What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[bhodges]

Huang Ruo: Yueh Fei: Concerto No. 1 for 8 Players (2000, Huang Ruo/International Contemporary Ensemble) - Interesting chamber concerto, the first of four on this CD, which combines Eastern and Western elements.  Huang includes moments for the musicians to vocalize--just sounds, no text.  I'm liking it so far. 



--Bruce

[BachQ]

This morning's listenings:

Bruckner - Symphony No. 6  (Jochum - Staatskapelle Dresden)

Perfect music to fire-up the old noodle in the morning .........

[not edward]

On the Dnieper sure isn't major Prokofiev but it's good to hear a committed (if sometimes scrappy) performance like this one. The rest of the disc seems rather insubstantial to me.

[Papy Oli]

Good Evening All,

I am just finishing my first listen to this version of Mahler's Resurrection :



I am not one to put some thorough argumented comments on classical records (mostly because of my lack of knowledge of musical terminology, and classical music as a whole - some very large chunks of core works are still unchartered territories to me) therefore I usually bail out and stick to "currently enjoying this" or "great sound"  ...and i just carry on reading the more informed reviews and comments, and ask for advice 

I feel however this record would deserve more than just a "oh, I quite enjoy that" from my part. Don't expect some David Hurwitz style ...just my gut feeling, with my own words 

When you first start to dabble into classical music, and when you read the posts on this forum, there is always a sense of confusion when you come across comments on the various interpretations of the works, and how such conductors/orchestras have differents approaches and sounds. Mahler symphonies are one exemple among others : some perfomances being viewed as "emotional", "OTT", "idiomatic", "definitive", "lacking irony"...etc etc...to untrained ears (like mine), that would just be some "double dutch" and, for all i know, could be referring to marginal aspects of a record compared to the next, which could be completely missed on anyway.

Until a few months ago, I never really considered owning multiple recordings...it was all down to the simple discovery of the classical works and just the sheer enjoyment of the music....That was until i caught the bug on Mahler's works, and more specifically his second symphony. Like many here, i just got drawn into his music and the more I read about his works, the more it made me curious about those various approaches...That's where it started with the Resurrection : Bertini, klemperer, Boulez, Bernstein, Tennstedt, Walter, Slatkin, Kaplan, Chailly, Metha....

To be totally honest here, I'd most likely be struggling to differentiate most of them on a blind test. Bar the Urlichts, I did notice some variations here and there (tempo differences, e.g. chailly feeling slower in the 1st movement compared to the other; Metha to be more "aggressive" than the others; YMMV, of course  ) but nothing again my untrained ears would consider drastically different in the great schemes of things. Not that it matters anyway, as I would still enjoy the work, regardless of the versions.

Gielen's recording somehow is a completely different kettle of fish. This is the first of all my recordings where I, in parts, i have had a feeling to listen to a "different" piece. Now for the attempt of explanation 

- This version is overall much less "explosive" and in your face than the others i have heard. the brass section is so much more under control across the movements, gelling more with the other instruments, rather than standing out.

- I have had a "refreshing" feeling that Gielen seems to be taking its time across the work - there are still some energetic moments of course, but there is a much more peaceful general feel to his recording.

- As a consequence of the 2 points above, I have found the performance so much more melodic - and have noticed many "new" parts to me in this work, which would/may have been drowned in the more brassy-orientated recordings.

This recording has indeed been praised when i queried about it here, and by what i am listening to, appears to be rightly so.

I'd still be clueless as to where Gielen's approach fits among the others...it it idiomatic ? is it emotional ? No idea...All I know is that for the first time, a different approach did strike me as such. My views will most likely be completely wrong, skewed, uninformed, I'd probably take what I just wrote with a pinch of salt anyway myself  .... but that's irrelevant... the bottom line is that I give this record an 11/10 for the pure pleasure and ear-opening it gave me tonight. even Hurwitz doesn't got that high !!! 

PS : That took me the time of a second listen to type that post - i stand by my marking

PS2 : the CD just carried on to Kurtag's Stele  .... did i tell you about those uncharted territories  

[bhodges]

Thanks for your comments, Olivier--I enjoyed reading them, and it's usually fun to read people's comments when they discover a recording that somehow subtly changed their listening, which is what this sounds like it did.  The fact that you have some ten recordings of the piece already, and yet heard new things with this recording... ...well, that says volumes.

PS, give the Kurtág a chance...since it's short, listen to it at least once or twice more.  Of course, no one "has" to like anything, but it may yield its mystery more gradually.  At least, it did to me.

--Bruce

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Great write-up, papy! Your views are unprejudiced and truthful to what you've just experienced, so don't apologize! I don't know this performance, but what I do know is, is that Gielen is a very thoughtful conductor, and not flashy. He is well-respected for his impeccable musicianship. I think your ears are very good...

[Papy Oli]

Thanks for your comments, Olivier--I enjoyed reading them, and it's usually fun to read people's comments when they discover a recording that somehow subtly changed their listening, which is what this sounds like it did.  The fact that you have some ten recordings of the piece already, and yet heard new things with this recording... ...well, that says volumes.

PS, give the Kurtág a chance...since it's short, listen to it at least once or twice more.  Of course, no one "has" to like anything, but it may yield its mystery more gradually.  At least, it did to me.

--Bruce

Hi Bruce,

i'll keep having a go at Kurtag, no worries - there are several Cd's of works that i have bought and which haven't clicked yet after several months - but i still go back to each of them regularly to see if my views on them have changed or not. Given my view on the Gielen M2, Kurtag's may be in the CD player more often that not !!

[Papy Oli]

Great write-up, papy! Your views are unprejudiced and truthful to what you've just experienced, so don't apologize! I don't know this performance, but what I do know is, is that Gielen is a very thoughtful conductor, and not flashy. He is well-respected for his impeccable musicianship. I think your ears are very good...

Thanks Jezetha. That sure does me make more curious about his other recordings, his Mahler boxset being one of them.... 

[AnthonyAthletic]

Thanks Jezetha. That sure does me make more curious about his other recordings, his Mahler boxset being one of them.... 

His 7th Next for you Olivier    This is the Big Jewel in the Crown, you may have to give this one a 12/10 

Nice write up about the Resurrection, I especially liked the part where you said 'you hear things new'.  I got the very same feeling when listening to Solti's Mahler 8th for the first time.  This was the first time the work really made sense for me.  Solti's is love or hate, and has its admirers/detractors like most Solti (and not just in Mahler).  I do admire it because I heard much more in this recording than in any other recording.

After all, music is what it does to you, does for you; the moods, the highs, the thrill, passion, excitement et al.  And like you I can live with any interpretation of the second...don't think I have heard a bad one out of the 50 or so I have heard yet, certainly I haven't found one which couldn't produce that chill factor all through.

[Brian]

Tchaikovsky
Manfred
Muti

[Bogey]

[SonicMan46]

Thank you both, this repertoire looks quite special - I'll check it out. 

Harry - I can't remember if your post stimulated me or whether I just found it myself, but I'm a classic guitar  NUT, so the repertoire from the period would have been of great interest to me!  But, I believe I came across the offering @ BRO - just checked Berkshire Record Outlet, and still being offered @ $24 for 8 CDs!  Boy, can't beat that price - 

Que - I know that you'll love the fortepiano - and if you're a guitar enthusiast and can obtain this box set @ the price mentioned above, not much to lose!  Dave 

[hautbois]

Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (11'07)
& Nocturnes for Orchestra (23'33)
pure gold...

The last time i heard this, the Prélude simply blew me away. When the oboe came in to remind of the opening theme, i was completely taken away, it was just a-ma-zing, left me breathless and smiling for at least 2 minutes. The La Mer was also quite sensational, though it might have been a bit more "constricted" than others. Obviously M is much less optimistic about this, though i have to agree that the Ravel/Haitink/RCO is quite excellent but on the OK side.

Howard

[Solitary Wanderer]

Mozart ~ PC's #20, 21 & 23

[Daverz]

Sorry for the tiny picture, but it is a 5CD-set of Haydn's masses by Bruno Weil, reissued on Brilliant (Netherlands-only).

Doesn't look like Kruidvat is set up for international shipping.  Oh, what torture!  I suppose I could scrounge these all up used, but not for €10!

[M forever]

Obviously M is much less optimistic about this

Huh? I said these are really nice recordings.

[Daverz]

Lutoslawski Orchestral Works volume 2 on Naxos:

Symphonic Variations
Little Suite (Mala suita)
Symphony No. 2
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra

Paleczny, Piotr, piano
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Wit, Antoni, Conductor

Lovely disc.

[not edward]

For once, I get around to listening to a disc on the day I bought it.

I enjoyed the Mass in C here, finding more lyricism than I've heard before in this work, though I don't have much to compare it to (I only have Gardiner, whose Beethoven remains literal and earthbound for me, and memories of a live performance from a few years back). I don't think I've got all that much of a handle on this gently-paced Missa solemnis yet, but it certainly leaves me wanting to listen again.

[Brian]

Dvorak: Symphony No 7
Ivan Anguelov / Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra

I hereby withdraw any and all negative comments previously made about this performance of the Seventh Symphony. Ivan Anguelov's Dvorak cycle is clearly the best around - superior sound quality, superior detailing of the score, astounding orchestral playing, and performances which can, when they don't blow away the competition absolutely, still stand proudly among the ranks of the very best. Truly marvelous.

[Brian]

Dvorak: Symphony No 7
Ivan Anguelov / Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra

I hereby withdraw any and all negative comments previously made about this performance of the Seventh Symphony. Ivan Anguelov's Dvorak cycle is clearly the best around - superior sound quality, superior detailing of the score, astounding orchestral playing, and performances which can, when they don't blow away the competition absolutely, still stand proudly among the ranks of the very best. Truly marvelous.

Now the Fourth Symphony