What are you listening 2 now?

[Todd]

Straight run-through this time.

[DavidW]

My streamer arrived yesterday, snap to set up. I listened to Chailly M9:

[brewski]

A fabulous concert from two days ago, available here:

l'Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Pascal Rophé, conductor
Stéphane Degout, baritone

Bára Gísladóttir: sea sons seasons (2026, world premiere)
Mahler: Fünf frühe Lieder (orch. Berio)
Berio: Sinfonia

[Spotted Horses]

Beethoven String Quartet No 11, Op 95 (Serioso)

Takacs Quartet, Calidor Quartet, Budapest Quartet (mono)

First of all, a lovely succinct work. A great work from start to finish. The latter part of the second movement has a particular intensity.

The Takacs Quartet and the Calidor Quartet were both very satisfying, and their interpretation of the work didn't differ dramatically (to my mind). The Calidor had the disadvanage that I found the audio somewhat overbright. The Budapest (early 50's mono recording) stood out. Generally broader tempo choices, extremely secure technically, deeply felt, and the intense passages in the slow movement were otherworldly. Thoroughly enjoyed, despite the technical limitations of the recording.

[Todd]

[brewski]

Helena Munktell: Bränningar (1919) (Aurora Ensemble, recorded February 2025). Quite a find. The performance is very good, though the recording sounds a little boxed in, and given the Zemlinsky-like expansiveness of the piece, it deserves an acoustic that lets Munktell's lines soar. Never mind, still worth hearing. (Thanks to @Judith for putting this on my radar.)

[André]

What do you think about the cycle from Wilhelm Backhaus with Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt (Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra)?

I have that. It's coupled with the VC (one of the best) and Schmidt-Isserstedt's Beethoven symphony cycle. I like it a lot: gruff and bluff (Backhaus) but also quite poetic. What I like about it is that pianist and conductor don't attempt a synthesis of these qualities (quite impossible), nor do they favour one side over the other. Beethoven was a Janus-like character and this is what we get with them.

[brewski]

Coming up in a few minutes, live from Cincinnati:

Cristian Mӑcelaru, conductor
Tessa Lark, violin
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra 

Carlos Simon: Tales: A Folklore Symphony
Lisa Bielawa: PULSE for violin and orchestra 
Copland: "Variations on a Shaker Melody" from Appalachian Spring 
Dvořák: Symphony No. 7