What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Sergeant Rock]

This [Barenboim's WTC] is supposed to be a bomb ...

Depends on who you ask. I don't think so. And Gramophone says:

"....his individuality and poetic richness erase all stale notions of pedantry or aridity. There is no sense of received wisdom, only a vital act of recreation that captures Bach's masterpiece in all its first glory and magnitude; no simple-minded notions of period style or strict parameters but a moving sense of music of a timeless veracity. The romantic influences of Furtwängler and Edwin Fischer, among Barenboim's greatest musical loves, can be sensed throughout."

I suppose it is Bach played like Brahms but I like it that way. I confess, my favorite set of Cello Suites is Mischa Maisky's, so take that as a reflection of where I'm coming from: an expansive, romantic taste in Bach.

Sarge

[karlhenning]

Good morning, all!

Игорь Фëдорович [Igor Fyodorovich]
«Жар-птица» (L'oiseau de feu)
CBSO
Rattle

[Lethevich]

Yo!

[Keemun]

Good morning, all!

Good morning, Karl and everyone else!

Now:

Sibelius
Symphony No. 4
Blomstedt
San Francisco Symphony

[Sergeant Rock]

Yo!

That looks interesting (and sounds interesting in the clips at JPC).

Listening to Martinů's Third Symphony, Neumann




Sarge

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Listening to Martinů's Third Symphony, Neumann

I had that one until I "upgraded" to the more recent Belohlavek on Supraphon. Neumann's still good, though. Interestingly there are a few noticeable differences in the respective editions used.

[Drasko]

[Lethevich]

That looks interesting (and sounds interesting in the clips at JPC).

It's a disc that I thought I would play to get a quick fix of that musical style, but in fact turned out to be far more individual and interesting than I had anticipated. I return to it surprisingly often. The aesthetic is quite distinct from the more Catholic/Orthodox minimalist composers of his region - there is an interesting folk influence that is not used simply to create an atmosphere of poignency, but to create something more vibrant.

His opera Lokys the Bear, also on Ondine, is really impressive too - and the text perfectly fits his sound

Edit: Another interesting aspect I hadn't noticed before was how there are some shades of Philip Glass in here - Baltic minimalists are usually notable by their lack of influence from the American style.

[Sergeant Rock]

One of my two favorite Sibelius Seconds, Szell and Cleveland, live in Tokyo.



I wasn't there but was at the Seoul concert (Szell's penultimate performance) a few days later where he also conducted the Sibelius.


Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

I had that one until I "upgraded" to the more recent Belohlavek on Supraphon. Neumann's still good, though. Interestingly there are a few noticeable differences in the respective editions used.

Belohlavek's I don't own but do have Thomson and Järvi besides Neumann. Haven't decided which I prefer.

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

It's a disc that I thought I would play to get a quick fix of that musical style, but in fact turned out to be far more individual and interesting than I had anticipated. I return to it surprisingly often. The aesthetic is quite distinct from the more Catholic/Orthodox minimalist composers of his region - there is an interesting folk influence that is not used simply to create an atmosphere of poignency, but to create something more vibrant.

His opera Lokys the Bear, also on Ondine, is really impressive too - and the text perfectly fits his sound

Edit: Another interesting aspect I hadn't noticed before was how there are some shades of Philip Glass in here - Baltic minimalists are usually notable by their lack of influence from the American style.

Thanks for the additional info. It may be a future purchase.

Sarge

[karlhenning]

First listen!

Martinů
Gilgameš, H.351 (1955)
Slovak Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra & al.
Košler

Martinů – The Epic of Gilgamesh (Oratorio)

[Lethevich]

I really like that work, Karl - it's the kind of piece I could imagine Janáček writing if he got around to it.

np:


I don't absolutely dislike this as I did on first listens. There is craft here, and it's easy to allow yourself to be convinced into liking it. But my brain is screaming "you're being tricked!" for some reason - something feels deeply superficial about the whole thing.

[Harry]

Charles Stanford.
Clarinet Concerto in A minor.

Gerald Finzi.
Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra..

Thea King, Clarinet.
The Philharmonia Orchestra, Alun Francis.
Recorded 1979 by Bob Auger.

This is a jewel of a disc. Superb performed, and recorded. Both concertos are excellent works, much to be admired. It was and is praised into heaven by critics and public alike, and deservingly so.

[Scarpia]

Gerald Finzi.
Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra..

Thea King, Clarinet.
The Philharmonia Orchestra, Alun Francis.
Recorded 1979 by Bob Auger. [/b]

One of my absolute favorite recordings in the world.

[AndyD.]

One of my absolute favorite recordings in the world.

Strauss Elektra (Solti)

An all time favorite.

[Sergeant Rock]

Vaughan Williams Fourth, Bernstein




Sarge

[George]

This is a wildly inspiring performance, it completely transcends what must have been limited recording techniques of the time.

Thanks George, I'm getting this one .

Glad you liked it. You won't like the price, though. Unfortunately, I have only seen it for sale here.

[AndyD.]

Glad you liked it. You won't like the price, though. Unfortunately, I have only seen it for sale here.

Eeek! (Cranks the headphones up)

[Todd]

I suppose it is Bach played like Brahms but I like it that way.

I rather enjoy Barenboim's WTC as well, though I must say that it's not the first set I turn too if I want to listen to the work.

Keeping with the Barenboim idea, I'm spinning his recording of Mendelssohn's Lieder Ohne Worte.  Some good stuff, well played, and well recorded.  Barenboim seems such a good fit for Mendelssohn, I wonder why there don't appear to be any recordings of the symphonies.  (Maybe I've missed them.)