What are you listening 2 now?

[Roasted Swan]

I can thoroughly recommend the Ole Schmidt / London Symphony Orchestra set from the '70s. The interpretations are marvellous. The sound is not state-of-the-art, but it's good enough. Another plus is that it's inexpensive.

The Schmidt/LSO cycle is justly famous - the first complete stereo cycle.  Orchestras are much more familiar with Nielsen now so there are a few rough edges but conversely the engagement is palpable.  The engineering is by the great Robert Auger and I still think it sounds pretty good - especially in the remastered version.  The equally great Robert Simpson was producer on the cycle so its creative team credentials are impeccable.  Still my favourite No.3 bar none - whooping horns and sheer energy abounds.

[Operafreak]

Symphony No. 52 in C minor, Hob. I:52/Symphony No. 53 in D major, Hob. I:53 'L'Impériale' (Imperial)Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
SIR NEVILLE MARRINER

[Harry]

Well as per usual, a healthy and friendly helping of Bach Cantatas.
I discovered to my horreur that I miss Volume 37, hopefully I can still get it.
J.S. Bach.
Complete Cantatas.
BWV 78/99/114,
Volume 25.
Leipzig 1724.
Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki.
Yukari Nonoshita, Daniel Taylor, Makoto Sakurada, Peter Kooij.

Very good, am totally bowled over by the Aria Duetto, BWV 78, Soprano and Alto "Wir eilen mit Schwachen", well sung and beautifully balanced. Its an ongoing quality for the rest on this CD.

[Que]

Another enoyable recording discovered on Spotify:

[Lisztianwagner]

Ottorino Respighi
Brazilian Imprelssions

Geoffrey Simon & Philharmonia Orchestra

[prémont]

Another enoyable recording discovered on Spotify:

It can be purchased as a download from Presto. I have had it in my telescope for some time.
Is the organ suitably authentic?
How is the Passacaglia?

[Harry]

Organ Works of the North German Baroque.
Volume II.
Vincent Lubeck.
Complete Organ works.
Friedhelm Flamme, Organ.
Instrument:
Christoph Treutmann (1734-37). Stiftskirche St. Georg zu Grauhof near Goslar
Pitch: c. 5/8 tone uber normal.
Temperament: Unequal , (Kellner/Bach 1/5 comma)

The recording does not charm me, to bombastic for Lubeck's music, and Flamme's playing is chaotic and unfocused. And the acoustics as presented on this recording makes it all worse.

[vers la flamme]

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No.6 in F major, op.68, the "Pastoral". John Eliot Gardiner, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique

Killer. I still think Gardiner's winds in general and horns especially are too quiet, but it's great otherwise.

[Roasted Swan]

Big Russian Music Box (various artists)

I had this on my mp3 player this week walking the dog.  Some genuinely excellent performances!  Great music of course but nice to hear some Mata/Dallas SO recordings that aren't that common/well-known otherwise......

[prémont]

Organ Works of the North German Baroque.
Volume II.
Vincent Lubeck.
Complete Organ works.
Friedhelm Flamme, Organ.
Instrument:
Christoph Treutmann (1734-37). Stiftskirche St. Georg zu Grauhof near Goslar
Pitch: c. 5/8 tone uber normal.
Temperament: Unequal , (Kellner/Bach 1/5 comma)

The recording does not charm me, to bombastic for Lubeck's music, and Flamme's playing is chaotic and unfocused. And the acoustics as presented on this recording makes it all worse.

Yes, I agree completely. Here Flamme's problems with the stylus phantasticus are most evident. And add to this the choice of an organ most unsuited for Lübeck. Unfortunately his Buxtehude recordings suffer from similar problems (and the same organ).

[Harry]

Yes, I agree completely. Here Flamme's problems with the stylus phantasticus are most evident. And add to this the choice of an organ most unsuited for Lübeck. Unfortunately his Buxtehude recordings suffer from similar problems (and the same organ).

Yes that is as evident as can be, he makes a mess of it.

That is the main reason why I will not acquire his Buxtehude.

( As a side note Poul, did you manage to listen to the Melchior Schildt disc by Leon Berben?)

[prémont]

Yes that is as evident as can be, he makes a mess of it.

That is the main reason why I will not acquire his Buxtehude.

I have purchased the first two volumes (twofers), but don't purchase vol. III - even completism may become overdone.

( As a side note Poul, did you manage to listen to the Melchior Schildt disc by Leon Berben?)

I can't find it. I'll look after it more patiently.

[Que]

It can be purchased as a download from Presto. I have had it in my telescope for some time.
Is the organ suitably authentic?
How is the Passacaglia?

I find the playing appealing,  invluding the Passacaglia.

No historical organs, I'm afraid. But attractive sound:

https://concerts-romainmotier.ch/docs/descriptif_trois_orgues_romainmotier.pdf

[prémont]

I find the playing appealing,  invluding the Passacaglia.

No historical organs, I'm afraid. But attractive sound:

https://concerts-romainmotier.ch/docs/descriptif_trois_orgues_romainmotier.pdf

Thanks, I shall get it.

[Todd]

[Spotted Horses]

I've listened to Mozart's Prague Symphony too many times recently to do it again (don't want to burn out) but I listened to #35 with Bruggen and conclude this is "just right" Mozart. The PI winds and brass are satisfyingly honky, and strings are sufficiently present.

[Operafreak]

Brahms: Clarinet Quintet

Martin Fröst (clarinet), with Janine Jansen (violin), Boris Brovtsyn (violin), Maxim Rysanov (viola), Torleif Thedéen (cello), with Roland Pöntinen (piano), with Torleif Thedéen (cello) & Roland Pöntinen (piano)

Br

[Harry]

Jean Sibelius.
CD IV.
Symphony No. 5 in E flat major.
Symphony No. 7 in C major.
En Saga.
Philharmonia Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Still a benchmark for me, and in fine Decca sound.

[Traverso]

La Quinta Essentia

[North Star]

Hartmann
Concerto funebre*
Symphony No. 4 for string orchestra
Kammerkonzert^

Isabelle Faust (vn)*
Paul Meyer (cl)^
Petersen Quartett^
Münchener Kammerorchester
Christoph Poppen


Britten & Hindemith
Violin Concertos
Arabella Steinbacher
RSO Berlin
Vladimir Jurowski