What are you listening 2 now?

[JBS]

Penderecki: Sextet

Fabulous work.

One of the best chamber works in modern music.
TD

CD 24
Schumann
Carnaval Opus 9
Fantasiestücke Opus 12
Faschingsschwank aus Wien Opus 26
Recorded at various points in the years 1956-58.

[Symphonic Addict]

Peter Benoit: Symphonic poem for piano and orchestra, Op. 43

A piano concerto in all but name whose movements are Ballade, Bardic song and Scherzo. Fantastical hunt. The music does have an ambition of a tale. If you have affinity for Saint-Saëns, Pierné without the "Iberian" touch, Dubois, Gouvy, et al, good considering.





Gabriel Dupont: Poème for piano quintet

If this is not an outstanding piece from the French nation, I don't know what it is then! Largely Romantic in a vein not too dissimilar to Fauré if a comparison is pertinent. Fine writing for all the instruments, conveying the soul of them through a creation of assured greatness.





Richard Strauss: Ein Heldenleben

I've been rather ambiguous about this Strauss giant. Moreover, this remastering certainly improved the preceding EMI set, but I'm not sold completely. I remember Järvi's account on Chandos to be more akin to my preferences in both playing and recording as such.

[Symphonic Addict]

One of the best chamber works in modern music.

Agreed! Rather enjoyable.

[Operafreak]

Joseph Joachim Raff - Cello Concertos

Daniel Muller-Schott (cello), -  Bamberg Symphonic Orchestra, Hans Stadlmair

[Mirror Image]

Continuing with the Stravinsky ballets with Pulcinella from this Chailly set:

[Madiel]

Sibelius, 7 Runeberg songs, op.13



It's been far too long since I've listened to these. Rich and grand romanticism (Krause seems an excellent singer for this material). Sibelius sure loves having lots of notes at this stage of his career (the piano accompaniments are thick), but it works pretty well in these songs.

[Symphonic Addict]

Dutilleux: Symphony No. 2

Bewitching and in excellent sound to boot. Dutilleux had a great ear for sonorities and textures.

[Mirror Image]

One more work before bed Liszt Hamlet, S. 104 from this Masur set:



Hugely impressed with this box set so far. Thrilling performances.

[Madiel]

Sibelius op.13 again, but this time trying Anne Sofie von Otter.

[Roasted Swan]

If you are looking for another candidate for "The Great American Symphony" this might be a contender!  Actually I'm not sure it is the best of the best but it is certainly very good and well worth hearing;



and I enjoy this performance very much.  The more familiar William Schuman "New England Triptych" (what a piece!) gets a stirring performance.  The Herrmann Symphony is very enjoyable - perhaps a little "traditional" given how Herrmann could be really imaginative elsewhere but certainly the equal of many similar symphonic works written around 1940.  This performance is certainly very good - possibly preferable to the only otyher version on Unicorn from the composer himself.  The recording there is rather harsh and flat - unlioke other Unicorn discs so a shame.

[Mandryka]

I was so impressed by Pletnev's recent Dubai performance of the Chopin Preludes I decided to listen to more by him, I chose this early recording of Grieg - it predates the DG. What's interesting is that, IMO, it's clearly the same pianist - same lightness of touch, same colour palate.


Anyway I want to say that his recent, spontaneous sounding - simultaneously organic and improvisatory - Chopin preludes are absolutely fabulous, a major contribution. Someone I know compared his art to Josef Hofmann, and that may be spot on. Anyone who wants the recording can PM me.

[Harry]

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck.

The First Book of Psalms by David.
CD II from III.

Psalms & Organ variations on Psalm 60

Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam, Harry van der Kamp.

I am thoroughly happy with the the performances by the Gesualdo Consort, in almost every respect. I can not imagine that any admirer of Sweelinck's music would want to be without it.

I have the Dutch version of all the performances with an elaborate book added to every volume, and tons of extra info. This is still available to this day. But probably not for long for they are pretty much at the end of their stock.

[Maestro267]

Hartmann: Symphony No. 1 ("Versuch eines Requiems")
Kallisch (mezzo-soprano)/Bamberg SO/Metzmacher

[Florestan]

[Operafreak]

Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony, Op. 58-     Philharmonia Orchestra-    Riccardo Muti

[Biffo]

McEwen: Solway Symphony - London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Alasdair Mitchell prompted by a recent mention

[foxandpeng]

Kurt Atterberg
Symphonies 3 'West Coast Pictures' and 6 'Dollar Symphony'
Ari Rasilainen
Hannover RPO
CPO

Off to see Alice Cooper in concert this evening, so what better way to begin the day than with Atterberg?

[Harry]

Gustav Mahler.

Symphony No. 1, "Titan"

Bamberger Symphoniker, Jonathan Nott.


New acquisition.

I am deeply touched by this performance, and its definitively the best performance and recording I ever heard of the Titan. It moved me so much that at many a moment tears came to my eyes, I am not ashamed to admit. The detail you hear is unbelievable, there are moments, many of them that reveal such a plethora of unheard details, that I was asking myself is this this really the first symphony of Mahler. This is a life affirming performance and to my mind certainly what Mahler meant. The recording is absolute state of the art.
Wow!!!!

[foxandpeng]

Kurt Atterberg
Orchestral Works 2
Symphonies 2 and 8
Neeme Jarvi
Gothenburg SO
Chandos

Continuing the Atterberg vibe. Although these symphonies feel less modern in tone than some of my usualchoices, I'm still enjoying their beauty and accessibility.

[Harry]

Kurt Atterberg
Orchestral Works 2
Symphonies 2 and 8
Neeme Jarvi
Gothenburg SO
Chandos

Continuing the Atterberg vibe. Although these symphonies feel less modern in tone than some of my usualchoices, I'm still enjoying their beauty and accessibility.

I will certainly put them on my order list, all of them, despite the fact that I have already a complete set.