What are you listening 2 now?

[Todd]

Revisiting this Covid freebie download from Qobuz.  Every five years seems like a good listening frequency.

[Harry]

Karol Szymanowski-Mythes, opus 30 & Romance, opus 23.
Cesar Franck, Violin sonata.
Performed by: Franziska Pietsch (Violin), Detlev Eisinger (Piano.)

I seem today to fall from strange music in even stranger music. I was not prepared for the sound world of Szymanowski, for the eerie atmosphere in the 3 movements of Mythes is setting a tone of wayward longing, mirrored a thousandfold and creating almost silence and nothingness. A empty space yet expressive of dialogue, in a strange language when one rolls into "Dryades et Pan". I had not much interest in this composer, yet he seems to attract me more as I thought possible. Stranger things happen I guess. Franck is a great contrast and I love this Violin sonata. A clear recording, the Violin a bit too prominent, and forward, as happens quite often with Audite. I found the performance a bit cold and distanced, a technical approach, more rational as emotional.
 

[Linz]

Joseph Haydn Symphonies - Volume 10  CD 2
Symphony No. 71 in B flat: major
Symphony  No. 73 in D major: ''La Chasse'
The Academy of Ancient Music, Christpher Hogwood

[Spotted Horses]

Contining with Hindemith Viola sonatas, the Sonata for Viola and Piano (1939), Kashkashian, and the Sonata for Viola Solo (1937), Power.





The Sonata for Viola and Piano is yet another engaging work for the instrument. I returned to the Solo Viola Sonata (1937) in the Power recording. Power is more of a virtuoso tour de force, and there is something to be said for that approach, compared with Kashkashian's more sensuous performance.

Overall I am finding these works require repeated listening before they come to life for me.

[Que]

Following @Que

That one is next on my listening list! 
Anyway, great performances. And the Egidius Kwartet & College is (are) definitely (an) ensemble(s) to explore further - they made many priceless recordings.

[ritter]

Christoph von Dohnányi in memoriam. Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, 'Eroica', op. 55 and Symphony No. 8, op. 93, with The Cleveland Orchestra.

CD2 of this set:

[JBS]

Tannhauser from Bayreuth 1961, with Windgassen in the title role, DFD as Walther, De Los Angeles as Elisabeth, and Grace Bumbry as Venus.

[Linz]

Arnold Bax In the Faery Hills
The Garden of Fand
Symphonie Nr. 1 in E flat
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones

[Todd]

Grosvenor here seems to be going down a path similar to Volodos.  Everything is performed at the highest possible level of refinement and beauty.  Not sure this will become a go-to for the rep, but man is it something to listen to.

[Linz]

Anton Bruckner Symphony No 4 in E Flat Major, 1880 (aka 1878/80) - Ed. Robert Haas
Staatskapelle Berlin, Otmar Suitner

[ritter]

Heitor Villa-Lobos conducts the French National Radio Orchestra in his Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1 (for an ensemble of cellos), No. 2 (for orchestra) and No. 3 (for piano and orchestra —with Manoel Braune as soloist).

CD2 of this set:

[Linz]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphony No.41 in C major, KV 551 'Jupiter'
Orchestra of the 18th Century, Frans Brüggen

[hopefullytrusting]

Rankings: Del Pueyo, Schepkin, Schoenhals, Gentet, Irfan, Sango, Frolova, Czech, Maciejowski, Muller

Insanity: Sanna

Biggest Miss:
Fritz Jank (this is super important for @Todd as Jank did record all the Piano Sonatas), but something happened in the digitalization process - the sound is so bad it is, in my opinion, unlistenable. I was able to hear the vinyl of Op. 2 No. 1 - and it was superb (shelved that for later), so if the vinyl ever gets uploaded, I suspect this would be one of the best, but in its current state - I can only declare it the biggest miss (yet, lol).

Next 4:

Eliseo Villar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhIa0y6gTdA
Seokyoung Hong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz4UTEQzEPc
Nicolas Namorade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8C-8veReZU
Drew Petersen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9nI34a89CA

[Linz]

Anton Bruckner Symphony No 4 in E Flat Major, 1874 First version - Ed. Leopold Nowak
Bruckner Orchester Linz, Dennis Russell Davies

[hopefullytrusting]

Next 4:

Eliseo Villar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhIa0y6gTdA
Seokyoung Hong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz4UTEQzEPc
Nicolas Namorade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8C-8veReZU
Drew Petersen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9nI34a89CA

Updated rankings:
Del Pueyo, Schepkin, Schoenhals, Gentet, Irfan, Namoradze, Petersen, Hong, Sango, Villar, Frolova, Czech, Maciejowski, Muller

Insanity: Sanna
Bad Transfer: Jank

Up next, a new find today:

[Karl Henning]

Hindemith, Sonata for Solo Viola (1937). I find Kashkashian a bit more sensuous, a bit less of a virtuoso tour de force compared with Imai.



I read that Hindemith wrote this piece on a train journey from New York to Chicago, and played it in recital when he arrived. How do you do that? Was he hashing it out on his Viola on the train?

He was a marvel and a genius. 

[Todd]

[Brian]

My phone identified the very first bars of John Ireland's piano concerto, in this performance, as the theme from Jurassic Park by John Williams.

[Linz]

Joseph Haydn Symphonies Volume 10 CD 3
Symphony No. 74 in E flat major
Symphony No. 75 in DI major
The Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood

[Brian]

My phone identified the very first bars of John Ireland's piano concerto, in this performance, as the theme from Jurassic Park by John Williams.

Gosh, this concerto is growing on me tremendously. It even outshines the splashy, loud, but not quite mature Walton.