What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[karlhenning]

Lovely pieces, dtw!

[SonicMan46]

Good day to all after our 'lost in cyberspace' weekend - glad Rob got us back! 

Couple of listens to the discs below over the weekend - outstanding performances & recordings!

Palestrina Lamentations w/ Baker & the Westminster Choir on Hyperion.

Bach JS Cantatas (1, 126, & 127) w/ Suzuki & Bach Collegium Japan - this is a SACD, but unfortunately I don't have the equipment -    Still fantastic in 2-channel stereo! 

 

[dtwilbanks]

Lovely pieces, dtw!

I agree.

[karlhenning]

Palestrina Lamentations w/ Baker & the Westminster Choir on Hyperion.

Oh, that must be lovely for Holy Week!

[karlhenning]

Tippett
Sosostris's Aria from The Midsummer Marriage
Alfreda Hodgson, Alto
English Northern Philharmonia
The composer conducting

[dtwilbanks]

[Que]

For the non-cognescenti: these are performances on period instruments (HIP).
My first impression wasn't very favourable - a rather "bare" and distant recording (1985) with an rather anaemic, thin sounding, fortepiano. Cranking up the volume did a lot of good. Colourful wind playing, but also a bit scruffy at times.
Nice, but no unqualified recommendation.

Q

[karlhenning]

And, because it's always fresh:

Hindemith
Konzertmusik, Opus 49 (brass, two harps & piano)

[FideLeo]

Inventive concertante music by the Darmstadt court composer Christoph Graupner.  JS Bach would never have become the Cantor in Leipzig if Graupner had accepted the job offer.  A cheap disc, but what excellent music, sound and performance.

[orbital]

[SonicMan46]

Oh, that must be lovely for Holy Week!

Karl - I've listened to the Palestrina disc three times since its arrival - totally relaxing & beautiful - just well done by Hyperion - for those who may be interested in a purchase, MusicWeb has an excellent REVIEW -    Dave

[orbital]

My exploration week continues with yet anothr composer I am listening for the first time 


A symphony very much in the tradition of late romantic tone poems. I don't think I'd listen to it very often.

ps-the picture is small: It is Respighi's Sinfonia Drammatica on Chandos with BBC Symph and Edward Downes

[bhodges]

My exploration week continues with yet anothr composer I am listening for the first time 


A symphony very much in the tradition of late romantic tone poems. I don't think I'd listen to it very often.

ps-the picture is small: It is Respighi's Sinfonia Drammatica on Chandos with BBC Symph and Edward Downes

Although I haven't heard this piece, do consider hearing any, or all three, of The Pines of Rome, Fountains of Rome, or Feste Romane.  There is a great Naxos recording with all three conducted by Enrique Batiz in brilliant sound--quite a bargain.

--Bruce

[Mark]

My exploration week continues with yet anothr composer I am listening for the first time 


A symphony very much in the tradition of late romantic tone poems. I don't think I'd listen to it very often.

ps-the picture is small: It is Respighi's Sinfonia Drammatica on Chandos with BBC Symph and Edward Downes

I have the Naxos version of this monumental work - stirring stuff indeed, say I.

[Harry]

Would like to know your findings.

[dtwilbanks]

Would like to know your findings.

I'm a satisfied customer. I was able to listen to part of the 3rd, and it was very good.

[Mark]

Inspired by reading earlier today of Paganini's apparently astonishing feats of violin virtuosity, I'm now playing this (less-than-terrifically-captured) recording from Naxos:



Can't say I'm a big Pag fan, but his 24 Caprices are possibly the most incredible works for solo violin since Bach's. These Concerti, by contrast, are no more exciting than those of Vieuxtemps.

[pjme]

"Heavy " evening ( after the Johan Ludwig Bach Motetten yesterday..):

A symphony by Wallingford Riegger - nr 4 from 1956. On the First edition label. Difficult - even if this is not a sad or dramatic work. Schoenbergian - yes, but almost "giocoso" . It is propably extremely difficult to perform and although the Louisville orchestra (under Whitney) play well, a more virtuoso & lighter approach isn't unthinkable.I'm definitely going back.



An even bigger symphony ( ca 35 mins) by (conductor) Raphael Kubelik - "Orphicon" - a symphony for large orchesra in 3 movements. No atonality here. A strange brew, somewhere between late Romanticism, early Bartok and Hindemith, Mahler/Bruckner... - I guess...Very classy performance by the Bavarian Radio SO conducted by the composer ( rec. ca 1986). It is bold statement, intricate orchestration, technically very professional & assured. I found it difficult however, maybe diffuse, without a really clear character. Another listen is necessary.

[orbital]

Although I haven't heard this piece, do consider hearing any, or all three, of The Pines of Rome, Fountains of Rome, or Feste Romane.  There is a great Naxos recording with all three conducted by Enrique Batiz in brilliant sound--quite a bargain.

--Bruce

Thanks Bruce, I know this is not his most popular work. I will investigate those other pieces. I am listening to alot of new composers these days, and trying to keep a short list of which composers to go after. For example playing right now it is Dohnanyi: C major sextet. Much more my cup of tea 

I have the Naxos version of this monumental work - stirring stuff indeed, say I.

It is, but I stil have problems with long, over the top symphonic music. I prefer more concise music I guess 

[Drasko]