What are you listening 2 now?

[aligreto]

In tribute to David Lloyd-Jones who passed away recently.

That is indeed a tragic loss. I have relied on his expertise over the years with regards to interpretations of composers such as Bax, Holst and Rawsthorne.
His interpretations of the music of these composers, in particular, helped me enormously in understanding and appreciating their music.
I have always enjoyed his music making.
His is a sad loss to the world of music.

[aligreto]

Alexander Zemlinsky
Psalms 13 & 23

That disc makes for great listening.

[Karl Henning]

That disc makes for great listening.

Yes, indeed!

[Todd]

Book II from Beroff's third recording.

[Symphonic Addict]

Bartók: Rhapsody for piano and orchestra, Op. 1

A phenomenal opus 1, by the way! Early Bartók could be seen like somewhat 'Rachmaninovian', but I love it.

[DavidW]

In honor of a magnificent conductor:


I meant to find the other Fischer, but this recording was REALLY GOOD.  I was surprised and floored, when listen to more from his cycle:

[Symphonic Addict]

Barber: Symphony No. 1

It shares sound world with Sibelius, Korngold and Atterberg's musical idioms. Stirring!

[Symphonic Addict]

I agree - though A Colour Symphony is Bliss' most "popular" work, I don't think it's one of his greatest. IMO, his masterpiece is the sublime Meditations on a Theme of John Blow, and his ballets Adam Zero and Checkmate are marvelously characterful and memorable. He also has some superbly crafted chamber works.

Count me as an admirer of that colourful symphony (no pun intended). The Blue movement is my favorite. Sheer bliss literally!

[Karl Henning]

Bartók: Rhapsody for piano and orchestra, Op. 1

A phenomenal opus 1, by the way! Early Bartók could be seen like somewhat 'Rachmaninovian', but I love it.

Overall, I've not heard a note of Bartók's which I did not find rewarding.

[Symphonic Addict]

Overall, I've not heard a note of Bartók's which I did not find rewarding.

I couldn't disagree with that, Karl!

[Symphonic Addict]

Jean Cras: Piano Quintet

Gosh, a ravishing creation. Cras wrote some truly exquisite music for sure.

[Symphonic Addict]

Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite

[JBS]

An excellent disc! I wasn't particularly impressed by the cellist who performs the Chôro for that instrument, but then again being a cellist I'm rather picky in that regard. All the other works receive excellent performances, and I particularly enjoyed the vibrant Chôros for piano and clarinet.

Not being a cellist I'm not picky that way and found the cello Choro as good as the rest.

Never heard it. In olden times I would listen to audio recordings of opera, but lately what little opera I consume is a video production. There doesn't seem to be an attractive DVD or BRD in print. I do have the opera in a few box sets, Dutoit and Ansermet recordings.

In lieu of DVD (and as I mentioned to Karl) there are a few complete staged performances on Youtube.

TD

[TheGSMoeller]

Sibelius: Complete music of Karelia

Aside from the more well known three-movement suite, there's an additional eight movements and over 30 minutes more music. It's good, not great with the exception of a few sections. I've never cared much for the Alla marcia movement from the suite, there are a few better choices in there that could've been used.
Next, to the Kuolema incidental music.

[Mapman]

I rather agree, although I like A Colour Symphony (the Groves recording is my favourite). I think that Bliss's greatest works are Morning Heroes, Meditations on a Theme by John Blow, Hymn to Apollo, Oboe Quintet, Adam Zero, Things to Come and Checkmate

I'll definitely listen to Adam Zero at some point! (It might take a while, though, as I have a lot of other music to listen to.)

Barber: Symphony No. 1

It shares sound world with Sibelius, Korngold and Atterberg's musical idioms. Stirring!

I also like Barber's first! I first encountered it in a band version of the slow section, and later bought that same recording with its original coupling.  Barber does a great job constructing a four-section symphony from just a few melodic ideas.


Today I attended the final subscription concert of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra season. Unfortunately, an orchestra member just got COVID, so the program was shortened and altered.
Gil Shaham played Bach's Partita No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006, followed by Barber's violin concerto. The performance of the Barber really brought out the dark and dramatic aspects of the work, in a way that I don't remember hearing before. It might be similar to how Michael Gielen may have conducted it.

Just now:
Fibich: Symphony #1
Järvi: Detroit

This symphony is full of melodies and is very reminiscent of Dvořák.

[TheGSMoeller]

Continuing my recent obsession with Icelandic music with this recent release. Featuring works from nine different composers.

[Mirror Image]

My soul needed some Rachmaninov works for two pianos, so now playing Suite for Two Pianos Nos. 1 & 2 with Ashkenazy/Previn from this box set:

[Mirror Image]

Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite

A stunning recording all-around. My favorite performance of Lemminkäinen Suite and Tapiola. The companion disc with The Tempest Suites Nos. 1 & 2, The Oceanides and Night Ride & Sunrise is also a favorite.

[JBS]

Oh yes, Magin's music has been a great discovery of mine recently. Have you listened to this excellent disc?



Simply superb stuff, with some delicious Prokofievian echoes in the witty Rustico violin concerto especially. The PC no. 3 is a rather darker hued work which is really compelling. I hope more of Magin's music gets recorded soon!

Just ordered it. Kremer's involvement in this augurs well.

TD
Symphonies 21-25

[Operafreak]

Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene- Renée Fleming (soprano), Yannick Nézet-Séguin (piano)