What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Harry]

Arthur Bliss.

Melee Fantasque.

Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Davis Lloyd Jones.

Nice score this ballet music, and perfectly performed and recorded.

[Sergeant Rock]

I observe - silently, but sadly - the regularity with which his SFSO set of Nielsen symphonies is trawled across that particular thread - when so many superior alternatives can easily be found.

Amen, brother.

Sarge

[Harry]

Arthur Bliss.

Checkmate: Ballet in One Scene with a Prologue.

Royal Scottish National Orchestra/David Lloyd Jones

Marvelously recorded by Phil Rowlands, this ballet sounds smashing and is smashing. Clear sighted, rhythmical, and propulsive no end.
Very well written.

[Harry]

Toru Takemitsu.

Spirit Garden.
Solitude Sonore.
Three film scores for String Orchestra.
Dreamtime.
A Flock Descends into the Pentagonal Garden.

Bournemouth SO/Marin Alsop.

Recorded in 24 bit by Mike Clements gives a stunning effect, great recording. Topnotch!
That said, I think this Orchestra does well, but sounds little involved into the spiritual core of the music. Played very much as a technical piece of which they know the notes but not the content. I heard far better renderings of the said pieces.
Laying this aside, there remains a very well conceived performance from a different angle, lets say a more Western view for convenience sake. A cold and distant uttering alien to the thought behind the composition. That's a way to look at it I guess!
I have it, and will keep it, but it is not one I will keep coming back to as others.

[johnQpublic]

LPs

Beethoven - Leonore Overture #2 (Klemperer/Angel)
Beethoven - Symphony #4 (Schmidt-Isserstedt/London)

[Valentino]

Beautiful after lunch entertainment.

One could just wish that WAM had got more than just the idea to K. 580b on paper, the full movement (in sonata form) is to my ears a bit short on imagination.

[Harry]

Beautiful after lunch entertainment.

One could just wish that WAM had got more than just the idea to K. 580b on paper, the full movement (in sonata form) is to my ears a bit short on imagination.

Well you played that in the morning now didn't you?
For after lunch I advise a Mandarin from Bartok!

[Valentino]

Ah but you see I am totally ferdig after taking my boys to the Norwegian Railway Museum today, Harry. Must have something agreeable (The Bartok is btw not in my collection, so if I was up I'd let Pollini play Boulez' second sonata).

I had a banana in the car by the way. One by Warhol.

[Harry]

Ah but you see I am totally ferdig after taking my boys to the Norwegian Railway Museum today, Harry. Must have something agreeable (The Bartok is btw not in my collection, so if I was up I'd let Pollini play Boulez' second sonata).

Good gracious, Boulez?
After that you will be Ferdig, I assure you!

[Harry]

Singphonic Christmas.

Christmas Songs from Europe.

The Singphoniker and guest.
Irmgard Gorzawski, Harp/

Well I am a little late with this, and clearly I forgot to play it last year Christmas. But since I am in the mood for Christmas, and lets be honest it is almost Christmas again, coupled with the fact that I am reading Dickens, well I don't know, but the mood suddenly took me, grabbed this cd and without much ado, justled it in to my player, and presto there Adestes fidelis flowed out of my speakers, and images of Christmas trees, mulled wine, and coziness fall over each other. So for me its 60 minutes Christmas. Johohohohohoho.
O. yes the recording is awesome, and the songs jolly.

This one is dedicated to Valentino. "Du gronne, glitrende tre" & "Kling no klokka!"

[Valentino]

  Christmas carols in june? Is Harry ferdig? High tide in Nordholland? June's for scuba, not Glühwein!

But thanks, Harry. I'll pull those out in 6 months time again. Then they'll passe.
Now Alfven's Midtsommarvaka. From a Sony disk with "Nordic favourites". Salonen conducting. Just right for this time of year. 

[Hector]

Arthur Bliss.

Checkmate: Ballet in One Scene with a Prologue.

Royal Scottish National Orchestra/David Lloyd Jones

Marvelously recorded by Phil Rowlands, this ballet sounds smashing and is smashing. Clear sighted, rhythmical, and propulsive no end.
Very well written.

Indeed, which reminds me to add to my Bliss collection which at the moment consists of...zilch.

It is because I heard so much of his music when young that he just became part of the furniture.

However, yesterday I heard Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor.

I cannot understand its neglect. It is accessible and short. This was on R3 and Lucy Parham was accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra under Barry Wordsworth.

Today, I settled down to Abbado's live recording (the applause is separately tracked) of Mahler's 9th recorded in 1999 with the BPO.

Is this the ONE, I ask myself? It left the usual feelings at the end but, also, a deep feeling of satisfaction. I'll play it again and gauge my reaction, accordingly.

[George]

Beethoven

Op. 2

Richard Goode

[SonicMan46]

Boccherini - Capriccio 10-CD Box Set - listening to the Symphonies now - the entire box will be part of my upcoming weekend listening - this was an absolute bargin at BRO when purchased, but I no longer see that it is available (some individual singles & doubles still on their list); excellent introduction to this composer, and great review at MusicWeb w/ some reservations about the 2 discs of Guitar Quintets - 

[orbital]

Beethoven

Op. 2

Richard Goode

Op 2/1 is from now on, The Mannheim Rocket sonata for me  (after the Schiff bit)

[BachQ]

Tchaik 4 (HvK)

[George]

Op 2/1 is from now on, The Mannheim Rocket sonata for me  (after the Schiff bit)

Well, in some pianists hands anyway. 

[not edward]

Furtwangler with the BPO in the last two Brahms symphonies. I'm partial to this version of the 3rd, but the 4th is IMO unexceptional.

[Que]

Furtwangler with the BPO in the last two Brahms symphonies. I'm partial to this version of the 3rd, but the 4th is IMO unexceptional.

Dates? 4th from '43?

Q

[not edward]

Dates? 4th from '43?

Q

'54 for the 3rd, '48 for the 4th. I'd much rather hear a '43 4th, as I think it's a work that would really suit the wartime Furtwangler style.