What are you listening 2 now?

[Linz]

Mozart Pletnev Mozart Sonatas

[ritter]

First listen to Óscar Esplá's Sinfonía Aitana.


When I ordered this used (and long OOP) CD, I actually thought that I was buying another, older recording of the work, conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. Well, what I got is this version from the mid-90s, that appears to have a very limited distribution. Since what I was after was the work itself, not any particular performance of it, I'm perfectly happy with what I've received.

The Aitana (the name derives from a mountain range in the province of Alicante, from which the composer hailed) is from the early 60s, and is subtitled "tonal music in memoriam".  That says a lot about what the composer intended, but be that as it may, the work is rather (no, very) engaging. It sounds very nostalgic in its four movements, even in the livelier second (allegro energergico) and fourth (allegretto finale scherzando). Only the last movement has a Spanish "flavour" to it, with syncopated dance rhythms, but there's nothing folkloristic about it (and according to the liner notes, Esplá uses some serial techniques in it —just as some serial composers will introduce tonal quotes or winks in their music). The orchestral writing is extremely assured and refined, and all in all this is a magnificent work that IMHO deserves wider circulation. My appreciation of this composer has risen very considerably after listening to it.

The CD is completed by (much earlier) works of the same composer, which I already know from other recordings. La Pájara pinta, a sort of Iberian Jeux d'enfants or Dolly Suite (originally intended to accompany a puppet show devised by the poet Rafael Alberti) and arguably Esplá's best known work, Canciones playeras ("Beach Songs"), also to texts by Alberti, and here sung by  Victoria de los Ángeles towards the end of her distinguished career. Both works are lovely and hugely enjoyable, but pale in comparison to the mature composer's mastery that can be heard in the Sinfonía Aitana.

The performances of the Valencia Orchestra under its then chief conductor Manuel Galduf are very convincing.

[Symphonic Addict]

Verdi: Alzira

[Symphonic Addict]

Khachaturian: Symphony No.1 USSR SO, Composer
In the absence of Tjeknavorian's LSO account on CD (RCA) this is probably the top CD choice:

Which must be the same on this incarnation:

[bhodges]

It's only the last 3 minutes of the finale (and the applause is more like 20 seconds, rather than 30) but never mind. Would have loved to have been in the audience for this Bruckner 4, with the 94-year-old Herbert Blomstedt and the Göteborgs Symfoniker, apparently recorded earlier this year. (Video posted in February.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43ii5n1Ta9M

--Bruce

[vers la flamme]

Maurice Ravel: Ma Mère l'Oye, Alborada del gracioso, Rapsodie espagnole. Jean Martinon, Orchestre de Paris

[vers la flamme]

Maurice Ravel: Shéhérazade. Régine Crespin, Ernest Ansermet, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

I know some people are not fond of the Les Nuits d'Été on this same disc—not being much of a Berlioz guy at this stage in my life, I wouldn't know. But this Ravel, at least, is one of the best recordings of French music ever, as far as I'm concerned.

[JBS]

First listen. This is about the same level as the Bostridge/Rattle recording that has until now been my favorite for these three song cycles.

[Daverz]

Poulenc: Concerto Champetre



Ideal balances, lovely orchestral playing, excellent sonics, and an attractive harpsichord tone. 

[vers la flamme]

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade. Yuri Temirkanov, New York Philharmonic

This is the only recording I have of the work. It sounds very good, but I am curious to hear others. I can't say I ever really got into the piece or Rimsky-Korsakov in general, but there is a lot to admire here, not least of which being the luscious orchestration that must have rubbed off on Debussy, Ravel and Stravinsky.

[Symphonic Addict]

Dohnányi: Suite in F-sharp minor

This is what I call a highly sophisticated "symphony in all but name". The ideas of the piece are so convincing throughout, no doubts Dohnányi was an assured melodist and one who cared for structure, real content in the musical discourse and wit.

[Symphonic Addict]

Andreae: Music for Orchestra, Op. 33

If you are familiar with the composer, you'll expect some engrossing stuff, and that happened here.





Malipiero: Sinfonia No. 6 per corde

Simply sublime and moving. This is some of the most delectable writing for strings I've ver heard, and I seem to detect a connection with Pärt in the slower parts.

John was right at not being able to recommend this performance enough. Heavenly.

[JBS]

CD 2's turn tonight



The overall impression is aural waves moving back and forth in a tank.

[Operafreak]

Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Six Concertante Quartets- Arabella String Quartet


 

[Symphonic Addict]

Kalinnikov: Symphony No. 2



The level of gorgeousness this work possesses leaves me in sheer awe.



Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6

The rendition of the outer movements is particularly outstanding. An intense experience as a whole.

[Operafreak]

Rachmaninoff & Brahms- Gautier Capuçon (cello), Yuja Wang (piano), Andreas Ottensamer (clarinet)

[Mandryka]

CD 2's turn tonight



The overall impression is aural waves moving back and forth in a tank.

I think it is quite abstract music, there's no taking into account the meaning of the words at all. Quite how this sort of approach was thought to be a good idea with religious texts totally beats me! I'm not sure what he actually wrote this music for.

[Mandryka]

Mozart Pletnev Mozart Sonatas

I quite like this one, more than the one on DG.

[MusicTurner]

(...)

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6

The rendition of the outer movements is particularly outstanding. An intense experience as a whole.

Yes, it has been highly praised, even in comparison with the Mravinsky stereo/DG. So far, I haven't found an attractive copy for my collection.

Frank Bridge: Piano Sonata, Lament for Catherine, etc. /Wass /Naxos

An excellent disc, very well played. Probably belongs to the Top-25 discs of piano music from the 20th century, I think.

[vandermolen]

Daniel Jones: Symphony No.4 'In Memory of Dylan Thomas'. Jones's tribute to his friend is, IMO, the greatest and most deeply felt of his symphonies - the best music is in the last movement.