What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[BobsterLobster]

Several more recent arrivals based on some excellent reviews:

Kalkbrenner, Friedrich (1785-1849) - Piano Concertos, Nos.1/4 w/ Howard Shelley & the Tasmanian SO - another yet excellent disc in the Hyperion Romantic Piano Concerto Series (this one No. 41) - just my 2nd disc of his music; although better known as a virtuoso pianist at his time, these are quite enjoyable compositions and well presented by Shelley as expected! Older Fanfare review attached.

Great recommendation, enjoyed this disc very much! Howard Shelley really shines here, what a flexible pianist... I often listen to him play Rachmaninov (including the Piano Concertos, great recording), but here he really changes his playing style to suit this more 'classical' music. I've not heard any other pianist who could change styles this drastically. The orchestra are absolutely top notch too, there was real chemistry amongst everyone when this was recorded, the orchestra and pianist all rubato together beautifully.

I wouldn't say these are the most memorable pieces in the world, but I enjoyed the stylistic blend of Chopin/ Saint-Saens/ Beethoven, and I think Kalkbrenner can write particularly good 3rd movements, which IMO are usually the weakest point of any concerto.

[Karl Henning]

Mozart
Quintet in E^b for piano & winds, K.452
Hexagon Ensemble

[Brahmsian]

Mozart

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

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

Philips

[BobsterLobster]

Fantastic selection of neglected maserpieces:

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I love the flamenco influence which is all over these pieces, including the "Serenata Andalusa"... why isn't this piece in every violinist's repertoire?!

The violin playing can sound a bit ropey in places on this CD... but the technical demands are so high and he sounds like he's having so much fun that I don't mind too much. He has a pretty nice tone as well.

I'm definitely looking for more Sarasate CDs!

[listener]

LALO - Namouna - ballet suite and selections; Rapsodie pour orchestre -  orchestrated version of the Rapsodie norvégienne
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande    / Ansermet
CHOPIN  arr. Douglas  - La Sylphide                              DELIBES  - La Source selection
Paris Conservatory Orch   / Peter Maag
The Lalo disc has good notes by James Lyons on Lalo's orchestration, sound on the record (lp) is good.

[TheGSMoeller]

The Strauss orchestral bug arrives every year, it consumes my life, and my speakers, for a while, and I can't seem to get rid of it.
But as Larry David might say, it's the good bug.

[Daverz]

Martinu: Symphony No. 5 - Trhlik/Janacek Philharmonic (Panton)

A surprisingly excellent performance and recording given the obscurity of the performers and the label (though the Janacek Phil may be better known now due to their recordings for CPO and Brilliant Classics.)

[Karl Henning]

Mozart
Concerto № 22 in E^b, K.482
Alicia de la Rocha, pf
English Chamber Orch
Davis

[pi2000]

Rabin
[asin] B005G6G54I[/asin]

[MDL]

Somewhat crappy image. Boulez's Berlin/Ravel/DG recordings have been issued as a twofer (£7 in HMV). Currently listening to Daphnis et Chloe... Wow! If I could have a bath in a sound, this would be the one I'd have sloshing around my unmentionables. Gorgeous.

[BobsterLobster]

Rabin
[asin] B005G6G54I[/asin]

I don't really know his playing that well... what's a good introduction CD for this violinist?

[Conor71]

Debussy: String Quartet In G Minor, Op. 10
Ravel: String Quartet In F Major
Stravinsky: 3 Pieces For String Quartet

Great pieces! - like this Disc a lot

[SonicMan46]

Jadin, Hyacinthe (1776-1800) - Piano Sonatas w/ Richard Fuller on a restored 1814 fortepiano by famed Viennese piano maker Nannette Streicher - 3 disc set w/ 12 sonatas; did a MP3 download - just $9 for 33 tracks (3 1/2 hrs music) -

[listener]

Michael HAYDN   Trumpet Concerto in D;  Horn Concerto in D; Concerto for Viola and Organ in C
Maurice André, Georges Barbolteu, Marie-Thérèse Chailley, Marie-Claire Alain  soloists
Jean-François Paillard "and his orchestra"
Hamilton HARTY   The Children of Lir
     Ode to a Nightingale    Heather Harper, sop.
Ulster Orch.     / Bryden Thomson, cond.

[BobsterLobster]

This really is turning into one of my favourite ever CDs:

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A transcription of the 1st Piano Trio that makes it more like a piano concerto... the beginning of the 2nd movement played by the strings is absolutely sublime.

Also, I've never really got on with the Corelli Variations, I find them quite dull... but the orchestral arrangement here is fantastic... think of the Paganini Variations but without the piano part.

I also gave this another spin...

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I think these pieces are really going to grow on me

[bhodges]

I think these pieces [Kalkbrenner] are really going to grow on me

Although I've not heard this recording, I have a few of the others in this series and like them - a lot (though none with Shelley, and just noticed he's done quite a few in the cycle). Also, if you haven't heard Shelley's solo Rachmaninov CDs (e.g., the Etudes-Tableaux) they're quite marvelous, too.

--Bruce

[BobsterLobster]

Although I've not heard this recording, I have a few of the others in this series and like them - a lot (though none with Shelley, and just noticed he's done quite a few in the cycle). Also, if you haven't heard Shelley's solo Rachmaninov CDs (e.g., the Etudes-Tableaux) they're quite marvelous, too.

--Bruce

Many years ago when Shelley's Rachmaninov box set had just come out and I was a poor student, I set off to London to buy the set. However, in those days HMV allowed you to swap previously bought CDs if they were in good condition and with a receipt, so off I went with a handful of CDs. But, only one store in the West End had the set, and they refused to swap the CDs for me. So I had to get most of them individually from the other London HMV (they didn't have all the CDs that made up the set). I was most disappointed that weekend, but also delighted to hear such a treasure chest of Rachmaninov.

[BobsterLobster]

Just finished listening to this:

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including a second spin of the chaconne.

Very interesting disc, the chaconne particularly caught my attention... a fantastic balance of emotion vs. technique... unlike most interpretations, there were absolutey no technical barriers to the music, and no ego in the way of the interpretation. I also loved the dancing lilt, which is usually under-done or over-done. Here, everything is just right. I was literally moved to tears in the spiccato section just before the 1st climax, and for a second time when I listened to it again!
However, if this was out of 5 stars, I'd have to take off a star because Jansen can't seem to decide if she's a romantic violinist, or playing period style. I don't mind one or the other, but she swings quite widely to both extremes in the Chaconne which makes me think that she's not confident with her style.
Also, you can't throw some 3-part inventions straight after one of the most profound pieces ever written! What's with putting the 2nd partita in the middle of the disc? Madness!

[Coopmv]

Richard Wagner
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Staatskapelle Dresden
Herbert von Karajan

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I have this CD set as well as the original EMI LP set with some excellent photo shots of HvK and the cast ...

[BobsterLobster]

Absolutely atrocious, I have no idea how the violinist managed to live with himself after this.



(http://www.amazon.com/Pablo-Sarasate-Completa-Complete-Works/dp/B000068RS8/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top)