What are you listening 2 now?

[classicalgeek]

It was a Bloch kind of morning! Looking forward to more.

Sinfonia Breve
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra
Antal Dorati



As I said on the Bloch composer thread, I found it "Full of gnarly dissonance, but also lyrical and melodic. A fascinating piece." I haven't heard anything else quite like it.

Piano Quintet no. 1
Hans Joerg Fink, piano; Aura Quartet



Less angular and more consonant (despite the presence of quarter tones!), this is a work large in scale and scope. Again, there's a certain lyricism, a songfulness that permeates all three movements.


Concerto grosso no. 1
Scherzo fantastique
Jenny Lin, piano
SWR Rundfunk-Orchester Kaiserslautern
Jiri Starek
(all on Spotify)



There's a lot to love in the Concerto Grosso - the Dirge is just beautiful, the Pastorale is charming, and the Fugue provides a really satisfying conclusion to the work. Here the pianist is part of the ensemble and less of a soloist, but there's plenty for her to do in the Scherzo fantastique! I'm looking forward to hearing Ms. Lin in the Concerto symphonique.

[classicalgeek]

An excellent recording - one of the best I've heard in the Mendelssohn trios!

[Linz]

Eldar Violin Concerto With Nigel Kennedy playing violin with Vernon Handley conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra

[ritter]

Another new arrival I was keenly looking forward to: Jacques Février's traversal of Debussy's (almost) complete solo piano music...



Starting with D'un cahier d'esquisses, L'Isle joyeuse (what a piece, what a wonderful piece!), and the two books of Images (from CD 3, which also includes the second book of Préludes, but I'm not in a prélude mode tonight   ).

I'm liking what I'm hearing very much! Perhaps not technically dazzling playing, but wonderful sonorities from the instrument, excellent control of the dynamics, and very natural phrasing. Great stuff!

[aligreto]

Morean





Overture for a Masque
In the Mountain Country

[SonicMan46]

There's also the Complete Overtures set. 

Hi Andrei - added the Overtures also more recently, just 3 CDs -    Dave

[foxandpeng]

Yes. You may want to start with the Sy1-3 by Theodore Kuchar.

Thank you 😁. I have had Paul Creston's symphonies on my radar for a while, but haven't taken the leap. Good to know where to start.

Thread duty:

Simpson, Symphony No 7, first movement (Sostenuto, Marcato).



I liked it better than I expected to.

Robert Simpson
Symphony 7
Vernon Handley
RLPO
Hyperion

I like this too! I'm already glad I invested, as the sound quality is much better than the mp3 I had ripped.

[Que]

There's also the Complete Overtures set. 

Hi Andrei - added the Overtures also more recently, just 3 CDs -    Dave

Judging from this Jaroussky recording, a personal favourite, Johann Christian was a gifted opera composer:

[Linz]

Elgar Symphony 1 and Pomp and Circumstance Marches 1 And 4 with Giuseppe Sinopoli conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra

[Karl Henning]

CD 42

Richard Strauss
Divertimento after Couperin, Op. 86
Le bourgeois gentilhomme, Op. 60

I love these!

[Mirror Image]

Another new arrival I was keenly looking forward to: Jacques Février's traversal of Debussy's (almost) complete solo piano music...



Starting with D'un cahier d'esquisses, L'Isle joyeuse (what a piece, what a wonderful piece!), and the two books of Images (from CD 3, which also includes the second book of Préludes, but I'm not in a prélude mode tonight   ).

I'm liking what I'm hearing very much! Perhaps not technically dazzling playing, but wonderful sonorities from the instrument, excellent control of the dynamics, and very natural phrasing. Great stuff!

Great to read. I may investigate this set myself. Not that I'm in any dire need for more recordings of Debussy's piano music. 

[Symphonic Addict]

And it's my favorite performance it! Great stuff, Cesar. Glad you enjoyed it.

It's not devoid of certain romanticism. The Violin Concerto seems tougher to my ears, though.

[Symphonic Addict]

+1 for Novak's Chamber Music - do you know this disc as well.....?

Yes, I do. The Piano Quintet is a lovely piece. There is a disc with the same quartet, but on Supraphon, which has a little more of edge IIRC.

[classicalgeek]

Robert Simpson
Symphony 7
Vernon Handley
RLPO
Hyperion

I like this too! I'm already glad I invested, as the sound quality is much better than the mp3 I had ripped.

I need to give Simpson another listen... I had some of the symphonies in the Handley/Hyperion series; I'm not sure which ones, but they didn't make much of an impression at the time.

Thread Duty: Bloch again, this time some gorgeous choral music.

Sacred Service
Louis Berkman, baritone/cantor
Zemel Choir
London Symphony Orchestra
Geoffrey Simon



Thanks to Jeffrey/vandermolen for the recommendation! A lovely and moving work, full of lush harmonies, gorgeously orchestrated, with equally stunning choral writing.

[Symphonic Addict]

Rued Langgaard: Symphony No.4 'Leaf-fall' (1916)
John Frandsen Danish RSO
From a great Langgaard double CD set:

It sure is a rather welcome recording, albeit not my favorite performance of it.

[Symphonic Addict]

Recommended? I don't really know much of Creston

I do recommend him. Exciting, rhythmic, motoric, yet not devoid of depth when needed (e.g. the 3rd Symphony); his works with have personality and a distinctive American voice.

[Karl Henning]

CD 43

Richard Strauss Sonatinen
№ 1 in F Aus der Werkstatt eines Invaliden, AV 135
№ 2 in E^b Fröhliche Werkstatt, AV 143 (Symphony for Winds)

CD 44

Stravinsky
Pulcinella Suite
Concerto in E^b « Dumbarton Oaks »
8 Instrumental Miniatures for 15 Players

The Instrumental Miniatures of course, is a regrettable underutilization of the OCO, how the disc would have been improved with a substitution of the Concertino, say.

The two Richard Strauss discs are surely the great unexpected treat for me in this box.

[Symphonic Addict]

When is this recording from?  And your Penderecki one looks tempting too!

PD

From 1972, performed by the Vlach Quartet.

Yes, the Penderecki is a real winner. Flawless and commited playing.

[Symphonic Addict]

Snap, but Brendel and Gielen for me, who are also very compelling indeed. Love the way the music blows around in a wind of Second Viennese restlessness, churning up myriad backwards glimpses, so invigorating. One of my favourite Schoenberg pieces.

Cool, Cesar!

Sounded unusually "friendly" for me this time. It's more lyrical than expected. And those performances of the Chamber Symphonies don't disappoint either.

[Symphonic Addict]

NP:

Boulanger
Psalm 130, 'Du fond de l'abime'
Sonia de Beaufort (mezzo-soprano), Martial Defontaine (tenor)
Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, Namur Symphonic Choir
Mark Stringer



Boulanger is basically the link between Fauré and Debussy. Remarkable composer.

These Boulanger's Psaumes are nothing but magnificent.