What are you listening 2 now?

[Florestan]

Mozart


Three Piano Quartets

Three? Since when is KV 452 a quartet?

[Mirror Image]

My brother had the Everest LP John - it was one of my first favourite pieces of classical music. I think that there is something very special and authentic about that recording. Interesting that he recorded many of his work with London based orchestras.

I think all of the Copland conducted performances have a certain magic to them --- much like when Stravinsky conducted (and recorded) his own music. Copland and Stravinsky may not be the most magnificent conductors in the world, but their way with their own music has a certain allure about it.

[vandermolen]

I think all of the Copland conducted performances have a certain magic to them --- much like when Stravinsky conducted (and recorded) his own music. Copland and Stravinsky may not be the most magnificent conductors in the world, but their way with their own music has a certain allure about it.

V much agree with you.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Diamond
Rounds
Seattle Symphony
Schwarz



Along with the 3rd and 4th symphonies and the 3rd SQ, this is one of my favorite works from Diamond.

Next up:

Glazunov
Oriental Rhapsody, Op. 29
USSR State SO
Svetlanov

From this set -

[kyjo]

Richard Strauss
Die Frau Ohne Schatten - Symphonic Fantasy

Detroit SO - Antal Doráti

VS

One of my favorite works by him. Sheer sonic splendor!

[Mirror Image]

One of my favorite works by him. Sheer sonic splendor!

You must give a listen to the complete opera sometime, Kyle. I know you're not a fan of the genre, but if you're a Straussian, then his operas are essential listening, IMHO. Der Rosenkavalier is my favorite Strauss opera.

[aligreto]

Janacek: Music for Solo Piano played by Paul Crossley





Theme and Variations for Solo Piano

In the Mists - As something of a piano-phobe I was surprised to hear myself thinking that I would want to hear that piece again.

Reminiscence for Solo Piano

[Papy Oli]

Cantata BWV 160 (Fritz Werner).

[aligreto]

Your notes are very interesting. Thanks for sharing them.

I've only listened to the second symphony from this set, but I have a feeling these recordings are destined to become my favorites.

Cheers. I have enjoyed listening to the first two symphonies. I am looking forward to hearing the last two particularly based on your previous comments to me about the change in musical language and his approach to writing after his WWI experiences.

[Traverso]

Three? Since when is KV 452 a quartet?

It is a arrangement  from the piano quintet 

[ritter]

In anticipation of the new release of a 1981 performance of the work I just ordered, revisiting Bruno Maderna's curious but extraordinary cycle Hyperion, in the classic recording by Peter Eötvös:


Hyperion started out as a lirica in forma di spettacolo (opera in the form of a show), but an opera it certainly isn't —and I don't have a clue how it could be staged—. What we have is a succession of different pieces (much of what Maderna composed in the last 15 years of his live) for different forces —tape, orchestra with instrumental soloists, chorus—, here interspersed with recited texts by Hölderlin. The form is open, and which  pieces actually appear is decided by the conductor. In the booklet notes, Eötvös says he's included all the pieces Maderna himself hard used in different live performances. The "subject matter" of the cycle is, according to some sources, the relationship of the "poet" with the "machine", but none of that can be deduced from the music. But we have is many brilliant, powerfully expressive pieces by one of the great composers of the Darmstadt generation. Really great stuff!

[Mirror Image]

Janacek: Music for Solo Piano played by Paul Crossley





Theme and Variations for Solo Piano

In the Mists - As something of a piano-phobe I was surprised to hear myself thinking that I would want to hear that piece again.

Reminiscence for Solo Piano

Nice! Janáček's solo piano music is exquisite, Fergus. I'm a former piano-phobe (solo piano that is), but I love it now and can find enjoyment in any genre in classical music: opera, orchestral, chamber, lieder, solo instrumental etc.

[Todd]

Maximum Frenchness.  Muy bueno.

[aligreto]

Nice! Janáček's solo piano music is exquisite, Fergus. I'm a former piano-phobe (solo piano that is), but I love it now and can find enjoyment in any genre in classical music: opera, orchestral, chamber, lieder, solo instrumental etc.

I do not hold out much hope for a conversion any time soon, John. I have disliked the sound of solo piano for fifty years now. 

[Harry]

Early Italian Cello Concertos.

Giovanni Battista Sammartini: Cello Concerto C major.
Antonio Vivaldi: Cello Concerto RV 414
Giuseppe Tartini: Cello Concerto  A Major Adagio from the  Violinsonata Nr. 7; Andante cantabile from Violinsonate Nr. 6.
Leonardo Leo: Cello Concerto Nr. 2  in D major.

Elinor Frey, Cello. Rosa Barocca, Claude Lapalme.

This is actually very good and well recorded. Frey gives a fresh insight into these works.

[SonicMan46]

Oh, I can definitely find people who agree with me on that one. As you like referring to reviews: https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-14020/

I find it interesting that you included the positive review from Classics Today of the Festetics, but not the scathing review of the London from the same source. I query the value of you including reviews if you're going to curate them in that way. Just give us your views.

I'm actually with Madiel but not hating.  I just think London Haydn is overrated, they're fine but not exceptional.

Thanks Madiel & David for your thoughts on the London Haydn Quartet (LHQ); as I'm listening to them along w/ the Q. Festetics (QF) & now Q. Mosaiques (QM) in a kind of A:B comparison, I'm preferring the Quatuors period instruments and performances more - also returned to the Haydn Haus thread and searched on the LHQ - numerous posts w/ much varied opinions about the group - I was likely somewhat awed that the series was still ongoing and many of the reviews quite positive (and some dreadful such as the Classics Today reviewers - however, when Hurwitz goes that low I feel he must have eaten a bad meal -  ).  At any rate, I'm quite happy with the period recordings of QF and QM, so a third might not be needed in my collection - perhaps I should look for a 'modern performance'?  Thanks again - Dave

[Spotted Horses]

Cheers. I have enjoyed listening to the first two symphonies. I am looking forward to hearing the last two particularly based on your previous comments to me about the change in musical language and his approach to writing after his WWI experiences.

I will be interested to hear your reaction. There seems to be a "consensus" that the third and forth are the best of Roussel's symphonic works but I have been very impressed with Janowski's performance of the second. Perhaps the Suites and Sinfonietta are the clearest example of Roussel's late, neoclassical style.

[Papy Oli]

Cantata BWV 158 - 'Der Friede sei mit dir' (Herreweghe)
Cantata BWV 158 - 'Der Friede sei mit dir' (Gardiner SDG)

[ritter]

Maximum Frenchness.  Muy bueno.

I have that disc, and should revisit it. Much as I love Debussy (one of my very favourite composers), his chamber music still hasn't "clicked" with me after all these years...

THREAD DUTY:

Complementing the "complete" Hyperion by Maderna I mentioned a couple of posts back, with a live 1966 Rome performance of the composer himself conducting the RAI Orchestra in a partial version (Dimensioni III —with Severino Gazzelloni as the superb flute soloist— and Aria —with soprano Dorothy Dorow—):

[Roasted Swan]

I've picked up some good 99p bargains in local charity shops recently including;



The Rozhdestvensky is excellent.  Online reviews are "mixed" to say the least.  The Russian Easter Festival Overture is criticised as slow (I hear it as rather epic and ceremonial and therefore apt) and the Rachmaninov as poorly recorded and not good generally.  The big minus in the Rach is a bleeding chunk of a cut in the finale which is majorly disfiguring but that apart I thought it was a genuinely excellent performance in perfectly good "radio broadcast" sound.  He really did get the BBC SO playing with Russian bite and edge!