What are you listening 2 now?

[lordlance]

And now Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 with Gilels/Kondrashin/USSR State Symphony Orchestra:

[Linz]

Saint Saens Organ Symphony with James Levine and the Berliner Philharmoniker

[Symphonic Addict]

Sgambati: Symphony No. 2 in E-flat minor

Lately I've been drawn by life-affirming works, and this suits the rule. The slow movement has a similar feeling with an Atterbergian slow movement. Quite lovely.

[Symphonic Addict]

Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps

This is what I call austere and sincere music. I am seldom familiar with his composer and work, and this intrigued me enough.

[lordlance]

And now Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 with Gilels/Kondrashin/USSR State Symphony Orchestra:

I am afraid that this interpretation is nothing special and considering it's sound, there's no reason to hear it.

And now Tishchenko's Concerto for Violin, Piano and Strings -

Only the first two movements are good. The fourth being rather boring...

[Madiel]

Vivaldi - the Naive series volume 44.

[Mirror Image]

I particularly find amusing that very Spanish word.

I got it from Google.

[lordlance]

And now Curzon's Brahms PC1:

[Mirror Image]

NP: Martinů Špalîček, H.214 (František Jílek)

[bhodges]

Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps

This is what I call austere and sincere music. I am seldom familiar with his composer and work, and this intrigued me enough.

Yes, austere, and yes, sincere. You could make an argument that this is his masterpiece (especially considering the circumstances under which it was written). I have not heard this version, and should, considering the caliber of the performers. Janine Jansen is one of my favorite violinists right now.

--Bruce

[Symphonic Addict]

Yes, austere, and yes, sincere. You could make an argument that this is his masterpiece (especially considering the circumstances under which it was written). I have not heard this version, and should, considering the caliber of the performers. Janine Jansen is one of my favorite violinists right now.

--Bruce

And menacing, desolate, deep. And what a deluxe of a performance and performers indeed. Those clarinet registers were something else!!

[Symphonic Addict]

Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 8

There is no doubt about Villa-Lobos's inventive mind and genius. This quartet is a wonder. Could it be more quirky and shockingly witty? I think not. My goodness... Really pleased to revisit it!

[Mirror Image]

Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 8

There is no doubt about Villa-Lobos's inventive mind and genius. This quartet is a wonder. Could it be more quirky and shockingly witty? I think not. My goodness... Really pleased to revisit it!

A fine set, indeed, Cesar. What do you think of Villa-Lobos' symphonies?

[André]

Recorded only a few years before the Hickox discs (Chandos), I tend to prefer these interpretations and, perhaps surprisingly, sound recordings. Rubbra's orchestration is leaner and his musical discourse more cursive than that of Bax and the more precise, less resonant engineering lets us hear more detail. Also, possibly because of the less reverberant acoustics, tempi tend to be faster on Lyrita, making the music sound more urgent. That being said, the luxuriant, baxian sound picture on Chandos does have its merits. So far I find that symphonies 2 and 3 and the 1st movement of 4 are superb, no matter who conducts and on whatever label.

[Symphonic Addict]

A fine set, indeed, Cesar. What do you think of Villa-Lobos' symphonies?

I couldn't live without them, honestly, ditto these quartets, and in general, his chamber and orchestral works (including Bachianas and Chôros) are mandatory listen to me, and let's not forget his concertante creations. I need to know more of his piano music and other miscellaneous pieces.

[Sergeant Rock]

How is that recording Sarge?  I love The Red Pony Suite!

Excellent performance of the Red Pony, PD. And the CD contains two great film scores by John Williams: Born on the Fourth of July and The Reivers (with Burgess Meredith narrating the William Faulkner text).

[Symphonic Addict]

Recorded only a few years before the Hickox discs (Chandos), I tend to prefer these interpretations and, perhaps surprisingly, sound recordings. Rubbra's orchestration is leaner and his musical discourse more cursive than that of Bax and the more precise, less resonant engineering lets us hear more detail. Also, possibly because of the less reverberant acoustics, tempi tend to be faster on Lyrita, making the music sound more urgent. That being said, the luxuriant, baxian sound picture on Chandos does have its merits. So far I find that symphonies 2 and 3 and the 1st movement of 4 are superb, no matter who conducts and on whatever label.

Certainly, there is more heartfelt performing on these Lyrita recordings. By this composer I don't dislike any symphony, maybe the choral one (don't remember which, I think it's the 9th).

[Symphonic Addict]

Ben-Haim: Symphony No. 1

For some reason, this work reminded me of Roussel's 2nd Symphony. Both works have malice, rigour enough and they develop convincingly. Even, if you want, there is a bit of Hindemith. Spectacular work, spectacular performance and recording.

[lordlance]

Out of curiosity of how good a conductor Maxim Shostakovich is I heard his Tchaikovsky VC:



It was good if not reference...

And now onto attempt #3 of Holmboe 8:

[JBS]

I'd forgotten how enjoyable these concertos are.

From the Warner Saint Saens box, which fills out the CD with Wedding Cake Opus 76 and Africa Opus 89 from the same performers.