What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Pierné
Les Cathédrales
Nicolas de Grigny Choir, Lorraine National Orchestra
Jacques Mercier

[VonStupp]

PI Tchaikovsky
Symphony 5 in e minor, op. 64
Royal PO - Daniele Gatti

The liner notes intimate that Gatti brings the tempos of Tchaikovsky's 5th closer to their true written metronome markings, ones which have been observed to comparatively sag in recordings and performances over the years.

I don't know the veracity of that statement, but this one certainly doesn't dilly-dally, particularly the 1st movement. This seems to be Gatti's modus operandi, as there were similar up-tempo relations in his Tchaik 4th that I heard last week.

Despite all of that, the RPO sounds in excellent shape. VS

[classicalgeek]

Exactly my thoughts about the Tchaikovsky and the Saint-Saëns connection. His melodic inventiveness and orchestral propulsion are nothing short of masterful.

And that Zarathustra must be dynamite. It's rather fast afaik, like 32:00 or 33 minutes long.

It's definitely on the quicker side, but quite exciting! I've enjoyed all of Reiner's Strauss I've sampled so hef.

I took a listen to that very concerto, but with Previn conducting (don't recall the pianist right now). Also strongly developed, with its respective melodic and lyric material.

Call me a Saint-Saens odd-numbered piano concerto evangelist! I will tout the greatness of these works every chance I get! It's nice to see the Fifth finally getting its due - hopefully nos. 1 and 3 will follow suite.

NP: Schmidt 4th (Mehta)

An astounding symphony! I bought the same recording a couple of months ago and I've listened to it several times - and I'm finding I like it more with each successive listen.

Just wait until you hear the masterpiece that is Metamorphoseon....!

+1

I'm hoping I'll *finally* get around to listening to that other Respighi disc tonight (with Belkis and Metamorphoseon) - definitely looking forward to it!

[Linz]

CD1 of Barshai set with symphonies 1,2, & 3

[kyjo]

A fine program. The Berg item is the composer's own transcription of the slow movement of his Chamber Concerto for 15 instruments. The Milhaud Suite is a jolly divertissement. Fine performances. The violinist and clarinetist are principals of the SWF Orchestra, Baden Baden.

The Milhaud and Khachaturian works are really delightful!

[classicalgeek]

Thread duty: each of the six Brandenburg Concerti in six different recordings, three on modern instruments, three "historically informed" (on Spotify):

#1 in F major:           #2 in F major:            #3 in G major:
#4 in G major:          #5 in D major:     #6 in B-flat major:

Especially enjoyed Cafe Zimmermann and the Britten/ECO, with the Harnoncourt/CMW also rating highly. Less fond of the Goebel, although it was fine, and both Reiner and Munch were just too heavy and slow for me.

[Madiel]

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's DZ 01002 Symphony No. 4 
    Charles Mackerras, Prague Chamber Orchestra

I'm afraid much of Mozart washes over me as sublime but dispassionate loveliness. This "symphony" is pretty typical. The pop-music of 18th Century Vienna, I guess.

Well, if you're going to take a work that he wrote at age 9 as representative...

[Madiel]

Thread duty: another Chopin/Ashkenazy LP reconstructed.



Weirdly there's evidence that the volumes didn't come out in numerical order. The numbering seems to have been assigned beforehand based on... going backwards in Chopin's chronology.

This volume is:

Side A: Ballade no.2, Waltz op.34/1, 24 preludes nos.1-12
Side B: 24 preludes nos.13-24

EDIT: I kid you not, it started raining here during the 'Raindrop' prelude.

[SimonNZ]

[Mirror Image]

First-Listen Monday

Hahn
Concerto provençal
Julien Vern (flute), François Lemoine (clarinet), Frank Sibold (bassoon), Julien Desplanque (horn)
Orchestre des Pays de Savoie
Nicolas Chalvin



Absolutely exquisite.

[Madiel]

Dvorak, Symphony No.1 (Suitner)



Streaming again as a step in confirming that Suitner is probably the version I want to buy to give me the first 3 symphonies, which I don't yet own.

[VonStupp]

Antonín Dvořák
Serenade for Strings in E Major, op. 22
Berlin Philharmonic - Herbert von Karajan

VS

[foxandpeng]

Anton Bruckner
Symphony 3
Mario Venzago
Bern SO
CPO

[Symphonic Addict]

Dutilleux: Symphony No. 1

Holy goat! Astonishing work. Naxos really excel in this kind of recordings and repertoire with such committed reading and playing from the interpreters.

This symphony kind of shares a sound-world like that of Lutoslawski's Concerto for Orchestra.

[Symphonic Addict]

Thread duty: each of the six Brandenburg Concerti in six different recordings, three on modern instruments, three "historically informed" (on Spotify):

#1 in F major:           #2 in F major:            #3 in G major:
#4 in G major:          #5 in D major:     #6 in B-flat major:

Especially enjoyed Cafe Zimmermann and the Britten/ECO, with the Harnoncourt/CMW also rating highly. Less fond of the Goebel, although it was fine, and both Reiner and Munch were just too heavy and slow for me.

Clever and cool plan, geek!

[Symphonic Addict]

Vitezslava Kapralova: Military Sinfonietta.

That is a nasty change of look! And in your 2200 post!  

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

That is a nasty change of look! And in your 2200 post!  

Yes, I crave human flesh (except for that of unvaccinated)!   

[Symphonic Addict]

NP:

Pierné
Les Cathédrales
Nicolas de Grigny Choir, Lorraine National Orchestra
Jacques Mercier

Did you return to your default and reliable avatar's character? 

That Pierné recording is a good entry point to this composer. Evocative, atmospheric, solemn music.

[Symphonic Addict]

Yes, I crave human flesh (except for that of unvaccinated)!   

Naaah, don't worry, Mr. Lecter. You win over any species in this world. 

[Symphonic Addict]

Lutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra

Those who said that this scorching recording is a knock-out, well, I can't disagree not even a little bit! This has to be one of the most coruscating recordings and performance I've ever heard from any work. It's that SPECTACULAR!