What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Conor71]

Villa-Lobos: Sinfonietta No. 1, W 115


Now listening to Disc 6 of the HV-L Symphony set - one of my favourite purchases of this year. Every work in this set is colourful and so easy to listen to. I still havent recieved my set of the Choros/Bachianas Brasileiras, hopefully this week they will arrive!.


[asin]B002O2MCMG[/asin]

[listener]

ROSSINI   Petite Messe Solennelle
Kari Loväas, Brigitte Fassbaender, Peter Schreier, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, SATBar,
Munich Vocal Ensemble    Reinhard Laffalt, harmonium
Hans Ludwig Hirsch, piano II   Wolfgang Sawallisch, piano 1 and conductor
MORALES  Magnificat, 5 motets
Pro Cantione Antiqua, London

[Lisztianwagner]

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No.9

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Happy Birthday to one of the greatest composers of all time!

[The new erato]

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No.9

[asin]B000056OBA[/asin]
Happy Birthday to one of the greatest composers of all time!

Karajan composed?

[KeithW]

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No.9

Happy Birthday to one of the greatest composers of all time!

Or as best we can guess it.  I'm delighted to go with today if it gives me an excuse to play even more of his work than I normally do 

[Sadko]

Mozart

Piano Sonatas

Karl Engel



Now CD 1:

Sonate Nr. 1 C-dur KV 279 (189d)
Sonate Nr. 2 F-dur KV 280 (189e)
Sonate Nr. 3 B-dur KV 281 (189f)
Sonate Nr. 4 Es-dur KV 282 (189g)
Sonate Nr. 7 C-dur KV 309 (284b)


And before  CD 2:

Sonate Nr. 6 D-dur KV 284 (205b)
Sonate Nr. 5 G-dur KV 283 (189h)
Fantasie d-moll KV 397
Sonate Nr. 8 D-dur KV 311 (284c)
Rondo a-moll KV 511

[Lethevich]

That name rings a bell, I think I have a cycle of Mozart piano concertos with that pianist - they are surprisingly good for such an unknown set.

Oh, here it is - http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2004/Dec04/mozart_pc_engel.htm

[Sadko]

That name rings a bell, I think I have a cycle of Mozart piano concertos with that pianist - they are surprisingly good for such an unknown set.

Oh, here it is - http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2004/Dec04/mozart_pc_engel.htm

In an earlier post I wrote about these recordings:

About Karl Engel: I finished one disc now, and my reaction is mixed: He has a beautiful tone, transparent, almost tries to make a Steinway into a harpsichord. But his interpretations I often find too artificial, avoiding "sweet bits" and "hits" in favour of something almost mechanical. But not really mechanical, more like someone who knows the melodies and hits so well, but rather likes too look at the indivial movements of the wheels of the machine than the whole organism. I associated "digital" (all notes are equal), "vivisection" (let's look at the pulse of the parts), sometimes even "sewing machine", but not the real harpsichord sewing machine, not really mechanical, more breaking up the flow.

I found his interepretations interesting to listen to, but a bit manufactured, trying to be different or to make an anti-romantic point.

It is now my second listening cycle, and I appreciate his clear, calm precision style.

Edit: I also enjoyed his accompanying Fischer-Dieskau singing Mahler Lieder.

[Lethevich]

I really loved how straight-forward the recordings were - not quite with the brilliance of Anda, but something in that style. It's not really an "academic" straightness either, being used to mask a lack of technique - which Engel seems to have in abundance - but a self-effacing personal choice of his.

[Sadko]

I really loved how straight-forward the recordings were - not quite with the brilliance of Anda, but something in that style. It's not really an "academic" straightness either, being used to mask a lack of technique - which Engel seems to have in abundance - but a self-effacing personal choice of his.

... and in the review you linked the reviewer complains about the saminess that might be hard in long listening cycles - I know what he means. I find Engel's playing needs the listener's full concentration, and indeed isn't so varied. But I don't see that as a fault, there is nothing wrong with an interpretation that shows its values only when one actually listens intently.

[KeithW]

Welcome back Sara!  We've missed you.

[Lisztianwagner]

Karajan composed?

Or as best we can guess it.  I'm delighted to go with today if it gives me an excuse to play even more of his work than I normally do 

Of course I spoke about Ludwig van Beethoven. Moreover Karajan's birthday is in April.....

[TheGSMoeller]

.[asin]B0009IORM0[/asin]

[SonicMan46]

Some clarinet music this Sunday morn from a few of the usual suspects - 

 

[Brian]

This morning:

Mozart: Piano Concerto No 23 in A major
Murray Perahia, English Chamber Orchestra

Found this in full on YouTube and decided to listen, since I'm thinking about buying the cheaply reissued box set of all Perahia's Mozart concertos. I enjoyed it well enough.

Mendelssohn: Symphony No 4 in A major
Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic

Yet another phenomenal recording from the Bernstein Symphony Edition, which arrived a little over a week ago.

Whoa, that CD looks REALLY interesting to me! I wonder if it will get reissued in one of Sony's new inexpensive box sets...

[Wakefield]

Prompted by some conversation in the "J.S. Bach's Organ Works" thread:

[asin]B005ZHBC0A[/asin]
J.S. Bach - Organ Works 1
CD10: Organ Concertos, Organ Pieces & Little Organ Book I (BWV 599-610)

Stockmeier is a favorite organist to me, although I would easily understand if he is not an everyone's favorite, as his slow-paced style aspires more to certain straightforward qualities than any kind of virtuosism or demonstrative/spectacular playing. Serene and uplifting performances is what you get here. And superbly beautiful instruments, too. 

[Wakefield]

This morning:

Mozart: Piano Concerto No 23 in A major
Murray Perahia, English Chamber Orchestra

Found this in full on YouTube and decided to listen, since I'm thinking about buying the cheaply reissued box set of all Perahia's Mozart concertos. I enjoyed it well enough.

It would be a good decision, IMHO. He's an excellent Mozart's performer and those recordings have excellent sound after the remastering (done before this cheaper incarnation).

You will be not disappointed. 

[Wakefield]

That name rings a bell, I think I have a cycle of Mozart piano concertos with that pianist - they are surprisingly good for such an unknown set.

Oh, here it is - http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2004/Dec04/mozart_pc_engel.htm

It's great to see you around here, Lethe. Your long absence has been regretted for many of us. 

[Papy Oli]

Good evening 

Bruckner - Symphony no.9 (Nowak ed.)
Bernstein / NYPO

[Lisztianwagner]

Allan Pettersson
Violin Concerto No.2

http://www.youtube.com/v/fJeu5xL_sE4