Composers You’d Like To Explore In 2020

[vers la flamme]

Dmitri Shostakovich, Malcolm Arnold, perhaps Ralph Vaughan Williams, Henri Dutilleux, György Ligeti, Richard Wagner (going to try and listen to the complete Ring this year, but we'll see), Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Sergei Rachmaninov, Ludwig van Beethoven (of course), Béla Bartók, Alexander Borodin, Paul Hindemith, perhaps Leoš Janáček, Antonín Dvořák ... I have a voracious appetite for music. 

[springrite]

TO be honest, musically, I am out of goals.

But since I bought the complete JSB, I think I will listen to all of them, with sufficient attention, this year.

[Ratliff]

No one in particular, just to pursue what attracts me. I have the notion to listen through Wagner's ring again and become more familiar with its structure, perhaps trying to get through both Karajan and Solti. Karajan is my official "favorite" and Solti is one that I respect but don't have much familiarity with.

[Mirror Image]

First of all, Happy New Year to each of you! Alright, let's get things started, what composers do you feel you need to get to know better or explore in this new year? Any listening plans?

Here are a few I want to get to know much better (in no particular order):

Benjamin Britten



In the past few months, I have become rather familiar with many of Britten's works that I didn't know too well or never even heard. I still have got some ways to go before I hear everything he's composed (I doubt I'll manage to do this but I can get close). There are many operas I haven't heard like Paul Bunyan, Gloriana, Owen Wingrave, Albert Herring, Billy Budd, amongst others. One of my major rediscoveries in December was the chamber opera, The Turn of the Screw, but my appreciation has also grown tremendously for the War Requiem, the string quartets, much of the vocal music, especially the folk song arrangements. Like I said, though, I still have quite a journey ahead of me. In making these discoveries and rediscoveries, I have a newfound admiration, love, and understanding of this multifaceted master.

Michael Tippett



I went through a huge Tippett phase many years ago and I became highly attuned to his enigmatic and sometimes aloof compositional style. From the early lyrical works to the knotty late works, I came to appreciate his music more than I did Britten at that particular time (of course, the table has turned drastically in Britten's favor). But, as I have found, Tippett is rather uneven and some of his music is just too complicated for its' own good, but he's a composer whose sense of melody, harmony, etc. I came to love. In 2020, I'd like to reassess his oeuvre (not all of it but a good portion of it for sure) and get to know this composer again.

Hector Berlioz



For me, Berlioz is one of the great masters of the Romantic Era. A blazingly astonishing composer with a unique compositional voice. I got into his music early in my listening, but I would like rekindle that flame. I have had the Berlioz Complete Warner set for months and haven't even cracked it open. I'm not sure what I'll listen to first, but I would like hear Les Troyens as this was one work I have been meaning to get around to for ages but just haven't found the time. Now's the time for Berlioz!

Olivier Messiaen



Messiaen is one tough nut to crack! But, honestly, I think my general approach to him has been completely wrong-headed. I own a ton of his music (numerous box sets on DG, Warner, Naive, and not to mention single issues), so, obviously, there's something there in his music that I like, but I just need to take my time and not rush it with Messiaen, because there's a good bit of his music that I'd consider a slow burn and it's supposed to be. Hopefully, 2020 will be my year for unlocking this 20th Century genius.

Scratch Messiaen (I've tried for years to like his music and it's just not for me) and put this man in his place:

Leonard Bernstein



I've always held Bernstein's conducting in high esteem, but I never really got around to exploring his own music in any depth aside from works like West Side Story, the symphonies, On the Waterfront, the Mass, and Serenade (after Plato's Symposium). I haven't heard any of the solo piano music, chamber music, or songs nor have I really listened to any of his operas. I own a good many recordings of his own music, but with the arrival of the Complete Works box set on Deutsche Grammophon, I'm going to listen to every nook and cranny of his oeuvre. Really looking forward to it!

[San Antone]

Scratch Messiaen (I've tried for years to like his music and it's just not for me) and put this man in his place:

Leonard Bernstein

I've always held Bernstein's conducting in high esteem, but I never really got around to exploring his own music in any depth aside from works like West Side Story, the symphonies, On the Waterfront, the Mass, and Serenade (after Plato's Symposium). I haven't heard any of the solo piano music, chamber music, or songs nor have I really listened to any of his operas. I own a good many recordings of his own music, but with the arrival of the Complete Works box set on Deutsche Grammophon, I'm going to listen to every nook and cranny of his oeuvre. Really looking forward to it!

The DG West Side Story with Kiri Te Kanawa and José Carreras is horrible, IMO; but I don't know what else is in that set.  There is also a Columbia box of his works, and that one might be more interesting to me since these are his original/seminal recordings of many of the works.

Leonard Bernstein - The Composer

[Mirror Image]

The DG West Side Story with Kiri Te Kanawa and José Carreras is horrible, IMO; but I don't know what else is in that set.  There is also a Columbia box of his works, and that one might be more interesting to me since these are his original/seminal recordings of many of the works.

Leonard Bernstein - The Composer

I own most of his recordings on Columbia, so that's why I didn't get that particular set --- the set I own is this one:



What's so bad about his DG recording of West Side Story? The casting doesn't look too good, IMHO, but I LOVE Bernstein's conducting as he got older. He did things a bit different in his DG recordings and I admire this and since this is his music, you can't get any more definitive then that. Also, there are many works that aren't in the Sony set simply because he was still composing well until his last days.

The only review on Amazon of the Complete DG set gives a great overview of the differences between the Sony and DG boxes:

[asin] B079J855TY[/asin]

[San Antone]

The operatic take on WSS is ponderous and pretentious, IMO; completely unsuited to the work.  Contrary to you, I prefer his earlier recordings on Columbia to what he did with his own music on DG.  It is my opinion that the older he got the more indulgent and self-important with the recordings of his own works he became.

[Mirror Image]

The operatic take on WSS is ponderous and pretentious, IMO; completely unsuited to the work.  Contrary to you, I prefer his earlier recordings on Columbia to what he did with his own music on DG.  It is my opinion that the older he got the more indulgent and self-important with the recordings of his own works he became.

Since you dislike it, I'll probably really enjoy it. Many of our own likings don't coincide very often.

[vandermolen]

More chamber music. Currently obsessed with John Foulds's Cello Sonata.

[Mirror Image]

More chamber music. Currently obsessed with John Foulds's Cello Sonata.

Are you familiar with Britten's chamber music, Jeffrey?

[vandermolen]

Are you familiar with Britten's chamber music, Jeffrey?

Not really John. Although I've heard the solo Cello Suite No.3 (I think that's what it's called). Would you recommend anything in particular?

[Mirror Image]

Not really John. Although I've heard the solo Cello Suite No.3 (I think that's what it's called). Would you recommend anything in particular?

Since you like the Simple Symphony, I'd recommend hearing it in the version for string quartet (I actually prefer it to the version for string orchestra). Of course, I'd listen to the rest of the Cello Suites, which are amazing. From there, String Quartets Nos. 1-3 are definitely worth your time as is the Cello Sonata. The Cello Sonata is a bit of a nut to crack but after several listens, it just gets better and better.

[vandermolen]

Since you like the Simple Symphony, I'd recommend hearing it in the version for string quartet (I actually prefer it to the version for string orchestra). Of course, I'd listen to the rest of the Cello Suites, which are amazing. From there, String Quartets Nos. 1-3 are definitely worth your time as is the Cello Sonata. The Cello Sonata is a bit of a nut to crack but after several listens, it just gets better and better.

Many thanks John.

[Mirror Image]

Many thanks John.

You're welcome, Jeffrey.

[ChopinBroccoli]

The operatic take on WSS is ponderous and pretentious, IMO; completely unsuited to the work.  Contrary to you, I prefer his earlier recordings on Columbia to what he did with his own music on DG.  It is my opinion that the older he got the more indulgent and self-important with the recordings of his own works he became.

Agree

I love Lenny but with both his own music and the music of others, his best work was the 1950s and 1960s ... old Lenny was practically a caricature

[ChopinBroccoli]

I have no plan but I'm reminded of an earlier convo months ago regarding Berlioz and how I had never really fallen for his music, the Symphonie Fantastique notwithstanding

It made me dig in to my collection and give my long-neglected Charles Munch/BSO CD of Harold in Italy and selected overtures another try (since I'm a big fan of Munch) and I have to say I have warmed to it considerably...  obviously, performance of that rare quality and bravura certainly helps but I find I do in fact enjoy the nuts and bolts of the pieces more than previously ... it gets under the skin nicely

[Mirror Image]

I have no plan but I'm reminded of an earlier convo months ago regarding Berlioz and how I had never really fallen for his music, the Symphonie Fantastique notwithstanding

It made me dig in to my collection and give my long-neglected Charles Munch/BSO CD of Harold in Italy and selected overtures another try (since I'm a big fan of Munch) and I have to say I have warmed to it considerably...  obviously, performance of that rare quality and bravura certainly helps but I find I do in fact enjoy the nuts and bolts of the pieces more than previously ... it gets under the skin nicely

Munch is one of the overrated conductors I've heard. I never wanted to hear any of his recordings again after I heard them the first-time. In fact, Munch wasn't much of anything on the podium. Perhaps a paperweight. That's about it.

[bhodges]

I have no plan but I'm reminded of an earlier convo months ago regarding Berlioz and how I had never really fallen for his music, the Symphonie Fantastique notwithstanding

It made me dig in to my collection and give my long-neglected Charles Munch/BSO CD of Harold in Italy and selected overtures another try (since I'm a big fan of Munch) and I have to say I have warmed to it considerably...  obviously, performance of that rare quality and bravura certainly helps but I find I do in fact enjoy the nuts and bolts of the pieces more than previously ... it gets under the skin nicely

Another Munch fan here, especially in French music. (Missing a scholarly pal who died in early 2019, who felt the same.)

Not a big fan of Harold (so far), but maybe Munch would change my mind. I like his recordings of Debussy, Ravel, and Saint-Saëns.

--Bruce

[ChopinBroccoli]

Another Munch fan here, especially in French music. (Missing a scholarly pal who died in early 2019, who felt the same.)

Not a big fan of Harold (so far), but maybe Munch would change my mind. I like his recordings of Debussy, Ravel, and Saint-Saëns.

--Bruce

Likewise.  Love all those.  His Daphnis is a thrill

Also, my condolences with regard to your friend

[ChopinBroccoli]

Munch is one of the overrated conductors I've heard. I never wanted to hear any of his recordings again after I heard them the first-time. In fact, Munch wasn't much of anything on the podium. Perhaps a paperweight. That's about it.

Great conductor, made great records