What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[dtwilbanks]

It seems I had no Schubert C string quintet.

Now I do...



I liked their Brahms so much, I bought this too.

[Harry]

It seems I had no Schubert C string quintet.

Now I do...



I liked their Brahms so much, I bought this too.

Very good recording!

[bhodges]

Joan Tower: Made in America (Slatkin/Nashville Symphony Orchestra) - Written for full orchestra, a fantasy on the song, "America the Beautiful," and rather stirring--perhaps unexpectedly.  Excellent playing by the Nashville group.

Now from the same CD, Tambor, showing off Tower's love of percussion.  For what it's worth, her language is quite tonal, and I suspect she might have more fans after this recording.



--Bruce

[karlhenning]

Sibelius
Tapiola, Opus 112
Danish Radio Symphony
Segerstam

[BachQ]

Liszt, Hungarian Rhapsodien (Dichter).

[Kullervo]

Violin Concerto, Violin Sonata — on first listen the former is much more reticent than the latter, but I'm sure it will grow on me.

[Bogey]

[George]

[Dancing Divertimentian]

[The new erato]

I've just started slogging through the Alfven symphonic box on BIS. I fear it will be a tough ride, but I've decided I need to hear this stuff at least once. A continuation of last winters project with the Atterberg and Petterson-Berger symphonic sets from cpo.

[Harry]

I've just started slogging through the Alfven symphonic box on BIS. I fear it will be a tough ride, but I've decided I need to hear this stuff at least once. A continuation of last winters project with the Atterberg and Petterson-Berger symphonic sets from cpo.

For what its worth my friend, the Naxos recordings are far better in tempi, and interpretation. The sound is also a tad better.
IMO Jarvi makes the music suck big time.
But I am interested in your findings, of course.

[The new erato]

For what its worth my friend, the Naxos recordings are far better in tempi, and interpretation. The sound is also a tad better.
IMO Jarvi makes the music suck big time.
But I am interested in your findings, of course.

At least the BIS is bit cheaper (on europadisc). And the sound seems very good.

[Mark]

For what its worth my friend, the Naxos recordings are far better in tempi, and interpretation. The sound is also a tad better.
IMO Jarvi makes the music suck big time.
But I am interested in your findings, of course.

Allow me to contradict, Harry. I've heard both cycles and think BIS the superior, sonically and intrepretively. But it's a close-run thing overall.

[Harry]

At least the BIS is bit cheaper (on europadisc). And the sound seems very good.

In the time that they were released, my equipment was not what it is today.
At that time I found the sound to be sluggish, recessed,  and thick, missing many details.
It all sounded like one extended Adagio.
But times have changed and my equipment too, and maybe things would be different, who knows.
Enjoy, and tell me what your findings are, listening through the collection.

[val]

HAYDN:    Symphonies 6, 7, 8  / Harnoncourt, Concentus Musicus

Splendid works, composed when Haydn was 29 years old. Harnoncourt offers a very picturesque version, also full of energy. The 2nd movement of the 7th Symphony seems, more than ever, an opera scene with the solo violin in the place of the human voice.

[The new erato]

In the time that they were released, my equipment was not what it is today.
At that time I found the sound to be sluggish, recessed,  and thick, missing many details.
It all sounded like one extended Adagio.
But times have changed and my equipment too, and maybe things would be different, who knows.
Enjoy, and tell me what your findings are, listening through the collection.

I've only listened to the Rhapsody on disc nr 1 but found the sound to be of BIS' usually impressive kind. What's REALLY impressed me the last few days though are Petterssons 6th symphony under Trojahn on cpo. I also would like to put in a good word for Julius Røntgens cello concertoes on Etcetera,  made me order the double CD with viola sonatas and songs on the same label.

[Harry]

I've only listened to the Rhapsody on disc nr 1 but found the sound to be of BIS' usually impressive kind. What's REALLY impressed me the last few days though are Petterssons 6th symphony under Trojahn on cpo. I also would like to put in a good word for Julius Røntgens cello concertoes on Etcetera,  made me order the double CD with viola sonatas and songs on the same label.

Right, if you say so. Then I will try this set again.
You are right, apart from the fact that the whole Pettersson cycle is soundwise almost perfect, the 6th is indeed a impressive work.
I bought the first instalment from CPO, who are recording the complete Orchestral output by Rontgen.
I think its impressive, allthought quite some people thought it a dead duck. David Porcelijn may not be the ideal conductor for his work, but all in all he did well, save from a few sluggish tempi.

[Harry]

Franz Schubert.

Complete Dances, Volume V.

Michael Endres, Piano.

The last cd in this box, and I can be quite clear about this set. In my 35 years of listening I never encountered a pianist with such a good inner feel for the piano works by Schubert. His Sonatas also by Endres, this feeling was even more apparent. All sides from Schubert come clearly to the fore with Endres, and without effort at all, the music flows out of his hands, like pearls through women's hands.
A excellent set on all counts.

[BachQ]

LvB PC 4 (Dimitris Sgouros / Czech Philharmonic / Sir Charles Mackerras)  0:)

[Harry]

Othmar Schoeck.

Prelude for Orchestra, opus 48.

Concerto for Horn and Strings, opus 65.

Serenade for Oboe, English Horn, and Strings, opus 27.

Suite for Strings in A flat major.

Bruno Schneider, Horn.
Silvia Zabarella, Oboe.
Musikkollegium Winterthur/Werner Andreas Albert.

The quality of the recording is in the first two works a bit recessed, and a tad hard, to follow the writing. From the opus 27 things get better, the sound is more open and detailed. A adequate front to back image, not ideal. The recording was made in 1995. And allthough the Orchestra has a long history, with many famous conductors, I did not find great merit in this body of musicians, but maybe that is only on this recording.

The Prelude is not a work I warm to, its fairly flat, and for me the coherence is hard to grasp. Its a commissioned work,  which Schoeck was unwilling to accept, but did it to oblige his generous patron.
The Horn Concerto is a much better work which reminded me in more than one way of Richard Strauss.
It is a well written showcase for the Horn, and in my ears very difficult to play, but Schneider seems to have no problems with it. I like it, not entirely, but most of it.
Opus 27 I think is a fabulous work, allthough short, and very untypical of the man, but great fun.
The A flat major, is a powerful and thickly scored work, that generates much passion, and a hefty intensity, especially in the first movement.
I am in two minds concerning these compositions save the opus 27.
Not that I dislike the instrumental work of Schoeck, of there is little, but I feel a sort of not interested notion behind his compositions, as if he were not really involved. Maybe the lieder compositions were his forte, for he came late for orchestral works.
However the second movement "Pastorale tranquillo" was much admired by Honegger, and I well understand that. The performance in my ears is to common, and at times harsh.
He deserves a better orchestra and sound recording.