What are you listening 2 now?

[Harry]

VOX FEMINAE.
See back cover for details.
Les Kapsber'girls.
Recorded in January 2023 at the Moosestudio in Evje, Norway.

Fourth rerun, and still as happy as a clam about it. A very refreshing encounter with some very beautiful girls, who sing beautifully in tune. A perfect combination. Perfect sound.

Les Kapsber'girls are a vocal and instrumental ensemble founded in 2015 by lutenist Albane Imbs. The name of the baroque composer Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger is to a certain extent a guiding principle, but is not dogmatically followed in the programs. The ensemble has already successfully forayed into both Italian and French repertoire and dedicates its third album to selected female baroque composers. Hidden talents, undiscovered fates - only a few of these female composers have had the opportunity to reveal their art, which is nevertheless very real. Recent research has made it possible to revive the fascinating works of Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677), Isabella Leonarda (1620-1704), Lucia Quinciani (1566-1611), Francesca Caccini (1587-1641), Antonia Bembo (ca. 1643-1715 ) and Francesca Campana (ca. 1615-c. 1665), who composed no less than two hundred works.

[steve ridgway]

Ligeti - Piano Concerto

[prémont]

Well I did not, this performance did not resonate with me. In fact I stopped halfway playing it. Not because of the organ though!

Owning >60 recordings of the trio sonatas I'm not in a heavy need for more recordings, but I think I in all cases shall purchase it because of the organ.

[Linz]

Claude Debussy Les trois Sonatas
Xavier de Maistre, Harp, Jean-Guihen Queyras, cello, Alexander Melnikov, Piano, Isabelle Faust violin, Javier Perianes, Piano, Antoine Tamestit, viola, Tanguy de Williencourt, Piano, Magali Mosnier, flute

[steve ridgway]

Richard Strauss - Parergon Zur Sinfonia Domestica

Quite a pleasant piece .

[ritter]

An eclectic programme of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players: Beethoven's Serenade in D major, op. 25 (not a piece I like much TBH), Irving Fine's Fantasia for String Trio (first listen, interesting), Aaron Copland's Vitebsk, Elliott Carter's Woodwind Quintet, and Walter Piston's Divertimento for Nine Instruments (which will be another first listen).



CD 2 of this set:

[Symphonic Addict]

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.

They're certainly challenging, rewarding works. In some respects, I find their complexity comparatively as interesting as the found on Carter's own quartets. And yes, I'm listening to the next volumes in these days. I have the hunch that the others won't disappoint either.

[Traverso]

Owning >60 recordings of the trio sonatas I'm not in a heavy need for more recordings, but I think I in all cases shall purchase it because of the organ.

Taste differs......

The Dutch organist receives the Deutschen Schallplattenkritik for his album with the six Trio Sonatas for organ (BWV 525-530) by Johann Sebastian Bach. He wins the prize for best recording in the category 'Keyboard instruments'.

Historical organ
Bergwerff chose the organ in the St. Gumbertuskirche in the German Ansbach in Bavaria for the recording. It was built in 1739 by the organ builder Johann Christoph Wiegleb in the Thuringian tradition.

The German jury says: "With this beautiful organ, Aart Bergwerff has chosen an almost ideal instrument to perform Bach's trio sonatas in an impressive way."

Aart Bergwerff's playing is not neglected in the jury report: "He finds the perfect tempo for each movement, impressively illuminates the depth dimensions of the slow middle movements with rich colours and catapults the listener into a spectacular spatial sound experience. Simply great!"

[Traverso]

 Bach

Vol.3  CD 4

[steve ridgway]

Messiaen - Éclairs Sur L'Au-Delà...

[Linz]

Anton Bruckner Symphony No. 5 in B Flat Major, 1878 Version Ed. Leopold Nowak
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer

[prémont]

Taste differs......

The Dutch organist receives the Deutschen Schallplattenkritik for his album with the six Trio Sonatas for organ (BWV 525-530) by Johann Sebastian Bach. He wins the prize for best recording in the category 'Keyboard instruments'.

I have not heard Bergwerff's recording of the trio sonatas, so I can't say whether I like it or not. But the organ is very interesting and it's too rarely used for recordings, so for that reason I'm in all cases going to acquire the recording.

[Traverso]

I have not heard Bergwerff's recording of the trio sonatas, so I can't say whether I like it or not. But the organ is very interesting and it's too rarely used for recordings, so for that reason I'm in all cases going to acquire the recording.

The playing tempo is slower than usual so that it is released on 2 SACDs. which opens up the work completely. It requires some adjustment from the listener but I find it a wonderful recording.
Incidentally, this is also the first recording with this organist for me.

[Spotted Horses]

Messiaen - Éclairs Sur L'Au-Delà...

I think that is the first Messiaen I listened to, and I remember thinking, "that's some weird sh*t."

[Harry]

Taste differs......

The Dutch organist receives the Deutschen Schallplattenkritik for his album with the six Trio Sonatas for organ (BWV 525-530) by Johann Sebastian Bach. He wins the prize for best recording in the category 'Keyboard instruments'.

Historical organ
Bergwerff chose the organ in the St. Gumbertuskirche in the German Ansbach in Bavaria for the recording. It was built in 1739 by the organ builder Johann Christoph Wiegleb in the Thuringian tradition.

The German jury says: "With this beautiful organ, Aart Bergwerff has chosen an almost ideal instrument to perform Bach's trio sonatas in an impressive way."

Aart Bergwerff's playing is not neglected in the jury report: "He finds the perfect tempo for each movement, impressively illuminates the depth dimensions of the slow middle movements with rich colours and catapults the listener into a spectacular spatial sound experience. Simply great!"

I am allowed to have a different opinion, I disagree with his tempi, the depth of dimension, the colour, and the sound,  the best of them is the sound of the organ. I think on the whole its a faceless performance.

[Traverso]

I am allowed to have a different opinion, I disagree with his tempi the depth of dimension, the colour, and the sound,  the best of them is the sound of the organ. I think on the whole its a faceless performance.

Of course, as I mentioned before, tastes differ...I completely understand your reservation.

[Linz]

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber CD 8
Missa Sancti Henrici, Sonatae Tam Aris Quam Aulis serventes
Herbert Metzger Organ
Regensburger Domspatzen - Collegium Aureum

[Traverso]

I have not heard Bergwerff's recording of the trio sonatas, so I can't say whether I like it or not. But the organ is very interesting and it's too rarely used for recordings, so for that reason I'm in all cases going to acquire the recording.

You have a PM.....

[prémont]

The playing tempo is slower than usual so that it is released on 2 SACDs. which opens up the work completely. It requires some adjustment from the listener but I find it a wonderful recording.
Incidentally, this is also the first recording with this organist for me.

So I have now listened to the one minute pr. movement clips on Presto's site. Yes, tempi on the slow side - but not slower than it sometimes is heard. He gives some of the movements a delicate chamber music character by using few stops, but other movements are more - and maybe too much - plenum and a bit messy in character. He is maybe also too fond of the 16' stops in the pedal which on this organ has got a somewhat rumbling character. Incidentally Goede (same works on the same organ) is rather similar concerning this. I shall purchase the recording as lossless download from Presto (booklet is included).

[Lisztianwagner]

Ottorino Respighi
The Birds
Trittico botticelliano

Giuseppe Sinopoli & Orpheus Chamber Orchestra