What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

Exceptional!

Yes indeed, Manabu!

Now playing a few works from this awesome Ginastera piano disc:

[Symphonic Addict]

Schnabel: Sonata for solo cello

The famous pianist was also an intriguing composer. A very promising (and surly) piece. Serious but compelling music in the end.

The most noticeable quibble is the poor acoustic quality.

[JBS]

First impressions? Europa has Hyperion on sale this week so I will admit to curiosity. The Ries symphonies and piano concertos are interesting enough in a derivative fake Beethoven kind of way. I like the odd instrument combinations here.

I wouldn't use the word "fake", but the Beethovenian influence is apparent--however the tarantella finale of the Piano Trio is fun and not terribly Ludwigesque. All three works seem to date from the 1810s, and are typical chamber works of the era, so I'd say go for it.

[Brian]

Thanks! That does sound fun. And I'm a sucker for a tarantella finale.

[Mirror Image]

Last work for the night: Schnittke's Faust Cantata from this Rozhdestvensky recording:

[Operafreak]

Natalie Dessay sings Schubert- Natalie Dessay (soprano) & Philippe Cassard (piano), Thomas Savy (clarinet)

[Symphonic Addict]

Paul Juon: Trio-Caprice, op. 39

The well-crafted and rhapsodic character of this music really make it a work with a purpose.

[Madiel]

Carl Nielsen
Little Suite for Strings, op. 1
Hymnus Amoris, op. 12

Barbara Bonney, soprano
John Mark Ainsley & Lars Pedersen - tenors
Michael Hansen & Bo Anker Hansen - baritone/bass

Copenhagen Boys' Choir
Danish NRSO & Chorus - Ulf Schirmer

Hymnus Amoris, a choral work that is divided into stages of human life, is a beautiful 20-minute cantata. Soprano Barbara Bonney is particularly wonderful too!

VS

There aren't nearly enough recordings of Nielsen's works for choir and orchestra. But then works for choir and orchestra seem to be neglected in general.

[Symphonic Addict]

Ligeti: Concerto for flute, oboe and orchestra

I'm in the mood for this kind of works currently.

[vandermolen]

First listen of the day.
Bliss: Introduction and Allegro (RPO Wordsworth)
This fine double CD set also features Bliss's own recording of Introduction and Allegro - a most engaging and warm-hearted work.


Now playing:
Meditations on a Theme by John Blow - arguably Bliss's masterpiece, alongside 'Morning Heroes'.

[Operafreak]

 Richard Strauss: Violin Concerto & Don Quixote

James Ehnes (violin), Daniel Müller-Schott (cello)- Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis

[Madiel]

Mendelssohn 4-part Lieder, op.75



The vocal harmonies on here are delicious. Somehow this is just a style that feels very Mendelssohn.

[Que]

Morning listening on Spotify:



I've stumbled upon Alessandro Grandi before, and my impression is as favourable as before. This is a major Italian composer from the very Early Baroque, renowned in his time and whose fame was only eclipsed by that of Monteverdi. Unfortunately his life was cut short at the height of his carreer by the plague.

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/Jul/Grandi_motets_A464.htm

https://andrewbensonwilson.org/2020/04/29/alessandro-grandi-celesti-fiori/

http://www.musica-dei-donum.org/cd_reviews/Arcana_A464.html

[Que]

Staying in 17th century Italy with a recent addition:



Naturally the label "Vespro della Beate Vergine" is a great seller, but this is a vespers service constituted from a selection from Cavalli's Musiche Sacre (1656). BTW In the booklet I read that besides his sacred music Cavalli wrote 32 (!) operas!

[vandermolen]

Bax: Symphony No.3 Hallé Orchestra/Barbirolli

One of the great 78 RPM era recordings of British symphonies, alongside Heward's recording of Moeran's Symphony and Harty's recording of Walton's 1st Symphony:

[Operafreak]

Carl Friedrich Abel: Symphonies Op. 1 & Op. 4- Kölner Akademie, Michael Alexander Willens

[Lisztianwagner]

Arnold Schönberg
Die glückliche Hand

[Madiel]

Brahms, Horn Trio.



People were talking about it a lot. Plus my spreadsheet says I haven't heard it for over 4 years.

[Traverso]

Buxtehude

[Iota]

Alwyn: Autumn Legend; Pastoral Fantasia
City of London Sinfonia, Hickox

I've never really got into Alwyn before, but I certainly enjoyed Autumn Legend, very deftly done with many attractive timbres/compositional subtleties en route. It didn't seem particularly autumnal, more dreamy heat haze to me, though perhaps the current heatwave is skewing my senses.
I probably shouldn't have listened to the Pastoral Fantasia straight after as it felt a bit like more of the same, but nonetheless I still enjoyed it, preferring it to VW's Lark Ascending for instance, with which it shares similarities.