What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[karlhenning]

First listen!

Martinů
Legenda z dýmu bramborové nati (Legend of the Smoke from Potato Fires), H.360 (1956)

Martinů – Opening of the Wells &c.

[Lethevich]

It's nice to play something that doesn't make my housemates frown at me...

[MN Dave]

Enjoyed these pieces on my workout.

[SonicMan46]

Now listening to Symphony No. 3 A Guerra and I really like this symphony a lot. I think anybody who enjoys Villa-Lobos should own this set. It is essential listening.

MI - I'm wondering how this set is packaged?  I've a number of CPO boxes and typically single discs are put in separate jewel boxes which is fine except for us looking for 'space saving' options - I'm assuming that the same is true for this set?  Any comments would be appreciated - I have a LOT of V-L but not these works - 

[SonicMan46]

Chopin - Nocturnes played by Michele Boegner on an original 1836 Pleyel piano restored by Anthony Sidey of Paris - an applauded recommendation from Brian - I've been trying to purchase the original CDs w/o success, so was able (w/ the help of one of my radiology residents) to obtain a MP3 disc (320 kbps) of these recordings - such a nice contrast to the versions I own on 'modern' piano - need to do some comparisons; the sound production is a little 'noisy' probably due in part to the piano (pedal, soundboard, etc.) and possibly the engineering - not sure 'where' these were recorded but there is a low rumbling sound on the tracks - this is a privately owned piano, so the location may not have been ideal (liner notes were available but of little help) - 

[Sid]

An excellent recording (you can even hear the parts where the wind players are blowing into their instruments with just air coming out). Great to have both versions of Ramifications as well. I think the description of Ligeti's music as being like "clocks and clouds" is pretty apt. Only problem with this disc is it's short time (just over 50 minutes).



Gearing up for a live performance of the Mozart Clarinet Quintet, I am listening to this recording often nowadays. I think the slow movement has much poetry, something I don't usually associate with Mozart (he's usually just elegant). I also like the theme & variations at the end - one of his most memorable moments of the many in his chamber output.



Bliss is a composer who seemed to write in a hybrid of styles. He's one of the few minor composers whose works I enjoy. I think that his Clarinet Quintet is up there with the best, but the 2nd string quartet on this disc is harder to warm to - a bit like an uncomfortable fusion of Romanticism and Modernism. It was written around 1950, but you wouldn't think so, listening to it...

[Mirror Image]

MI - I'm wondering how this set is packaged?  I've a number of CPO boxes and typically single discs are put in separate jewel boxes which is fine except for us looking for 'space saving' options - I'm assuming that the same is true for this set?  Any comments would be appreciated - I have a LOT of V-L but not these works - 

Hey SonicMan,

As typical with all the CPO box sets I own, they are all in seperate jewel cases, which I'm not enthralled with, but you do get all the original liner notes and cover art for each disc, which is the only plus. I wish they would put them in sleeves, but I'll take it however I can get it.

About the music, I will say that VL's symphonies are all really good, my favorites being the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 9th, and the 10th, but they are all very unique. The music is typical VL: very kaleidoscopic, sometimes dense, aggressive rhythms and odd time signatures, but always lyrical with great orchestration. Symphony No. 10 is a very ambitious work on the scale of Forest of the Amazon. This symphony seems to get the most criticism, but I think it has some very beautiful music, which makes up for it's very loose, occasionally meandering structure.

This set is most definitely required listening if you're into VL's music. I hope this helps. Enjoy!

[listener]

from a stack of vinyls
French Noëls played on the Andreas Silbermann organ at Marmoutier
DAQUIN, DANDRIEU and LEBÈGUE    Recording engineer  Peter Bartok
attractive at any time of the year
DVORAK   Symphony no.3 in E^b, op. 10
Prague Symphony Orch.     Vaclav Smetacek, cond.
first listen:
BARBER   Violin Concerto              DELIUS Violin Concerto
Robert Gerle, violin       Vienna State Opera Orch.     Robert Zeller, cond.

[George]

Chopin - Nocturnes played by Michele Boegner on an original 1836 Pleyel piano restored by Anthony Sidey of Paris - an applauded recommendation from Brian - I've been trying to purchase the original CDs w/o success, so was able (w/ the help of one of my radiology residents) to obtain a MP3 disc (320 kbps) of these recordings - such a nice contrast to the versions I own on 'modern' piano - need to do some comparisons; the sound production is a little 'noisy' probably due in part to the piano (pedal, soundboard, etc.) and possibly the engineering - not sure 'where' these were recorded but there is a low rumbling sound on the tracks - this is a privately owned piano, so the location may not have been ideal (liner notes were available but of little help) - 

Like you, Dave, I have some issues with the sound or rather the extraneous (pedal?) noises from the piano. It's less noticeable through my speakers, I have noticed. This is not one for headphones. I have put this set on again tonight and find his playing too fast and too "straight" for me. The sound of the Playel is not to my liking either.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



An exciting, but beautiful account of a classic with Gergiev at the helm.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



A beautiful disc. Not one of my favorite Part recordings, but it has some great moments.

[The new erato]

Now:



An exciting, but beautiful account of a classic with Gergiev at the helm.

Covers with Gergiev always scares the shit out of me.

[The new erato]

Now playing:



Just as brilliant and revealing as the rest of the series, in glorious, transparent sound. Dare I say that this, and Fleicher/Szell, is the only sets I own and feel I need. Together they seem to cover all bases.

[Mirror Image]

Covers with Gergiev always scares the shit out of me.

Lol...yeah, he's a pretty scary looking guy.

[Harry]

Mendelssohn.
Octet in E flat major.

Woldemar Bargiel.
Octet in C minor.

Divertimenti.
Recorded in 1984 and 1989.

This is the first in the Helios series that disappoints me. Both in recording and certainly in the performance presented. Bob Auger recorded the Mendelssohn,  Anthony Howell did the Bargiel many years later. In Mendelssohn the sound is to forward with in the first movement a unnatural dept, that feels uneasy, although the detail is up to scratch. Divertimenti was a unknown ensemble for me, and by hearing what they did to the music of these composers I will walk carefully encountering new recordings of them. They take quite a aggressive stance especially in the faster movements, and added a unwanted brilliance to the works that mar the content in no slight way, overplaying all the delicate details, and underrating the excellence of this work. The Scherzo is quite well done with some beautiful playing, but those are only moments. The Bargiel fares a little better but not really that much, the same ailments that befalls Mendelssohn are also present here. The second movement has its moments of beauty, but is often disabled by this superficial playing, that emerges to often in the process. There are far better recordings on the market as this one. My advice is, to skip this one.

[Sergeant Rock]

An atonal afternoon at the Rock residence:



Sarge

[karlhenning]

Rock on!

Good morning, Sarge!

[Sergeant Rock]

Rock on!

Good morning, Sarge!

Hey, Karl. This is the program Rattle and his Berliners have been playing in Europe (Salzburg, the Proms). Just read a review of the Proms concert; it went down fairly well.

Sarge

[AndyD.]

An atonal afternoon at the Rock residence:



Sarge

I've hesitated on getting that one, I read some bad reviews. Inspiring composers, all three. What's your opinion, Sarge?
I wonder if the Rattle is getting recorded. Wish I could check it out!

Strauss Metamorphosen (Karajan DG)

[Harry]

Czeslaw Marek.
Orchestral Works, Volume I.

The more I play his music, the more I like it. Many influences in the music, and yet a distinctive own voice. A fine orchestrator, with impressionistic overtones, and a occasional big bang. The follow up volumes are rather expensive, so I let that go for now. This one came cheap from JPC.