What are you listening 2 now?

[Madiel]

Beethoven: Piano sonata in E flat, op.7 (again)



The timing of the 1st movement between Kovacevich and Jando is very similar, and yet the sense of drive in Kovacevich's performance is enormously greater. Which is definitely a good thing. Even if he occasionally makes me feel like I'm going to fall off the edge of my seat, for this movement that's preferable to feeling static. Allegro molto e con brio is the description, and with Kovacevich it's definitely brio.

His faster 2nd movement Largo is probably better too. I've no idea whether it fits within the notional metronome marking for a Largo, but this is another movement where a certain degree of momentum is preferable. But maybe he's pushing a tiny bit too much? Again, probably better to err in that direction.

There's a chance my 3rd recording will hit the Goldilocks zone between the two...

[Harry]

THE FRENCH KING'S FLAUTISTS.
MUSIC BY BLAVET, HOTTЕTERRE, DORNEL, BRAUN. AND LECLAIR.
DAN LAURIN. Recorder
MOGENS RASMUSSEN, Viola da gamba
LEIF MEYER, Harpsichord.

Never was a fan of the recorder, but since my equipment change I now hear the real benefits of this instrument. This recording from 1995 still fits the bill in all respects. Fine performances by all participants, afterall Laurin was and still is a legend on the recorder. The BIS sound is still a reference, and well balanced. Interesting composers too, their notes get a excellent outing.

[Florestan]

[Todd]

[Mookalafalas]

[Traverso]

Mozart

Symphonies 20-21-22 & 23

[Harry]

Anders Nilsson. (1954-****)
Piano concerto/Symphony No.4/Zarah Suite/ Chaconne for Piano solo.
Martin Sturfält, Piano. Samuel Coppin, Cello, Västeras Sinfonietta, Eva Ollikainen, Gabor Takacs-Nagy.



A composer of which I only sighted one CD on Qobuz, so well known he is not. Too modern for most I guess, but his sound world fascinates me, utterly I might add. to start with his Piano concerto, what a fiesta of sounds and colours and concentration in building a musical structure. And this resumé can be applied to the rest of the works too. Superb performances, and sublime sound, it certainly tastes for more. Amazing really.

[Traverso]

Mozart

Serenade  in D KV 204/213a
Divertimento in B flat KV 287/217h

[Mister Sharpe]

Robert Russell Bennett (1894– 1981).
Orchestral works.
Concerto (1941) in A major, ('In the Popular Style') for Violin and Orchestra.
Hexapoda (1940), Five Studies in Jitteroptera, for Violin and Piano.

Vernon Duke [Vladimir Alexandrovich Dukelsky] (1903– 1969).
Concerto (c. 1941 –43), for Violin and Orchestra, Violin part edited by Ruth Posselt.

Chloë Hanslip, Violin.
Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton conductor & Piano.

What can I say other than spectacular! It would cover all other things I could say, and that would do full justice to the music on this disc. First thing I would like to add to that, is the SOTA sound, produced by Chandos. I can't possibly get any better as this. It is as if you are sitting in the concert hall itself, acoustically in the best place possible. There is not a crumble of detail, however small, that you will miss, every punch of the timpani resides in your stomach. Both Violin Concertos on this disc, are to my ears belonging to the top tier. I thoroughly enjoyed them, and could listen endlessly to them. They encompass all spheres on the musical cosmos, and believe me the whole gamut is passing by it which there are so many expressions, that every moment becomes a precious moment even if it lasts only a few minutes, like in the Hexapoda's. Chloe Hanslip is a violinist to treasure, she sails through the difficult scores with ease and confidence, without as much as batting her eyelashes. And Litton is to be applauded for running this orchestra to the top of their possibilities, they deliver and how!
Recommended, of course!

Bennett's VC is one of my favorite things in all the world, Harry. I have this, of course, but it looks like I'm going to have to get Hanslip's recording, you budget destroyer! (and esteemed connoisseur!)

[hopefullytrusting]

Today, I start out with the work that is probably most associated with Scriabin - his Piano Sonata No. 9. Today, played by Simon Nicholls, from a private 1983 recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiNkpWAKP34

You can tell from the get-go that this is a composer possessed with his full powers - it is bold and confident right from the start - it grips you with its intensity and it doesn't let go - its piercing trills create a soundscape that fully envelops the listener - this is almost playing in 3D, conceptually. Even if you cannot see the colors, you can imagine them as he was making his way through the work - their hues - their thickness, all deep and lush, maroonish and the rest of the enblackened rainbow.

This is also the kind of recording that Scriabin would adore - arcane, hermetic, occult - a bootleg - a rumor - a pianist's pianist, and it is all of that and more. It is from 1983, so it has that fuzzy warmth that I adore from that era of recording, but not muddiness - it is clear, even as the notes amass and pile upon each other - accreting and never diminishing - just collecting and collecting until one might go mad from the inability to escape the music - it isn't noise, it never loses its melodic quality, but it will be felt inside your skull.

High recommendation.

[Harry]

Bennett's VC is one of my favorite things in all the world, Harry. I have this, of course, but it looks like I'm going to have to get Hanslip's recording, you budget destroyer! (and esteemed connoisseur!)

Well I feel esteemed by your words dear friend, destroyer and connoisseur in one breath, that's not everyday that I get such a great compliment    

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Debussy orchestral music. Munch/Paris.

[Mister Sharpe]

Well I feel esteemed by your words dear friend, destroyer and connoisseur in one breath, that's not everyday that I get such a great compliment    

You should be very proud, indeed, of both talents!

[Todd]

Going for the clean run-through of Op 33.

[SonicMan46]

Leclair, Jean-Marie - Violin Sonatas, Op. 3 & 12 w/ Chiara Banchini & John Holloway - new addition (2-CD set used from the Amazon MP) - despite being recordings from the late 1980s, these two play beautifully together and the sound is excellent.  Dave

ADDENDUM: nice review by Gio on Amazon now attached.

 

[ritter]

I bought this CD in 2020 (I know because Amazon Spain told me so when I searched for the cover image), but I think I never listened to it. It turns out the music of Claude Vivier is rather interesting...

[Irons]

Bax: 'In the Faery Hills'
RSNO Lloyd-Jones (Naxos)

Magical piece.

[Harry]

Giovanni Battista Dalla Gostena (1558?-1593)
Genus Cromaticum.
Organ Works, 1599.
18 Fantasias, plus Susane un jour, (Orlando di Lasso), Mais que sert la richesse a l'homme, (Guillaume Costeley, Pis ne me peult venir, (Thomas Crecquillon).
Irene De Ruvo plays on a Graziadio Antegnati Organ, 1565, Meantone temperament, (Mantova, Basilica di Santa Barbara)

Giovanni Battista Dalla Gostena is considered one of the most important composers of Genoa and has a key role in the Italian music history between the XVI and XVII century. He was born around 1558 in Genoa and began his studies at the musical chapel of San Lorenzo Cathedral in Genoa, and from 1570 to 1575 in Vienna. His musical output is really huge considered the short time of his activity (from 1582 to 1593) and includes instrumental works (28 pieces), canzonettas, several madrigals and 3 magnificats, printed after his death by his nephew Simone Molinaro. In 1612 two of his motets were included in the Promptuarium musicum, one of the most important musical collections in Europe, to emphasize the fame Dalla Gostena music still enjoyed.
The Organ is one of the finest Antegnati organs I know. Irene de Ruvo was unknown to me, and she delivers an adequate performance of music by a composer not often recorded. The sound is good, could have use a bit more air around the instrument, for it is closely miked.

[Florestan]

[Florestan]