What are you listening 2 now?

[Symphonic Addict]

Hindemith: Die vier Temperamente, Sturm und Eis and Suite Französischer Tänze

[Mister Sharpe]

With these two SQs, I've come regrettably to the end of my day-long Schubertiade, enjoying every moment but glass half-empty thinking of all the things I love of his and didn't get to hear, so many songs, die Winterreise, the Symphonies (I'm one of those peculiar persons who also enjoys the early ones), his Impromptus... Clearly, my next Schubertiade is going to have to stretch to several days.

[Daverz]

Good to have someone joining in!

For tonight:

Jean Sibelius
Symphony no. 2 in D Major, op. 43
NYPO - Leonard Bernstein

VS



From this set:

Which reminds me to report on the recent Nicholas Collon, Finnish RSO recording of the 5th:

It's an excellent performance, beautifully played and recorded.  However... it doesn't quite reach the excitement level of Karajan (EMI, Berlin or Philharmonia) or Bernstein (Sony).

[JBS]

Thorvaldsóttir: Enigma, for string quartet

Dark, thought-provoking, atmospheric music at its best stupendously captured on this recording.

If you want more Icelandic string quartet music, look for this


(Back cover, so you can see what's in it).

Speaking of Nordic string quartets...


Holmboe SQs
Number 4, 5, and 16, Opp. 63, 66, and 146

4 and 5 date from the mid 1950s, while 16 was composed in 1981.

First listen to this recording.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

NP: Crumb Zeitgeist



This entire Crumb series on Bridge (21 volumes in all) is just marvelous. The cover art, however, is rather tacky for many of the volumes.

[Symphonic Addict]

If you want more Icelandic string quartet music, look for this


(Back cover, so you can see what's in it).

Speaking of Nordic string quartets...


Holmboe SQs
Number 4, 5, and 16, Opp. 63, 66, and 146

4 and 5 date from the mid 1950s, while 16 was composed in 1981.

First listen to this recording.

Oh, I'll take it into account. Thank you.

Regarding the Holmboe, those performances by the Nightingale SQ outshine the ones by the Kontra Quartet in my view. Not only is their tone warmer, but also the quality of the recording makes an important difference.

[Symphonic Addict]

Beethoven: Symphonies 1 and 2

Revisiting the most acclaimed symphony cycle ever via this hitherto unknown set to me.

[JBS]

Two of the songs on this CD appear on the Rosa Bella CD @Que was listening to a day or two ago.

The somewhat deshabille lady in the cover art is Agnes Sorel. The portrait is actually a 16th century work based on the Melun Diptych by Jean Fouquet, for which she was the apparent model for the Virgin Mary.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing for a first-listen: Crumb The Ghosts of Alhambra (Spanish Songbook I)

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

NP: B. A. Zimmermann Sinfonie in Einem Satz



Fantastic piece. Not too far removed from Hartmann or Henze. Zimmermann was a difficult composer to pigeonhole because his general style was all over the place with some pieces recalling the Second Viennese School while others clearly in the postwar scene (along with Ligeti, Berio et. al.) and then some works have a Neoclassical feel to them à la Stravinsky. The music world lost a true master when Zimmermann regrettably took his own life in 1970 at the age of 52.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

NP: Schumann Märchenbilder, Op. 113

[AnotherSpin]

Michael Finnissy, Works for String Quartet

Kreutzer Quartet

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

NP: Berg Altenberg-Lieder, Op. 4

[steve ridgway]

NP: Crumb Zeitgeist



This entire Crumb series on Bridge (21 volumes in all) is just marvelous. The cover art, however, is rather tacky for many of the volumes.

I find most classical music covers underwhelming although there are a few exceptions where a creative artist has tried very hard to relate to the musical content  .

[steve ridgway]

Stockhausen - Refrain

Quite a listenable piece for celesta, cello, percussion and piano, metallic notes echoing in airy space.

[Wanderer]

[vandermolen]

Ruth Gipps

[Christo]

Hindemith: Die vier Temperamente, Sturm und Eis and Suite Französischer Tänze

The Fünf Stücke für Streichorchester is my favourite piece by Hindemith - probably for sentimental reasons, it was on the very first LP that I ever bought. I was lucky enough to hear it live, this winter in Utrecht. 

[Irons]

Concur; he was an extraordinary pianist, but he seemed to have a special affinity for Schubert, a lyrical sensitivity and an obsession for dynamic shadings as well as the ability to produce them. Never tire of his Impromptus, which I bought as they were released.   

Listened earlier this week to Brendel's recording of Impromptus Op.142. Could not help but think No.1 being one of the finest things Schubert wrote.

[Que]