What are you listening 2 now?

[vers la flamme]

Johannes Brahms: Symphony No.2 in D major, op.73; Hungarian Dances, WoO 1. Marin Alsop, London Philharmonic Orchestra

Brahms kick since his birthday three days ago. What a composer, one of the closest to my heart.

Alsop's Brahms cycle is one of my favorites; it's damn good.

[bhodges]

Coming up in about 30 minutes, the Da Capo Chamber Players, live from Merkin Concert Hall in NYC. The stream is free.

Judith Shatin – Gregor's Dream   
Jason Eckardt – Rendition
Erica Lindsay – Further Explorations
Elliott Carter – Con leggerezza pensosa   
Steve Reich – Double Sextet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CqkVbH5tgE

--Bruce

[Mapman]

Lutosławski: Mała Suita and 10 tańców polskich
Bywalec: Orkiestra Muzyki Nowej

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Holmboe
String Quartets Nos. 1, 3 & 4
Kontra Quartet

From this set -

[Mapman]

Casella: Partita for piano and small orchestra, Op. 42
Sun Hee You; La Vecchia: Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma

I like that the small orchestra still includes 3 clarinets. The ending of the piece is exciting! The performance was good, but it was sometimes hard to hear the oboe.

[classicalgeek]

Marcel Landowski
Symphony no. 3
Orchestre National de l'ORTF
Gerard Devos

This (presumably from a live performance) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUjga8AW9LE

Really good stuff... a little bit like Dutilleux, but totally original and compelling. Recordings of his works are very difficult to source: Erato has a 9-disc set that's long out of print, and there some discs on Cybelia (I don't even know if Cybelia still exists), and there are various single discs on assorted labels. Everything appears to be out of print, and when it's available at all, it's quite pricey.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Holmboe
Chamber Concertos Nos. 1, 2 & 3
Staffan Borseman (violin)
Mikkel Futtrup (violin), Eva Østergaard (flute)
Niels Thomsen (clarinet)
Danish National Chamber Orchestra
Hannu Koivula

NP:

Holmboe
String Quartets Nos. 1, 3 & 4
Kontra Quartet

From this set -

I have to say, I've been thoroughly enjoying Holmboe today. His music is growing on me. These Dacapo sets are worth their weight in gold. Excellent performances, audio quality and presentation.

[André]

Marcel Landowski
Symphony no. 3
Orchestre National de l'ORTF
Gerard Devos

This (presumably from a live performance) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUjga8AW9LE

Really good stuff... a little bit like Dutilleux, but totally original and compelling. Recordings of his works are very difficult to source: Erato has a 9-disc set that's long out of print, and there some discs on Cybelia (I don't even know if Cybelia still exists), and there are various single discs on assorted labels. Everything appears to be out of print, and when it's available at all, it's quite pricey.

One of my favourite boxes of anything  Soooo glad to see someone sharing my opinion on Landowski ! 

[Olias]

Currently on the String Quintet #3 Op 97

[André]

Malcolm Arnold, symphony no 7. BBC SO conducted by the composer.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TaAOT0RMmU

Arnold has conducted most of his symphonies on disc or in concert (1-7 AFAIK). This performance is the broadcast premiere of the work from a 1977 concert. It is the only time where I find that Arnold's unusually slow approach does not really work. His performances of the others are wonderful, the best of the competition IMO for nos 3 and 4.

In the 7th his way with the work is very measured, crushing but highly charged. Ultimately the music founders under its own weight. Timings tell the story: Yates and Gamba take around 32 minutes, Penney and Handley 38 and Arnold a whopping 51 minutes. I haven't heard Groves and Downes yet (2 more YT videos), but both seem to clock in at 39 minutes.

The first movement alone takes 23 minutes against 12-13 for Y an G and 16 for P and H. Granted, it's a highly personal statement, but high drama is turned into unrelieved gloomy tragedy. My favourite version is Penney, with Handley running him close. I have a feeling Groves and Downes will be interesting to hear.

[André]

In the Tatras and Eternal Longing Have been recorded many times, but this is the first time I get to hear the Moravian-Slovak Suite. All three works are wonderfully evocative. Novák has a knack for luscious melodies and evocative orchestration. He reminds me of his next door neighbour, the Pole Mieczyslaw Karlowicz, who knew the Tatras Mountains very well indeed (they straddle Slovakia and Poland): he died in an avalanche while hiking... . Anyhow, this is gorgeous music. Thanks John for letting me in on this superbly conducted and played disc. 

[André]

Excellent stuff. A firm recommendation for guitar lovers.

[Todd]

The first few sonatas do not fare as well as the last few, but otherwise, a nice enough set.

[Mapman]

Brahms: Clarinet Quintet
Ricardo Morales, Wister Quartet

They are all members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Morales plays beautifully, as expected.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Bach


Chromatische Fantasie BWV 903


In the BBC television series Colditz there is an episode in which a British wing commander tries to escape captivity by simulating being mentally ill. He has to endure this for a while to be convincing and  allowed to go home on medical grounds. He listens endlessly to the same 78 rpm record, which is Bach's Chromatic Fantasy,  wich becomes maddening for his fellow prisoners. His plan succeeds, but later comes the message that back in the U.k. he has been hospitalized in a mental institution. The choice for this Fantasy is very well chosen and works very well as an underlining. It's not that I'm on the same wavelength that I always enjoy listening to this work.

Love the composition. It's very different from his other works- sort of psychedelic Bach! And I love this performance as well as the entire box set.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

NP:

Holmboe
Chamber Concertos Nos. 1, 2 & 3
Staffan Borseman (violin)
Mikkel Futtrup (violin), Eva Østergaard (flute)
Niels Thomsen (clarinet)
Danish National Chamber Orchestra
Hannu Koivula

I like this set! Unique and versatile music.

[Mirror Image]

In the Tatras and Eternal Longing Have been recorded many times, but this is the first time I get to hear the Moravian-Slovak Suite. All three works are wonderfully evocative. Novák has a knack for luscious melodies and evocative orchestration. He reminds me of his next door neighbour, the Pole Mieczyslaw Karlowicz, who knew the Tatras Mountains very well indeed (they straddle Slovakia and Poland): he died in an avalanche while hiking... . Anyhow, this is gorgeous music. Thanks John for letting me in on this superbly conducted and played disc. 

Great to read, Andre and my pleasure.

[Mirror Image]

I like this set! Unique and versatile music.

It is quite good, but I still don't know the music as well as I ought to.

P.S. Your new avatar scares me. I thought it was a zombie at first, but, no, it's Keith Richards!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

It is quite good, but I still don't know the music as well as I ought to.

P.S. Your new avatar scares me. I thought it was a zombie at first, but, no, it's Keith Richards!

I understand. I changed the avatar to a better/friendly image of Keith.

[Mirror Image]

I understand. I changed the avatar to a better/friendly image of Keith.

Oh, that's much better, indeed.