What are you listening 2 now?

[Harry]

Arthur Bliss.

Chamber Music.

SQ No. 1 in B flat major, & In A major.
Conversations for Flute, Oboe, violin, viola and Cello.

Maggini Quartet.

In all respects "Superb".

[aligreto]

Magnard: Hymne à la justice, Op. 14 [Bollon]





This is a work that is filled with both tension and drama. Bollon drives the music very well. It is a powerful work that is very worth hearing if you are not familiar with it.

[Todd]

A young Nicolas Altstaedt out to make a name for himself.  The Schumann sounds about as good as any of the few versions I've heard of that work.  Ditto the Tchaikovsky.  The oddity here is the Friedrich Gulda concerto for Cello and Wind Band.  It sounds like a mashup of standard classical music fare, jazz, 50s-60s movie soundtrack music, a wind band extravaganza, and Carl Maria von Weber reincarnated. 

[Karl Henning]

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.

I have yet to listen to that 'un.

[Karl Henning]

+1. I always enjoy reading Fergus' reviews!

+ 1

[Traverso]

CD 7



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[Traverso]

+ 1

+ 10     

[Karl Henning]

If I've told this story before apologies - as a student violinist I played a couple of times for the "London Rehearsal Orchestra" of which Gipps was the indefatigable conductor and driving force - this would have been around 1980.  In the arrogance of youth I thought her little more than a rather eccentric "old person".  One of those classic moments looking back you wish you'd taken a couple of minutes to realise the stature and significance of someone.  Think of the conversations or questions I could have asked - I remember her as being very personable and unaffected.

Interesting!

[Karl Henning]

Louis Couperin


A very attractive recording

Sweet!

[Harry]

Ernest Bloch.

Complete Works for Violin and Piano.
CD I.
Sonata No. 1 and 2, "Poeme Mystique"

Latica Honda-Rosenberg, Violin
Avner Arad, Piano.

Dramatic interpretations, intense and revelatory. The passion with which it is played keeps you on your toes. Bloch does not grip me right away, but it has a strange fascination that lures me, like bees to honey, no honestly.

[Karl Henning]

Ernest Bloch.

Complete Works for Violin and Piano.
CD I.
Sonata No. 1 and 2, "Poeme Mystique"

Latica Honda-Rosenberg, Violin
Avner Arad, Piano.

Dramatic interpretations, intense and revelatory. The passion with which it is played keeps you on your toes. Bloch does not grip me right away, but it has a strange fascination that lures me, like bees to honey, no honestly.

Nice.

[Florestan]

A young Nicolas Altstaedt out to make a name for himself.  The Schumann sounds about as good as any of the few versions I've heard of that work.  Ditto the Tchaikovsky.  The oddity here is the Friedrich Gulda concerto for Cello and Wind Band.  It sounds like a mashup of standard classical music fare, jazz, 50s-60s movie soundtrack music, a wind band extravaganza, and Carl Maria von Weber reincarnated.

That's a corker of concerto, a strong contender for the funniest, wittiest, most jovial piece of music I've ever heard.

[Spotted Horses]

Continuing to make my way through Isabelle Faust's recording of the Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Unaccompanied.

I've reached the Sonata No 3, in C major.



What a magnificent piece of music, and a satisfying recording.

The Chaconne from the Partita No 2 in usually referred to as the crowning achievement in this set of works, but I find the fuge of the third sonata to be the most compelling  movement in this set, and Faust's performance is assured and beautiful.

I also continued listening to Ciccolini's recording of Brahms Fantasias, Op 116, No 4 and 5 (E major and E minor). Beautiful autumnal music and Ciccolini's warm, yet non-interventionist approach works well for me.

[Operafreak]

Mahler: Symphony No. 4-  Sabine Devieilhe (soprano), Les Siècles, François-Xavier Roth

[Harry]

Jiri Antonin Benda.
Sinfonias, No. 1-6.
All in major keys.

Prague Chamber Orchestra, Christian Benda.

These performances are still worth to have. This orchestra plays them with verve and a youthful enthusiasm, that works on my mood quite considerable. Tempos are spot on, and the phrasing throughout is revelatory of the quality of music Benda offers here. The Chapel of the Brethren Church in Prague has a open acoustic every detail comes out, really a fine venue. I remember vaguely when on A holiday trip to Prague, being in that chapel, but do not have an active memory of it.

[aligreto]

Martinu: Chamber Music [Dartington Ensemble] - La Revue de cuisine 





I really like the musical language in this work. Starting off, I like the Jaunty tone of the Prologue which is quite fun. As a wonderful contrast we have a somewhat dark-hued Tango. Our spirits are lifted again in the stirring, foot tapping Charleston. I find the Finale to be quirky and very entertaining.



On a general note this has been a wonderful collection for me, revelatory almost. It has certainly increased my interest in and appreciation for Martinu.

[Brian]

Starting my morning with this:



First listen to the very appealing Frank Bridge piece, played by Mørk and Gimse with great passion. I can't remember if I've heard the Debussy and Britten before; time will tell when I get to those parts of the disc. I know I've seen the Britten solo cello sonatas live.

After that, going to take a cue from Florestan's posts to fill out the rest of my morning listening:

[Karl Henning]

Martinu: Chamber Music [Dartington Ensemble] - La Revue de cuisine 





I really like the musical language in this work. Starting off, I like the Jaunty tone of the Prologue which is quite fun. As a wonderful contrast we have a somewhat dark-hued Tango. Our spirits are lifted again in the stirring, foot tapping Charleston. I find the Finale to be quirky and very entertaining.



On a general note this has been a wonderful collection for me, revelatory almost. It has certainly increased my interest in and appreciation for Martinu.

Very playful score!

[Spotted Horses]

Very playful score!

I like Martinu best when he is being playful.

[Irons]

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.

Not for the first time, and particularly on this forum, conversations like this end up disappearing up their own backside. In Aligreto's shoes I would simply say "do one!"