What are you listening 2 now?

[steve ridgway]

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

One of my favourite composers .

[Karl Henning]

[Florestan]

During the last few days, bits and pieces from these recordings:

[Karl Henning]

[Traverso]

Messiaen

CD 2

Livre IV-VI

[AnotherSpin]

[Karl Henning]

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Sibelius' 6th

[AnotherSpin]

[Madiel]

I'm watching La Traviata on OperaVision, as it will be withdrawn from the service next week (though I'm sure there's other versions of this particular opera available).

Act One so far. I don't believe I've seen the full opera before, though yes there are a couple of very recognisable tunes in that first act (which is surprisingly short, normally you'd expect the first act to be a long one). And I'm definitely enjoying it. I think Verdi might be in my operatic wheelhouse. And the staging thus far is effective and sensible, it's modern dress but so far feels completely in keeping with the story.

I had to take a big break in the middle, but came back to finish.

So that's the world's most frequently performed opera? I can see the appeal. There is some stunningly good music in there.

[JBS]

First listen


ATM the final movement of the Violin Concerto, the main melody of which sounds very much like an upbeat folk song.

[Traverso]

Mozart

Piano Concerto No.22

[Mandryka]

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).

I quite like what I'm hearing, it's serious and sober though at the level of interpretation, the instrument is sparkling and lively of course  - here's the booklet. The sound is good, from memory better than Goede.

https://static.qobuz.com/goodies/55/000174755.pdf

[Mandryka]

I quite like what I'm hearing, it's serious and sober though at the level of interpretation, the instrument is sparkling and lively of course  - here's the booklet. The sound is good, from memory better than Goede.

https://static.qobuz.com/goodies/55/000174755.pdf

And like @Harry, I've had enough after half an hour, too unvaryingly serious for six sonatas.

[VonStupp]

Benjamin Britten
The Prodigal Son

Peter Pears - The Tempter
John Shirley Quirk - The Father
The Younger Son - Robert Tear
The Elder Son - Bryan Drake
English Opera Group - Benjamin Britten

I often mix up the parable from Britten's The Prodigal Son with that of The Rake's Progress in my mind, and I am also reminded of The Fantasticks with the addition of The Tempter role. The ending Christian moral is decidedly Biblical, I think.


I think I like this one a little more than The Fiery Burning Furnace, but each of his three church parables are different enough from one another, with the music of Britten linking them all. Curlew River remains my personal favorite.
VS

[Symphonic Addict]

Henze: Adagio, Fuge und Mänadentanz, from 'Die Bassariden'

Quite powerful and brooding. One of the best pieces I've heard by him in my orchestral traversal so far.

[prémont]

And like @Harry, I've had enough after half an hour, too unvaryingly serious for six sonatas.

You don't need to listen to all six sonatas at one sitting. 

[Florestan]

listen to all six sonatas at one sitting. 

This is as un-HIL* as it gets and then some. 

*Historically-Informed Listening.

[Roasted Swan]

Now playing Sibelius' 6th

Still my favourite cycle (including Kullervo) I reckon....

[Karl Henning]