What are you listening 2 now?

[bhodges]

Mahler: Symphony No. 10 (Vänskä / Minnesota Orchestra) - First time hearing this recording, and so far, does not disappoint. Based on the previous releases in the cycle, this may well be a first choice for some. I think Alex Ross once asked if the Minnesota Orchestra were the best in the country (after some Sibelius), and while there are lots of contenders, they certainly play like it here.



--Bruce

[classicalgeek]

+1 for Ben Haim

I very much enjoyed the music, Jeffrey, and I look forward to listening to more! Especially liked the first symphony, but all three works were first-rate.

Mahler: Symphony No. 10 (Vänskä / Minnesota Orchestra) - First time hearing this recording, and so far, does not disappoint. Based on the previous releases in the cycle, this may well be a first choice for some. I think Alex Ross once asked if the Minnesota Orchestra were the best in the country (after some Sibelius), and while there are lots of contenders, they certainly play like it here.



--Bruce

Is this the Cooke completion? I imagine it's something Vänskä and Minnesota would do well. I've only heard the Second from this ongoing cycle, and while it's not my favorite recording, I did enjoy it.

TD:
Bruckner
Symphony no. 8
Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra
Günter Wand
(on CD)



What a performance! Wand achieves a wall of sound in the tuttis that's astonishing. He brings something different to the table than Jochum, who I also admire in Bruckner. They're probably my top two conductors in Bruckner, though I greatly enjoy some individual performances (Barenboim and Chicago in the Fourth, Karajan and Vienna in the Seventh, Giulini, also with Vienna, in the Ninth, for starters.)

[bhodges]

Is this the Cooke completion? I imagine it's something Vänskä and Minnesota would do well. I've only heard the Second from this ongoing cycle, and while it's not my favorite recording, I did enjoy it.

Yes, it is the Cooke! I'm liking it quite a bit, but I have a pretty wide range as far as Mahler goes. If nothing else, the recording is impressive, maybe even too wide a dynamic range. I had to turn up the opening gorgeous viola line to hear it, and then had to quiet things a notch later. But maybe a nice problem to have. 

TD:
Bruckner
Symphony no. 8
Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra
Günter Wand
(on CD)



What a performance! Wand achieves a wall of sound in the tuttis that's astonishing. He brings something different to the table than Jochum, who I also admire in Bruckner. They're probably my top two conductors in Bruckner, though I admire some individual performances (Barenboim and Chicago in the Fourth, Karajan and Vienna in the Seventh, Giulini, also with Vienna, in the Ninth, for starters.)

And that is a gorgeous recording. I haven't heard everything in the box, just the Eighth.

--Bruce

[Mirror Image]

I'll finish the Hindemith Mathis der Maler opera for another night...

Now playing this entire Varèse Boulez disc:

[JBS]

Some heavy breathing before bedtime

[Operafreak]

Liszt: A Faust Symphony, S108

Gösta Winbergh (tenor)/  Westminster Choir College Male Chorus & Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Schnittke
Concerto for Piano and Strings
Vladimir Krainev, piano
Moscow Philharmonic SO
Dmitri Kitayenko

From this set -

[Mirror Image]

NP:

(K. A.) Hartmann
Concerto funebre
Christiane Edinger, violin
Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Kattowice
Krzysztof Penderecki



Next up:

Ginastera
Cello Concerto No. 2, Op. 50
Aurora Nátola-Ginastera, cello
Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León
Max Bragado Darman

[vandermolen]

Vaughan Williams: Romance and Pastorale; a gentle start to the day.

[Mandryka]

Op 117. I'd forgotten how interesting this is!

[vandermolen]

VW Violin Sonata - from the CD above.

[Harry]

Johann Christian Bach.

Symphonies Concertantes, Volume III.

E major/E flat major/A major.
Flute Concerto in D major.

Rachel Brown, Flute.
The Hanover Band, Anthony Halstead.

My progress through the series of this composer on CPO, is going on steadily. I find so much joy in this music through excellent sound and fantastic performances. There is not a bad egg throughout this project.
The intro of the E major, "Allegro" sets the tone, that goes straight into one of the finest "Larghetto's " I heard so far from Johann Christian.

[pjme]

Oh, I don't usually mind applause at the end John. The new VW CD of Sargent conducting symphonies 6 and 9 features it.

On a separate note I wonder if this CD which I'm currently playing features in your Svetlanov box set - Otar Taktakishvili: Symphony No.2 - I rather like it (1953)

I love the vocal works by Taktakishvili! Quirky and strange, a bit naïve and often just lovely. The Rustavi vocal ensemble is -of course- perfect for the job and both Zurab Sotkilava and Hamlet Gonashvili are(were?) Georgian "stars".

https://youtu.be/AUkKAiuOFF4
https://youtu.be/7Omhppau5bg

[Harry]

Arnold Bax.

Sonata for Viola and Piano.
Concert Piece for Viola and Piano.
Legend for Viola and Piano.
Trio in one movement for Piano, Violin & Viola.

Martin Outram, Viola.
Laurence Jackson, Violin, Julian Bolton, Piano.

I think the series of Bax his music recorded by Naxos deserves all praise. This CD is no exception. The music is played with passion, but never to much drama. Inspiring performance, in which all emotions finds a proper place.

[Operafreak]

Haydn: String Quartets- Modigliani Quartet

[aligreto]

Purcell: The Tempest Z. 631 [Mallon]





I find Purcell's music to be light but certainly not trite. His harmonies and counterpoint are as fine as anyone else writing in that musical genre. This music was written for an adaptation of Shakespeare's play. There appears to be, however, an issue with the provenance of this music. Most attribute it to Purcell but many, it seems, attribute it to one John Weldon. Either way I enjoyed it.

[Traverso]

Mozart


CD 1

piano trios KV 254-548-542 & KV564

[aligreto]

Bax: On The Sea Shore [Handley]





This is my first time hearing this short work. I do not know the provenance of the work but I do know that it is orchestrated by someone other than Bax himself here. It sounds pretty good to me.

[Harry]

Johann Christian Bach.

Symphonies Concertantes, Volume IV.

In C major with two Violins and Cello soli.
In E flat major, with Flute, Oboe, and Bassoon soli.
In G major with Two Violins, Cello and Flute soli.
Violin Concerto in C major.

Anna McDonald & Julia Bishop, Violins.
Sebastian Comberti, Cello.
Rachel Brown, Flute.
Anthony Robson, Oboe.
Jeremy Ward,Bassoon.
The Hanover Band, Anthony Halstead.


Simply wonderful music.

[vandermolen]

Bax: On The Sea Shore [Handley]





This is my first time hearing this short work. I do not know the provenance of the work but I do know that it is orchestrated by someone other than Bax himself here. It sounds pretty good to me.

I agree with you Fergus. That recording has had a number of different manifestations - this being my favourite: