What are you listening 2 now?

[vers la flamme]

Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No.8 in B-flat major, op.84. Sviatoslav Richter

Been almost two years since I've heard this excellent performance. In fact, I've hardly spent any time at all with Richter's performances these past couple years. I need to hear the rest of Prokofiev's piano sonatas. I only know 6, 7 & 8.

[Operafreak]

Liszt: Symphonic Poems- London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Sir Georg Solti

[Symphonic Addict]

I'm in the mood for first symphonies lately, or it seems so:

Chávez: Symphony No. 1 Sinfonía de Antígona
Villa-Lobos: Symphony No. 1 O imprevisto

They can't be more different each other. The Chávez portrays an austere, solemn and coherent musical sound according to the Greek tragedy, and Villa-Lobos demonstrates his skills at colourful orchestration and late-Romantic gestures with the distinguishable touch of his musical culture. Both striking works in their own merits.

[Karl Henning]

Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No.8 in B-flat major, op.84. Sviatoslav Richter

Been almost two years since I've heard this excellent performance. In fact, I've hardly spent any time at all with Richter's performances these past couple years. I need to hear the rest of Prokofiev's piano sonatas. I only know 6, 7 & 8.

Classic!

[vers la flamme]

More Prokofiev:



Sergei Prokofiev: Symphony No.7 in C-sharp minor, op.131. Marin Alsop, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra

These Alsop Prokofiev recordings really are excellent. The music is all fairly new to me, but I'm finding a lot to enjoy here.

[San Antone]

Brahms | Clarinet Trio in A Minor, Op. 114
Marie Ross, Petra Somlai, Claire-Lise Démettre

[Karl Henning]

Brahms | Clarinet Trio in A Minor, Op. 114
Marie Ross, Petra Somlai, Claire-Lise Démettre

Beautiful piece!

[Mandryka]

His voice reminds me of a friend's, a singing teacher and opera singer manqué. And that's fun! First time I've knowingly heard anything by Dominick Argento. He sets letters from composers - I think that's such a cool idea. I wish he'd have done all of Britten's Songs from the Chinese - but the other Britten songs, folk song settings, are good to hear.  I think this is a rather attractive CD.

[Symphonic Addict]

Rachmaninov: Prince Rostislav

The sense of narrative in this work is just quite well achieved. The dark and poetic atmosphere flows effortlessly through this magnificent early symphonic poem. The way it builds up the big climax is just thrilling, and how stirring it sounds here!

A winner.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I very much agree with what I have highlighted in bold. I have no technical knowledge of music at all but that doesn't stop me commenting ad nauseum on my favourite works and even writing the occasional CD booklet notes. Personally I like Aligreto's thoughtful reviews and the fact that he bothers to write them at all.

+1. I always enjoy reading Fergus' reviews!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I'm in the mood for first symphonies lately, or it seems so:

Chávez: Symphony No. 1 Sinfonía de Antígona
Villa-Lobos: Symphony No. 1 O imprevisto

They can't be more different each other. The Chávez portrays an austere, solemn and coherent musical sound according to the Greek tragedy, and Villa-Lobos demonstrates his skills at colourful orchestration and late-Romantic gestures with the distinguishable touch of his musical culture. Both striking works in their own merits.

Nice recordings! I like Batiz.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No.8 in B-flat major, op.84. Sviatoslav Richter

Been almost two years since I've heard this excellent performance. In fact, I've hardly spent any time at all with Richter's performances these past couple years. I need to hear the rest of Prokofiev's piano sonatas. I only know 6, 7 & 8.

I must check it out!

[vandermolen]

Nice recordings! I like Batiz.

Me too. I like the Chavez 'Antigone' Symphony which has a 'craggy' quality which reminds me of Havergal Brian.
Now playing: Arthur Benjamin's Symphony - I love this stormy yet endearing work (I made some comments about it on the Marco Polo thread).

[vandermolen]

Ruth Gipps: Symphony No.4
I'm really looking forward to hearing the forthcoming Chandos CD featuring her 3rd Symphony:

[Que]

Morning listening:

[Traverso]

Classic!

+1

[Papy Oli]

Delalande - Super Flumina Babilonis (Christie)

[vandermolen]

To my regret, I'd never heard of her before; but reading that she studied composition with Gordon Jacob and Vaughan Williams at the RCM in the late 1930s got me intrigued enough to purchase. So thanks for that!

I'm sure that you won't regret it. The CD featuring the Fourth Symphony is one of my favourite Chandos releases of recent years (Lyatoshynsky's 3rd Symphony and Grazhyna comes to mind as well). Decades ago I saw Ruth Gipps conduct without realising who she was. The music is not revolutionary but moves at a high level of inspiration and is both moving and memorable in my experience. 'Harry' of this forum is another big fan.

[Florestan]

First listen ever to all of these works. They are highly lyrical, unfailingly tuneful and emotionally charged, suffused with warmth, passion and in the case of Sternberg, humor. The Cui is actually a charming miniature. The Dyck is full of charms and delights from start to finish. Choosing the Youferov as the last piece in this most excellent series was extremelly well-judged: its outer movements are tumultuous and ominous while the slow movement is melancholy and valedictory --- as a whole, it sounds like a poignant and regretful farewell to Russia's Silver Age. (Incidentally, both Dyck and Youferov were natives of Odessa).

Both these discs and the series as a whole have committed, white-hot performances and SOTA sound. Highly recommended for fans of (Late Romantic/Russian) chamber music.

[Papy Oli]

Haydn with Hickox

A first listen to :

Te Deum, Hob. XXIIIc:1
Alfred, König der Angelsachsen, Hob. XXX:
Te Deum, Hob. XXIIIc:2