What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[johnQpublic]

Tobias - Julius Ceasar Overture (Jarvi/Chandos)
Pfitzner - Cello Sonata (Schiefen/Arte Nova)
Strauss - Symphonic Fragment from "Die Liebe der Danae" (Mehta/Sony)

[bhodges]

Phillip Bimstein: Casino (1997, for wind quintet and tape, Sierra Winds) - Amusing concoction that uses the taped voice of Las Vegas dice-caller Tom Martinet mixed with the wind ensemble, all combined with sounds of slot machines, roulette wheels, dice, poker chips, coins and cards.  The three sections are "EatDrinkGambleSex," "The Fearful Things," and "Paradise Lost."  Not sure it's the most profoundly life-changing work ever, but fun (and very well produced and recorded).

--Bruce

[BachQ]

Not sure it's the most profoundly life-changing work ever

Oh come on!  How can a work containing "EatDrinkGambleSex" be other than a powerfully profound encapsulization of the human experience ......... 

[bhodges]

Oh come on!  How can a work containing "EatDrinkGambleSex" be other than a powerfully profound encapsulization of the human experience ......... 

And now:

Phillip Bimstein: Half Moon at Checkerboard Mesa (1997, for oboe and tape) - Stephen Caplan on oboe, mixed with sounds of Zion National Park, i.e., canyon tree frogs, coyotes, crickets, rocks, thunder and water from the Virgin River.  Liking this one even better...

Phillip Bimstein: The Bushy Wushy Rag (2000, Equinox Chamber Players) - Incorporates sounds of the St. Louis Cardinals, recorded from behind home plate, in a droll Scott Joplin-esque work.  Bimstein is clearly fascinated with "found sounds" combined with acoustic instruments.



Followed by:

Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme (Rostropovich/Kondrashin/Concertgebouw, live recording Mar. 14, 1977) - Excellent.  Sound has a little more hiss than usual, given Radio Netherlands' high standards, but I'm being picky.  Rostropovich is incredibly expressive here, perhaps equal to his recording with Karajan.  (Later: heavens, the applause and ovations say it all...quite marvelous.)

Stravinsky: Concerto in D (Colin Davis/Concertgebouw, live recording Nov. 6, 1975) - Very good, albeit perhaps more relaxed than I expected for this piece. 

Scriabin: Symphony No. 3 (Kondrashin/Concertgebouw, live recording Feb. 12, 1976) - No complaints.  0:)

Mozart: Symphony No. 35, "Haffner" (Harnoncourt/Concertgebouw, live recording Mar. 30, 1979) - I'm a big Harnoncourt fan, and this performance only adds to my admiration.  Precise, explosive attacks and attention to dynamics make it totally winning.  Plus, the orchestra just sounds so great...

--Bruce

[Bogey]

Disc 5: Preludes & Fugues BWV 531-533, 539, 550, 551, Fugues BWV 574 & 579

Wonderful set!  I owe Don and Lyric a truckload of gratitude for pointing out this one.

[Black Knight]

Osvaldas Balakauskas.

Symphony No. 4. (1998)

Lithuanian National SO/Juozas Domarkas.

Fascinating stuff, no wonder he is one of the leaders of the modern school in Lithianian. what a powerful compositions, steeped deeply into the cultural heritage of this country. Fine recording and performance.

Write about it in the Lithuanian composers thread! 

[Solitary Wanderer]

[Harry]

Mark will love you for this one!

[Solitary Wanderer]

Mark will love you for this one!

Oh really? 'Cause its a Naxos?

Seriously it is excellent. I bought it to learn #2 in F as we heard it performed by Michael Houstoun in February but I've taken to the whole cd.

I'm on a 'chamber music jag' this year after being on a 'symphony' jag last year

[Kullervo]

Iv'e just gotten acquainted with this work in the last year or so, after hearing it live twice: last year with Franz Welser-Möst and the Cleveland Orchestra, and then just a week ago with Riccardo Muti and the New York Philharmonic.  Excellent as both were, the symphony seems to me a preface to the last four.  It has its moments -- many of them -- but ultimately doesn't show the overwhelming imagination and refinement of the last ones.  Still, though, worth hearing as a "ramp up" to what he achieved in those later symphonies.

Right now, listening to:

Nørgård: Spell (Trio Ondine) - From 1973, has elements of minimalism, and becomes more compelling with each listen.
Nielsen: Piano Trio No. 1 (same) - Written when he was 18, it's more conventional than his later work, but valuable for a snapshot at the time.  Excellent work by the Ondine players.
Anders Nordentoft: Doruntine (same) - A composer new to me.  The title is also the title of a novel by an Albanian author, Ismail Kadare, about a medieval princess who "experiences an extraordinary life."  (Not sure how this is reflected in the music, but I like the piece anyway.)

--Bruce

Yeah, I plan on buying that "Passages" set very soon. It's been on my wishlist for some time now.

[Kullervo]

Sibelius - Symphony No. 6 (Maazel, Wien PO)

This is probably the only one of his symphonies I haven't quite "cracked".

[Haffner]

Disc 1: Mahler's 2nd Symphony - 1st mvt. allegro maestoso

Really good?

[Maciek]

Write about it in the Lithuanian composers thread! 

I second that suggestion!

[Solitary Wanderer]

Just listened to this for the first time:



I laughed out loud at Rule Britannia; the kindest thing I could say about it is 'noisey and repetitive!

[Kullervo]

Per Nørgård - Sinfonia Austera (Segerstam, Danish National RSO)

In continuing the spirit of Sibelius, this is Nørgård's most Sibelian work.

[beclemund]

Tennstedt and the CSO Bruckner's 7th from '84...

Way too much crowd noise for my tastes tho'.

[m_gigena]

Good morning/day to all!

That was my first Beethoven's fourth. And remains as one of my favs.

[Kullervo]

Nørgård - Symphony No. 5

I'm having another go at this one. Definitely NOT easy listening!

[not edward]

Wonderful stuff!

[George]

Wonderful stuff!

Still waiting on mine to arrive from Australia.