What are you listening 2 now?

[kyjo]

Ludwig Thuille: Violin Sonatas
Christian Frederik Emil Horneman: Orchestral Works

Two pretty satisfying and well-crafted romantic sonatas. This composer continues delighting me.

This CD devoted to the Danish composer C.F.E. Horneman was a mixed bag. Whereas not necessarily bad music (strongly romantic in style), I didn't feel anything stood out, except for The Struggle with the Muses Suite, that was really interesting and with personality.

I agree - the Horneman disc was a bit of a disappointment, despite excellent performances and sound. I recall that Hurwitz (who I often agree with regarding unfamiliar repertoire) thinks quite highly of it, but I found the music to be lacking in personality.

[Linz]

Saint Saens Christmas Oratorio

[Mandryka]

I don't know why Per Tengstrand's Grieg should hit the spot this solstice evening, but it does.

[Harry]

Silent Night.
Early Christmas Music and Carols.


Fits perfectly in the Christmas cheer. Well recorded and performed.

[Lisztianwagner]

Gustav Holst
Double Concerto

Richard Hickox & City of London Sinfonia

[Harry]

Star of the Magi.
Suzi Le Blanc, Daniel Taylor.
Les Voix Humaines.

A wonderful Christmas CD.

[Todd]

[classicalgeek]

Over the last few days:

J.S. Bach
Magnificat
Collegium Vocale
La Chapelle Royale
Phillippe Herreweghe




Alkan
Etudes in minor keys, op. 39 (nos. 1-7)
Vincenzo Maltempo, piano




Beethoven
Symphony no. 8
Philharmonia Orchestra
Otto Klemperer




Ravel
Le Tombeau de Couperin
Ma Mere l'Oye (complete ballet)
Rapsodie Espagnole
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Seiji Ozawa

[vandermolen]

Sibelius Symphony No.2
NBC SO, Stokowski

[vandermolen]

Earlier today.
The highlight was Bantock's 'Pagan Symphony'. I have three other CDs of this work but this one is my favourite. The 'Symphonic Variations' by Parry were enjoyable but not as well-performed as on either of Boult's recordings (EMI/Lyrita). P. Maxwell-Davies's 'Five Paul Klee Pictures' (written for a school orchestra), were better than expected:

[Harry]

Weihnacht der Spielleyt - A Minstrel Christmas (Straßburger Gesangbuch 1697)
Außerlesene, uhralte und neue Gesänge"
Freiburger Spielleyt.

If the Freiburger Spielleyt have chosen a series of Christmas songs from the song collection of the Strasbourg hymnal of 1697 on the present CD, this seems at first to be a surprisingly "modern" decision for an ensemble which otherwise focuses on the music of the late Middle Ages. However, already in the preface to the Strasbourg hymnal it is emphasized that the song selection was made from "extra-legendary, ancient and new hymns". "Uhralt" means here that the melodies of some songs can reach back in their origin to the Middle Ages. For its recording, the ensemble has restored the songs in question from the Strasbourg hymnal to a medieval sound. In this way, the result reopens the medieval repertoire with some of its most beautiful melodies.

[j winter]

Very enjoyable set, so far this is the only version of most of these works I've heard... may need to change that at some point.

[Bachtoven]

Very powerful post-Romantic music. Think of a super-charged, more chromatic Rachmaninoff with some occasional Impressionism.

[Linz]

Schütz Weihnachtshistorie

[Todd]

First time in a long time.  It's almost hard to believe this was first released twenty years ago.  As always, Ms Schafer compels me to listen.

[Karl Henning]

Finishing this which is a tour de force

[Lisztianwagner]

Sergei Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No.3

Pianist: Vladimir Ashkenazy
André Previn & London Symphony Orchestra

[bhodges]

Tonight, for the solstice, Bruckner's Eighth Symphony, with Manfred Honeck and the WDR Sinfonieorchester, recorded February 8, 2019 in Cologne.

-Bruce

[prémont]

First listen from the just-arrived big Muti box... very good, naturally, but not amazing at least on initial hearing...

This is an outstanding interpretation. Richter's introductory bars in the slow movement are nothing but magical.

[Todd]

Disc six, Debussy and Haydn, the most natural discmates.