What are you listening 2 now?

[Traverso]

I heartily endorse anyone listening to Koechlin.

I did really enjoy listening to this recording.

[Roasted Swan]

Beethoven: Violin Sonatas: Nos 1, 10 & 5- Lorenzo Gatto (violin) & Julien Libeer (piano)

The cover that catches the thrilling climax to the "I look more like Beethoven than you" game.............

[North Star]

Murail
Caliloud dans l'eou (2018)
Le Rossignol en amour (2019)
Mémorial (2020)
Résurgence La Sorgue à Fontaine-de-Vaucluse (2021)
Le Misanthrope d'après Liszt et Molière (2021)
Impression, Soleil levant (2021)

Debussy
Préludes, Deuxième Livre (1912-13)

François-Frédéric Guy (piano)


Bloch
Schelomo

Isserlis (cello)
Deutsches SO Berlin
Hugh Wolff

 

[Todd]

I'm not sure why I did not listen to this until now, but I did not.  That was silly.  As expected, Abduraimov delivers absolutely top-notch playing, up there with the greatest of today's ivory tickers.  (Schuch or Hamelin or Volodos or Son, say.)  Better yet, he adds numerous personal touches to each piece without overdoing it.  I had slight misgivings about how his Debussy might sound, but such misgivings were misplaced.  Every piece is perfectly stylized, and Golliwog's Cakewalk delights.  Chopin's Preludes end up sounding superb, with each one again perfectly realized, and the Raindrop Prelude up there with whatever other version one may want to compare it to.  And then there's Pictures.  While I love this piece in its proper piano version (and dislike the orchestrated version), I didn't feel the need to hear a new version.  How wrong I was.  I'll start with the one quibble: the opening to the Great Gate of Kiev sounds smaller in scale than I typically prefer, but Abduraimov more than makes up for it while he builds up to a satisfying conclusion.  Everything else is basically perfect.  His execution and interpretation rate with Janis and Pogorelich.  A phenomenal recording.  I will have to buy a copy rather than just stream.

[Linz]

Bruckner Symphony 4 with Zdenek Mácal and the Hallé Orchestra

[vandermolen]

Beethoven: 'Eroica' Symphony.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sargent

[MusicTurner]

Michael Haydn's Symphony No. 28 
    Bohdan Warchal, Slovak Chamber Orchestra

Am strongly considering buying this one. Seems better played than those in the Brilliant Classics M. Haydn Box, which I culled, and in the main I now just have some of the old LPs with symphonies conducted by Farberman.

[Lisztianwagner]

About Die Seejungfrau, I asolutely loved it; it was very thrilling and hauntingly beautiful, with powerful climaxes and a rich orchestration that, especially in the brass section, reminded me of the Richard Strauss style; while in the second movement, the colourful, floating harmonies, as well as the use of the strings, harp and glockenspiel, sounded more like Debussy's symbolism.

Now Psalm 13 & 23, from:

[André]

There's a surprising number of versions of the Requiem on disc. I wonder what the fuss is about. There are some interesting touches, but way too much sameness. The Concerto is a bit more palatable, but I still don't get it.

[Todd]

Disc four.

[vandermolen]

Schubert: Symphony No.8 'Unfinished' RPO/Sargent - a fine performance:

[Linz]

Stanford with Richard Hickox

[Symphonic Addict]

Kyle reminded me of giving this symphony another listen:

Villem Kapp: Symphony No. 2 in C minor

This definitely is good stuff, and there is a clarity in the recording that allows to hear all with great detail. Those imposing climaxes are vividly captured!





Morton Feldman: Coptic Light

I must say that this work did little for me. It's too monotonous for my taste. Thus far the work of his that has truly impressed me is Cello and Orchestra. Such a dark and sinister piece.

[Symphonic Addict]

Beethoven: 'Eroica' Symphony.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sargent

The end is near more and more! 

[classicalgeek]

TD: another unfamiliar, and contemporary, composer

Unsuk Chin
Rocana
*Violin concerto (no. 1)
*Viviane Hagner, violin
Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal
Kent Nagano, conductor
(on Qobuz)



I'm not quite sure what to say about this music. I'd like to think I appreciate what the composer was trying to say, and the contributions from Ms. Hagner, Maestro Nagano, and the orchestra were magnificent. But the music didn't 'speak' to me, didn't do anything for me. I guess I had the same reaction to the music of Birtwistle that I sampled last week in light of his recent passing - one of ambivalence, I'm sorry to say.

[Linz]

Strauss Der Rosenkavalier with Rudolf Kemp in 1950

[clarity82]

WYNTON MARSALIS: Violin Concerto
Benedetti/Philadelphia O/Macelaru (Decca)

Marsalis' Swing Symphony is on the 2022-2023 Minnesota Orchestra season and I wasn't familiar with his work beyond jazz.



JAAKKO KUUSISTO: Violin Concerto
Vähälä/Lahti SO/J. Kuusisto (BIS)

Heard this several seasons back with the Minnesota Orchestra. In light of Kuusisto's recent passing, well worth revisiting.

[kyjo]

I just rather enjoyed this combination of pieces. They made sense.

Britten: Diversions for piano and orchestra

Papandopulo: Piano Concerto No. 3

A fun duo of works indeed! You reminded me, it's been ages since I've listened to the Britten. The Papandopulo is great fun with its echoes of Poulenc and Gershwin (and much better than the overlong VC which is its discmate).

[Papy Oli]

A first listen:

Liszt - Orpheus, symphonic poem.
Haitink/London PO




Earlier today, just to be seasonal : JS Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Harnoncourt)

[foxandpeng]

Second listen to Rawsthorne's first symphony, the Lyrita recording.



The texture of the music is attractive. At first I wasn't following the musical argument, but on second listen, it is there and I can latch on to it. The second movement (Adagio) is particularly attractive.

Thank you for this 😁. Good to hear someone articulate engaging with Rawsthorne. I do think he is worthwhile, and am jealous of your Lyritas!