What are you listening 2 now?

[André]

Karlowicz composed mostly for the orchestra, and especially a single symphony (Rebirth) and a series of tone poems. He also composed a very engaging violin concerto, as good as those of Dvorak or Szymanowski IMO. The disc above couples the VC with two orchestral works, the evocative Lithuanian Rhapsody and the sombre Sorrowful Tale. The latter is the musical depiction of the thoughts that lead a man to suicide. The present performance includes the gunshot that depicts the deed, intended by the composer but never played live or on disc. The performances are excellent and the engineering (2016) top notch.

[Mirror Image]

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.

Yep, I returned to my dear Claude. I've really enjoyed the Pierné I've heard through the years. But right now, I'm repeating this:

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.

[Mirror Image]

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!

Pounds the table! Aside from Szymanowski and Penderecki, Lutosławski must be counted as a favorite of mine amongst the Polish composers.

[bhodges]

Haydn: String Quartet Op. 33, No. 1 - Tesla Quartet (live in 2016, at the 12th Banff International String Quartet Competition). Over the last few years, the recordings from this string quartet festival have been almost uniformly excellent, and this is no exception. To my ears, the sound could have a little less reverb, but never mind. When the playing is this good, it feels like nitpicking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWJgSdN1NEM

--Bruce

[Mirror Image]

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.

I really need to return to Dutilleux at some juncture. I run hot/cold with his music a lot of the time, though. I do like his earlier works, especially those found this fantastic recording:

[kyjo]

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.

+1 I agree with the Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra analogy - another work which occupies this nocturnal, mysterious, and colorfully orchestrated sound-world is Tubin's 6th Symphony.

[kyjo]

Karlowicz composed mostly for the orchestra, and especially a single symphony (Rebirth) and a series of tone poems. He also composed a very engaging violin concerto, as good as those of Dvorak or Szymanowski IMO. The disc above couples the VC with two orchestral works, the evocative Lithuanian Rhapsody and the sombre Sorrowful Tale. The latter is the musical depiction of the thoughts that lead a man to suicide. The present performance includes the gunshot that depicts the deed, intended by the composer but never played live or on disc. The performances are excellent and the engineering (2016) top notch.

Karlowicz is a strange case for me. I adore, cherish, and treasure beyond description his ineffably beautiful and melodic Violin Concerto - in fact, it's my favorite VC by anyone! But I'm quite indifferent to his Rebirth Symphony and the rather morbid tone poems. To me, they're quite derivative of Tchaikovsky and R. Strauss and lacking the memorable ideas of either.

[Mirror Image]

+1 I agree with the Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra analogy - another work which occupies this nocturnal, mysterious, and colorfully orchestrated sound-world is Tubin's 6th Symphony.

But only it's 10x better than anything Tubin wrote, sorry I had to say it. For the record, I do like some Tubin, too.

[kyjo]

But only it's 10x better than anything Tubin wrote, sorry I had to say it. For the record, I do like some Tubin, too.

It's 10x better than Tubin's 1st Symphony, I'll give you that!

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Roussel
Symphony No. 1, "Poème de la forêt"
Orchestre de Paris
Eschenbach



In terms of modern recordings, Eschenbach's Roussel is much, much better than Denève on Naxos and the earlier Janowski on RCA. Sensuous sonics and there's no doubt in my mind that Eschenbach loves this music and has the full measure of it. Too bad he didn't record more of his music.

[JBS]

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.

Not just his piano works, but there's the potpourri of concertante works he wrote which are great little pieces. Brian mentioned them a couple of days ago.

That comment is sparked by the fact that I'm currently listening to the CD from the Warner CSS Edition box devoted to these works. I'm most taken with the Tarantelle.
The longest is the Morceau for harp, which is 13'24".  The shortest is the Romance for horn, at 4'14".

Title/solo instrument(s)/Opus number:

Odelette in D major/flute/162*
Tarantelle in a minor/flute & clarinet/6*
Romance in D Flat major/flute/37*
Romance in F major/horn/36*
Morceau de concert in G major/harp/154*
Morceau de concert in f minor/horn/94*
Cypres et Lauriers/organ/156**
Rhapsodie d'Auvergne in C major/piano/73***
Allegro appassionato in c sharp minor/piano/70***

*Ensemble Orchestral de Paris and various soloists conducted by Jean-Jacques Kantorow recorded 1993 and 1995
**Matthias Eisenberg, organ, with Orchestra du Capitole de Toulouse conducted by Michel Plasson, recorded 1995
***part of the Collard/Previn recordings of the piano concertos

[Mirror Image]

Not just his piano works, but there's the potpourri of concertante works he wrote which are great little pieces. Brian mentioned them a couple of days ago.

That comment is sparked by the fact that I'm currently listening to the CD from the Warner CSS Edition box devoted to these works. I'm most taken with the Tarantelle.
The longest is the Morceau for harp, which is 13'24".  The shortest is the Romance for horn, at 4'14".

Title/solo instrument(s)/Opus number:

Odelette in D major/flute/162*
Tarantelle in a minor/flute & clarinet/6*
Romance in D Flat major/flute/37*
Romance in F major/horn/36*
Morceau de concert in G major/harp/154*
Morceau de concert in f minor/horn/94*
Cypres et Lauriers/organ/156**
Rhapsodie d'Auvergne in C major/piano/73***
Allegro appassionato in c sharp minor/piano/70***

*Ensemble Orchestral de Paris and various soloists conducted by Jean-Jacques Kantorow recorded 1993 and 1995
**Matthias Eisenberg, organ, with Orchestra du Capitole de Toulouse conducted by Michel Plasson, recorded 1995
***part of the Collard/Previn recordings of the piano concertos

Yes, indeed. Those are fun pieces, Jeffrey. I enjoyed them all when I listened to them many nights ago.

[Mirror Image]

It's 10x better than Tubin's 1st Symphony, I'll give you that!

Tubin's 1st is actually one of my favorite works from him.

[kyjo]

Rangström: Symphony no. 1 In memoriam August Strindberg and Dithyramb



This is exciting stuff with good ideas, however Rangström tends to over-write for the brass, giving this work a rather "bombastic" feel without many moments of lyrical respite. I must say that the brass section of the Norrköping SO acquit themselves marvelously with Rangström's demanding writing! My favorite works by him remain the 2nd and (especially) 3rd Symphonies and the extraordinary song cycle Haxorna (The Witches).


Pejačević: String Quartet and Piano Quartet



In the String Quartet, her final work, Pejačević tried to update her harmonic language to be more "modern", to varying degrees of success. There's some engaging music to be found in it, though. The compact (21 minute) Piano Quartet, while not a masterpiece like the Quintet, is a tuneful, accessible work with a particularly touching slow movement.


Brahms Piano Trios no. 2 and 3



The joyous and melodic 2nd Trio has always been a favorite of mine, especially for its rather spooky scherzo and contrastingly gorgeous, long-breathed trio section. The super-compact 3rd Trio is by turns severe, enigmatic, and lyrical. Superb performances by the Oliver Schnyder Trio.


Nielsen: String Quartets no. 2 in F minor and 3 in E-flat major



Two singular masterpieces in incredible performances - above all the Third, which is hard to believe was written in 1897-98 (before the 2nd Symphony, even!) considering how harmonically advanced it is. There is a questing originality and quirkiness about the 1st movement that is fascinating, especially its downright bizarre ending! The slow movement is remarkably dark and intense, while the rustic scherzo is memorable for its "bat out of hell" trio section. This and its companion disc with the 1st and 4th quartets are essential acquisitions for any Nielsen and SQ fans. 'Nuff said!


Ginastera: Glosses sobre temes de Pau Casals



A stunningly imaginative work in which simple folk-like melodies are married to "experimental" techniques. Ginastera knew how to conjure up some fantastically creepy and suggestive timbres from the orchestra!

[JBS]

CDs 18-19
Chopin
Seven Polonaises Opp 26,40,44,53,61
[Excluded here are the three Polonaises Op Posthumus 71]
Andante spiniato et grande polonaise Op 22 [with Georges Tzipane conducting Orchestre de la Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire]
Etudes Opp 10 and 25

[Madiel]

[Excluded here are the three Polonaises Op Posthumus 71]

There are half a dozen other polonaises that no-one ever stuck an opus number on.

[JBS]

There are half a dozen other polonaises that no-one ever stuck an opus number on.

Well, they too are excluded here.
He did record these seven, plus the three from Op 71, in 1968, in stereo. The recording I'm now listening to is mono from 1957.
He also re-did the Andante spianato in 1968, but apparently with no orchestra (at least the track listings mention no orchestra).

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to google "spianato" because I just realized I have no idea of what it means

ETA
It seems to mean "levelled" or "flattened" and (in the feminine form spianata) is the term for a type of salami.

[Mirror Image]

First-Listen Monday

Pierné
Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 45
Trio Wanderer



I've owned this particular recording since it came out in 2014 and I'm just now getting around to it. Anyway, this is rather lovely. The first movement is rather moody.

[bhodges]

Ligeti: Lux aeterna (Danish National Vocal Ensemble, recorded live October 2019 in Copenhagen Cathedral) - Fantastic. Performance is stellar, very clear and balanced, and the bonus is the gorgeous filming inside the cathedral.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8keqyIolWWk

--Bruce

[Symphonic Addict]

Yep, I returned to my dear Claude. I've really enjoyed the Pierné I've heard through the years. But right now, I'm repeating this:

By Hahn I know some of his chamber music and concertos, and they're as you say: exquisite.