What are you listening 2 now?

[Symphonic Addict]

There's a quite good recent recording on MD&G (a better performance than the one on Naxos and better recorded than the Supraphon):



It's a fine work, if missing that final "spark" of inspiration that would make it more compelling.

That recording is sonically better, but the performance on the Supraphon disc is superior to my ears.

[Symphonic Addict]

Cras: Piano Quintet and String Quartet À ma Bretagne



Absolutely some of the most lovely and colorful chamber music ever written by a Frenchman! The Piano Quintet a life-affirming masterwork which evokes the wash and spray of the sea in the glimmering sunlight, as well as featuring some distinctly "Arabian" sounding melodies (reflecting Cras' career as a naval officer in foreign countries). The String Quartet starts off in darker-hued, passionate Franckian waters but eventually develops into a vitally folksy paean to his homeland. Exemplary performances and sound.


Dvořák: Symphony no. 5



Kubelik and BPO give a passionate account of this generally pastoral symphony which suddenly turns to Sturm und Drang drama in the remarkable minor-key last movement.


Langgaard: Music of the Spheres and Symphony no. 14 The Morning



Two very different sides of the quirky Dane - the tremendously visionary and imaginative Music of the Spheres and the conservative yet endearing 14th Symphony with its gorgeous slow movement (Unnoticed Morning Stars - what a great title!). Is it more a suite than a symphony? Yes. Does the movement 'Dads' rush to the office sound particularly hectic? No. But it's very enjoyable all the same!


Saygun: Symphonies 1 and 2



Saygun's music is rarely easy listening - but it repays your close attention. These symphonies are frequently dark, tense, and complex in texture, but that doesn't preclude some haunting atmosphere and more lighthearted folksy gestures from time to time. His 4th Symphony remains my favorite, but these are still excellent.


Beethoven: String Quartet no. 15, op. 132



A superb performance of a masterpiece.

Pounds the table! 

[classicalgeek]

That Cappelletti disc is excellent - it was my introduction to the Concerto Gregoriano.  There's another excellent disc of Respighi Concertante works that is also a little-known gem;



Turban is another fine player.....

Thanks for the recommendations - it appears both the Cappelletti and Turban aren't on Spotify, and on CD they're long out of print. The Mordkovitch/Downes on Chandos is the most easily available commercial recording, but I see versions by Henry Raudales (on the Bavarian Radio house label), Vadim Brodsky (on Brilliant Classics), and Pierre Amoyal (on Decca, with Charles Dutoit), among others - but I don't know their quality. I'll definitely keep my eye out for Cappelletti and Turban, though.

Thread duty - let the Ives-a-thon begin!

Charles Ives (all on Spotify)

The Unanswered Question
Central Park in the Dark
Three Places in New England
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Leonard Slatkin




Central Park in the Dark*
Three Places in New England
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Seiji Ozawa*, Michael Tilson Thomas




The Unanswered Question
Central Park in the Dark
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Michael Tilson Thomas



Sampled several short orchestral works by Ives in several different recordings, and although he's a "tough nut to crack", so to speak, I found a lot I liked. That eclecticism, that "musical patchwork" mode of composition is evident in all three works, but most especially in Three Places in New England. Ives has a highly distinctive voice, and I'm liking what I'm hearing so far.

[foxandpeng]

Pehr Henrik Nordgren
Symphony 3
Sakari Oramo
Finnish RSO
Ondine

Second outing for Nordgren today, as a foil to the excellent Bruckner exploration. The Nordgren symphonies scratch a completely different itch, and are atmospheric, Nordic, and minimally scored in comparison. I love the chaos of Defiance after the order and structure of most of today's listening.

[Symphonic Addict]

Quite interesting, Rafael. Thanks! You're a fountain of information.

NP:

Saint-Saëns
String Quartet No. 1 in E minor, Op. 112
Sarastro Quartett



Utterly sublime. Hat-tip to Cesar for pointing this recording out to me. It was incredibly difficult to find a physical copy of it, but thank goodness for the byways of eBay.

Good to know, John! Those performances are more convincing than any others in these quartets.

[Symphonic Addict]

Pehr Henrik Nordgren
Symphony 3
Sakari Oramo
Finnish RSO
Ondine

Second outing for Nordgren today, as a foil to the excellent Bruckner exploration. The Nordgren symphonies scratch a completely different itch, and are atmospheric, Nordic, and minimally scored in comparison. I love the chaos of Defiance after the order and structure of most of today's listening.

Some symphonies by this composer remind me of Schnittke. There is a sort of "schizophrenic" aura to those pieces.

[Cato]

I will add Kubelik 3rd to the list

Anything conducted by Rafael Kubelik is always on the list!   

I'm in:

State Symphony Cappella of Russia
Rozhdestvensky

Hi Karl!

What did you think of the performance?  I have read complaints about the brass being "rough."

[Daverz]

By Foerster I like his 4th Symphony, Cyrano de Bergerac Suite, string quartets and piano trios. I haven't heard any other work by him that really stands out.

He was more succesful at writing for chamber forces, methinks.

His Wind Quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn might be of more interest.

[Madiel]

Dvorak Symphony No.1 again. Suitner again.

I think I'm trying to convince myself the piece is worth having in my collection. The answer is mostly yes. Mostly.

[Symphonic Addict]

Karlowicz: Lithuanian Rhapsody

Too bland thematically and as a whole, I'm afraid. The performance didn't help either. I mean, this was really frustrating. This is not the Karlowicz I enjoy. 




Bartók: Suite No. 2 for orchestra

Much better! A great performance too. I'm not familiar with this particular early work by this master, and sounds gorgeous. Very recommended.

[Symphonic Addict]

His Wind Quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn might be of more interest.

I recall enjoying it quite a bit!

[classicalgeek]

Charles Ives
Symphony no. 1
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Michael Tilson Thomas



This was written before Ives developed his unmistakable personal style, and while it has its moments, it's not the most memorable or distinctive work. It's a perfectly fine first symphony, though, and the ending is suitably raucous and bombastic.

[Mirror Image]

Charles Ives
Symphony no. 1
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Michael Tilson Thomas



This was written before Ives developed his unmistakable personal style, and while it has its moments, it's not the most memorable or distinctive work. It's a perfectly fine first symphony, though, and the ending is suitably raucous and bombastic.

The 1st was written in dedication to his teacher, Horatio Parker and I believe this symphony does bear his influence. Thankfully, Ives quickly forged his own individualistic path and didn't follow the generation of American composers before him.

NP:

Roussel
Aeneas, Op. 51
EuropaChorAkademie
Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg
Bramwell Tovey

[Mirror Image]

Bartók: Suite No. 2 for orchestra

Much better! A great performance too. I'm not familiar with this particular early work by this master, and sounds gorgeous. Very recommended.

I do hope that Dausgaard continues his Bartók series as both volumes so far have been excellent.

[Symphonic Addict]

I do hope that Dausgaard continues his Bartók series as both volumes so far have been excellent.

I too plan to follow this exciting series.


Now:

Bloch: Evocations, for orchestra

For those who love Exotic-Chinese Bloch, it's quite a lovable piece. The very exciting Houang Ti movement contains all the energy, nonetheless. Good work.

[bhodges]

Ives: selected songs (Jan DeGaetani / Gilbert Kalish) - A classic. Since this album appeared in 1976, many other singers have done some of the composer's 100+ songs, but DeGaetani has a unique simplicity and naturalness, helped by Kalish in crystalline form at the piano.



--Bruce

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Mahler
Symphony No. 7
CSO
Abbado



One of Abbado's best Mahler recordings along with his Chicago SO 5th and Wiener Philharmoniker 3rd. I don't care much for the remakes he did with the Berliners truth be told. For me, the younger Abbado is, the better I like the performance. He's kind of like Gergiev in that regard.

[André]

Burleske only.


The Strauss sonata

[listener]

NIELSEN:  String Quartets 1 & 2
Oslo String Quartet
SCHUMANN;  Liederkreis op, 39    4 Songs op. 40,   4 more songs
Hakan Hagegard, baritone  Thomas Schuback, piano

[JBS]