, Schwarzkopf... a stellar performance, one given each a blue moon.

[Daverz]

I'm listening to the most impressively gargantuan, epic, glorious, perfectly played Beethoven's 9th! Overwhelming to the bone.

Furtwängler, Philharmonia Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Choir, Schwarzkopf... a stellar performance, one given each a blue moon.

Last 9th I enjoyed was the Markevitch.  Thrilling.



TD:



Excellent disc.  I wonder how much Novak they are going to record.

[Symphonic Addict]

Gerhardt: Concerto for Piano and Strings

Fantastic! From the foreboding first notes of Tiento, you are hooked!

[listener]

de FALLA:  The Three-Cornered Hat, El Amor Brujo
Montreal S.O.     Charles Dutoit, cond.
These are good, it never feels like a duty to listen to this disc.
BRITTEN, BENJAMIN and BRUCH
Concertos for Violin, viola and orch.
Benjamin Schmid, violin    Daniek Raiskin, viola
Berlin S.O.    Lior Shambadal, cond.
These are not very interesting.

[Todd]

David Fray's Goldbergs.  I came to this recording with certain expectations.  Fray is as interventionist a major label pianist as is out there now, and he more or less did everything I expected right from the start.  The Aria and Aria da capo are both ridiculously slow but sublimely controlled and gorgeous.  Starting with the first variation, Fray plays the work in a mightily pianistic conception, with sometimes outsize dynamics, generous pedaling in spots, lovely tonal shading, etc.  Some of pianissimo playing sounds meltingly lovely, and some of his outbursts sound almost Horowitzian (albeit with softer hammers).  He spaces out some phrases to the Nth degree, and plays some notes with longer values than he should, yet it all works.  My only quibble is with the Quodlibet, which sounds a bit rough sonically, but given the supremely fine sound throughout, that is clearly a conscious choice by all involved.  At a whopping eighty-seven minutes, this is one to revel in for a while.  This will definitely not be to everyone's taste, but it most certainly is to mine.  I waited until this year to buy so that I would have a guaranteed purchase of the year early on.  Fantastic.