What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Mirror Image]

Havergal Brian's Gothic Symphony is awesome!!

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Yes, it is. I would dare call it a masterpiece and one of most awe-inspiring works I've heard from Brian.

[TheGSMoeller]

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Listening to Ballad of Heroes. A truly underrated work by Britten. It definitely deserves all the accolades his War Requiem receives.

Love Britten, and both of those pieces, always wanted to hear this Hickox recording.

[TheGSMoeller]

Sibelius 4th...
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[Brahmsian]

Today is anS & M day (no lewd pun intended) 

Just in honour of two shooting star musical immortals who were alive for far too short of a time, but what they left behind was already more than we could ever ask or hope for.  They are Schubert and Mozart.

*Schubert

Symphony No. 4 in C minor 'Tragic'
Symphony No. 5 in B flat major
Symphony No. 6 in C major 'Little C'
Symphony No. 8 in B minor 'Unfinished'

Istvan Kertesz
Wiener Philharmoniker
Decca

*I absolutely adore the Kertesz/WP Schubert symphonies set.  In almost every aspect, I prefer these recordings to Abbado/COE.  Especially in the earlier/middle symphonies.  Listen to the stark contrast of the Menuetto: Allegro Vivace of the Symphony No. 4 between Kertesz and Abbado's take.     One notable exception where I prefer Abbado and most others over Kertesz is the opening bars of the 'Unfinished' 8th Symphony.  Kertesz does it so uber pianissimo that you can barely hear it unless you've got your stereo on max. volume.  Now, perhaps that is a Decca engineering issue?  Not sure, but it's a terrible start to one of the most amazing openings in symphonic music.   


Mozart

Serenade in B flat major, K.361 'Gran Partita'

Sir Neville Marriner
Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields
Philips

[TheGSMoeller]

If feel the exact opposite. I feel the Arte Nove recordings aren't up to par with the Tortelier recordings plus Dutilleux has mentioned he was impressed with Tortelier's conducting. I've also always preferred Chandos' audio to Arte Nova.

You're right MI, the Tortelier recordings are better, but I have found myself lately listening to recordings that sound brighter, maybe even a little bumped up in volume, and I think this may be contributed to my recent choice in listening devices, and that is my computer speakers/woofer.
For the size and price they work great, but need some extra boost to get clear sound through. My old stereo died just over a year ago and i've never replaced it.
Anyway, I don't think that Arte Nova is better than Chandos and probably should have clarified that, especially considering that a majority of my favorite RVW/Britten/Prokofiev recordings are on Chandos.

[TheGSMoeller]

Today is anS & M day (no lewd pun intended) 

Just in honour of two shooting star musical immortals who were alive for far too short of a time, but what they left behind was already more than we could ever ask or hope for.  They are Schubert and Mozart.


Mozart

Serenade in B flat major, K.361 'Gran Partita'

Wonderful! My favorite non-opera Mozart piece!!

[Brahmsian]

Wonderful! My favorite non-opera Mozart piece!!

ie. 'Gran Partita' Serenade

My favorite Mozart piece, period.  Has been for years! 

[TheGSMoeller]

ie. 'Gran Partita' Serenade

My favorite Mozart piece, period.  Has been for years! 

Also, Congratz on the return of Winnipeg hockey, very cool to see that move.

[Radioman]

As I type this I'm listening to Appointment Of A Conductor a comic oratorio by Franz Joseph Haydn.  This is a delightful choral work performed by the Budapest Madrigal Choir and the Hungarian State Orchestra.  This is on a vinyl record which I purchased in the 1950's. 

[TheGSMoeller]

[Mirror Image]

Love Britten, and both of those pieces, always wanted to hear this Hickox recording.

It's really a fantastic recording. I think I bought this 2-CD set for around $13 a few years ago. It's definitely a keeper.

[Brahmsian]

Also, Congratz on the return of Winnipeg hockey, very cool to see that move.

Thank you.  I'm very happy to say that all the season tickets over the next 3-5 years sold out as fast as a bolt of lightning. 

[kishnevi]

Received today, as part of a multiple order:


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same general level as the previous two installments in Chailly's Bach series.   Modern orchestra informed by historical practice, well done overall, but nothing stands out on the first listening.   If you want a non-PI performance this is probably the best bet.

[TheGSMoeller]

Thank you.  I'm very happy to say that all the season tickets over the next 3-5 years sold out as fast as a bolt of lightning. 

I do have to say that it is just a small amount of bittersweet, and that is only because I am moving to Atlanta in a few months and was looking forward to living in a city with hockey again, but I was by no means a Thrashers fan, so it dosen't hurt that much, plus hockey needs to be in Winnipeg.

[Brahmsian]

plus hockey needs to be in Winnipeg.

It does indeeed.  Fortunately, the economic situation, among other things, are so much better for Winnipeg now than they were back in 1996.  Solid ownership (rich guys too), a fairly new arena, a strong Canadian dollar (of course that might not last forever), no need for government subsidies, a strong fan base that is rabid for NHL hockey, a league salary cap and revenue sharing.  I think it will be a huge success.  I'd love to see Quebec City have a team back also, but they need to get their asses in gear and build a new arena before they have a chance.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Bartok's The Miraculous Mandarin. This is really one of the best performances I've heard of this work and I've heard almost all of them. This performance comes from an unlikely source: the Vienna Philharmonic, which everybody who has been listening to classical for a long period of time knows aren't a Bartok orchestra, but this performance has me convinced otherwise.

[Mirror Image]

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Listening to Cello Dreaming. A beautiful work full of vivid colors and open harmonic undercurrents. Some of the beauty of this work is in its' subtlety.

[TheGSMoeller]

this...
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One more piece before Tuesday poker night, the "Harold" finale should pump me up.

[Mirror Image]

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Listening to Earth Cry right now. This performance absolutely smokes. Wow...

[Mirror Image]

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I haven't heard this recording in awhile. I figured it was time I revisited my favorite 12-tone composer. Absolutely mind-blowing music. This is, to use MTT's words, some of the baddest (as in awesome) music ever written.

I really like Boulez's approach here. Some people say he over intellectualizes the music, but I don't think so. If anything, as typical with Boulez, he lays the notes right out in front of you where you can understand it with great clarity.