What are you listening 2 now?

[Spotted Horses]

Continuing with Gary Cooper's WTC I. The prelude and fugue in f minor are extraordinary.



Tried Bacewicz Concerto for Large Orchestra again, this time in the Chandos series. Again, no go. Both the cpo and Chandos series of Bacewicz Orchestral music have been consistently underwhelming for me. The chamber music (string quartets in particular) and music for small ensembles (for strings particularly) remains at the core of my love of Bacewicz' music.

[prémont]

Dances On Movable Ground.
Dances tunes from the Renaissance and Baroque.
Ensemble Ciaramella, Adam Knight Gilbert & Rotem Gilbert.
See details on the back cover.

A thoroughly enjoyable recording, in terms of the mix of the music, superb sounding authentic instruments, and musicians with the heart in the right place. Together they form a homogeneous ensemble, with a well balanced tone, and a fanaticism in approach to do right by the music. Succeed they do. A undervalued ensemble with an American base, who could easily match what is produced on European shores.
Superb recording. Try it.....

Often I don't need to purchase the recordings you recommend, because I own them already. E.g. this one  , where I fully agree with your words.

[prémont]

I haven't been able to warm up to this... One more attempt before I return to Kernoa!

Neither am I too happy about it, but you know - completism 

[Todd]

Year 1.

[Maciek]

How sad. As some of you may know, Jonathan Powell was a member of this forum (though he hadn't posted for years). He did not hide his identity, but was very modest - to the extent that I think many may have not realized it was him.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Rimsky-korsakoff

Sheherazade

The complete RCA recordings, that isunfortunately not the case, this one is in any case missing



Listening now to this recording.....

I don't know the particular recording with San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, but I think that many of his old/mono recordings with SFSO sound very good!

[AnotherSpin]

[Florestan]

Norman Lebrecht says "he died suddenly". Other than that I could find no information.

https://slippedisc.com/2026/01/death-of-an-original-british-pianist-56/

Anyway, RIP.

[Iota]

Volume IV contains a selection of 19 motets arranged according the liturgical year, including five motets by Clemens non Papa. Disc 1 opens with a terrific piece by Thomas Crequillon.

Review by Stephen Midgley

That disc was the first time I ever listened to the Egidius Kwartet, and I was absolutely blown away by the Thomas Crequillon too. Time to pay it a visit, it's been ages, thanks for the prompt!

I just read the devastating news that pianist Jonathan Powell died on December 27th. I will always cherish attending his NY performance of Sorabji's Opus Clavicembalisticum in 2004. I met him before the concert, and we had a nice conversation about the work and our shared fear of flying. He was quite touched that I flew from CA to NY just for the concert. In addition to being a super-human pianist, he was also a great humanitarian. Although British-born, he lived in Poland, and when the war with Russia broke out, he and his family took in numerous Ukrainian refugees over the years. He and his artistry will be deeply missed. I will listen to this outstanding recording throughout the day today in his honor.

Very sorry to hear that. RIP

[Traverso]

I don't know the particular recording with San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, but I think that many of his old/mono recordings with SFSO sound very good!

I have no problems with the sound of the recordings.I didn't purchase this box for the sound quality,no complaints here.

[Linz]

Anton Bruckner Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, 1872 First concept version. Ed. William Carragan [2005]
Altomonte Orchester St. Florian, Rémy Ballot

[Linz]

Ludwig van Beethoven Die Weihe des Hauses Overture, Op.124
Egmont Overture, Op.84
Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 "Pastoral"
Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I don't know the particular recording with San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, but I think that many of his old/mono recordings with SFSO sound very good!

Weird, the Living Stereo Scheherazade is missing in the set. I love Monteux!


P.s. I like his Debussy recordings with San Francisco SO.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Casella.

[Todd]

[Philo]

"One Bruckner 9 to rule them all, One Bruckner 9 to find them, One Bruckner 9 to bring them all and in the darkness bind them."

[Todd]

"One Bruckner 9 to rule them all, One Bruckner 9 to find them, One Bruckner 9 to bring them all and in the darkness bind them."

It is an extraordinary recording to be sure, but not sure about the one to rule them all.  Furtwangler's wartime recording and Giulini's DG are certainly up there.  Probably Schuricht, too.

You can always browse https://www.abruckner.com/downloads/downloadofthemonth/ for free download versions to find hidden gems.

[Todd]

I also have a heavy bias regarding Honeck (his is the only Mozart 41 I can tolerate), so that may be also playing a role in how much I value this recording.

Honeck is certainly one of the better conductors performing and recording nowadays, especially in core Germanic rep.  I haven't heard his Mozart, but my inclinations prejudice me to think he can't possibly best Krips or Beecham.  Perhaps I should find out.

[Linz]

Anton Bruckner symphony no. 8 in C Minor, 1887/90 Mixed Versions. Ed. Robert Haas
Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-orchster, Günter Wand

[VonStupp]

Malcolm Arnold
Grand Concerto Gastronomique, op. 76
Liepāja SO - John Gibbons

Eyes twinkling and smiles abounding in this suite.
VS