What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[North Star]

Beethoven
String Quartet no. 13, Op. 130 (with Große Fuge)
Tokyo String Quartet
[asin]B005BZBY1I[/asin]

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD2 from the following twofer, another recent arrival for a first listen ...

[Papy Oli]

Good afternoon all 

Received yesterday following the heads-up by Tony :



Listened to the 1st movement yesterday evening, now picking up where I left it. No.38 sounds promising 

[mc ukrneal]

I've written here before about how it was Kiril Kondrashin who helped lure me to the 'dark side' and appreciate Mahler's world to its fullest. He recorded most of the cycle with the Leningrad Phil, but the sound is not the absolute best and the orhestra does have its moments (despite playing well). Well, I finally got ahold of him conducting the Concertgebouw in the 7th. And I must say, what a fantastic performance!!

It is live from 1979, and the timings of the movements are nearly identical to what he did with the Leningrad PO. What I like about Kondrashin is the way he is able to shape the line. Into that he blends a wonderful balance and texture that make this special. He also does the transitions well (part of the way he shapes the piece throughout). The last movement is fast - really fast. It is under 15.30, and is tremendously exciting. Yet, there is no lack of detail and everything seems in its place. It can be hard to find, but I think well worth it.

[Sergeant Rock]

Martinů  Symphony #5, Neumann conducting the Czech Phil




Sarge

[not edward]

Some interesting stuff in Karl Aage Rasmussen's "quote first, ask questions later" style.

[asin]B000009DG7[/asin]

Much of the music here is a dialogue with the past in a vein not unrelated to Berio's Sinfonia (in fact, Berio-Mask specifically takes the Berio out of the third movement of that work, then adds a layer of new music over what was left). Most often the music tends to a genial, comparatively easy-going vein--it's no coincidence that the first movement of Italian Concerto is named after Castiglioni--and to my ears it often works surprisingly well.

[Coopmv]

Back to early music, now playing the following CD, another recent arrival for a first listen ...

[Sergeant Rock]

Martinů  Symphony #6, Neumann conducting the Czech Phil




Sarge

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

CD 6 from this fine box.

Giuseppe Tartini.

Concerto Grosso No. 5, in C major. Transcription of the sonata opus 1, No. 5 by Giulio Meneghini, in three movements.

Well played and recorded (1994). Not terribly exciting but as background music it will do nicely. Its too leisurely for me, not much in the way of fireworks.

Concerto for Violin and orchestra "A Lunardo Venier" in A minor, in three movements.
In both concertos:
Enrico Gatti, violin.
Ensemble 415, Chiara Banchini.

The solo Violin is well done, very precise, lovely portamenti, enough fireworks written in them, but again they take the contemplative way in terms of interpretation, which is nice enough, but doesn't rock me from my chair. Sound is gorgeous.

[madaboutmahler]

His persistence has paid off. Daniel has finally convinced me to listen to the Rosenkavalier Suite    Thielemann conducting the boys from Vienna




This is a good way to get through Rosenkavalier in 20 minutes instead of 3 hours, and without all that annoying yodeling 


Sarge

haha, excellent!

[North Star]

How do you like this set?  Mine is still in its shrinkwrap after it arrived a few months ago ...

It is the only Tchai symphony set I own, but I like the interpretations very much, and the orchestra sounds gorgeous - definitely worth taking the wrapping off 

[North Star]

Nielsen
Symphonies 1, 2 & 4
Schonwandt & DNRSO
[asin]B005FF2U2Q[/asin]

[Coopmv]

It is the only Tchai symphony set I own, but I like the interpretations very much, and the orchestra sounds gorgeous - definitely worth taking the wrapping off 

I have 5 or 6 versions of the Complete Tchaikovsky Symphonies but this is the only all-Russian set I have ...

[Papy Oli]

"Sinfonietta" - Leos Janacek
Mackerras  / VPO

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Concerto for Violoncello, Harpsichord and String orchestra in G minor, in three movements.

Jean Guihen Queyras, Cello.
Freiburger Barockorchester, Petra Mullejans.
Recorded in 2003.

Well played, and written. Did not ignite my fires, but its lovely to have. Good recording! Disc 6 from this box.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

CPE Bach.

Harpsichord Concerto No. 5 Wq 43, in g major.

Andreas Staier, Harpsichord Anthony Sidey, after Hass.
Freiburger Barockorchester, Petra Mullejans.
Recorded in 2010.

I loved the detailed playing of Staier, and the sound of the horns in the orchestra. Again I take issue with the tempi, it could use a little more sparkle, in all three movements. That said, I love the music and the fine recording.

[TheGSMoeller]

A good performance of Strauss' Op.53, while looking for the cover I came across this other one (either re-issue or original) but I definitely prefer it. 

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD1 from the following twofer, another recent arrival for a first listen ...

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

JC Bach.

Concerto for Harpsichord and Violoncello, opus 7, No. 5, in E flat major.

London Baroque.
Recorded in 1990.

Excellent performance and recording, a fine concert. And yes the tempi are spot on.

[Papy Oli]

"Sinfonietta" - Leos Janacek
Mackerras  / VPO

Now :
" Taras Bulba, Rhapsody for Orchestra after Gogol"
Same forces.