What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Daverz]

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 - Previn/LSO

A very vivid recording of the 5th.

And now



Gorecki, Symphony of Sorrowful Songs - Stefania Woytowicz, soprano.  This is the first recording made of the work.

[listener]

Gorecki, Symphony of Sorrowful Songs - Stefania Woytowicz, soprano.  This is the first recording made of the work.

In this morning's news:
Polish composer Henryk Gorecki has died at the age of 76, the country's national orchestra has announced.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11741555

[Sid]

Gorecki - Symphony of Sorrowful Songs
Kilanowicz/PSPO/Swoboda
Belart (I have an earlier incarnation of this recording, now on Eloquence)
Just listening to this as a tribute. It's been at least 6 months since I last heard it. A friend is coming over tonight, and we will play part of it then also...

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Ballade for Piano and Orchestra from this newly acquired disc. Totally awesome! I love it.

[greg]

I've been doing a rough survey of most of Takemitsu's work lately, and there's one piece that I just had to replay more urgently than the others- Munari by Munari.

What's weird is that it doesn't seem like a piece I would like- sure, it has bowed cymbals sounds, which I really like, but most of it just consists of one sound at a time, silence, another sound, silence, etc. There's just something about this piece which is so overwhelmingly mysterious. The sounds themselves seem to just barely be louder than silence itself. If you're a Feldman fan, I definitely recommend.

[Que]

I'm happy to see that GMG is up and running again!

LISTENING:



Q

[listener]

SCHULHOFF       Concertino for Flute (Piccolo), and Double Bass
  Divertissement for Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon
  Bassnachtigall  - 3 preludes for solo contrabassoon
  Symphonia germanica         Sonate erotica (sic) für solo-Müttertrompete

[Conor71]

Dvorak: String Quintet #2, String Sextet
Schubert: Violin Sonatas

And after this:

[val]

LISZT:        Dante Symphonie            / Staatskapelle Dresden, Sinopoli


A very good direction and a splendid orchestra. The Choir, in the Magnificat, was also beautiful.

A much better version than the other I had, conducted by Gyorgy Lehel.

[Harry]

GMG running again, why, its a miracle....

This morning I started with a disc that has grown dear to me, and will be a runner for many mornings to come. Nigel North is a amazing Lutenist that knows his way, or rather feels his way into this composer. It breaths the times in which it was composed, and is extremely pleasing to the ear. So what are you waiting for, buy the in expensive disc. 

[Harry]

Another one that was send to me by Que, is as strong a contender to be in my top charts, as the Johnson. Albeit from a different nature, this disc is a amazing time capsule too, that lets you clearly hear that it is far from the English contemplative mood, but more active in expressing the ongoing emotions at the court. Paolo Cherici as the Lutenist is not unknown to me, I had a previous disc with him with works of the composer Guedron. I noticed then, that he is amazing sensitive musician, that clearly loves his instrument, and caresses it like a woman in the walks of grace. The works played are by Ottaviano Petrucci, Adieu mes Amours, Intabulature de Lauto, Venezia 1507-8.
The recording is very natural, and the playing exemplary. This is already the second run.

[The new erato]

[Harry]

Que is my main provider of some well loved discs, this one also which I played yesterday when the forum was down.

J'ay pris Amours.
Chansons au Luth du XVI'eme siecle.
Claudine Ansermet, Soprano.
Paolo Cherici, Lute.

Claudine Ansermet is a fine singer, which I noticed when listening to another disc of this duo, with works from Guedron. She has a fine voice, only natural vibrato, and a tad warmer or expressive as Emma Kirkby, a soprano after my heart. The performance has the freshness of a live event before the court at that time. Somehow these recordings of Symphonia always sound like that. Thats why I love them to have. Thank God, for the Bric&Brac shop in Den Hague, and Que living there. I'll think I keep him
The songs are gems, one by one, and Ansermet could not wish for a better accompanist as Cherici, he's a star on the instrument. Marvelous! Second run.

[Harry]

That disc made quite a impression on me!

[Harry]

Another box that kept me busy last night, trying to ignore the pain, are these recordings from Virgin, made between 1970 and 1980. It must be said that Montserrat Figueras voice was tighter and steadier in those days. Still she has some nasty habits as adorning songs with some artificial vibrato that annoys me in such a way, that unhealthy utterings come from my mouth. Notwithstanding that fact, this box is a amazing find, for the music is at all times amazing, and explores well into the 13th century, with a leap to 1700. All the recordings are topnotch, and as far as the performances go, I lower my head in awe. Despite Figueras crappy vocal flexes this is a worthwhile acquisition. Yesterday I played the third disc in this box containing the following works..

Court Music and songs from the age of the Discoverers. (1492-1553)
Villancicos from Cancionero de Palacio, ( end of the 15th Century)
Villancicos from Cancionero de Palacio. ( 1490-1530)
Romances from Cancionnero de Palacio. (1490-1530)
Recercadas sobre Tenores.
Villancicos from Cancionero de Uppsala. (1500-1550)

Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall.
Recorded: 1975.

[Christo]

Listening to Tubin's Symphony No. 1, which is one of the great 20th Century first symphonies from a composer I've heard. Definitely a noteworthy work.

Yes indeed!

[Harry]

One of the labels that make me very happy these days are the Please Buy Me Hyperion discs. Many a noteworthy disc is bought by me for little money, and this is one of them.
Hagai Shaham and Arnon Erez are musicians that perform on a regular basis together and recorded quite a lot of discs on this fine label. This is definitively one of them. On this particular disc are works recorded by Erno Dohnanyi & Leos Janacek, two composers that are always high on my list. It must be said that what I hear is very worthwhile, there's some excellent playing of works here well know, and the recording is as natural as a live performance. Very alert, and sizzling with expressiveness. The deeper intimacies are displayed very lucidly, and the balance between drive and contemplativeness is amazing. Really one to get, if you are inclined that way.

Erno Dohnanyi.
Violin Sonata in C sharp minor, opus 21.
Ruralia Hungarica, opus 32c.
Romanza, arranged by Jascha Heifetz, from Orchestral Suite No. 1 in F sharp minor, opus 19, Andante poco moto.

Leos Janacek.
Violin Sonata JW VII/7.
Dumka JW VII/4.
Romance JW VII/3.
Allegro JW VII/7
Listek Odvanuty, A blown away leaf, arranged by Jan Stedron, from Po Zarostlem chodnicku. ( On a overgrown path) JW VIII/17, Andante.
Recorded 2009.

[Harry]

Look what Que dragged into my house.

Carolus Hacquart.
Chelys, Suites for Viola da Gamba en BC, opus 3 Den Hague, 1686.


A forgotten composer, he is, but at the same time he was the most important composer in those days in the Netherlands. He moved with William the III to England it is supposed, and after that we lost track of him. At his time the scores were sold for a lot of money, that popular he was, but alas his fame was short lived, the quality of his works is however of a level that made me astonished, and at the same time humble. Such a great composer and yet neglected by all, save the group that recorded the opus 3. Its a monument as there ever was, and should be picked up by everyone that loves music from this period. The performance is exemplary as is the recording.

[Keemun]

Sibelius
Symphony No. 5
Maazel
VPO

[Keemun]

Tchaikovsky
Violin Concerto
Oistrakh
Ormandy
Philadelphia Orchestra