What are you listening 2 now?

[Todd]

I believe this is the first time I have listened to two recordings of DSCH in the same day.  I prefer this to the studio Sixth.  The Fifth is also quite good, as per usual from this conductor.

[vers la flamme]

Gustav Mahler: Rückert-Lieder. Janet Baker, John Barbirolli, New Philharmonia Orchestra

This recording needs no introduction; it's probably the most famous Mahler Lieder recording out there. I must admit I haven't spent all that much time with it, but it's certainly a beautiful one.

[Madiel]

I'm sure I've said this before, but despite its vast popularity, one genre I've never been a huge fan of is the concerto. Any concerto. Any instrument. Virtuosity impressed me for a minute or two, after which it just becomes, 'Okay. You're good. I get it' stretched out for half an hour. The fact that someone can play a concerto with a professional orchestra is proof that they've practiced to an impressive level; knowing that, I don't need to actually hear them to know they're good.

I'm probably the only one here who feels this way.

And all that said, I've been listening quite a bit to the harp concerto on this Milhaud CD (although mine doesn't have the grey border). I've had this disc since the mid-90s and have only recently given this piece its second (or thereabouts) listen.

I'm not a great fan of concertos generally, though over time I've discovered some where there's a greater emphasis on musical argument.

You get examples where initial potential performers complained about a work because they didn't think it was virtuosic enough. Dvorak is an example I like, outright refusing to include a solo cadenza or a big ending where one was wanted.

[Madiel]

One of the things that's been sitting around 2.5 years since purchase, waiting for me...

Sarah Kirkland Snider: Unremembered



Far too much going on to fully take in on a single listen. It might just be that I've forgotten my initial experiences of listening to her other song cycle Penelope, but this feels stranger and more complex. Multiple singers, for one thing.

Do I want to listen multiple times to try to grasp it? Heck yes.

Listening again. Very rewarding, a richly layered score. If you're at all interested in where "classical" music brushes against "pop", this is worth hearing. Almost like Shostakovich's 14th symphony if he'd known about art-pop.

[Mapman]

Schumann: Cello Concerto
Bruns; Bruns: Mendelssohn Kammerorchester Leipzig

Beautifully played.



Händel: Musick For The Royal Fireworks
The King's Consort

[vers la flamme]

Jean Sibelius: Symphony No.4 in A minor, op.63. Lorin Maazel, Vienna Philharmonic

Going to be listening through this cycle rather slowly I think, maybe one symphony every other day, this being the second one I've heard so far. But damn, it's SO GOOD! The Viennese sound amazing, especially being that this was possibly the first time any of them played any of this music. Maazel drives the music hard—some might say too hard, that he's not giving the music room to "breathe". But the music withstands this interpretive choice and the result is rewarding; a worthy listen. Would recommend to any fan of Sibelius, especially if it can still be found cheaply (I got mine for $8 with free shipping).

[classicalgeek]

Jean Sibelius: Symphony No.4 in A minor, op.63. Lorin Maazel, Vienna Philharmonic

Going to be listening through this cycle rather slowly I think, maybe one symphony every other day, this being the second one I've heard so far. But damn, it's SO GOOD! The Viennese sound amazing, especially being that this was possibly the first time any of them played any of this music. Maazel drives the music hard—some might say too hard, that he's not giving the music room to "breathe". But the music withstands this interpretive choice and the result is rewarding; a worthy listen. Would recommend to any fan of Sibelius, especially if it can still be found cheaply (I got mine for $8 with free shipping).

Nice! I picked up this cycle on my recent trip to Minnesota... I've heard good things about it and I'm looking forward to listening.

Gustav Mahler: Rückert-Lieder. Janet Baker, John Barbirolli, New Philharmonia Orchestra

This recording needs no introduction; it's probably the most famous Mahler Lieder recording out there. I must admit I haven't spent all that much time with it, but it's certainly a beautiful one.

Definitely my favorite Mahler song cycle recording. LOVE it!

TD:
Ravel
Miroirs
Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte
Menuet Sur Le Nom de Haydn
*Ma Mere l'Oye (four-hand piano version)
Jacques Fevrier, piano
*Gabriel Tacchino, piano
(on CD)



Glad I heard this recording (and picked up the other two volumes in this series), since Fevrier knew Ravel personally. Only so-so sound, and the piano is very closely recorded, but it's interesting to hear Fevrier's take on the piece. Maybe not my favorite Ravel piano music disc, but well worth hearing.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Manolis Kalomiris: Minas the Rebel.




 

[Mapman]

Jean Sibelius: Symphony No.4 in A minor, op.63. Lorin Maazel, Vienna Philharmonic

Going to be listening through this cycle rather slowly I think, maybe one symphony every other day, this being the second one I've heard so far. But damn, it's SO GOOD! The Viennese sound amazing, especially being that this was possibly the first time any of them played any of this music. Maazel drives the music hard—some might say too hard, that he's not giving the music room to "breathe". But the music withstands this interpretive choice and the result is rewarding; a worthy listen. Would recommend to any fan of Sibelius, especially if it can still be found cheaply (I got mine for $8 with free shipping).

I recall liking the 2nd symphony in that cycle. (I think I listened to the finale after I was disappointed by Segerstam's performance.) The tempo works well (and is actually fairly typical, Toscanini wins the speed record among my recordings), and the brass sound great.

[vers la flamme]

Richard Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra, op.30. Rudolf Kempe, Staatskapelle Dresden

Having one of those rare nights where everything I choose to listen to is just clicking with my moods perfectly.

And this is no exception. I love this piece; the opening moments may have been overplayed, but as a whole the work never gets old for me. Kempe's performance is awesome. I have a handful of AsZ recordings in my collection and none of them are duds. This piece, which is no doubt a beast to play, seems to bring out the best in an orchestra and conductor.

[Karl Henning]

The Adagio from Berg's Kammerkonzert

[JBS]

Rather liking this--light but not too light

[Madiel]

Jean Sibelius: Symphony No.4 in A minor, op.63. Lorin Maazel, Vienna Philharmonic

Going to be listening through this cycle rather slowly I think, maybe one symphony every other day, this being the second one I've heard so far. But damn, it's SO GOOD! The Viennese sound amazing, especially being that this was possibly the first time any of them played any of this music. Maazel drives the music hard—some might say too hard, that he's not giving the music room to "breathe". But the music withstands this interpretive choice and the result is rewarding; a worthy listen. Would recommend to any fan of Sibelius, especially if it can still be found cheaply (I got mine for $8 with free shipping).

I seem to remember hearing before that the 4th was exceptionally good in that cycle. And another one too, I want to say the 7th.

[Operafreak]

Voices of Angels- Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble, Andrej Power, Lawrence Power, Christianne Stotijn

[Spotted Horses]

Jean Sibelius: Symphony No.4 in A minor, op.63. Lorin Maazel, Vienna Philharmonic

Going to be listening through this cycle rather slowly I think, maybe one symphony every other day, this being the second one I've heard so far. But damn, it's SO GOOD! The Viennese sound amazing, especially being that this was possibly the first time any of them played any of this music. Maazel drives the music hard—some might say too hard, that he's not giving the music room to "breathe". But the music withstands this interpretive choice and the result is rewarding; a worthy listen. Would recommend to any fan of Sibelius, especially if it can still be found cheaply (I got mine for $8 with free shipping).

Maazel/Pittsburg on Sony is one of my favorite Sibelius cycles, and I am mortified to admit I've never heard the more famous WPO cycle.

[vandermolen]

Thank you,I have found a nice Chandos set  and it is now on my list 

Excellent!

[Operafreak]

Leonardo Leo: Sacred Works

Ulrike Hofbauer- ensemble &cetera

[Que]

Morning listening:



Stumbled upon this recording, I kind of forgot about it... Nice, though! 

[Harry]

Johann Sebastian Bach.
Cantatas, Volume VI.

Cantate No. 31, "Der Himmel lacht, die Erde Jubilieret"
No 21, "Ich hatte viel bekümmernis", Erster und Zweiter Teil.
Alternative Movements BWV 21, 3 parts.

Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki.
Monika Frimmer, Soprano, Gerd Türk, Tenor, Peter Kooij, Bass.

Although Monika Frimmer is a good soprano, I think her voice is overstretched, in the Cantate No 31, Recitativo: "Weil dan das Haupt seiner Glied" and the Aria: "Letzte Stunde, brich Herein",. I had to put the volume down, which is not a good sign. Koopman is using Barbara Schlick, but that is to my ears no improvement, although some may disagree. The intro of Cantata No. 21 with an oboe introduction by Marcel Ponseele is pure bliss, but again I have vocal problems with Frimmer in the Aria "Seufzer, Tranen, Kummer, not...". A strained voice and a hard rim around her voice. It is one of my favourite pieces in this cantata. Well in the long series it cannot be good in all the volumes. There is feeling in abundance though.

[Harry]

I thought I gave you the complete set of Suzuki artwork not so long ago?
http://absolutelybaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/suzuki_cantatas.zip if you lost the link

See attached for just the one cover.

I am sorry but I tried to download these extensive files twice, but it was aborted half way. I am in the process of finding out why that is happening. So the problem is on my end. On Monday my IT firm will look into the matter. I was and am grateful for your gracious offer, let there be no doubt about that my friend.