What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

"Good morning" all!

Starting my listening this morning with a set of Buxtehude's Harpsichord Works. A complete set played by Simone Stella, a very talented harpsichord player, that made quite a impression with this set. Some 20 of my musical friends bought this set too, and I get excellent feedback! Some things in their reviews were, sparkling, invigorating, playful, capricious, well paced, a good sense of rhythm, insight in shaping out of little, much, etc. I agree in all that, and would like to add, his sense of elegance and presentation which is impressive. He uses a harpsichord based on a Ruckers, Antwerp 1638. and it sounds delicious.

Volume III.

Aria's Suites, Canzona's, Toccata's.

[Sadko]

Janacek

Chamber Works

Mikhail Rudy, piano
Pierre Amoyal, violin
Gary Hoffman, cello
Solistes de l'Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Paris
Charles Mackerras

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++

[Conor71]

Haydn: String Quartet No. 43 In D Major, Op. 50/6, H 3/49, "Frog"

Doing a bit of homework for the Haydn SQ blind listening followed up by Martha Argerich's performances of Liszt Sonata In B Minor and Schumann's Sonata No. 2.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Volume IV from this fine series.

Trios for Fortepiano, violin and Cello. Hoboken. XV: 21-23.

All is well on this disc, I particularly like the sound of the Fortepiano after Matthaus Heilmann c. 1790, built by Derek Adlam 1978. Robust but yet capable of whispering soft notes in my ear. The playing is vigorous, and very much alive in presentation. Not a dull moment here. Considering the budget price for the complete set, almost a must buy item.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

It takes some time to crack "Odysseus" A Symphony for large Orchestra, opus 16, by Heinrich von Herzogenberg, but then the delights are streaming in. Such a melodious and grand work, with so much to admire, and so much to find in terms of orchestration. But the sheer overpowering of a perfect balance in music and rhythm, and the well dosed emotional flares throughout the composition, is the real discovery. Such a mature work, and so unexpected, after listening to his Chamber music. It must be added also that the Orchestra, led by Beermann is a lucky match, and the recording does them proud.   

[mc ukrneal]

Volume 2 of the Smetena 'series' on Chandos. It's got orchestral excerpts from the Bartered Bride, Two Widows, Devil's Wall, etc. I definitely prefer this volume to the first one (so I would start there if you are considering this). Excellent performances.
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[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Volume 2 of the Smetena 'series' on Chandos. It's got orchestral excerpts from the Bartered Bride, Two Widows, Devil's Wall, etc. I definitely prefer this volume to the first one (so I would start there if you are considering this). Excellent performances.
[asin]B002866UL2[/asin]

Agreed Neal!

[Cato]

While painting a hallway and a bathroom (2 coats)     



Marvelous Steve Mehul     simply rocks!

And...



Symphonies II, IV, V, and VII by Johnny "Klang" Kalliwoda:       wonderful "unknown" works!

[North Star]

Brahms
Late piano pieces
Stephen Kovacevich
[asin]B000BV5RCY[/asin]

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

For the last time this year, these CD's will visit my player. I have heard them often enough, praised them enough, and have a fair assessment of its merits. The performances are to my ears perfectly satisfying, as is the recording. The fact that the solo instruments are not amplified to raise them above the orchestra is a huge plus, it makes for a very integrated sound overall. The oneness created thus is soothing to the ears, and beneficial to the interpretation as a whole. So I end my note, on stating that if you are looking for a period instruments recording, this one should be on your list.

Concerto for Fortepiano and Orchestra in D major.
For Organ and Orchestra in C major No 10 & 8 in C major.
For Harpsichord and Orchestra in F major.

[PaulR]

.
[asin]B0001LYG3A[/asin]

[Philoctetes]

Simply astonishing.

[asin]B0001XAO66[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

For the last time this year, these CD's will visit my player. I have heard them often enough, praised them enough, and have a fair assessment of its merits. The performances are to my ears perfectly satisfying, as is the recording. The fact that the solo instruments are not amplified to raise them above the orchestra is a huge plus, it makes for a very integrated sound overall. The oneness created thus is soothing to the ears, and beneficial to the interpretation as a whole. So I end my note, on stating that if you are looking for a period instruments recording, this one should be on your list.

Concerto for Fortepiano and Orchestra in D major.
For Organ and Orchestra in C major No 10 & 8 in C major.
For Harpsichord and Orchestra in F major.

A mighty fine recording, Harry.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

A mighty fine recording, Harry.

Indeed Karl, it is!

[North Star]

Schumann
Symphony no. 4
Zinman & Tönhalle Zürich
[asin]B0007PLKS4[/asin]

[Sadko]

Schumann: Davidsbündlertänze
Schubert: Wanderer-Fantasie

Anatol Ugorski

[Sergeant Rock]

Jean-Phillipe Rameau, various pieces for harpsichord, played by Gustav Leonhardt




Sarge

[Karl Henning]

I'm jealous, Sarge! I am impatient for the US release of that Leonhardt box. I've got the Louis Couperin disc as a singleton, and I love it.

Reminds me that I meant to respond to another post of your'n . . . .

[Lisztianwagner]

On Youtube, now:

Leonard Bernstein
Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story"

Leonard Bernstein
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

[Opus106]

Jean-Phillipe Rameau, various pieces for harpsichord, played by Gustav Leonhardt

Sarge

Nice! I just (and I mean just) finished ripping that and the Couperin disc. Now all that remains is tagging the files and then playing them. The nice surprises/discoveries for me from the disc were Royer and Duphly... such beautiful pieces.