What are you listening 2 now?

[Selig]

Not that new, since I got it a couple of years ago.

I was slow to notice it, but I'm glad I did!

Have you had the time yet to hear Henri Demarquette's latest recording? I am curious how it compares to his first.

[Madiel]

Beethoven op.127, Quatuor Végh.

Initial impressions halfway through the first movement: this is not particularly to my taste...

[prémont]

I was slow to notice it, but I'm glad I did!

Have you had the time yet to hear Henri Demarquette's latest recording? I am curious how it compares to his first.

I would call Demarquette's first recording balanced and noble and I recall that I liked it rather much. Demarquette's second recording is more idiosyncratic and wasn't at my first and only listening equally attractive.

I think some musicians second take after maybe ten to twenty years often are more idiosyncratic and therefore less interesting than their first take (Queyras, Demarquette, Jian Wang, Tortelier, Barta - to mention a few). Their personality and wish for making something very personal gets in the way of a balanced interpretation.

[Linz]

Edvard Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op, 16
Robert Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis

[prémont]

As for the implied second question, 'How trustworthy are critical recommendations', this is a matter for another debate.

I usually get hold of the recordings that interest me before they are reviewed and maybe later read what some reviewers write. But there are only a few reviewers who can make me buy a CD with their words alone. Johan van Veen is one of them.

I put more emphasis on what some GMG members, whose tastes I know, write. Recommendations between members is one of the main purposes of a forum like this.

[prémont]

Sweet Moses - this might be the best sounding, production-wise, I've across - the tone is so rich and thick.

This one I listened to twice when I got it five years ago. I liked it very much. Not only the sound but also the playing. Time to revisit it - as so much else.

[Linz]

Anton Bruckner Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major, 1880 (aka 1878/80) - Ed. Robert Haas
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim

[brewski]

A friend had never heard Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time and wanted a recommendation. Among many good ones, I stumbled across this performance from the Solsberg Festival in Switzerland, recorded in 2016. The musicians could not be better:

Antje Weithaas, violin
Sol Gabetta, cello
Sabine Meyer, clarinet
Bertrand Chamayou, piano

[hopefullytrusting]

I usually get hold of the recordings that interest me before they are reviewed and maybe later read what some reviewers write. But there are only a few reviewers who can make me buy a CD with their words alone. Johan van Veen is one of them.

I put more emphasis on what some GMG members, whose tastes I know, write. Recommendations between members is one of the main purposes of a forum like this.

I can't think of a single critic that I would take a recommendation from when it comes to music (in video games, I trusted Game Informer, as they never led me wrong), but, I am with @prémont - the forum and specific users (both bad and good) I trust more than any critic - obviously, I trust myself more than anyone else when it comes to what I like and don't. But there are posters on here, @prémont is a great example of one - @Que another - that if they suggest a recording I will most definitely check it out (add @Todd to that list and I could go on). Of equal importance is there are a similar number of posters whose taste is diametric to mine, so that if they say they like something - I will avoid it like the plague (I won't name any here, as they might view that as negative, which isn't, as it is simply difference, which in matters of taste, is always neutral).

Currently, Thomas Schwan playing Bach's WTC 1 - Compleete: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IImakFsEHL8

He won first prize at the 2020 World Bach Competition, so I'm expecting it to be good, lol.

[hopefullytrusting]

Currently, Thomas Schwan playing Bach's WTC 1 - Compleete: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IImakFsEHL8

He won first prize at the 2020 World Bach Competition, so I'm expecting it to be good, lol.

Okay, I do not recommend this at all. No clue how he won first prize. I thought I clicked the wrong video, and he was playing the Goldberg Variations. No passion, no zest - it will put even the most ardent Bach fan to sleep (it put me to sleep, and this is the WTC - that shouldn't be possible, as it so lively and vital, but not under the fingers of Schwan).

Listen at your own peril (or if you want to fall asleep).

Need, to get that WTC out of my head, so now I am listening to Richter - can't go wrong there.

[JBS]

Okay, I do not recommend this at all. No clue how he won first prize. I thought I clicked the wrong video, and he was playing the Goldberg Variations. No passion, no zest - it will put even the most ardent Bach fan to sleep (it put me to sleep, and this is the WTC - that shouldn't be possible, as it so lively and vital, but not under the fingers of Schwan).

Listen at your own peril (or if you want to fall asleep).

Need, to get that WTC out of my head, so now I am listening to Richter - can't go wrong there.

I listened to the first prelude and fugue, and you're absolutely right.
He wasn't doing Bach, he was doing Gounod's Lullaby. And the fugue was all wrong: one voice with backup singers, not a multi-voice passing around the theme.

The current top comment on Youtube sums up what was wrong, talking about "Zen like mystique". Although the person who wrote it meant it as praise.

[Linz]

Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 1  in D major
Hector Berlioz Romeo and Juliet, Dramatic Symphony Op.17
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini

[hopefullytrusting]

Another possibility for my next science experiment: Liszt's Gnomenreigen

Elizabeth Levine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prpOd60ZuAQ
Kemruji Songthumjitti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04J6r2pS1Cc

[Mister Sharpe]

My wife says I'm to look at the news less and listen to music more and that's fine by me.  Picked this up today at the resale shop, despite Kremer's presence (I often find his playing too steely for my taste), but as I suspected that works just fine in the Shostakovich.  As for Tchaikovsky, we shall have to see... 

[Brian]

Atterberg's Sixth. It's been too long, old friend!

My wife says I'm to look at the news less and listen to music more and that's fine by me.

Can she order all of us to do the same? 

[Mister Sharpe]

Atterberg's Sixth. It's been too long, old friend!

Can she order all of us to do the same? 

She will make all of you bow and scrape to her bidding (but all the while you will be happy to do so if only for her cooking, not to mention her kindness, thoughtfulness, and unfailing cheer even in the face of adversity...).  BTW, I heard Atterberg's 3rd yesterday on the radio and was most impressed.

[Todd]

[hopefullytrusting]

Love this disc!

And the pianist is an amazing interview, in my opinion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvkU8fc7oRc

[Todd]

Love this disc!

And the pianist is an amazing interview, in my opinion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvkU8fc7oRc

Abduraimov is a phenomenal pianist.  I've been able to hear in person once so far, and he knows how to put on a show.  I've bookmarked the interview for leisurely viewing later.

[Harry]

She will make all of you bow and scrape to her bidding (but all the while you will be happy to do so if only for her cooking, not to mention her kindness, thoughtfulness, and unfailing cheer even in the face of adversity...).  BTW, I heard Atterberg's 3rd yesterday on the radio and was most impressed.

He is also one of my favourites. But as with the rest of us, it was a long long time ago that I heard them. and there are so many others waiting in line.......