What are you listening 2 now?

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Fikret Amirov: Shur & Kürd Ovshari Mugams. Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Antonio Almeida.

[Symphonic Addict]

Enjoying these quartets much more than most of his symphonies.

[André]

This is the back cover of Trio Ostertag's integral set of Beethoven's works for string trio.

As one can see, the 3 trios from opus 9 are played in succession. 12 movements, 77 minutes when played non-stop. This can numb the effect the composer no doubt intended to make with these works. Beethoven seems to have no trouble churning out amiable dance movements and scholarly sonata ones. He comes into his own in the slow movements. Next time I'll listen to them in isolation, the better to savour their originality.

Disc 2 gives us an early, divertimento-like trio. It's cast in 6 movements lasting some 40 minutes. The central slow movement is very fine. The real find, an authentic gem is to be found at the tail end of this 2-disc set. The Serenade op 8 is an absolute charmer, with a central slow movement-cum-scherzo that is to die for. While not on the exalted level of Mozart's K563 trio (one of the greatest masterpieces of chamber music) it kept me most happy for its full duration.

[Karl Henning]

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

This is lovely, Karl and you got Carson Cooman to perform it. Double nice.

[Karl Henning]

[Symphonic Addict]

Balada: Symphonies 5 and 6

Two works of exceptional imagination. There's something about the way Balada "tells" the story in his symphonies that is pretty singular and effective. I don't know how to explain better. Anyway, this has been a most extraordinary symphony cycle. My favorite symphonies are the 3rd and the 6th.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Vaughan Williams Violin Sonata in A minor

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

And now coming to an end of the Bax symphonies --- now playing the 7th

[JBS]

My Presto order landed today. First into the CD player is CD 1 of this.

Opus 59 Numbers 1 and 2

Most obvious thing is that the sound is darker (sonically, not emotionally) and mellower than usual. Also perhaps a tad less energetic/fervent in some passages than I remember from other performances.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Debussy Études, Books I & II

[Symphonic Addict]

Henze: Drei sinfonische Etüden, Quattro poemi and La selva incantata

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Last work of the night --- Szymanowski Mandragora, Op. 43

[steve ridgway]

Stockhausen - Kontakte

An enjoyable stream of inhumanly electronic sound effects, free from any musical notes or rhythms .

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Alright one more (well technically two more) --- now playing two back-to-back performances of Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 5 in F, Op. 103, "Egyptian"

[AnotherSpin]

Not bad at all, surprisingly.

[AnotherSpin]

[Harry]

Joseph-Hector Fiocco (1703–1741)
Lamentationes Hebdomadæ Sanctæ.
Ensemble Bonne Corde.
Ana Vieira Leite * soprano
Ana Quintans, soprano
Hugo Oliveira ° baritone
Diana Vinagre cello & artistic direction
Rebecca Rosen cello
Marta Vicente double bass
Fernando Miguel Jalôto organ
Recorded 2–7 November 2021 at Igreja do Menino Deus, Lisbon, Portugal.
Cover: Christ at the Column, Johann Baptist Hagenauer, Vienna c. 1754–56

While only a selection of this attractive music has been recorded so far, the present recording includes all nine pieces of the Brussels cycle and two other compositions of this kind that have only recently been rediscovered. But it is not only this encyclopedic aspect that makes this production valuable; it is the extraordinarily respectful and circumspect approach of the performers that makes one take notice,the timbre of sopranos Ana Quintans and Ana Vieira Leite and baritone Hugo Oliveira, who take turns in the vocal solo parts, is supple, their interpretation expressive but not overly dramatic. The same is true of the four instrumentalists, who paint a pleasantly full, yet elegant sound picture. The recording matches the performance, superb sound.

[foxandpeng]

Enjoying these quartets much more than most of his symphonies.

As with all PMD writing, I found these challenging but ultimately worthwhile. Are you thinking of listening through? Would be fascinated, as always, to hear your reflections.

[Harry]

BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ.
EARLY ORCHESTRAL WORKS, Volume One.
See back cover for details.
Recorded on 19–21 December 2012 in Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio (S1), Polish Radio, Warsaw.

The first of three volumes. After a period of not listening to them, I came afresh to these works, and think there is a lot to enjoy. These works are not often recorded or heard at all. They do deserve to be heard though.  All of the works on this CD are strongly influenced by Czech folk music and are correspondingly melodic, colorful and mostly spirited. The sound is clear and detailed.