What are you listening 2 now?

[Iota]

Martinu: String Quartet No.5
Martinu Quartet


An exceptional quartet imo. Restless, haunted, vivid ideas one after the other, and irresistible writing, it feels inspired! The final movement seems like a slightly different country, not quite as organically part of it as the previous three, but that's perhaps just me, and may change. And doesn't alter one bit the work's glimmering status chez moi! 

[Mirror Image]

Martinu: String Quartet No.5
Martinu Quartet


An exceptional quartet imo. Restless, haunted, vivid ideas one after the other, and irresistible writing, it feels inspired! The final movement seems like a slightly different country, not quite as organically part of it as the previous three, but that's perhaps just me, and may change. And doesn't alter one bit the work's glimmering status chez moi!

A fantastic SQ cycle!

[Linz]

Mladen Tarbuk gave permission to offer this December, 2017 performance of the Bruckner Symphony No. 9 with William Carragan's completion of the Finale. On abruckner.com as a free download. There is no artwork with it so I made my own.

[Iota]

A fantastic SQ cycle!

Indeed! Though I've heard some of them before, as I work through them currently that very fact is impressing itself upon me with considerable force! 

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Barber
Capricorn Concerto, Op. 21
Jacob Berg (flute), Susan Slaughter (trumpet), Peter Bowman (oboe)
Saint Louis SO
Slatkin



Without knowing this particular concerto's history, I do know it's named after the house that Barber and Menotti acquired in the early 40s. A quirky piece. It definitely shows Barber working in a Neoclassical idiom like that of Stravinsky, but with his own twist of course.

[vandermolen]

A few hours ago i played Fazil Say's CD you recommended, with the Violin concerto, the Bazaar, etc.

What did you make of it Harry?

TD

McEwen: Border Ballads No.1 'Grey Galloway'

[SonicMan46]

Chausson, Ernest (1855-1899) - my small collection below for the afternoon - short synopsis of his short life below - own just a dozen of his works; although he wrote a variety of vocal works (list HERE), just not my interest.  Dave

Chausson was a French Romantic composer who died just as his career was beginning to flourish. Died at 44 years from a bicycle accident (suicide?) - he was not prolific, and left behind only 39 opus-numbered pieces. Musical creation for him always proved to be a long, painful struggle. However, the quality and originality of his compositions are consistently high, and several of his works continue to make occasional appearances on programmes of leading singers, chamber music ensembles and orchestras. (Source)

     

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NP:

Schuman
String Quartet No. 2
Lydian String Quartet



A shame that some quartet hasn't recorded the 4th SQ. The 1st SQ met the same fate as the 1st and 2nd symphonies and was withdrawn, so we'll never know what it sounds like. Anyway, there's much to love here, especially if one is familiar with Schuman's idiom.

[André]

There are casting (vocal) issues that must be dealt with when listening to that performance. First, Vickers was past his prime in 1981 and the voice is dry and blasty in the difficult first song. As tenor sound goes, this is not a pleasant one. OTOH he feels the texts like few other tenors and is still able to float very soft high notes touchingly. After all, Weltschmerz was his middle name... Jessye Norman was in superb voice in 1981 but since these songs are written in the alto range her voice sounds often pushed down, creating a sense of effort throughout the lower part of the voice, where a fast beat is likely to intrude. When singing on top though she is meltingly beautiful, both in tone and in freedom of emission. Davis conducts very well and the LSO is splendid (great low winds and brass). The recorded sound is early digital and does no favours to anyone. It is prone to sound edgy and glassy when tutti strings scream in the Drinking Song. A remastering should certainly be attempted. All three artists are now dead and it would be nice to have this very expressive performance in better sound.

[vandermolen]

McEwen: Solway Symphony

[Karl Henning]

NP:

Harrison
Piano Concerto
Keith Jarrett, piano
New Japan Philharmonic
Naoto Otomo

Interesting, as Jarrett is likewise the soloist on the recording I have.

TD:

CD 38

Wagner
Tannhäuser — Overture
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg — Overture
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg — Suite from Act III (arr. Barbirolli)
Tristan und Isolde — Prelude to Act I
Tristan und Isolde — Love-Toad
Lohengrin — Prelude to Act I
Der fliegende Holländer — Overture

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NP:

Britten
Holiday Diary, Op. 5
Stephen Hough

From this set -

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Interesting, as Jarrett is likewise the soloist on the recording I have.

Which would be what recording? I only have two recordings with him as a soloist: this one of Harrison's Piano Concerto and this Hovhaness one:

[Karl Henning]

Which would be what recording? I only have two recordings with him as a soloist: this one of Harrison's Piano Concerto and this Hovhaness one:

That very one.

[Mirror Image]

That very one.

And a fine one it is, too.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Bruckner
Symphony No. 6 in A major, WAB 106
Münchner Philharmoniker
Celibidache

[classicalgeek]

Last works for the night:

Copland
Symphony No. 3
New York Philharmonic
Bernstein



A heartfelt tribute not only to Copland and his music, but Bernstein's own friendship with the composer, which lasted nearly all of his professional career.

My favorite Copland 3!

Very nice! It seems to me that Panufnik is kind of like a "Polish Tippett" if this makes any sense. His earlier works were more accessible, but the older he got, the more angular and gnarly the works became. Both sides of the composer have merit and there is good music in later Panufnik even if it doesn't always quite engage me like his earlier works.

Tippett is a very good comparison stylistically - most of what I've liked of Tippett (admittedly I haven't heard as much as I'd like to) has been his early works. I'll have to listen to some early Panufnik for comparison - 'gnarly' certainly describes later Panufnik!

TD:

Brahms
Symphony no. 3
Philharmonia Orchestra
Otto Klemperer



I was a touch underwhelmed by Klemperer's Brahms 4, but his Third is really solid. Especially the outer movements - there's a vitality and vigor in the first movement that I found really appealing. And the finale is perfectly judged; the quiet fade-out and return of the theme of the first movement are magical. The inner movements were perfectly fine but a bit on the plain side; I prefer a more heart-on-sleeve slow movement (like Levine/Chicago - wow!), but that's just me. All in all a strong Brahms 3, if not my favorite.

[Mirror Image]

My favorite Copland 3!

Tippett is a very good comparison stylistically - most of what I've liked of Tippett (admittedly I haven't heard as much as I'd like to) has been his early works. I'll have to listen to some early Panufnik for comparison - 'gnarly' certainly describes later Panufnik!

Yeah, this is an outstanding Copland 3rd to be sure. There are several other fine performances, too that I wouldn't want to be without. It's good to see you listening to Panufnik, he's a composer I feel doesn't get enough recognition, but this could be said about so many composers that we love.

[Todd]

[listener]

Organ Mujsic of America II: 1868-1908-  The Boston Classicists
Dudley BUCK: Concert VBariations on "The Star-Spangled Banner"    op.23   Sonata 2 in c op. 77
Horatio PARKER: Triumphal March op. 28/1, Sonata in E^b op. 85
John Knowles PAINE: Fantasia after "Ein feste Burg" op. 13 ...
on the 1864 Hook organ  of Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Mass
and from the Philips series of Great Pianists of the 20th Century
the 3rd set of Alfred Brendel recordings
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto  1,  MENDELSSSOHN: Variations sérieuses      WEBER: Konzertstïck in f
BUSONI: Toccata    CHOPIN Polonaise in f#
LISZT: Totentanz   Bagatelle sans tonalité   ....