What are you listening 2 now?

[Papy Oli]

Good morning Olivier,you are just in time....... enjoy the music

Good morning Jan! I definitely enjoy this, whatever the time 

[aligreto]

Vivaldi: Ostro picta, armata spina RV642 [Allesandrini]





This is delightful music that is well played and sung here. Two lively and animated outer movements bookend a slow movement. The tone of the outer movements are celebratory while the tone in the central movement is more contemplative and devotional. The work is short but it is a joy to listen to.

[vers la flamme]

Never thought I'd live to see Martinu compared with Pettersson. Martinu is so life-affirming and Pettersson is so, well, the opposite. Martinu is to succinct, and Pettersson so sprawling and formless.

I am in the minority, but I don't think the Thompson set captures the essence of Martinu. Tries to hard to make it conventionally symphonic, and doesn't emphasize the lyricism and effortless counterpoint in the music. I like Neumann/Czech Philharmonic and Valek/Prague Radio Symphony (which everyone else seems to hate).

Well, you've seen it all now! I seem to recall that Mirror Image shared your negative opinion of the Bryden Thomson set. If I ever decide to hear another Martinu cycle I might have to check out one of those Czech ones you mentioned.

Now playing:



Edward Elgar: Violin Concerto in B minor, op.61. Hilary Hahn, Colin Davis, London Symphony Orchestra

First listen. I found this for super cheap and decided to pick it up. It sounds great so far.

[Maestro267]

Stanford: Symphony No. 6
Ulster Orchestra/Handley

Stanford: Irish Rhapsody No. 6
Mordkovitch (violin)/Ulster Orchestra/Handley

Arnell: Symphony No. 2
RSNO/Yates

Brian: In Memoriam
New Philharmonia Orchestra/Groves

[aligreto]

Bax: Paean [Thompson]





This is quite a short work and, to be honest, I do not quite know what to make of it on this, my first listen. It seems quite a clichéd celebratory piece of writing for Bax. Even so, the orchestration is wonderful, as ever. However, I find the work to be uneven and of mixed quality. I think that it lacks cohesion.

[Traverso]

Well, you've seen it all now! I seem to recall that Mirror Image shared your negative opinion of the Bryden Thomson set. If I ever decide to hear another Martinu cycle I might have to check out one of those Czech ones you mentioned.

Now playing:



Edward Elgar: Violin Concerto in B minor, op.61. Hilary Hahn, Colin Davis, London Symphony Orchestra

First listen. I found this for super cheap and decided to pick it up. It sounds great so far.

I could be wrong but I thought that Mirror Image was positive about the Bryden Thomson set.I purchased the set on his recommendation. Maybe he changed his mind......?

[Traverso]

A Baroque Festival

[foxandpeng]

Allan Pettersson
Symphony 6
Christian Lindberg
Norrköping SO
BIS

Where else to go for desolation, tension, suffering and gloom, but Pettersson? I find this gateway to symphonies 6 - 9 to be really emotionally worthwhile.

[aligreto]

JS Bach: Goldberg Variations [Leonhardt]






Leonhardt's playing is beyond reproach. I find his tempi to be wonderfully appropriate for the music. Nothing is rushed and nothing falters. His pacing helps to maintain the constant flow of the music. I find his interpretation and presentation to be light and very approachable. One is constantly engaged with the music and swept along with its performance. I also particularly like the sound of the instrument that he plays. It sounds robust but it also has a well rounded "sweet" sound to my ear; it evokes rich, sweet and golden liquid honey.

[Lisztianwagner]

JS Bach: Goldberg Variations [Leonhardt]






Leonhardt's playing is beyond reproach. I find his tempi to be wonderfully appropriate for the music. Nothing is rushed and nothing falters. His pacing helps to maintain the constant flow of the music. I find his interpretation and presentation to be light and very approachable. One is constantly engaged with the music and swept along with its performance. I also particularly like the sound of the instrument that he plays. It sounds robust but it also has a well rounded "sweet" sound to my ear; it evokes rich, sweet and golden liquid honey.

Great description, I absolutely agree!

[pjme]

Bax: Paean [Thompson]





This is quite a short work and, to be honest, I do not quite know what to make of it on this, my first listen. It seems quite a clichéd celebratory piece of writing for Bax. Even so, the orchestration is wonderful, as ever. However, I find the work to be uneven and of mixed quality. I think that it lacks cohesion.

"Paean" is one of those compositions when a composer is given the opportunity to use all the forces available "for a special" occasion.
Bax's original version of Paean for piano was composed in 1920.
When Bax was commissioned to provide an orchestral work for the Sir Henry Wood Jubilee of 1938, he decided to expand his Paean for very large forces, including organ.
A noisy and fortunately short "song of praise or triumph."
It's a fun hoot!

[Todd]

From the Eloquence Foldes box.  Fast, energetic, at times imprecise and usually unnuanced playing. 

[foxandpeng]

Allan Pettersson
Symphony 8
Leif Segerstam
Norrköping SO
BIS

Segerstam makes a fine fist of this, unsurprisingly. No Lindberg yet, but I look forward to it when it finally lands! The Norrköping SO are great, as ever.

[Operafreak]

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring

and works by Debussy and Rachmaninov- Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, Vasily Petrenko

[Traverso]

Great description, I absolutely agree!

+1

[Traverso]

Hendrik Andriessen


CD 3

[aligreto]

JS Bach: Goldberg Variations [Leonhardt]






Leonhardt's playing is beyond reproach. I find his tempi to be wonderfully appropriate for the music. Nothing is rushed and nothing falters. His pacing helps to maintain the constant flow of the music. I find his interpretation and presentation to be light and very approachable. One is constantly engaged with the music and swept along with its performance. I also particularly like the sound of the instrument that he plays. It sounds robust but it also has a well rounded "sweet" sound to my ear; it evokes rich, sweet and golden liquid honey.

Great description, I absolutely agree!

+1

Thank you both. I really enjoyed that one!

[aligreto]

"Paean" is one of those compositions when a composer is given the opportunity to use all the forces available "for a special" occasion.
Bax's original version of Paean for piano was composed in 1920.
When Bax was commissioned to provide an orchestral work for the Sir Henry Wood Jubilee of 1938, he decided to expand his Paean for very large forces, including organ.
A noisy and fortunately short "song of praise or triumph."
It's a fun hoot!

Thank you very much for the background to and the information on "Paean".
Much appreciated 

[aligreto]

Poulenc: Piano Music played by Eric Le Sage





From CD 3:

Valse, C Major
Pièce brève sur le nom d'Albert Roussel
Villageoises, pièces enfantines pour piano Nos. 1-6

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

most unfortunate   

There are several musicians who are mix of German and Japanese. One of them, Alice Sara Ott is a popular pianist.