What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Antoine Marchand]

Beethoven - Piano Trios Vol. 1 [No. 7 Op. 97 "Archduke", No. 3 Op.1, 3]
Trio Italiano
Total time 74:24
Arts Music

Great fun, very Italian, excellent recorded sound.

Description:

This is the beginning of the complete recording of Beethoven's Piano Trios, with volume 2 and volume 3 to appear in upcoming months [THEY EXIST INDEED]. In this release is included the most famous of all Trios, the 'Archduke' Trio and one of the earliest Trios written by Beethoven.

Trio Italiano is a young [THIS WAS IN 1994  ] but already leading permanent Piano Trio that carried on the great italian tradition for chamber music. Their performances deserve the highest acclaim since they offer a new but fascinating way of interpretation of such famous pieces.

ARTS MUSIC WEBSITE

[DavidRoss]

Another "small choir" recording is Minkowski's on Naive.  I'm not sure if you can get a smaller chorus than his:  The soloists (10 of them) are the chorus.

After hearing several tracks from it on Naïve's website, I found it much to my liking and ordered it right away.  Still waiting for it to arrive.  Streaming tracks available here: http://www.naive.fr/#/work/bach-messe-en-si

Now playing: 

[listener]

SCHOENBERG  String Quartet Concerto (after Handel)
R. STRAUSS: Divertimento op. 86  (after Couperin)
I keep thinking it's the Bourgeois Gentilhomme music...
N.Y. Chamber Symphony    American String Quartet       Gerard Schwarz, cond.

GLAZUNOV SYMPHONIES 2 & 7 ("Pastoral")
Moscow S.O.,  Anissimov, cond.

[Scarpia]

Now playing: 

There are some good things in that Beethoven cycle, but the audio engineering sometimes annoys me (to much reverberation, loss of clarity).

[DavidRoss]

Came in today's mail and so far is delightful, exceeding expectations. 

[prémont]

There are some good things in that Beethoven cycle, but the audio engineering sometimes annoys me (to much reverberation, loss of clarity).

Close miking,  exaggerating the intensity of the playing (an intensity which BTW already is present but to a little lesser degree).

[kishnevi]

There are some good things in that Beethoven cycle, but the audio engineering sometimes annoys me (to much reverberation, loss of clarity).

If you don't want the entire cycle, EMI issued part of it as one of their Triple series (budget 3 CD sets) ("Favourite Piano Sonatas"):Nos.  8/14/15/17/21/23/26/29/31/32

[kishnevi]

Thanks for that rec, Jens.  I have been very impressed with Jansons and the BRSO when they've been at Carnegie the last few years, so I'd be inclined to get this soon (since I love the piece). 

--Bruce

It might be worth getting his entire cycle.  I have three CDs from it: Nos. 2 coupled with 12, 3 coupled with 14, and 13.   The quality ranges from solid (which is probably all you can get out of 2 and 3) to excellent (13).  My ears tell me his 14 is good, but my mind suggests someone could have done a better job with it (and probably has).

[Scarpia]

If you don't want the entire cycle, EMI issued part of it as one of their Triple series (budget 3 CD sets) ("Favourite Piano Sonatas"):Nos.  8/14/15/17/21/23/26/29/31/32

Unfortunately they left out my favorites.  I can't complain really, I had a number of discs from the cycle and I seem to have sold most of them off at some point. 

[jlaurson]

It might be worth getting his entire cycle.  I have three CDs from it: Nos. 2 coupled with 12, 3 coupled with 14, and 13.   The quality ranges from solid (which is probably all you can get out of 2 and 3) to excellent (13).  My ears tell me his 14 is good, but my mind suggests someone could have done a better job with it (and probably has).

His DSCH with the BRSO is fab in that entire cycle. Even 2 & 3 are stunning, given how little [music-wise] he had to work with. 12, 13 are great. 14 is a symphony I've not quite grasped, anyway. 5th not a hit in that set, 4th, as mentioned, the best. Pittsburg 8th maybe my favorite 8th (but the 8th isn't my favorite). 9th isn't the most memorable.

[karlhenning]

That Eighth with Pittsburgh is indeed notable.  Also the Tenth with Phila.

[Marc]

Mixed feelings 'bout this one. I sometimes miss the urgency in Koïto's playing. Should listen to it more, I guess. The OVPP choral singing is beautiful.

[George]

Enjoyable but not exceptional. I had high hopes for this D 959 too, many people have been raving about it on another board. 

[prémont]

Mixed feelings 'bout this one. I sometimes miss the urgency in Koïto's playing. Should listen to it more, I guess. The OVPP choral singing is beautiful.

Yes, I have also mixed feelings about her Bach CD from Martinikerk. I miss some authority. It seems like the expressive power of the music eludes her. A common occurrence with Asian artists I think, even if there are exceptions like Ryo Terakado.

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD1 from this set, which just arrived yesterday ...

[Lethevich]

the quintets by Frankel and Maconchy.  Both very interesting, spiky works with lots of dissonant harmonies, built mostly on the interplay of catchy little motifs.  I got this disc mainly because of the Cooke, but now I'm looking for more Frankel and Machonchy recordings.

I agree, the Frankel is the highlight of this disc. It made me feel bad for neglecting a composer I already understood to be a master based on hearing his symphonies and violin concerto.

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD2 from this set ...

[SonicMan46]

Myslivecek, Josef (1737-1781) - Wind Quintets & Octets - a Bohemian composer who spent much of his adult life in Italy - I was able to obtain a library loan of a new (2009) biography of this 'short-lived' composer by Daniel Freeman; just into the second chapter but will provide more details later in the thread devoted to this classical composer - 

 

[listener]

ADAM  Le Toréador   (again)
Keep the notes handy unless you are very familiar with Grétry's operas.  There are several meaningful quotes in this and spotting them adds to the pleasure.
ALKAN 25 Préludes  op. 31       Laurent Martin, piano

I've had an odd couple of days, some extremes that have sort of balanced, but I'm worn out, will possibly conclude with Mozart Divertimenti

[Que]

By the king of grands motets:




Good morning!

Q