What are you listening 2 now?

[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.

[Traverso]

Bach

Six sonatas for organ BWV 525-530





Aart Bergwerff (Wieglieb organ of St. Gumbertuskirche, Ansbach)


In Johann Sebastian Bach's six organ sonatas, three independent voices sound interchangeably. The right hand plays the highest voice, the left hand the middle voice and the feet the bass. A true musician wants to play each voice as if for the first time, responding spontaneously to what the others bring up. To bring such a sung conversation to life with hands and feet, he listens with equal attention and love to all the voices simultaneously. It is a miracle that it can be done. When it succeeds, it all seems simple and natural. A world opens up to the listener, in which it is hardly imaginable that there is anything more beautiful than a trio sonata by Bach.

[Harry]

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893).
Orchestral works. Volume II.
See back cover for details.
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Alpesh Chauhan.
Recording venue Grand Hall, City Halls, Glasgow; 10–12 January 2023.

Much better as Volume I, in which this conductor favoured very slow tempi. This release has more energy and still creates much detail in absolute SOTA sound. Takes your breath away, honestly!
This is how Tchaikovsky should sound, for in this recording you will not miss a beat or ever so tiny a detail. The performance is utterly stunning too. I will try the first volume again, for maybe I missed the essence of those interpretations.

 
 

[Harry]

MORITZ MOSZKOWSKI.
ORCHESTRAL MUSIC, Volume I.
See back cover for detail.
Sinfonia Varsovia, Ian Hobson.
Jakub Haufa, Violin
Recorded: 2018 in the Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio (S1), Polish Radio, Warsaw.

A forgotten composer, found him by accident, and was surprised by the things he had to say in his music. His music is romantic, with a hefty sprinkle of beautiful melodies. He was a good orchestrator too. The recording is good, detailed and has a good orchestral perspective. Worth a try!

[Que]

 

The point of getting this box set for the princely sum of 9.99 euros was the recording of the Zelenka trio sonatas.

But getting 5 bonus discs doesn't hurt.

[Madiel]

Poulenc: Four motets for a time of penitence



First listen to this work. Stunning gorgeous sound, a credit to both choir and composer.