What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Vaughan Williams
String Quartet No. 2
The Nash Ensemble

[vandermolen]

NP:

Vaughan Williams
String Quartet No. 2
The Nash Ensemble

That's one of the best CDs of VW's chamber music. Great photo of VW in the booklet as well!
The SQ No.2 inhabits the same sound world as the 6th Symphony and the late, craggy Violin sonata is possibly my favourite piece of VW's chamber music. 'The Lake in the Mountains' is a lovely bonus. Great choice John.

[Madiel]

Dvorak, Symphony No.6



The first 'late' symphony, not a 'middle' one, as discussed elsewhere...

[Mirror Image]

That's one of the best CDs of VW's chamber music. Great photo of VW in the booklet as well!
The SQ No.2 inhabits the same sound world as the 6th Symphony and the late, craggy Violin sonata is possibly my favourite piece of VW's chamber music. 'The Lake in the Mountains' is a lovely bonus. Great choice John.

Somehow I knew you would approve, Jeffrey. The Lake in the Mountains is a lovely piece and it makes me wish RVW had composed more solo piano music, but I know he was more of a "strings man". I own several of these works also on this EMI recording, which I rather enjoy as well:



What do you think of The Nash Ensemble's 2-CD set of the earlier RVW chamber works? I own the set, but haven't really explored it:

[Symphonic Addict]

Great to read, Cesar. I'm glad you enjoyed this performance as much as I did. Despite my own reservations about the audio quality (a bit too reverberant), the performance itself shines through and never fails to move me. This is actually one of my favorite pieces of music from anyone. The second movement in particular has brought on some tears.

Actually, I didn't notice any important acoustic flaw that has put me off with the music. That 2nd mov. is indeed superb. There is much to appreciate in this stunning score.

[Linz]

Beethoven String Quartets with the Quartuor Vegh from this set CD4 op.59/2 op.59/3

[André]

Powerful, very moving work.

[Symphonic Addict]

I'd have to listen to the Searle symphonies again. I've had them for years but have never really liked them. Maybe time for a reassessment.


Landowski OTOH is a magnificent composer. The disc with the concerto and symphony no 2 is a corker !



The concerto can also be found with other works:




And of course all these works can be savoured in Erato's box Marcel Landowski Edition 

I suspect you could enjoy those Searle symphonies, André. At least the first three are more than approachable for the listener.

Ah, thank you. That was the CD from I listened to the Landowski. Yes, I've been fascinated by what I've heard of his pen. A quite interesting voice.

[Symphonic Addict]

NP:

Saint-Saëns
Symphony No. 2 in A minor, Op. 55
Orchestre National de France
Cristian Mǎcelaru

From this set -



I have to say I've been thoroughly impressed with this new cycle from Mǎcelaru. He's totally committed to the composer's idiom and elicits great playing from the Orchestre National de France. Superb audio quality, too.

Definitely in the mood for some Late-Romantic Russian music tonight...

NP:

Glazunov
From the Middle Ages, Op. 79
Scottish National Orchestra
Järvi



Next:

Tchaikovsky
Suite from "Swan Lake"
New York Philharmonic
Bernstein

Great stuff there, John!

[Symphonic Addict]

Searle's 2nd is certainly one of my favorite works written in a 12-tone/serialist vein! Dark, gripping, and epic stuff, and surprisingly accessible too. And I need to investigate more of Landowski's music! I recall listening to his first symphony a few years ago and it reminded me a bit of Dutilleux's earlier works in its atmospheric yet coherent style.

You're certainly right, Kyle. In that concerto [Landowski's 2nd] I even heard bits of Prokofiev and Bartók. An otherworldly, atmospheric, mesmerizing piece and his output in general.

[Symphonic Addict]

Some charming, gentle, poetic and lyrical early morning listening - Robert Ward's Piano Concerto - rather in the spirit of Howard Hanson's PC:

Me wants to hear this.

[Symphonic Addict]

That's one of the best CDs of VW's chamber music. Great photo of VW in the booklet as well!
The SQ No.2 inhabits the same sound world as the 6th Symphony and the late, craggy Violin sonata is possibly my favourite piece of VW's chamber music. 'The Lake in the Mountains' is a lovely bonus. Great choice John.

Quite enthusiastic, Jeffrey. Yes, invigorating and inspiriting stuff!

[Mirror Image]

Actually, I didn't notice any important acoustic flaw that has put me off with the music. That 2nd mov. is indeed superb. There is much to appreciate in this stunning score.

Whenever one becomes absorbed into the performance, the nitpicky things go away or, at least, this was the case for me.

[Mirror Image]

Great stuff there, John!

Yes, indeed. What do you think of the new Mǎcelaru cycle of the Saint-Saëns symphonies, Cesar?

[Symphonic Addict]

Yes, indeed. What do you think of the new Mǎcelaru cycle of the Saint-Saëns symphonies, Cesar?

Excellent, first-rate. It could become my favorite cycle because of the committed recording and performances. A winner!

[Symphonic Addict]

Schubert: Fantasie, D. 940



A bittersweet composition for sure.

[Mirror Image]

Excellent, first-rate. It could become my favorite cycle because of the committed recording and performances. A winner!

Yes, indeed. I have zero objections about the performances I've heard so far.

[Madiel]

Dvorak, Legends (original piano duet version)

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Vaughan Williams
On Wenlock Edge
John Mark Ainsley, tenor
The Nash Ensemble

[Symphonic Addict]

An American Triplet:

Piston: The Incredible Flutist Suite

Copland: Symphonic Ode

Samuel Jones: Symphony No. 3 Palo Duro Canyon


The Piston is a maiden-listen, and I wonder why I waited for so long to hear this! There's an exhilarating section around the middle of the piece with people's noise and laughing and having fun. A perfect opener in a concert.

My goodness, and how symphonic it is! This is splendidly performed and played.

This is simply glorious stuff! A so atmospheric, stirring, life-affirming and evocative work. There are passages that remind me of Sibelius and Nielsen, but this is 100% American. For any fans of orchestral, colourful and evocative works, this is a keeper and a must hear.