Monthly Focus

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Monthly focus this month is
Tragic Overture
Brahms


Not as familiar with this one as I am the Academic Festival


Using
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Marek Janowski

I don't know it myself.  Truthfully, it's been a while since I've played an Brahms.  I should revisit his music.  In any event, so, what are your thoughts...impressions, etc.    I'd love to hear them!

PD

[Judith]

I don't know it myself.  Truthfully, it's been a while since I've played an Brahms.  I should revisit his music.  In any event, so, what are your thoughts...impressions, etc.    I'd love to hear them!

PD

Taking a bit of time to get to know compared with the Academic, but one the melodies become prominent, this work is worth knowing.

[Spotted Horses]

It seems to me that Brahms' Tragic is a rare work of Brahms of unalloyed intensity. I seem to recall van Beinum's Concertgebouw recording, and Boult's recording on EMI as making a strong impression.

[Holden]

It seems to me that Brahms' Tragic is a rare work of Brahms of unalloyed intensity. I seem to recall van Beinum's Concertgebouw recording, and Boult's recording on EMI as making a strong impression.

A beautifully intense work is Brahm's Alto Rhapsody.

[Judith]

Said goodbye to Brahms who was last months focus and hello to Beethoven for June.
Something a little different
String Quartet in F Minor opus 95

Endellion String Quartet
Not listened to any String Quartets for a while so thought I would give them a bit of love

[Judith]

Haven't chosen one for this month due to holidays so keeping with last months string quartet.   

[prémont]

It seems to me that Brahms' Tragic is a rare work of Brahms of unalloyed intensity. I seem to recall van Beinum's Concertgebouw recording, and Boult's recording on EMI as making a strong impression.

A beautifully intense work is Brahm's Alto Rhapsody.

Yes, and also for this work van Beinum's and Boult's (with Monica Sinclair) made a strong impression upon me.

[Judith]

Walton

Violin Concerto



Recording by

Joshua Bell

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

Conducted by David Zinman



When I heard it the other day,  thought that I would like to know it better

[Brian]

I'm visiting Minneapolis and St. Paul in a few weeks, so I thought it would be fun to listen to a bunch of Minnesota Orchestra/Minneapolis Symphony recordings from various eras of its history.



I think this will include my first ever listen to Dominick Argento as a composer.

Minnesota recommendations welcome!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I'm visiting Minneapolis and St. Paul in a few weeks, so I thought it would be fun to listen to a bunch of Minnesota Orchestra/Minneapolis Symphony recordings from various eras of its history.

I think this will include my first ever listen to Dominick Argento as a composer.

Minnesota recommendations welcome!

I've been wanting to check out the Vanska/Sibelius/Minnesota recordings.  Do you have access to any of those?

PD

[Brian]

I've been wanting to check out the Vanska/Sibelius/Minnesota recordings.  Do you have access to any of those?

PD

I've heard most of them on streaming. Some (like No. 2) are very eccentric, he really chooses odd tempos to explore whether they work. But the disc with 3/6/7 is totally wonderful and shows off the orchestra at its most beautiful and Vanska at his most relaxed*. I'd highly recommend that one.

*not meaning slow.

[DavidW]

I like the Vanska Mahler 10.

But Brian you have an ENORMOUS hole in your listening.  Skrowacezski led the orchestra for 19 years and really gave it the sound it has, not Vanska.  Come to think of it, I think I'll give this a listen today:

[VonStupp]

I think this will include my first ever listen to Dominick Argento as a composer.

Just gave a listen to two Argento recordings last week, although they were choral. I have seen Oue's recording before, but never gave it a listen. Will be curious as to your thoughts.

Argento does have his own lonely thread on GMG.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I've heard most of them on streaming. Some (like No. 2) are very eccentric, he really chooses odd tempos to explore whether they work. But the disc with 3/6/7 is totally wonderful and shows off the orchestra at its most beautiful and Vanska at his most relaxed*. I'd highly recommend that one.

*not meaning slow.

Thanks!

[Irons]

I like the Vanska Mahler 10.

But Brian you have an ENORMOUS hole in your listening.  Skrowacezski led the orchestra for 19 years and really gave it the sound it has, not Vanska.  Come to think of it, I think I'll give this a listen today:

Ravel recordings made with Skrowacezewski and his Minnesota orchestra are well worth hearing.

[Judith]

Monthly focus is Saint-Saëns piano concerto no 4.  Lovely concerto with all the emotion and quirkiness which is typical of this composer.  Feel 2nd movement has an element of organ symphony but maybe imagination.
Recording used
Stephen Hough

CBSO

Sakari Oramo

[Judith]

My focus this month is an overture that we are going to see performed live this month and I'm not very familiar with.
The Italian Girl in Algiers
Rossini

Recording that I'm using is asmf/Sir Neville Marriner

[Judith]

Well, focus for October is
Mozart Symphony no 9
Wanted something totally unfamiliar, thought of Mozart and I was born on a 9th.  Using recording
ASMF
Sir Neville Marriner

[Judith]

To finish the year, focus is
Haydn
Symphony no 44  Mourning

Only familiar with the slow movement so wanted to get to know the rest of it.

Using ASMF
Sir Neville Marriner

[DavidW]

My monthly focus is on Weinberg's string quartets.  Both last month and this month.