What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Bogey]

His etudes from that Praga CD (the one with the Scriabin PS 5) knock me out every time I hear them. Especially that Op. 25 No. 11.

George (left) listening to Op. 25 No. 11:

[George]

 

[Florestan]

Humperdinck is one of those composers who always seems to delight and never disappoint. I picked up this disc ages ago - the music is outstanding. Doesn't appear to be in print now, but well worth a listen if you should find a copy somewhere. Just outstanding music...

Except his wonderfully magical "Haensel und Gretel" I've never heard anything by him. Did I miss much?

[Florestan]

Niels W. Gade.

Symphony No. 5 in D minor.
Stockholm Sinfonietta, Neeme Jarvi.
Roland Pontinen, Piano.

Strangely enough this Symphony doesn't work for me, mainly because of the lack of musical ideas, apart from the third movement, and the fact of this blundering piano that walks like a elephant through the score, and messing things up. My mind wandered off to other shores while listening, and that is never a good sign. However will try again later this week, maybe its just me. Recording is a bit muffled and boomy. Jarvi keeps the tempi on the fast side, and I think this work would collapse when played slower.

Hah! This is the only Gade symphony palatable for me and it is exactly the piano that rescues it from being just as monotonous and boring as the other six.  (I'm talking about the Hogwood/Danish NRSO set)

[Harry]

Niels W. Gade.

Symphony No. 6 in G minor.
Stockholm Sinfonietta, Neeme Jarvi.

Violin concerto in D minor.
Malmo SO, Paavo Jarvi.
Anton Kontra, Violin.

The sixth Symphony is up to the quality standard in which Gade normally writes. Witty ideas, fine writing for the strings, and alert to every challenge the notes will give him, presented in a vigorous fashion by Neeme Jarvi.
The Violon Concerto is a beauty as there ever was, fine melodic lines, with the excellent violinist Anton Kontra giving us every ounce of musicality there is, and it is much. Alert playing of the Malmo SO, but at times a muddled recording, especially in the lower regions. Still well defined but little openness in the basses, and celli.

[Harry]

Hah! This is the only Gade symphony palatable for me and it is exactly the piano that rescues it from being just as monotonous and boring as the other six.  (I'm talking about the Hogwood/Danish NRSO set)

Well thats certainly the opposite feelings we have.
And thats good in my view.

[karlhenning]

I did actually give this a not fully attentive initial listen when I first got it . . . and promptly resolved to listen again and better . . . but then the Schoenberg landed, and my listening queue was bent towards more of the modern.  Could almost consider this the proper First Listen!

Alkan
Concerto for piano solo, Opus 39, nos. 8-10
Marc-André Hamelin

The really scary thing about this recording and music being so damned good, is I want to buy more and more Alkan.

Alkan – Concerto for solo piano; Troisième recueil de chants

[Florestan]

Well thats certainly the opposite feelings we have.
And thats good in my view.

Absolutely! 

[Keemun]

Listening to more of the Jochum/SD Bruckner set:

Bruckner
Symphony No. 2
Jochum
Staatskapelle Dresden

[prémont]

Some of the works intended for harpsichord played on organ.

Which works? Not the suites I suppose, but one can never know.

[mc ukrneal]

Except his wonderfully magical "Haensel und Gretel" I've never heard anything by him. Did I miss much?

Well, there is not a whole lot out there. There is a Marco Polo disc of orchestral works that I'd like to get, but seems only available in CD-R, and there are some versions of Konigskinder (and perhaps some songs as well). And of course, the disc I posted. Other than that, I don't see very much available by him. He did compose several stage works I believe, but no idea if they are (or ever were) available on disc.

[Antoine Marchand]

Brahms - Horn Trio Op. 40, Violin Sonata Op. 78, Fantasien Op. 116
Isabelle Faust (violin, Stradivarius, "Sleeping Beauty", 1704, gut-stringed)
Teunis van der Zwart (natural horn, Lorenz, 1845)
Alexander Melnikov (Bösendorfer piano, 1875, restored by Edwin Beunk & Johann Wennink)
Recorded June 2007, Teldec Studio Berlin
Harmonia Mundi, 2008

[Keemun]

This is my first listen for both of these works.  I just finished the first, and I am now listening to the second.  Both are very good! 

Barber
Essay for Orchestra No. 1
Kirill Kondrashin
CSO
August 9, 1966

Barber
Symphony No. 1 (in One Movement)
Julius Hegyi
NYPO
June 11, 1987

[mahler10th]

I have decided to visit Buckinham Palace to celebrate the Royalty with a box of Astra Fireworks.  I am listening to this, and will take an old fashioned ghetto blaster and play it at full volume while I'm letting them off at the gates of the Palace.
I will bow and courtsey before any gentry who pass, of course.


Trevor Pinnock KNOWS Classical stuff, I'll be getting more by him.
This is great.

[Daverz]

Well thats certainly the opposite feelings we have [about the Gade 5th Symphony].
And thats good in my view.

It may be that the recording makes a difference here.  I also have the Hogwood recording.
I'll admit that I didn't like this work at first, but liked it much more on a second listen, even though I would prefer a drier recording.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

His etudes from that Praga CD (the one with the Scriabin PS 5) knock me out every time I hear them. Especially that Op. 25 No. 11.

Turned off the stereo before I got to that particular Etude. But I think I'll remedy that tonight, and just for kicks do some comparison listening between the Praga and Philips.

[Harry]

William Busch.
Cello Concerto.
Piano Concerto.

Amazing! I am still under the influence of this wonderful musical experience. I am totally bowled over by the Cello Concerto, such beauty and grace one seldom meets, so expertly delivered, and recorded. This is going with a rush in my favourite list.
Recommended all the way.

[Harry]

Again a disc that made my afternoon a pleasant one, and I forgot my physical pain for a moment. Apart from the wonderful synergy between the two violinists, its the sheer beauty of the works that had my attention. Well recorded, the instruments merge in a waterfall of exquisite deliciousness, and had my attention all the time. If you like Spohr, this fine CD should be on your list. It will not disappoint you.   

[Que]

Which works? Not the suites I suppose, but one can never know.

On the whole - no, it doesn't really. But still interesting, and a great organ.

Q

[Florestan]

It may be that the recording makes a difference here.  I also have the Hogwood recording.
I'll admit that I didn't like this work at first, but liked it much more on a second listen, even though I would prefer a drier recording.

Sooner or later I'll have to give Gade a second chance, as it's the first time I have such a strong reaction against a tonal composer's work. Even Bruckner bored me less than Gade did.