What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Wakefield]

This excellent CD:





Anssi Karttunen, cello (cello by Benjamin Banks, London, ca. 1770; bow by J. Dodd, London, ca. 1790)
Tuija Hakkila, fortepiano (fortepiano by Paul McNulty, Amsterdam, 1990, after the five-octave instrument Anton Walter, 1795)

Rec. at Järvenpää Hall, Finland, from 14-16 September 1992.

[Brahmsian]

Quite possibly my favourite work by Rachmaninoff that involves an orchestra... so far.

Sergei Rachmaninoff
The Isle of th Dead

Ditto here, Nav! 

[madaboutmahler]

Berlioz
Symphonie fantastique
Colin Davis & RCO

To bring the night to a close, I'll join you, Karlo. A great performance!
So, now:
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So much uplifting, joyous, brilliant, thrilling music! Great piece! Good night everyone!

[Sadko]

I still have my eye on that box, the first disc is really excellent!

Yes, it is. With CD 5, Trouble in Tahiti, the trouble is the voices, I hate these thin, squeezed voices one hears so often in musicals. But it's still interesting to get to know these compositions. And I think I tend to prefer early energetic "CBS Bernstein" to later, tamer "DGG Bernstein".

My eyes were on this CD before:

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But I think I will get it too one day, it's cheap, but I don't want to buy too much at once.

[Lilas Pastia]

Herman D. Koppel. Symphonies 3 and 4 played by the Aalborg Symphony under Moshe Atzmon (on Da Capo).

Koppel is one of the more important scandinavian figures of the 20th century. A Dane, he wrote these two symphonies in the period 1944-1946. As has been pointed out elsewhere, influences or stylistic affinities with Nielsen, Hindemith or Stravinsky can be detected - the first two especially. But what I hear is a distinctive voice, if speaking with a nielsenian accent. I also hear a lot of Simpson (who of course wrote his symphonies much later, starting with no. 1 in 1951). So, kinships or similarities are easy to spot. What's important is the impact of the experience, enjoyment of the music and intellectual depth of the musical language. On all counts Koppel scores. This is serious music, meaning: from an original composer who has things to say and the skills to communicate them.

DaCapo has recorded all the symphonies. A most interesting series.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Honegger cello concerto, Rostropovich on cello, Dubrovsky leading the USSR State SO.



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[Wakefield]

I never thought I'd listen with genuine pleasure to these recordings:



J.S. Bach - The Well Tempered Clavier, Book I, BWV 846-869 (1722) [133.07]
Wanda Landowska (Pleyel harpsichord)
rec. 1949-1951, New York; Lakeville, Connecticut; USA. ADD
Transfer produced by Mark Obert-Thorn.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Dance Suite. Great music and performance.

[Gold Knight]

On Spotify:

Gustav Mahler--Symphony No.6 in A Minor {"Tragic"}, featuring the Cleveland Orchestra led by George Szell.

[Mirror Image]

Now:

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Outstanding recording.

[TheGSMoeller]

.[asin]B0072IVH0K[/asin]

A recent acquisition, only second listen since purchase and it's better this time around. The first three movements benefit from the smaller forces of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, but the heavy hitting is still prominent in the final two. A very good, controlled performance. Wouldn't make it a first or even a top five choice, but in terms of modern chamber groups there is not much competition, if you feel the need to collect many Fantastique recordings, like I have chosen to do, then this one would fit nicely with the others. If the second spin was this much of an improvement over the first, it should be interesting to see how high it climbs with future listens.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Graffiti. There are so many strains of influence in this work: Stravinsky, Messiaen, Orff, among others, but Lindberg's own voice remains intact.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Te Deum. I've been listening to a lot of choral music lately for some reason. I don't know why exactly. But I'm not complaining, this is gorgeous music.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Amazing recording. I really don't know what's come over me. I'm listening to Baroque. Somebody better check me into a mental hospital as soon as possible.

[North Star]

Debussy
Fantasie pour piano et orchestre
Barry Douglas, Marek Janowski
Rapsodie pour orchestre et saxophone
Sigurd Rascher; Leonard Bernstein; New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Préludes
Paul Crossley
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[Dancing Divertimentian]

Rachmaninoff's cello sonata. A knock-out piece!



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[Conor71]

Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 3 In A Major, Op. 69


Now listening to Disc 1 of the Cello Sonatas set which features Sonatas Nos 1-3. Next I will play Disc 1 of the String Trios 2-fer. Before bed I will play Disc 1 of the Classic HVK recording which features Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3.

[North Star]

Dutilleux
Cello Concerto 'Tout un monde lointain...'
Rostropovich, Baudo & Orchestre de Paris
Ainsi la nuit
Belcea Quartet

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[TheGSMoeller]

Now:



Amazing recording. I really don't know what's come over me. I'm listening to Baroque. Somebody better check me into a mental hospital as soon as possible.

Ah, and you picked a good one, Minkowski and Rameau make a great duo. Stunning disc.

[Sergeant Rock]

Anton Arensky Symphony #1 B minor, Svetlanov conducting the USSR SO




Sarge