What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[imperfection]

Scheherazade, Antal Dorati/MSO.

Very good performance, slightly boxy recording, however. 

[Opus106]

Brahms
Symphony No. 1
RRO/Gardiner

[Christo]

Léon Orthel, Scherzo No.2 per orchestra

Powerful piece.

It is. And his Second Symphony ('Piccola Sinfonia') (1940) is a masterpiece, imo. I hope to reanimate the Dutch composers thread in order to work a few things out.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Nice.  How's that recording? I'm afraid I always go back to Blachut for this (complete and utter) masterpiece, but this is one I'd be interested in hearing.

Yes, I think Blachut is definitely a singer for the ages, so you certainly can't be blamed for taking a liking to his voice.

I once auditioned Blachut's Diary but have never owned it. But the recollection of that audition is definitely burned in my memory. I should have bought it when I had the chance (used and cheap) as I can't think of a better supplement to the Straka recording I have!

What I do own of Blachut is his rendition of Boris in a 1959 Supraphon recording of K. Kabanova. He's in sharp form in this recording and is hugely impressive. Ringing, effortless, and so 'earthy' in character as to bring his voice richly to life right in my room.

Straka, in terms of vocal presentation (perhaps an unfair comparison in this context), might not reach the same heights as Blachut as far as ease and range (particularly his top end) but overall there's a definite sense of connecting with the piece (Diary), with an inner life and spark that creates its own type of beauty and 'earthiness'.

When Peckova comes in it only adds to the delights of the performance. She's long been a favorite of mine so honestly I expect nothing less. And the three female voices bring a haunting bloom at their entrance. Very nice effect.

Overall I couldn't really say how this one stacks up to Blachut but as an artistic statement I'd say it's a winner all around. And then some!

It certainly captures that Janacek "feel" and "warmth". 

[Que]

[mp3=200,20,0,left]http://www.aeolus-music.com/var/storage/audio/10024.mp3[/mp3]

Q

[springrite]

Leontyne Price: Arias from Joseph Green operas

[lukeottevanger]

Yes, I think Blachut is definitely a singer for the ages, so you certainly can't be blamed for taking a liking to his voice.

I once auditioned his Diary but have never owned it. But the recollection of that audition is definitely burned in my memory. I should have bought it when I had the chance (used and cheap) as I can't think of a better supplement to the Straka recording I have!

What I do own of Blachut is his rendition of Boris in a 1959 Supraphon recording of K. Kabanova.

He's in sharp form in this recording and is hugely impressive. Ringing, effortless, and so 'earthy' in character as to bring his voice richly to life right in my room.

Straka, in terms of vocal presentation (perhaps an unfair comparison in this context), might not reach the same heights as Blachut as far as ease and range (particularly his top end) but overall there's a definite sense of connecting with the piece (Diary), with an inner life and spark that creates its own type of beauty and 'earthiness'.

When Peckova comes in it only adds to the delights of the performance. She's long been a favorite of mine so honestly I expect nothing less. And the three female voices bring a haunting bloom at their entrance. Very nice effect.

Overall I couldn't really say how this one stacks up to Blachut but as an artistic statement I'd say it's a winner all around. And then some!

It certainly captures that Janacek "feel" and "warmth". 

Thanks for that detailed reply. The recording you're describing is one I've always been interested in getting hold of, so perhaps I'll do so now - this piece is one that really does need multiple versions. Supraphon must have realised this when they released the Blachut recording as one of their duo discs - two recordings of the same piece on one disc. In this case, the other one is Gedda: his voice is fantastic (perhaps a little too big for the music??); his Czech not bad though even to a non-Czech not as fluent as Blachut's. I could send you links for either or both recordings if you wanted. Other perfomers in both recordings, btw, are Czech, most importantly Palenicek being pianist for both.

[Harry]

Beethoven.
The Creatures of Prometheus, Ballet music, opus 43.
Lithuanian Chamber Philharmonia, Anton Rickenbacher.

Most excellent music. A side of Beethoven that was unknown to me. What I hear I like!
Reasonable performances, and ditto recording.

[Que]

Q

[Harry]

CPE Bach.
Flute Concertos, WQ 22, 166, 168, 167, 169.
Eckart Haupt, Flute.
Kammerorchester <CPE Bach>, Hartmut Haenchen.
Recording 1985.

I wrote my praises about these recordings, and that still stands.
Magnificent.

[Harry]

Q

That must be refreshing Que, to get away from the grand piano.

[Harry]

Claude Debussy.
Estampes.
Aldo Ciccolini.

[Harry]

Claude Debussy.
Images first series.
Aldo Ciccolini.

[Harry]

Claude Debussy.
Images, Second series.
Aldo Ciccolini.

[Harry]

Claude Debussy.
Images Oubliees.
Aldo Ciccolini.

[karlhenning]

Good day, Harry! You go, fella! 

On the Sansa Fuze en route to work this morning:

Igor Fyodorovich
Part II, Grande sacrifice from Le sacre du printemps
Detroit Symphony
Doráti

Wuorinen
Reliquary for Igor Stravinsky
London Sinfonietta
Knussen

Bartók
Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Anda & Fricsay & al.

[Harry]

Claude Debussy.
Ballade.
Valse romantique.
Reverie.
Aldo Ciccolini.

[Père Malfait]

On the recommendations of Que, Harry et al.:



Fascinating repertory (previously unknown to me), beautifully and lovingly performed. This disc really leaves me grasping for superlatives - it's that good. Seriously.

[karlhenning]

From The Big Stravinsky Box:

Disc 5

Scènes de ballet
Bluebird - Pas-de-deux
Le baiser de la fée

[Kullervo]

Morn'!

Nielsen - Symphonies 4 and 5 (Kuchar/Janáček Philharmonic)