What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Harry]

I'm preparing for my 2-week vacation to Peloponnese, Greece, with this Greek Composer. Both the cover of the CD and the music make the vacation seem more attractive, even if they have just managed to put out all the nasty forest fires in that area...

That is a great recording, Rubio, a emotional hot spring.

[The new erato]

I'm preparing for my 2-week vacation to Peloponnese, Greece, with this Greek Composer. Both the cover of the CD and the music make the vacation seem more attractive, even if they have just managed to put out all the nasty forest fires in that area...

Peloponnes? Shouldn't you be listening to Sibelius' "The oriigins of fire" and Scriabins "Les Poeme de Feu" (not to mention various "feux d'artifices")?

[Harry]

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich.

Chamber Symphony. (1979)

Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra.
"Double Concerto".

Symphony No. 2, "Cello".

The Louisville Orchestra/Lawrence Leighton Smith & Albert George Schram.
Jaime Laredo, Violin.
Sharon Robinson, Cello.

Recorded between 1989-1992.

Since the beautiful Naxos disc, I heard with her works, I followed it up with this one. Nothing more really to have, or very difficult to get. This new disc enhanced my love for her music greatly, and she is truly one of the American composers that is not enough recognized by public and critics alike. I think that the Naxos disc might have changed that, and that a followup from that quarter will be eminent, I am sure.
Afterall they score big points with these kind of releases.
This new/old disc however will do for the time being. Not that there is anything negative to say about this issue, but the standard varies a bit. The Chamber Symphony was recorded live, for a studio audience that had the audacity to sneeze several times, and the coughing was part of the recording all the time. All in it!
And although I have the highest regard for  the musicians involved, the fire was not there, and inspiration was at a low. The recording was also unflattering. Zwilich's works needs a expert treatment, otherwise it all falls apart. The other two concerto's were studio recordings, and there emerges a Orchestra that is high on their toes to reach the standard necessary to get the required effect. Well done in this case. Laredo & Robinson are really excellent, as a well rehearsed orchestra and a more than decent recording.
The last two works brought back the Zwilich I know, inventive, economical scored, and powerful.
A great joy. So Naxos, your turn.

[sidoze]

amazing romantic interpretation of Bach's Partita 2, especially the Courante! Talk about emotion.

[Harry]

Havergail Brian.

Symphony No. 2 in E minor.

Festival Overture.

Moscow SO/Tony Rowe.

Original Marco Polo recording 1996.

I was kind of anticipating a revelation, a sort of recognition, of O, yeah, this is it. But instead of that I found my self utterly bored. For me the question arose, is this the fault of the recording/performance, or is it really boring? Clearly it needs several times of re listen, but it had me worried nevertheless. Of course the third Symphony is awaiting a hearing, the one on the Helios/Hyperion, and I hope that I will find more as I did with this Naxos recording.
The second Symphony, really one long and very extended elegy, a mourning, about a loss translated. There are elements in it, that are revelatory, and immediately reach my sympathy, but after such upsurges, deadpan again, a long wailing of strings and brass alike, going no where, but in a abyss of forgetfullness and neglect. I went on doing other things like reading the Gramophone which is at times boring too, but the two together is disaster. My first impression, of course, maybe it will change in the cause of re hearing it?
The recording is not bad, not bad at all, but the thickness of the scoring makes it difficult to follow, it becomes a blurr to be honest. A score would be handy.
So all in all a tad disappointing.

[Harry]

J.S. Bach

Suites for Cello, 1-3.

Anner Bijlsma, Cello.

Well recorded and performed, urgent to a point, inward & outward thinking at the same time.
The lines are clear, never a blurred tone, and intense to a certain point, never overturning the balance.
Almost straightforward, but never boring. Sentimental no, but there is a warmth and humanity that is invigorating and comforting. I am well satisfied with it, this first disc in this box.

[Harry]

J.S. Bach.

Suites for the Cello, 4-6.

Anner Bijlsma, Cello.

As above, a little rough at times and unrefined, but fascinating nevertheless.

[Harry]

Ahmed Adnan Saygun. (1907-1991)

Symphony No. 1 opus 29.

Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland Pfalz/Ari Rasilainen.

After hearing his SQ, I became interested in his Orchestral work, and after hearing some samples, I was convinced that I would like him. And that is confirmed! I love the sounds he creates in this symphony, and his writing fascinates me. Its expansive and broad in color, deep in thought, and fast in action, with fine woodwindwriting. Surprising and in a creative way unsettling.
The recording made 2001 sounds fabulous, plenty of front to back dept, and every single detail can be heard.
Superb

[Harry]

Saygun.

Symphony No.2 opus 30.

Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland Pfalz/Ari Rasilainen.

The second Symphony is in a way more brutal, and more inward looking. The brutal force comes out in the first movement, and in the second movement this inwardness is pre dominant. Such extremes.
The dreamlike second movement gets to me, and it is a centrifuge that sucks everything to one point, with hints to the second symphony by Sibelius no less. Utter chaos is ensuing, were the string writing is most excellent. But the playing is also without fault. It is very good indeed.

[wilhelm]

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778 – 1837) 
Quintet in E-flat minor opus 87 
Johann Ladislaus Dussek (1760 – 1812) 
Quintet in F minor opus 41 
George Onslow (1784 – 1853) 
Quintet in G major opus 76     
   
Nepomuk Fortepiano Quintet:
Riko Fuduka · fortepiano
Franc Polman · violin
Elisabeth Smalt · viola
Jan Insinger · violoncello
Pieter Smithuijsen · double bass

[Lilas Pastia]

Wind quintets by the finn, Kalevi Aho.



This disc is filled with amazing music. I never expected to be more than mildly interested in a bassoon quartet, but this is a smashingly good work. At some 37 minutes, it's a very substantial and musically complete work. It presents a range of thematic material, rythmic intricacies and stylistic explorations  that held my attention from beginning to last.

The other work is scored for mid and low voices and is more difficult to grasp. I'll have to give it a couple more spins to have a better understanding. It seemed more kaleidoscopic in effect, with the result that the structure doesn't appear as clear as that of the bassoon work.

Downloads available for a song at eclassical.
For 0.99$, nobody should miss the bassoon quintet!

[rubio]

Peloponnes? Shouldn't you be listening to Sibelius' "The oriigins of fire" and Scriabins "Les Poeme de Feu" (not to mention various "feux d'artifices")?

Yeah, maybe I will include these for my preparation as well . I hope it wouldn't work in a prophetic way, though .

Now, Stenhammar's 2nd symphony performed by Paavo Jarvi/Royal Stockholm SO. A very interesting work to me, and it made me curious to try some more of him. Maybe I don't hear the references I have seen mentioned towards Bruckner - or maybe it reminds me a bit of his early symphonies. It would also be nice to hear this same symphony performed by Nemi Jarvi on BIS - which is supposed to be very good.

[Lilas Pastia]

Stenhammar's symphonies do not really relate to Bruckner's. But there is a connection  in the sense that he uses basically simple material and patiently develops it over large canvases. He doesn't strive for effect, but his two symphonies develop organically with a satisfying cumulative effect that can be likened to Bruckner's vast expanses of sound/time.

[Harry]

Hakon Borresen. (1876-1954)

Symphony No. 1, opus 3 in C minor.

RSO Saarbrucken/Ole Schmidt.

Also a unknown composer for me, and thanks to CPO's low price I purchased them some time ago.
Late romantic, in league with the likes of Stenhammer/Svendsen/Sibelius.
Friendly and open dialogue between the different instruments groups, fine scoring for strings, and a excellent feel for catchy melodies. Surprising in the way he handles the content before him, somewhat like Grieg was doing in its only symphony, be it here more on a large scale.
The performance is first rate as is the sound recording made in 1998. Warm and blooming, yet detailed.

[Harry]

Hakon Borresen.

Serenade for Horn, Strings and Timpani. (1944)

Xiao Ming Han, Horn.
RSO Saarbrucken/Ole Schmidt.

What a lovely Serenade this is. Makes your mind grow like a fantastic and colorful flower, and smells great.
The horn playing is gorgeous, and the fine melody lines Borresen composed around it are deeply felt and romantic in tone.
Pure magic I call that The third movement is ravishing.
Sound is extremely good, and the ensemble leaves nothing to be desired.

[BachQ]

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich.

Chamber Symphony. (1979)

Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra.
"Double Concerto".

Symphony No. 2, "Cello".

The Louisville Orchestra/Lawrence Leighton Smith & Albert George Schram.
Jaime Laredo, Violin.
Sharon Robinson, Cello.

Recorded between 1989-1992.

Since the beautiful Naxos disc, I heard with her works, I followed it up with this one. Nothing more really to have, or very difficult to get. This new disc enhanced my love for her music greatly, and she is truly one of the American composers that is not enough recognized by public and critics alike. I think that the Naxos disc might have changed that, and that a followup from that quarter will be eminent, I am sure.
Afterall they score big points with these kind of releases.
This new/old disc however will do for the time being. Not that there is anything negative to say about this issue, but the standard varies a bit. The Chamber Symphony was recorded live, for a studio audience that had the audacity to sneeze several times, and the coughing was part of the recording all the time. All in it!
And although I have the highest regard for  the musicians involved, the fire was not there, and inspiration was at a low. The recording was also unflattering. Zwilich's works needs a expert treatment, otherwise it all falls apart. The other two concerto's were studio recordings, and there emerges a Orchestra that is high on their toes to reach the standard necessary to get the required effect. Well done in this case. Laredo & Robinson are really excellent, as a well rehearsed orchestra and a more than decent recording.
The last two works brought back the Zwilich I know, inventive, economical scored, and powerful.
A great joy. So Naxos, your turn.

Nice CD, that.

[BachQ]

Brahms VC (Milstein)
Brahms Cello Sonata no. 2

[The new erato]

Really excellent neoclassical stuff, why I haven't gotten around to listening to this work years ago I can't imagine. Bought the 22 CD Stravinsky Edition but found out I needed the libretto, so I bought this as well!

[Harry]

Hakon Borresen.

Nordic Folk Tunes for String Orchestra.

RSO, Saarbrucken/Ole Schmidt.

This is one of the truly great composition around in this genre, really well done.
It has all what it needs, good melodies, elegant string scoring, a fine orchestra to perform it, and a excellent recording to booth.
This orchestra under Ole Schmidt is well rehearsed, and do a good job.

[longears]

Really excellent neoclassical stuff, why I haven't gotten around to listening to this work years ago I can't imagine. Bought the 22 CD Stravinsky Edition but found out I needed the libretto, so I bought this as well!

Yes!  Great music and a fine recording!  We're really looking forward to the production at SFO this winter.

Now playing:  Nigel Kennedy and the Berlin Philharmonic playing Bach concertos.  I know many folks around here turn up their noses at Nigel, but this and his Brahms VC recording with Tennstedt persist in being among my favorite recordings of these works.