What are you listening 2 now?

[SimonNZ]

[Roasted Swan]

A first listen to;



So far just the "Mass for the 500th Anniversary of the death of Joan of Arc".  Wow, just WOW!  Obviously French, obviously owing a degree of influence from Faure or Durufle but very much its own master too.  Genuinely thrilling with some massively uplifting climaxes superbly performed by the RSNO & Chorus (who sound genuinely inspired) and helped by an excellent Reference Records recording.  Quite possibly my discovery of the year.  One for the "what's blown you away" thread!

[Que]

Four hands repertoire with Ursula Dütschler on a fortepiano after Walter (1795):

Sonata in C major, KV 19d;
Fantasy in F minor for mechanical organ, KV 608;
Andante and variations in G major, KV 501;
Sonata in C major, KV 521.

[bhodges]

Verdi: Requiem (live yesterday, 9/9/22, from the Palais de la musique et des congrès, Strasbourg, France). Both the conductor, Aziz Shokhakimov, and the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra are new to me.

So far, excellent. The recording is available until Dec. 9, 2022 -- free with registration on Medici.tv.

Serena Farnocchia — Soprano
Jamie Barton — Mezzo-soprano
Benjamin Bernheim — Tenor
Ain Anger — Bass
Chœur de l'Opéra national du Rhin
Alessandro Zuppardo — Choir director
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno
Petr Fiala — Choir director
Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra
Aziz Shokhakimov — Conductor

https://www.medici.tv/en/concerts/aziz-shokhakimov-conducts-verdis-requiem-krassimira-stoyanova-jamie-barton-benjamin-bernheim-ain-anger/

--Bruce

[vers la flamme]

Luciano Berio: Sinfonia. Péter Eötvös, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, London Voices

I have not heard this work in a year and a half, and I forgot how amazing it was. The third movement always hits me real hard. In fact I burst into tears about halfway through and couldn't stop bawling until the end of the movement. (Good thing I live alone, and I would not admit this to anyone besides you folk, in hopes that someone else might get it  ) I think it has something to do with an aural equivalent of the "uncanny valley" effect, that involves hearing something so familiar (the Scherzo from Mahler's 2nd, of course) that is not quite how you remember that it ought to sound, and the dreamlike quality of it all. Anyway, it's damn intense, and Berio was a genius for writing it. The rest of the music is equally glorious but not as emotionally poignant. I would recommend this CD to anyone and everyone though I recognize it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea.

[Traverso]

Luciano Berio: Sinfonia. Péter Eötvös, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, London Voices

I have not heard this work in a year and a half, and I forgot how amazing it was. The third movement always hits me real hard. In fact I burst into tears about halfway through and couldn't stop bawling until the end of the movement. (Good thing I live alone, and I would not admit this to anyone besides you folk, in hopes that someone else might get it  ) I think it has something to do with an aural equivalent of the "uncanny valley" effect, that involves hearing something so familiar (the Scherzo from Mahler's 2nd, of course) that is not quite how you remember that it ought to sound, and the dreamlike quality of it all. Anyway, it's damn intense, and Berio was a genius for writing it. The rest of the music is equally glorious but not as emotionally poignant. I would recommend this CD to anyone and everyone though I recognize it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea.

Glad to see that you are enjoying this music so much.

[Todd]

[Karl Henning]

Elgar
Symphony № 1 in A^b, Op. 55
London Phil
Solti

[Florestan]

Going alternatively and chronologically through these two sets:



First discs. Both excellent.

[Karl Henning]

Going alternatively and chronologically through these two sets:



First discs. Both excellent.

Nice!

[Mapman]

You might enjoy the concise and eloquent 21st Symphony or the movingly valedictory 27th Symphony + the Cello Concerto and String Quartet No.13 and Cello Sonata No.2.

I'd forgotten about this, but I listened to Miaskovsky/Myaskovsky's 21st symphony while I was away from the forum this summer. I did like it better. The 27th is one of the two symphonies I own but haven't heard yet, so that will probably be next! Thanks for the comment.

[Que]

[Traverso]

Stravinsky

Chailly is at it's best in Stravinsky....

[Karl Henning]

Stravinsky

Chailly is at it's best in Stravinsky....

Very nice!

[vers la flamme]

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.4 in F minor. Robert Spano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Our departing music director seemed to have an affinity for the music of this composer, and accordingly he's created the best recording of this symphony I've ever heard (not to mention a glorious Dona Nobis Pacem). I never really knew what to make of the 4th, but it's sounding good right now.

[Linz]

Vaughan Wiliams Symphony No. 2 with John Barbirolli and the Hallè Orchestra

[vers la flamme]

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B minor, op.74, the "Pathétique". Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic

Worlds apart from the other recording I've been listening to, but still nice.

[Lisztianwagner]

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B minor, op.74, the "Pathétique". Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic

Worlds apart from the other recording I've been listening to, but still nice.

I would call it something more than "nice", but that's a matter of taste.

Some Karajan for me as well:

Richard Strauss
Tod und Verklärung

[vers la flamme]

I would call it something more than "nice", but that's a matter of taste.

Some Karajan for me as well:

Richard Strauss
Tod und Verklärung

Hey it's my first listen, better impressions may follow with subsequent ones  I do notice that Karajan's tempi are much more relaxed, and that he tends to emphasize different things, namely string textures over brass and winds. Not that he underplays the brassy climaxes that do exist in the music—these moments indeed sound excellent—but for example in the scherzo I heard a lot more wind and brass detail in the Mravinsky recording I've been listening to. But his approach works quite well in this music.

P.S. I love that Strauss disc.

[Todd]

5.  The final movement could use more oomph, but it's good enough overall.