What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Conor71]

Elgar: Serenade In E Minor, Op. 20


This has to be one of the sweetest Discs I have ever heard - now playing the Serenade for strings for a second time and will probably go for a third listen before moving onto the next work. I really like the slow movement of this one - definetely one of Elgars best works imo

[listener]

BACH:  Partitas no. 5 in G, BWV 829  6 in e BWV
Ralph Kirkpatrick, harpsichord   
then from St.Davids Cathedral Choir:
WILLIAMSON: Agnus Dei, Dignus est Agnus, Let them give thanks
N. JACKSON: Mass for a Saint's Day
and other short pieces      Nicholas Jackson, cond.

[Gurn Blanston]

Oh my God, Gurn indulging in kinky stuff  . What is this evening bringing? I shudder. 

It is a bit unusual for me, at least to publicize it. I just didn't want people to think I was one-dimensional. I have at least 2...

I love Lyadov's music. Whatever critics say about him in his personal life, this should never have any bearing on his compositional prowess. What he did compose is priceless. That kind of Russian fairy-tale exotica we hear in Rimsky-Korsakov is brought to the fore in Lyadov's music as well. You should try to track down the all Lyadov recording with Sinaisky/BBC Philharmonic on Chandos. That is one of my favorite recordings of all-time. I never let it get too far away from the CD player. Here's a link for you, Gurn:

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Thanks, MI. I've been looking that one over for a while now. It comes highly recommended, I've just had my focus on other things. But it is in my wish list, which is always the first place I go shopping now


Listening to:



Azzolini is such a great bassoonist, and like it or not, Vivaldi wrote some very fine bassoon concerti. You don't hear a whole lot of them from this era, those orphan girls must have really worked out on their 4-key bassoons!

[Mirror Image]

Thanks, MI. I've been looking that one over for a while now. It comes highly recommended, I've just had my focus on other things. But it is in my wish list, which is always the first place I go shopping now

Buy it ASAP, you'll love it. The best all-Lyadov recording available.

[Wakefield]

Found this link, with an excerpt from the vinyl issue .... and with even better (warmer) sound, even though comparison is difficult between PC and hifi set:

http://www.youtube.com/v/M0vNJwIk0o4

Yes, especially on the part of the violin.

[Coopmv]

Now playing the following CD, another recent arrival for a first listen ...

[Conor71]

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 In G Minor, Op. 103, "Year 1905"


As well as listening to my collections of Bruckner and Mahler Symphonies I have also been planning to review my 3 Shostakovich Cycles.
Today I will start work by listening to a few Symphonies from the Jansons box. I bought this set a couple of years ago at about the same time as I got the Haitink cycle and to be honest I havent listened to either box very much. Anyway, I really like DSCH's Symphonies so this should be a fun listening project - Currently I am playing the 11th Symphony. This is a good performance I think, I dont really remember much about the Jansons Cycle other than the first 3 being very good and not particularly liking the live recording of the 5th.
I know other people on the forum like Jansons in these works so I think it is worth re-visiting this one

[Mirror Image]

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 In G Minor, Op. 103, "Year 1905"


As well as listening to my collections of Bruckner and Mahler Symphonies I have also been planning to review my 3 Shostakovich Cycles.
Today I will start work by listening to a few Symphonies from the Jansons box. I bought this set a couple of years ago at about the same time as I got the Haitink cycle and to be honest I havent listened to either box very much. Anyway, I really like DSCH's Symphonies so this should be a fun listening project - Currently I am playing the 11th Symphony. This is a good performance I think, I dont really remember much about the Jansons Cycle other than the first 3 being very good and not particularly liking the live recording of the 5th.
I know other people on the forum like Jansons in these works so I think it is worth re-visiting this one

You can never go wrong with listening to the Shostakovich symphonic cycle, Conor, but this opinion may be a little biased. Anyway, I never cared for Jansons. I don't find anything particularly interesting in his conducting in this cycle. I think he handles many composers well: Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky being two good examples, but I never warmed up to his Shostakovich. The 5th in that set is a stinker no doubt. I do remember liking his 8th quite a bit, but it's been quite some time since I've listened to his Shostakovich cycle in its entirety. For complete cycles, I still admire Haitink's, although his 5th, as with Jansons', isn't particularly noteworthy, but Haitink still has one of the best 8th performances around and I like his 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th, and 15th. As with any composer's symphonic cycles, it's hard to find one that satisfies me completely, but Haitink's Shostakovich comes pretty darn close. Enjoy your listening journey.

Thread duty -

Now playing:



Listening to Symphony No. 3. Going to finish the whole recording with the 5th and 8th. Three fine Schuman symphonies. My favorite American composer by far.

[Lilas Pastia]

Some Beethoven, Mozart and Mendelssohn in the Peter Maag set. I posted my thoughts about the LvB symphonies in the New Purchases thread. On top of those I also went through Mozart's Great c Minor Mass and Felix' symphonies 1 and 5. I don't know that these particular Mendelssohn works can be anybody's favourites,  but if memory serves Haitink's 1st was more buoyant and Maazel's Reformation more flamboyant. Maag's Mendelssohn (I also listened to the Lobgesang 2nd symphony) is very classical, warm-sounding and clear as a bell.

[The new erato]

Jacky Terrasson and Cassandra Wilson: Rendezvous

--Bruce

I just ordered this thanks to its mention here.

Now playing:

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[Que]

A very good morning (day) to you all.

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Disc 1:



If you're interested in French Baroque, don't let this super-bargain slip! See my earlier comments HERE

Q

[Conor71]

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 In D Minor, Op. 47


Just finished listening to Oistrahk's version of Brahms violin concerto - its perfect! The Perlman performance I bought today will have to be something special to top this one I think. Now listening to Janson's Shostakovich 5th and after this I will listen to the 6th Symphony. It sounds pretty good so far so Im pleasantly suprised - theres nothing to really indicate its a live performance so far (no coughing and stuff which is why I normally avoid live recordings). The Wiener Phil is'nt an Orchestra that comes to mind when I think of Shostakovich though .

[prémont]

One of Bach's great sixpacks played by Swedish violinist Lars Frydén and Gustav Leonhardt, recorded in 1963.

Violin strictly in the left channel, harpsichord in the right, and the entire recording is more favourable to the violin. That being mentioned, I find Leonhardt's playing more enjoyable, which is also caused by the fact that Frydén's violin is sounding a bit harsh and too sharp. In general though, these are still convincing performances with some beautifully played Adagios.

The channel separation and the sharp sound does not bother me, but as I commented some time ago, I find Frydén´s excessive vibrato annoying and too oldfashioned, considering the fact that he is playing a PI. Leonhardt on the other hand is - not surprisingly - pure pleasure. A pity that Leonhardt did not teach Frydén how to play or chose his own wife as a partner.

[Que]

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With repertoire for two accompanied oboes, the musical quality and the excellence of the performance, this is recommended to anyone interested in Baroque woodwinds.  Superb stuff.

Q

[North Star]

Britten now, and last night, too - the disc with Bostridge is utterly wonderful.
Foccroulle's Bach recordings I've found excellent, too, and the instruments are gorgeous.
That Martinu two-fer is pure gold, too.

Britten
Les Illuminations
Serenade for tenor, horn and strings
Nocturne
Bostridge
Ballad of Heroes
Robert Tear / Rattle
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Yesterday:
Bach
Organ works
Foccroulle (disc 3)
[asin]B002JIBCRQ[/asin]

Martinu
Nonet
Trio for flute, cello & piano in F major, H300
Sonatina for 2 violins & piano, H198
The Dartington Ensemble
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[Lisztianwagner]

Jean Sibelius
Tapiola

[asin]B00008CLNS[/asin]
Karajan the Fisherman

[pi2000]

Now playing the following CD, another recent arrival for a first listen ...

And what do you think?

[pi2000]

I just ordered this thanks to its mention here.

Now playing:

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The cover looks so gaaaay!!
What about the music?

[Rinaldo]

Fending off gloomy Sunday..

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Every time I listen to this performance of the 4th, I like it even more – so I've played it twice in a row today!

Next up:

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[madaboutmahler]

Now:

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Cockaigne Overture

Brilliant piece!