What are you listening 2 now?

[kyjo]

John Kinsella
*Symphony no. 5 "The 1916 Poets"
%Symphony no. 10
*Bill Golding, narrator
*Gerald O'Connor, baritone
*RTE National Symphony Orchestra
*Colman Pearce
%Irish Chamber Orchestra
%Gabor Takacs-Nagy
(on Spotify)



So I didn't much care for Symphony no. 5, but that was more because of the narration (recorded with a strange balance where the speaker dwarfed the orchestra) and the baritone soloist, who was borderline unlistenable. But there is a lot of good music in both works; I far preferred the Tenth Symphony, mostly because of the absence of vocal (both narrated and sung) histrionics. I do want to hear more Kinsella; I found him quite intriguing.

+1 for the 10th Symphony. Don't hesitate in hearing his 6th and 7th Symphonies on the disc below - two splendidly compelling and accessible symphonies in a post-Sibelius/Nielsen vein:

[kyjo]

Continuing with the Vaughan Williams symphonies from the Boult remastered set from the Warner/Tower Records hybrid SACD set:

Is there any more beloved composer/conductor combo on GMG than RVW and Boult? I think not!

[Mirror Image]

Thoughts? I tried his critically acclaimed and award-winning Become Ocean and thought it pretty boring, to be quite honest. Then again, my favorite contemporary composers tend to be the ones who don't get much attention from the critical establishment.

I view each of these Become works from JLA as mediative in general mood. I think they're absolutely beautiful. I don't really care nor pay attention to what is critically praised or dumped on --- I simply listen and JLA has been a favorite composer of mine since I first heard the album The Far Country. His nature tone paintings always give me much pleasure.

[classicalgeek]

I like some of Shchedrin's music, but that Cello Concerto left me cold...

Yeah, that was kind of my impression too. I'll keep trying with Shchedrin.

Count me as an admirer of Avshalamov's 1st Symphony as well.

I definitely preferred the Symphony to the Flute Concerto, although I found them both enjoyable.

+1 for the 10th Symphony. Don't hesitate in hearing his 6th and 7th Symphonies on the disc below - two splendidly compelling and accessible symphonies in a post-Sibelius/Nielsen vein:

I saw that disc with the 6th and 7th symphonies on Spotify. I'll have to give it a listen!

TD:
Ingolf Dahl
Concerto for Alto Saxophone
Hymn
Music for Brass Instruments
The Tower of Saint Barbara
New World Symphony Orchestra
Michael Tilson Thomas
(on Spotify)

[Mirror Image]

Is there any more beloved composer/conductor combo on GMG than RVW and Boult? I think not!

I'm not sure about GMG, but I certainly can think of many other fine combos!

Thread duty -

Three works for string quartet of great contrasts:

Adams (JL)
Lines Made By Walking
JACK Quartet

Koechlin
String Quartet No. 2, Op. 57
Ardeo Quartet

Sibelius
String Quartet in D minor, Op. 56, "Voces Intimae"
Gabrieli String Quartet

From these recordings -

[Symphonic Addict]

I had the immense pleasure of performing this work under Maestro Neschling a few years ago. What riotously fun stuff! The final section with the chorus is just tremendous.

How cool, Kyle. Congratulations! A phenomenal work for sure.

[Symphonic Addict]

Is there any more beloved composer/conductor combo on GMG than RVW and Boult? I think not!

2022 is 150th RVW anniversary, so they're celebrating with a fair cause. 

[Mirror Image]

I'm not sure about GMG, but I certainly can think of many other fine combos!

Thread duty -

Three works for string quartet of great contrasts:

Adams (JL)
Lines Made By Walking
JACK Quartet

Koechlin
String Quartet No. 2, Op. 57
Ardeo Quartet

Sibelius
String Quartet in D minor, Op. 56, "Voces Intimae"
Gabrieli String Quartet

From these recordings -

Gosh...the JLA works Lines Made By Walking is gorgeous and it reminds me of the simplicity of Pärt's Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, but stretched out --- a lovely wallow. Actually, quite cathartic for me as I've been dealing with some personal issues as of late.

[Symphonic Addict]

NP:

Feldman
Cello and Orchestra
Siegfried Palm, cello
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken
Zender



A towering achievement of late-20th Century music, IMHO.

Yes! Do you know other of his works in that same vein? Somehow I'm a sucker for dark works like this one.

[Symphonic Addict]

Brian: Fantastic Variations on an Old Rhyme

When Brian was good, he really was. Here a substantial colourful and brilliant orchestral piece that proves it.




Bretón: Symphony No. 3 in G major

An utterly lovely and tuneful piece with an endearing sense of rusticity, yet there is no much Spanish flavour, I hasten to add, it's more French-and-German-sounding (the 3rd movement inhabits a more Spanish sound world). The orchestra plays with gusto, almost reaching flawless category. Hurwitz should talk about this composer and symphony on his Youtube Channel.

[Mirror Image]

Yes! Do you know other of his works in that same vein? Somehow I'm a sucker for dark works like this one.

All of the works for various instruments and orchestra are worth hearing and they share this darker, bleak sound-world. Apparently, they come from his "still life" period. I'll have to read more about this. Feldman is such a fascinating composer for me. Give For Samuel Beckett a listen at some juncture. It's another eerie piece that I quite enjoy.

[Symphonic Addict]

All of the works for various instruments and orchestra are worth hearing and they share this darker, bleak sound-world. Apparently, they come from his "still life" period. I'll have to read more about this. Feldman is such a fascinating composer for me. Give For Samuel Beckett a listen at some juncture. It's another eerie piece that I quite enjoy.

Thanks, John! Feldman is a safe composer who is hit-or-miss for me. I can dig some works with relative ease and enjoyment, but others simply leave me wanting more.

[Mirror Image]

Thanks, John! Feldman is a safe composer who is hit-or-miss for me. I can dig some works with relative ease and enjoyment, but others simply leave me wanting more.

You're welcome. I think the later works are rather challenging, but the 40 minute and less pieces are much easier for me to follow and, ultimately, enjoy.

[Symphonic Addict]

The Czech 'bug' has bitten me lately:

Suk: Piano Quintet
Janáček: Piano Sonata



Why this PQ is not better known is beyond me. Such energy, lyricism, fine writing.

The Janáček is simply amazing. The composer was an expert to create drama and convey a rather psychological pathos here.

[Mirror Image]

The Czech 'bug' has bitten me lately:

Suk: Piano Quintet
Janáček: Piano Sonata



Why this PQ is not better known is beyond me. Such energy, lyricism, fine writing.

The Janáček is simply amazing. The composer was an expert to create drama and convey a rather psychological pathos here.

Great stuff!

[Mirror Image]

I think I'll end tonight's listening session with two perennial Korngold favorites:

Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35
Gil Shaham, violin
LSO
Previn

Symphony in F-sharp, Op. 40
LSO
Previn

From these recordings -

[JBS]

Thank you for the suggestion, John, I don't know if I can find Jilek's recording, but I'll certainly give a listen to the opera anyway.

Presto has it on sale
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7941194--jana-ek-the-excursions-of-mr-broucek

[SonicMan46]

..............................

What do you think of the Pacifica's Shostakovich? I imprinted on the Emerson Quartet in these works (unfortunately I sold off the CDs.)

Agreed on Dvorak's Requiem - just a tremendous piece. As far as the 'more well-known Requiems' you reference , I'm very fond of Verdi's Requiem and Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem, but I've never found Mozart's Requiem that interesting at all....................

Hi Classicalgeek - well, I've culled out probably 4 other sets and have just the Borodins & Pacifica Quartet - the latter would become my sole set if wanting to go further - performance, interpretation, and sound all are excellent, plus SQs of others.  There are many other good to outstanding collections but the Pacifica recordings are at or near the top of the heap - the attached reviews are unanimous in their praise.  Dave

[Operafreak]

Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 8 in E flat major, D568-    Christian Zacharias (piano)

[Symphonic Addict]

I think I'll end tonight's listening session with two perennial Korngold favorites:

Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35
Gil Shaham, violin
LSO
Previn

Symphony in F-sharp, Op. 40
LSO
Previn

From these recordings -

My favorite recording of his VC and one of the greatest ones of the Symphony.