What are you listening 2 now?

[vandermolen]

Have a good one, Jeffrey!

Thanks so much Olivier!
I'm going to sign off now as it would not be good, when I am supposed to be packing for the holiday, for my wife to come home to find me (yet again) online to my 'Cat Group'. 

Currently playing: Bliss Violin Concerto (Hickox, Mordkovitch)

[aukhawk]

So far so good. But I feel like I'm still looking for a perfect performance of the 1st. Closest I've got is Bernstein/NY. The other one I like a lot, Kubelik/BRSO/Audite, is a little sloppy in the first movement if I'm being honest. For some reason I also like the Halász/Polish National RSO on Naxos.

I really like this recent issue:


Mahler Symphony No.1 - Les Siècles, François-Xavier Roth

It includes 'Blumine' which seems rather inconsequential music, but of course it is easy to skip it or program it out (not like in the concert hall). 
The 1st movement here is especially good.  'Period' instruments.  Any departures from the 'usual' Symphony 1 text are insignificant.

Another very good 1st movement from Honeck, but in this issue I find the 3rd movement too downplayed, reticent.  The rest is good, did well in a GMG Blind Comparison:


Mahler Symphony No.1 - Pittsburgh SO, Manfred Honeck

[Harry]

Wilhelm Friedemann Bach.

Sonata in F minor.
Fantasy in C minor.
Prelude.
March.
Sonata in G minor.
Eight Fugues.

Christophe Rousset, plays on a German Harpsichord with two keyboards in Paris in 1986 after, built in the Von Nagel workshop in Paris in 1986, after an early instrument attributed to Michael Mietke, Berlin, around 1710.

For me this is still a benchmark, when it comes to the Harpsichord music composed by W.F. Bach. Some interpretations came close, but as good as Rousset plays them, well no!
The harpsichord sounds wonderful, and the recording made in 1989 in the St. Martin du Mejan, Arles is exemplary.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Ravel
Le Tombeau de Couperin
Alexandre Tharaud



This work makes for some fine morning listening for sure.

[Sergeant Rock]

Brahms Horn Trio




Sarge

[Brian]

Brahms Horn Trio




Sarge

I also recently joined the GMG herd in relistening to this and really enjoyed the sonorities of the three instruments.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Schnittke
Concerto Grosso No. 3
Tale Olsson (violin), Patrik Swedrup (violin)
Stockholm Chamber Orchestra
Lev Markiz



Next up:

Tippett
Piano Concerto
Fantasia on a Theme of Handel
Steven Osborne, piano
BBC Scottish SO
Brabbins

[Harry]

Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 2 
    Václav Neumann, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

I would be interested what you find of Neumann's take on the Dvorak Symphonies, in terms of tempi, phrasing, detail, and above all the sound. I have the Othmar Suitner set, which is the only one left after throwing Kubelik and Karajan out, and comes close of what I like to hear, but the recording quality leaves something to be desired. I really want to hear more detail. I have the scores of all the symphonies and overtures, so your input would be wonderful. Thank you in advance.

[ritter]

Revisiting the music of Ernst Krenek, with his PC4, the Concerto for Two Pianos, the Double Concerto for Violin and Piano, and the Little Concerto for Piano and Organ.


These works are from the years 1940 to 1951, and I think that was a good period in the composer's long career. It's rather serious music, but in a style I feel very attuned to, and very well constructed. Krenek doesn't get much exposure these days, and yet he's a composer I really like.

[aligreto]

Part: Spiegel Im Spiegel [Bezrodny/Spivakov]





Spiegel Im Spiegel is probably my very favourite Part work and on this CD we have three versions of it. Two versions are for violin and piano and the third is a version for cello and piano.

The opening track is what I would know as the "Original version" of the work for violin and piano. It is the version that I have been familiar with since I first heard the work.

The closing track is also another, very slightly different and slightly truncated version of the work for violin and piano. 

I find this work to be a very captivating, compelling and haunting work in all of its apparent simplicity.

[Brian]

I would be interested what you find of Neumann's take on the Dvorak Symphonies, in terms of tempi, phrasing, detail, and above all the sound. I have the Othmar Suitner set, which is the only one left after throwing Kubelik and Karajan out, and comes close of what I like to hear, but the recording quality leaves something to be desired. I really want to hear more detail. I have the scores of all the symphonies and overtures, so your input would be wonderful. Thank you in advance.

You did not ask me, but I find Neumann I (analog 70s in a purple box set) to be very detailed, but also quite slow, especially compared to Suitner, and sonically a little bit distant. I don't know Neumann II (digital).

[Karl Henning]

Morning listening on Spotify:



PS Oh goodness, the music is alternated with recited "lessons"... blyme..

That's rather de trop

[Karl Henning]

Dmitri Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 2 
    Valeri Polyansky, Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Ivashkin (cello)

Superb!

[Karl Henning]

Stravinsky: L'Histoire du Soldat/ Christopher Lee (narrator)

Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Lionel Friend

How is this? I've found Nimbus hit-or-miss.

[Karl Henning]

TD:

JSB
BWV 12: Cantata № 12, « Weinen, Klorgen, Sorgen, Zagen »

[Sergeant Rock]

I also recently joined the GMG herd in relistening to this and really enjoyed the sonorities of the three instruments.

Yes, I too reveled in the period sound, especially the Natural horn.

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

Hey, Sarge!

[Karl Henning]

"Papa"
String Quartet in g minor, Op. 20 № 3, Hob. III:33
Festetics

[Harry]

You did not ask me, but I find Neumann I (analog 70s in a purple box set) to be very detailed, but also quite slow, especially compared to Suitner, and sonically a little bit distant. I don't know Neumann II (digital).

Your input Brian is very valuable to me, so thank you!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

In Flanders Fields Volume 67 - Jef van Hoof- Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava, Ivo Venkov

Nice!