What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Papy Oli]

Listened to the first 4 movement last night...now going through the last one...

will have to check the timings for comparison...but boy, it is slooooow...he does stretch it in parts...quite different indeed...

on the decrescendo (right word ?) at the end of the 1st movement, i have enough time to go and put the kettle on and make meself a cuppa and still come back for the final note...     

[Coopmv]

I like this recording, which has combined some tracks that used to be spread over 2 separate CD's (IIRC).

[Coopmv]

Now playing another SACD that arrived from MDT last week.  I have been very much into Schubert Piano Sonatas after some strong recommendations from our resident Richtervangelist George, who is now totally consumed by his new Beatles sets ...   

[Coopmv]

Now playing the Messiah Oratorio from this set ...

[SonicMan46]

Mahler, Gustav - Das Lied von der Erde (disc #11) w/ Gary Bertini & Cologne RSO; finishing up w/ this 'box set' - an excellent set of performances of Mahler's Symphonies and at a great value; if only one set of these works is desired, then Bertini's box is certainly a 'contender' - 

Haydn, Joseph - Piano Trios w/ Haydn Trio Eisenstadt; my second 'go-around' w/ this 8-CD set, started last night @ dinner - on a modern piano but still delicate performances that 'bubble' w/ energy; great rapport between the performers and superb sound recordings - will be a 'keeper' for me - 

 

[Antoine Marchand]

Haydn, Joseph - Piano Trios w/ Haydn Trio Eisenstadt; my second 'go-around' w/ this 8-CD set, started last night @ dinner - on a modern piano but still delicate performances that 'bubble' w/ energy; great rapport between the performers and superb sound recordings - will be a 'keeper' for me -  

I will resist your siren songs about this set, Dave. Yes, sir. I am totally happy with the Van Swieten set, my BAT set, the HM discs... but that voice sounds so irresistibly appealing...  

[Coopmv]

Now playing the conclusion of Messiah Oratorio from this set.  IMO, this recording by Hogwood is probably still better than the recently released Minkowski's recording, which has not received particularly enthusiastic reviews even after having excluded the Santa Fe Listener ...    

[Antoine Marchand]

After some Haydn's variations, some Mendelssohn (suggested for the "Mendelssohn v/s Wagner" thread):

The tiny English record label Amon Ra specializes in recording historical instruments, very often from the collection at the museum in Finchcocks in Kent, where pianist Richard Burnett has built up a considerable collection of fully-playable keyboard instruments. On the current Mendelssohn CD, Burnett himself plays six of Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words, his Rondo Capriccioso Opus 14 and his 17 Variations Sérieuses Opus 54 on a Graf Fortepiano built in 1826 in Vienna and a British Broadwood Pianoforte built in 1823. The sound is amazing, the instruments sounding a lot more modern than I had anticipated from some other fortepiano recitals that I have heard, although of course there are all the usual thumping noises etc that one associates with historical instruments of this category. Burnett explains his choices of instrument in the short but informative notes provided.

Mendelssohn's youthful E flat Sonata for Clarinet and Fortepiano is performed beautifully by Alan Hacker using a Bilton boxwood clarinet from the first part of the 19th century and Burnett on the Graf fortepiano. The two relatively short Konzertstücke for clarinet, basset horn and fortepiano are performed on different instruments: On the first, Alan Hacker plays a late 19th century Albert cocus wood instrument, Lesley Schatzberger a small-bore basset horn by Selmer and Richard Burnett an Erard Pianoforte made in London in 1866. The second Konzertstück is played on slightly earlier instruments.

A wonderful "museum" recording with some lovely harmonies, some delightful piano playing and some living music outside the general run-of-the-mill pattern. New aspects of Mendelssohn, new insights into the history of instrument-making. 

Leslie Richford, Amazon.com review on the recording.

[DavidRoss]

Mozart VCs, Carmignola/Abbado.  I like.  Lithe, lively, deft, sparkling, graceful, are the sort of adjectives that come to mind for this set.  HIPish, but not self-consciously so.  "Big Mike" (the erstwhile "M") may have despised "Claudio's" period-performance-influenced approach with his new young orchestra, but I like it very much--the symphonies, too.  What matters to me is how the music resonates with my soul, not how strictly it adheres to someone's programmatic dictates.  Abbado brings his trademark clarity and gentle vigor to these well-recorded concertos and Carmignola is just as good here as he is with Vivaldi: sweet and seemingly effortless.

[SonicMan46]

After some Haydn's variations, some Mendelssohn (suggested for the "Mendelssohn v/s Wagner" thread):

The tiny English record label Amon Ra specializes in recording historical instruments, very often from the collection at the museum in Finchcocks in Kent, where pianist Richard Burnett has built up a considerable collection of fully-playable keyboard instruments..........

Antoine - thanks for bringing that Mendelssohn disc to my attention - I really like Alan Hacker on these clarinets; I've had the disc below (recorded in 1984) for over 20+ yrs of the Mozart Clarinet Quintet and some 'other' pieces; comprises 60 mins of just wonderful playing!  Dave 

 

[Antoine Marchand]

Antoine - thanks for bringing that Mendelssohn disc to my attention - I really like Alan Hacker on these clarinets; I've had the disc below (recorded in 1984) for over 20+ yrs of the Mozart Clarinet Quintet and some 'other' pieces; comprises 60 mins of just wonderful playing!  Dave  

 

You're welcome, Dave.

That Mendelsson disc was recorded at Finchcocks, Goudhurts, Kent - April 1989.

Total duration - 72:37

Wonderful playing and recording there too. BTW, a lot of historical beautiful instruments are used.

[Coopmv]

Now playing the last of the SACD's that arrived from MDT last week ...

[Brian]

Gurn Blanston Sunday!

...the Ninth  0:)

[Coopmv]

Gurn Blanston Sunday!

...the Ninth  0:)

If I am not mistaken, this should be part of the second Beethoven Cycles by Abbado.  His first one was with the BPO on Sony.

[bhodges]

Beat Furrer (b. 1954): Konzert für Klavier und Orchester; Invocation VI; Spur; FAMA IV; Retour an Dich; Lotófagos (Peter Rundel/WDR Sinfonie Orchester Köln/Kammerensemble Neue Musik Berlin/Nicolas Hodges) - Last spring I heard Spur by Klangforum Wien, the group Furrer founded in 1985, and liked it a lot.  That piece seems made of thousands of tiny shards strung together--very detailed, concentrated music--and this recording is terrific.

The Piano Concerto is interesting, but I need to hear it again.  Perhaps most intriguing was Invocation VI (2007) for soprano and bass flute, with the two performers intermingling timbres in a way that makes it difficult to tell them apart.

--Bruce

[Gurn Blanston]

Gurn Blanston Sunday!

...the Ninth  0:)

Wonderful choice, Brian.

For me, it was Also the BP, but with Fricsay. The very first stereo recording of this work.  0:)

I have the BP/Abbado on DVD from Rome. Don't know if it's the same version, but it is very good.



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Listening to:
L'Estro Armonico / Solomons - Hob 01 048 Symphony in C 4th mvmt - Finale: Allegro

[Drasko]

 

[Opus106]

For me, it was Also the BP, but with Fricsay. The very first stereo recording of this work.  0:)

That's what I listen to on Gurndays. 0:)

[Brian]

BERNSTEIN | Symphonic Suite from "On the Waterfront"
New York Philharmonic
Leonard Bernstein

Superb music! The second movement of this suite had some very interesting parallels or perhaps allusions to Shostakovich's music; I wonder how many were conscious and how many were coincidence?

[bhodges]

BERNSTEIN | Symphonic Suite from "On the Waterfront"
New York Philharmonic
Leonard Bernstein

Superb music! The second movement of this suite had some very interesting parallels or perhaps allusions to Shostakovich's music; I wonder how many were conscious and how many were coincidence?

Just posted that as one of my three favorite Bernstein recordings.  Finally heard it live last year for the first time, and it is really powerful in person. 

--Bruce