What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Conor71]

I have the string quartets set of these.  Now I wish I had got this box set instead, which includes a lot more than just the string quartets! 

Hi Ray and David - yes this is an awesome box, really nicely played. I would recommend it .

Now listening:



Brahms: String Sextets

These works are just lovely! - Going to play Bruckners 7th next after reading Andre's post .

[Brahmsian]

Brahms: String Sextets

These works are just lovely!

Yes, the sextets are top notch early Brahms works.  They are some of my favorite overall Brahms' pieces.

[Mirror Image]

Now for something different:



Listening to Reich's City Life. I'm digging it. 

[DavidW]

Hi Ray and David - yes this is an awesome box, really nicely played. I would recommend it .

+1 I have that giant box set too, and all of those chamber works are awesome!  I was reminded again of that today because I caught a couple of Dvorak quintets on the radio.

[DavidW]

Listening to Mozart the Haydn string quartets and the sublime Hoffmeister.

[Sid]

...Going to play Bruckners 7th next after reading Andre's post .

Yes, Bruckner 7 is a great symphony, and I am able to listen to it more times than the 8th or 9th which can be pretty dark & a bit hard going. The 7th with it's great string and brass work, reminds me often of being at the edge of a crystal clear lake somewhere. People probably already know here how it was Bruckner's only major success during his lifetime (apart from in Vienna, which was generally quite hostile due to that miserable critic Hanslick). I also like the comparative restraint in this symphony, compared to the heaviness of some of his others. It has a soaring quality which reminds me of his masses and motets. I think that Karajan must have also liked this work, because he recorded it no less than 3 times, including in the final recording session he ever made. Enjoy!...

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Some great tango from down South! I'm coming around to Piazzolla quite a bit. I'm beginning to see what others see in his music. Such raw passion and intensity.

[greg]

What Chinese / Asian 'Classical' Piano Concertos do you know? Which ones do you think are any good?

That's a good, challenging question. 

I know extremely little about Chinese composers and less about Korean composers. I can't think even think of one Asian "Piano Concerto." (Though watch someone bring one up and have me go, "ohhhh yeahhhh...") 

There are 2 that I can think of which are kind of like piano concertos. Mayuzumi's Pieces for Prepared Piano and Strings and Takemitsu's Quotation of a Dream- Say Sea, Take Me! The former I've only heard once- relistened just now and I guess it's alright. The latter I've always liked- it also quotes La Mer a lot, which is cool.

Wow, I used italics a lot.

[Sid]

What Chinese / Asian 'Classical' Piano Concertos do you know? Which ones do you think are any good?

The former member Tapkaara here talked a lot about Ifukube, a Japanese composer. I've got the Naxos recording of his music, which includes Ritmica Ostinata for piano and orchestra. It's kind of like a minimalist piano concerto with a strong Japanese flavour. Not a bad piece, although the other works on the disc are okay as well...

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Symphony and what a luminous work this is! Anyway, I better not talk too much about Webern, because Teresa or Saul might throw a temper tantrum.        

[Sid]

...Listening to Symphony and what a luminous work this is! Anyway, I better not talk too much about Webern, because Teresa or Saul might throw a temper tantrum.        

Aren't those two now gone from here?...

[Que]

Re-run, still good!

Good morning.

Q

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Hi Ray and David - yes this is an awesome box, really nicely played. I would recommend it .

BTW - does that Dvorak set consist of re-packaged old performances, or are they new ones?

[Harry]

Robert Johnson.
The Prince's Almain, and other Dances for Lute.
Nigel North.

Second run, still more impressed with the level of performance and recording. This is definitively a disc to have.

[The new erato]

BTW - does that Dvorak set consist of re-packaged old performances, or are they new ones?

Repacking of existing (I've owned several single discs since the 90-ies) performances, excellent and in very fine sound BTW.

[mc ukrneal]

Franz Xaver Richter was a name unknown to me until I picked up this Naxos disc below - Grand Symphonies with the Helsinki Baroque Orhestra. Joyous and full of life, they play this with passion, energy and delicacy. I cannot recommend this enough. From the first notes, I was enthralled with the music. Playing and sound are excellent (and there is a second disc with 7-12).

[Harry]

Franz Xaver Richter was a name unknown to me until I picked up this Naxos disc below - Grand Symphonies with the Helsinki Baroque Orhestra. Joyous and full of life, they play this with passion, energy and delicacy. I cannot recommend this enough. From the first notes, I was enthralled with the music. Playing and sound are excellent (and there is a second disc with 7-12).

Yes they are excellent:)

[Harry]

Leo Weiner.

Violin Sonatas, No. 1 & 2.
Pereg recruiting dance.
Wedding dance.
Three Hungarian folk dances.
Twenty easy little pieces.

Hagai Shaham, Violin.
Arnon Erez, Piano.

What a wonderful composer Weiner is, his music always infused with folk melodies, and a thoroughly romantic stance in his music, mingled with some French impressionism.
Performed by two excellent musicians, this disc is a great pleasure to me. Well recorded too:)

[Sergeant Rock]

Sir Matthew's Malcolm's First Symphony, conducted by the composer:




Sarge

[Antoine Marchand]

Franz Xaver Richter was a name unknown to me until I picked up this Naxos disc below - Grand Symphonies with the Helsinki Baroque Orhestra. Joyous and full of life, they play this with passion, energy and delicacy. I cannot recommend this enough. From the first notes, I was enthralled with the music. Playing and sound are excellent (and there is a second disc with 7-12).

Bulldog dixit:

Hakkinen discs - retain, do not sell.