What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Que]

Your "nutshell" thoughts if you would Q.

My nutshell thoughts were when revisiting this set - Herreweghe fails to "grab" me here. It sounds all very pretty, but IMO he doesn't get the message of the music across. I favour less smoothness, more intensity and a bit of "severity" as well. Anyway IMO it's too luxurious, too complacent. Herreweghe uses a rather sizeable choir (18 singers), not my preference. I also have some quibbles on the apprehension of Bach by some of the soloists, but that is of lesser concern.
Besides four Christmas cantatas, this set also contains the other version of the Magnificat - BWV 243a. That's the reason I got it.

Nevertheless I have some Herreweghe/Bach favourites: the earlier recording of the the "normal" version of the Magnificat is absolutely great, as is his recording of the "Trauerode" BWV 198. It seems that with the passing of time Herreweghe moves away from how I like the hear these works.

Q

[karlhenning]

Generally, I'm not too enamoured of Gatti's insistence on fairly brisk tempi in all three of his Tchaikovsky symphonies recording (Nos. 4-6). At times, it feels as though he's barely left room for the music to breathe.

Thanks for the report, Mark! Gatti will be the guest conductor for the Shostakovich Fifth here at Symphony . . . we'll see if he does better!

[Gurn Blanston]

Now playing:

Paul O'Dette, Lute - Bach - BWV 995 Suite in a "Lute Pieces for Monsieur Schouster" - pt.2 - Allemande

Anyone familiar with the above? I just received it yesterday from a friend in Liechtenstein who says that O'Dette is very popular there, an American who lives in Germany. The work itself is quite beautiful, of course, and the playing is superb. This is my first listen, but quite taken with it already.

[karlhenning]

That one is on my wishlist Karl to go along with this tandems boxset of symphonies I own.  "What say you" about it?

This recording was my introduction to all the works on it:  The Oceanides (Aallottaret), Opus 73;  Night Ride and Sunrise (Öinen ratsastus ja auringonnousu), Opus 55;  and the two Suites from The Tempest, Opus 109 (and thus very "ripe" Sibelius).  It made an immediate and powerful impression with all these pieces.  I have not heard many other Segerstam recordings, one with the Danish Radio Symphony which, while pretty good, is not so sustainedly excellent as this Ondine disc.  I'd say, hit it, Bill! 

[karlhenning]

Yes, I spotted some good Telarc stuff appearing on eMusic. And going a little OT, I'm in dispute with the service provider at the moment, as I've had 19 defective downloads this month. I've threatened to cancel my subscription unless these tracks are fixed, or I get a 'refund' of 19 downloads.

I hope they do the right thing by you, Mark!  I am fresh from a breathtakingly positive customer service experience with amazon.com.  Tell you about it sometime.

[Harry]

Good morning/day to all!

WW, that is a wonderful set, but by now you will know, right?

[Harry]

Bohuslav Martinu
Les fresques de Piero della Francesca
Viola Rhapsody-Concerto
Double Concerto for Piano and Timpani
BIS-CD-501

That one is on my list too, Thom, but somehow I never got around it...
How do you like De Preist's interpretation?

[Thom]

It was a first for me Harry, this music that is, but I like it very much. Martinu's music has a great appeal to me. I try to compare it but that is difficult, maybe now and then a bit Sibeliush. His symphonies 1 and 6 are masterpieces imho, and the Fresques de Pietro della Francesca here is very attractive. The double concerto is rather dissonant but interesting. I never heard of DePreist before, searched my database but found nothing.

[Harry]

It was a first for me Harry, this music that is, but I like it very much. Martinu's music has a great appeal to me. I try to compare it but that is difficult, maybe now and then a bit Sibeliush. His symphonies 1 and 6 are masterpieces imho, and the Fresques de Pietro della Francesca here is very attractive. The double concerto is rather dissonant but interesting. I never heard of DePreist before, searched my database but found nothing.

I agree with you, his Symphonies are masterworks, no doubt. The double concerto is also a fine work. Frankly Martinu does not disappoint me in general.
The sound is up to scratch I presume?
Which performances of the Symphonies do you have Thom?

[Thom]

yes the sound is fine.
I have the symphonies on BIS as well, Bamberger Symphoniker, Neeme Järvi conducting. A good set, I think.

[Thom]

Fun! Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony.

[Harry]

yes the sound is fine.
I have the symphonies on BIS as well, Bamberger Symphoniker, Neeme Järvi conducting. A good set, I think.

Absolutely Thom, that is a fine set, which I have too, amongst others....

[Harry]

Fun! Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony.

When I bought this cd, some years ago, I had my doubts about the composer and the music, but you are right, that one is great fun, and well played. It seems we have a lot of recordings in common Thom.

[karlhenning]

Judging by the breadth of your library, Harry, you have a lot of recordings in common with practically all of us, I should think 

[Harry]

Biago Marini

Curiose & moderne inventioni.

Romanesca/Andrew Manze.

This is really fine music, well performed and recorded. Have played it several times now, and never tire about it.
The compositional qualities are there in abundance....

[Harry]

Judging by the breadth of your library, Harry, you have a lot of recordings in common with practically all of us, I should think 

Yes, that is true also I guess......

[Thom]

It seems we have a lot of recordings in common Thom.

Well ...... My collection must be somewhat smaller thans yours  (1300 or so) but it certainly is nice to hear you share my taste.

[Harry]

Well ...... My collection must be somewhat smaller than your's (1300 or so) but it certainly is nice to hear you share my taste.

Its the quality that counts not the quantity.

[Harry]

Georg Philipp Telemann.

Mattheus Passion.
Danziger Passion TWV 5:53.

Martin Klietmann, Tenor.
Klaus Mertens, Bass.
Kammerchor Cantamus Halle,
Mannerchor Bouquet Vocalis Halle.
Capella Savaria, (Szombathely)/Paul Nemeth.

This is well enough done. After listening to this recording many times, I came to the conclusion, that it is somewhat underrehearsed, and the counter on this recording is horrible. But the intention was good, and this is what I hear.
I have bought it, and will stick to it, but I will not recommend it.

[Thom]

Its the quality that counts not the quantity.