What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[George]

NP:

Chopin Nocturnes by Arrau.  0:)

[Christo]

Golijov

I played more Osvaldo Golijov, this year, but this one is new to me. How is it? 

[WI Dan]

Not boring.  Can't dis-recommend these.

[Papy Oli]

Good morning 

Waking up with Bruckner 8th - Jochum/SD 

[jlaurson]

I played more Osvaldo Golijov, this year, but this one is new to me. How is it? 

Here's a review from after I've come to like it: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2006/02/now-thats-cross-over-ayre-youve-stolen.html

...although the 'stable mate' begged to differ: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2005/12/stale-ayre.html

Thread duty:

Disc 3:



L.v.Beethoven
Complete String Quartets
Alexander String Quartet
Foghorn

[val]

BEETHOVEN:    Piano Sonatas opus 14/1 & 2

- Artur Schnabel
- Friedrich Gulda

Schnabel is the best interpreter I ever heard in the opus 14/1. The development in the first movement and the 2nd movement are good examples of this extraordinary version.

In the Sonata opus 14/2 I prefer Gulda, with his perfection in the articulation. Only in this version I find in all its details the subtle humor of the 3rd movement.

After Gulda and Schnabel there are not many interesting versions, at least to me.
Perhaps Kempff (1951), with his lyricism and elegance. But he looks pale compared to them.

[Novi]

Good morning 

Waking up with Bruckner 8th - Jochum/SD 

Man, that's intense. I'm just having my morning coffee now...

[Harry]

Second listen

[/b]From the Versailles box, CD III.



Lully createur de L'opera Francais.

Isis, (Excerpts)
Barbara Kuss, Jean Francois Lombard, Marc Mauillon, Edwin Mercer.
Les Pages et les Chantres du Centre de Musiqui Baroque Versaiolles, Musica Florea, Olivier Schneebeli.

Amadis ( Excerpts)

Veronique Gens, Benoit Porcherot, David Witczak.
Same performers as in Isis.

Isis is a lot of fun well sung and performed, Amadis is a fine composition too, but I cannot say that I am quite comfortable with the voice of Gens. In the past I liked her very much, but her voice is quite loud, bereft of the finer nuances of the singing art. The words are often shouted instead of sung, not pretty at all. I have heard this much better sung. Despite that excellent performances.

[Coopmv]

Now playing this SACD, which arrived from MDT a few days ago.  This is my first recording by Holland Baroque Society, which I knew nothing about ...

[Sergeant Rock]

Mahler Fourth:




Sarge

[Papy Oli]

No.1 and No.3 so far from this set.

Had not listened to these in a long while - very enjoyable.

[Papy Oli]

Mahler Fourth:

Sarge

How is that cycle so far Sarge ?

[jlaurson]

A. Vivaldi
Armida al campo d'Egitto
Concerto Italiano
Rinaldo Alessandrini
Naive
(Amazon.de)

[Harry]

From this excellent box, the mother of all bargains



CD 15. First listen

Dietrich Buxtehude.
Night Music.
Capriccio Stravagante, Skip Sempe.

A truly wonderful disc.

[Drasko]

BBC radio 3 'Building a library' was doing todays show on Tchaikovsky's Francesca da Rimini. Their overall choice in the end was recording I'm not familiar with - Pappano with Santa Cecilia Orchestra on EMI, with Mravinsky being chosen as historic/budged/video/whatnot second choice. So I've decided to give a spin to my favorite recording: Markevitch/Lamoureux 1959 on DG

[Henk]

[Sergeant Rock]

How is that cycle so far Sarge ?

I've only heard 2 and 4 so far. I like Svetlanov's interpretations. The Fourth is very distinctive and could become a favorite (if not for one not so small detail which I'll come to). The Second is good without being particularly distinctive or distinguished (I think Jens said something similar). Nothing wrong with it but...  His tempos are often slower than normal and I wasn't expecting that....a nice surprise given my penchant (fetish? ) for slow speeds. I agree with Jens about the voices: not great but not a deal breaker either. The soloist in the Fourth sounds like my grandmother, not a young angel but I can live with that. What is (almost) a deal breaker is a recording style that balances the voices so far forward in the mix they become irritating. It's especially damaging in the Fourth--a real pity because I love the dreamy atmosphere Svetlanov creates, almost a lullaby...or would create if the voice weren't so incredibly loud compared to the orchestra. Gave me headache when played back at a volume where I could hear the orchestra properly. I've only heard it on my Polk bookshelves in my den. I'll try again in the main listening room where I have Canton Ventos. Maybe the sound will be more pleasing there.

Sarge

[SonicMan46]

Beethoven, LV - String Quartets w/ the Alexander SQ (recorded in 2008) - finishing up the 'late quartets' last night and this morning; now for 'some' comparisons w/ my favorite over the years, the Takacs Quartet - 

Druschetzky, Georg (1745-1819) - String Quintets w/ the Festetics SQ + and added viola!  Now, I'm not sure 'why' I bought this CD?  Of course, the group performing was a major influence, but I'd never heard of this composer - few other recordings exist (some chamber wind pieces) - however, Jerry Dubins HERE was impressed, and so far these are wonderful works and performances - 


 

[Coopmv]

Now playing this SACD, which arrived from MDT a few days ago.  Members of the Retrospect Trio were former members of the King's Consort.  I suppose with Robert King in the slammer, the King's Consort is technically or officially dissolved ...

[Brahmsian]

Brahms

Variations on a theme by Joseph Haydn "St. Antoni Chorale", Op.56b for two pianos

16 Waltzes Op.39 for piano 4-hands

Variations on a theme by Robert Schumann for piano 4-hands, Op.23

Bracha Eden & Alexander Tamir, piano

Brilliant Classics

*All first listens.