What are you listening 2 now?

[JBS]

TD


The two Rhapdodies and the First Symphony.

I have the Chandos set, but it's been so long since I last listened to it that I have no real memory of these symphonies.

[Symphonic Addict]

I keep meaning to play this, so it is good to be prompted! Appreciate the intro...

Listening now!

Will have to add this to my list of composers to check out.

PD

Hoping you have enjoyed them.

[Symphonic Addict]

Some composers had the real gift to write music filled with good humor in spades, some with more ease than others. The Danish Knudaage Riisager was one of those guys with a magical spark in his life and he demonstrated it in his works. This CD exemplifies that in the best possible way. I was revisiting it and I was absolutely, totally, wholly delighted by each of these works. WOW, exhilarating falls short to describe the feelings!! It includes the suites of three of his ballets (Slaraffenland, Darduse and the dances from Tolv med Posten) + his Concertino for trumpet, all of these works having a delightful Neoclassical touch. Not only is the music vivacious, tongue-in-cheek, witty to the core, but also stunningly orchestrated. This man knew his stuff for sure. A few numbers portray more beauty, and I mean, beauty that manages to bewitch to some extent (at least it did for me), e.g. Princess Sweets from Slaraffenland's Suite No. 1 (guess which composer's music it resembles) and even more ravishing, the Pas de deux from the Suite No. 2... simply amazing. I regret the complete ballets on this disc hadn't been recorded yet, but hopefully they will. If you're looking for music that lifts your spirits, this is the perfect alternative. I think this is the most compelling disc devoted to this composer. Warmly recommended.






BTW, the disc above also appears on a different incarnation, but with a less attractive cover art:

[ritter]

Listening to Gian Francesco Malipiero's song cycle Le stagioni italiche, performed by the Vansìsiem Lied Duo (soprano Paola Camponovo and pianist Alfredo Blessano).

CD2 of this set:



A very ambitious work, lasting 40 minutes, consisting of four songs (with long stretches for the piano on its own) based on poetry from the Middle Ages (Brunetto Latini) to the 20th century (Gabriele D'Annunzio). I am finding this superb! It's from 1924, in Malipiero's "autumnal" mood, but with a rich variety of invention and expressiveness.

I must admit I don't really warm to the voice of Signora Camponovo, but Signor Blessano is most convincing at the keyboard.

[Linz]

John Field Piano Concerto No. 2 in A flat major, H31 Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, H32, Andreas Staier, Concerto Koln, David Stern

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Vaughan Williams' "A Sea Symphony" with Previn, Harper, Shirley-Quirk and forces on RCA.

PD