What are you listening 2 now?

[Linz]

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op.125
Choral Movement, Agnes Giebel (soprano), Christa ludwig (mezzo soprano),Richrd Lewis (tenor) Walter Berry (baritone) Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra
Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

English Guitar Concertos.

[VonStupp]

Malcolm Arnold
Oboe Concerto, op. 39
Trumpet Concerto, op. 25

Gordon Hunt, oboe
John Wallace, trumpet
Bournemouth SO - Norman Del Mar

For some reason, the Decca Malcolm Arnold Edition set doesn't included the composer's Oboe and Trumpet Concertos, instead providing the jolly Oboe Concertino op. 28a, so I thought I would search them out.

In comparison to the symphonies, each concerto is akin to a wee divertimento, the Trumpet Concerto particularly brief and light, while the Oboe Concerto is a little more serious of tone.

VS

[Todd]

10/3.

[VonStupp]

I must admit I've struggled to 'get' Arnold's 7th Symphony.  I think the whole "portraits of my children" thing is such a curious curve-ball that sends the listener off on a potentially misleading path.  Certainly the pervading spirit of the work seems about as un-childlike/innocent/untroubled as can be - even allowing for the fact that one of his children did struggle with nurodivergent issues.  To my ear some of the performances likewise struggle interpretively to reconcile the notes on the page with that narrative.  The version that 'opened the door' for me and made me feel that this was indeed one of his finest symphonic works is this one;



This is an unapologetically brutal often agressive reading that is more a portrait of Arnold's own troubled state at the time of writing rather than of his family.  Really well played and recorded and with couplings of equally unsettled and unsettling works.  This is Arnold about as far away from the cheery persona of the English Dances or St. Trinians as it is possible to get.  Yes - a great work for sure......

Having just heard Handley's recording of Arnold's 7th, your words strike a similar path to my feelings regarding the work. Going forward, I don't know if I would have first made the choice to go 'more brutal' listening to the symphony, but I will look at Yates' recording for the future.

All the Arnold Symphonies are great and all seem to be very personal statements/reactions to events around him at the time of composition.  Personally the one the works least well (that I engage with least) is No.6 - the 'jazz' element feels surprisingly forced and unconvincing to these ears.....

This one, though, I have little problem with. 

VS

[Karl Henning]

[JBS]

Live performances. That of Horizons is of its UK premiere, the other three of their world premieres. Maestra Leon's term as Composer in Residence ended this year.

Only one of the four seems to be available on Youtube. That performance was by the New England Conservatory.

[Todd]

Op 53.

[André]

I must admit I've struggled to 'get' Arnold's 7th Symphony.  I think the whole "portraits of my children" thing is such a curious curve-ball that sends the listener off on a potentially misleading path.  Certainly the pervading spirit of the work seems about as un-childlike/innocent/untroubled as can be - even allowing for the fact that one of his children did struggle with nurodivergent issues.  To my ear some of the performances likewise struggle interpretively to reconcile the notes on the page with that narrative.  The version that 'opened the door' for me and made me feel that this was indeed one of his finest symphonic works is this one;



This is an unapologetically brutal often agressive reading that is more a portrait of Arnold's own troubled state at the time of writing rather than of his family.  Really well played and recorded and with couplings of equally unsettled and unsettling works.  This is Arnold about as far away from the cheery persona of the English Dances or St. Trinians as it is possible to get.  Yes - a great work for sure......

Very interesting ! I'll try to get Yates, thanks for the tip. Do try to hear Arnold himself in the work. It's on YT.

[Linz]

George Szell Christmas Melodies and Intrveiws

[Symphonic Addict]

Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1

Stunning!

[andolink]

Enjoying some delightfully inventive 17th Century Italian chamber music, new from the Brilliant Classics label - -

Carlo Mannelli (1640-97): 14 Trio Sonatas, Op. 2

Ensemble Giardino di Delizie

[AnotherSpin]

J.S. Bach: The Motets
Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart
Helmuth Rilling

[Que]

The two titles, Aquitania and Shinig Light, contain the vocal art of 12th c. Aquitaine also known as St. Martial de Limoges. Together, these two discs contain a large cross-section of music from this fertile period in European musical life: 38 pieces, polyphonic and monophonic, in celebration of Christmas and the mystery of Incarnation.

[Que]

[Roasted Swan]

Very interesting ! I'll try to get Yates, thanks for the tip. Do try to hear Arnold himself in the work. It's on YT.

I know that version - I must admit I am not always convinced by all the Arnold conducts Arnold performances.  Some are superb - the EMI/CBSO Symphony No.5 is easily my favourite version of that great work - but I do wonder how many of the later performances are impacted more by his own personal mental health struggles rather than interpretative choices he would have made if these recordings dated from earlier in his life.  They are of course important to hear but possibly not 'definitive'?

[Roasted Swan]

Malcolm Arnold
Oboe Concerto, op. 39
Trumpet Concerto, op. 25

Gordon Hunt, oboe
John Wallace, trumpet
Bournemouth SO - Norman Del Mar

For some reason, the Decca Malcolm Arnold Edition set doesn't included the composer's Oboe and Trumpet Concertos, instead providing the jolly Oboe Concertino op. 28a, so I thought I would search them out.

In comparison to the symphonies, each concerto is akin to a wee divertimento, the Trumpet Concerto particularly brief and light, while the Oboe Concerto is a little more serious of tone.

VS

Most of Arnold's concerti are deliberately 'slighter' works - that's not a criticism simply an observation.  Curious that even the trumpet concerto for his "own" instrument is possibly the slightest of all! 

[Selig]

The two titles, Aquitania and Shinig Light, contain the vocal art of 12th c. Aquitaine also known as St. Martial de Limoges. Together, these two discs contain a large cross-section of music from this fertile period in European musical life: 38 pieces, polyphonic and monophonic, in celebration of Christmas and the mystery of Incarnation.

I simply love the Aquitanian song Veri solis radius featured on this recording.

[Madiel]

Vivaldi bassoon concertos



RV 494 in G major: as presented here a quite mellow work. The liner notes suggest it's leaning towards some Classical elements rather than being purely Baroque, and I kind of understand that.

RV 475 in C major: there are indications that Vivaldi originally planned a violin concerto but changed his mind. Stately rather than vigorous, with a haunting Adagio.

[Todd]