What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[pjme]

-Stenhammar : The Song - Sangen - a work I really enjoy. Very lyrical , late -Romantic . Händel -like moments of pomp in the choruses, but overall a warmly expansive score in two movements, linked by a symphonic interlude. It is on a grand scale : 4 soloists, a children's choir and a mixed choir. Rather unusual use of the piano . Lovely recording with Blomstedt conducting Swedish forces and a very young (1982) Anne Sofie Von Otter ( wonderful soft vocalise at the end of the work). On the  Caprice label

- Some Mozart arias - RCA Red seal - Classic Library - Margaret Price ( exquisite)

- Händel : Duetti ; Beato in ver - Judith Nelson, René Jacobs on Harmonia Mundi


An evening of superb singing.

[Robert]

Well for the first time we must disagree on this composer, but maybe only in part, for the first symphony is really his first symphony for me.
In all the things you say about Krenek's music, I feel no connection at all, to the shortcomings you name. Drab and slow, no intensity, nothing memorable, no really for me its the opposite!
As you see in the postings I went back to two movements, with the score in my hand I followed the music, and what beautiful music it is, the gorgeous transition from the Adagio into the Fuge is awesome, as is the last movement Presto, only 1:00 minute or so, but devastatingly beautiful. I will listen carefully again at all the 9 movements with utmost care, but I can tell you right now, I will love it.
Maybe if you listen again you will hear it differently.

I read everything you write....for Krenek, I just never felt a connection to his symphonies.....I will go back and listen again...Something seemed to rub me wrong......I always feel I am easy.....not that critical....

[Robert]

Yes I wonder about that Robert!
But we are all build in our own way right?

absolutely....

[karlhenning]

Satie
La belle excentrique

[SonicMan46]

Albert Dietrich.  Cello concerto in G minor opus 32.  Alban Gerhardt, Cello.  Rundfunk SO/Hannu Lintu.

Again a fine work and very romantic, glows like hundred candles. A very expressive middle movement is moving and heartfelt.
Well written, this is a charming work of some value, and this gem is brought out in a fine way by the performers.

Harry - that Cello Concerto disc looks great!  Is Hyperion starting a 'Romantic Cello Series' like their 'Romantic Piano Concerto' discs (many of which I own) - BTW, just received the Violin Concertos of Spohr - 6 CDs!  Will enjoy - listening to the first one in the box! Dave 

 

[Bogey]

On the radio:

Claude Debussy String Quartet in g Op. 10 Attacca Quartet

[Bogey]

Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet (Scenes from the ballet) MTT/SFS (RCA)

[Florestan]

Superb.

[val]

Monteverdi's "Sestina", by Les Arts Florissants and the Concerto Italiano.

The version directed by William Christie is very good, with moments of magic vocal beauty (the last part of the work).
But the Concerto Italiano with Alessandrini is much more concerned with the text: they give a very theatrical version, with a true emotion. Compared with them, Les Arts Florissants seem a little pale and artificial. 

[Harry]

Harry - that Cello Concerto disc looks great!  Is Hyperion starting a 'Romantic Cello Series' like their 'Romantic Piano Concerto' discs (many of which I own) - BTW, just received the Violin Concertos of Spohr - 6 CDs!  Will enjoy - listening to the first one in the box! Dave 

 

Yes Dave they are. Already two volumes, and bloody marvelous they are.
And I am sure you will enjoy the Spohr, they have a special quality, "good cheer".

[Harry]

Michael Haydn.

Symphonies 21/'30/31/32.

Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss/Johannes Goritzki.

Boy these performances are really very good, well judged tempi, a very tight ensemble, gorgeous phrasing in the strings, boisterous brass, good fun that. Goritzki clearly has a ear for the finer details in the score, and really brings the music to a ecstatic level. Beats me why he was not allowed to do all the symphonies, instead of dividing it between him and Bohdan Warchal and the Slovak Chamber Orchestra, a ensemble much less in quality as the Kammer Akademie. Sound is also much improved.
Nevertheless all in all the music is gorgeous, and Warchal may not do it as well as Goritzki, still its hard to resist the beauty of it all.
Both releases are budget price and well worth the money.

[Choo Choo]

Satie
La belle excentrique

Oh that's one of my favourite Satie pieces.  Always gives the sense of being very well crafted and economically constructed, whilst managing to be incredibly jolly.  Deceptively frivolous.

Can I ask which recording you have?  On CD I have (only) the Radio Luxembourg recording (no, really) and while that's fine, it does tend to be a touch heavy-footed in places.  Not to compare with the Bernard Herrman recording on Decca, which I only ever had on LP (and now sadly only fit for service as a plant pot.)

[Valentino]

Partly fragmentary from my turntable last night. My 'table resides at a friend's for the time being.

Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe II. Boston SO/Abbado. DG.
Beethoven: Sonata op. 27/1 "moonlight". Brendel, in a recording from 64. "The great musicians".
Grieg: Holberg Suite 1st mvt. ECO(?)/Leppard. Philips.
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte side 1  . Schwartzkopf etc./Philh. O/Klemperer. EMI.

Great sounds, especially the last one. Walter Legge could balance things out.

[Choo Choo]

I meanwhile am (still) working my way through this:

[karlhenning]

Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet (Scenes from the ballet) MTT/SFS (RCA)

Pity they didn't do the entire ballet!

[karlhenning]

Oh that's one of my favourite Satie pieces.  Always gives the sense of being very well crafted and economically constructed, whilst managing to be incredibly jolly.  Deceptively frivolous.

Can I ask which recording you have?  On CD I have (only) the Radio Luxembourg recording (no, really) and while that's fine, it does tend to be a touch heavy-footed in places.

That's the one I've got, as well.  And great to see you back, mon vieux!

[Daverz]

I meanwhile am (still) working my way through this:

The Jochum brothers?

[Bogey]

Pity they didn't do the entire ballet!

Yes, a shame Karl.

Now:

Brahms String Quartets Nos. 1 and 3 The Tokyo String Quartet (MMG)

Good morning.

[karlhenning]

Good morning, Bill!

Vaughan Williams
A London Symphony
Mvt III. Scherzo (Nocturne) (Allegro vivace)
Royal Liverpool Phil / Handley

[Choo Choo]

great to see you back, mon vieux!

Thank you Karl.  Nice to see you too.