What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[greg]

Tell me a little more about the music Greg, and what to expect.
Heard of him, never heard his music.

The first two movements of the VC are really something. They're slow and meditative, yet in a soft atonal style.... finally gets fast in the last movement, but it's not really that amazing or anything.

Dramaphonia has some goodness to it, but there are some sections where it just sounds like mindless dischords, but it does start off slow and then picks up as well. Has some pretty nice moments, too....

I don't know if you've listened to any Norgard, but that's who he sounds like the most (which is to be expected) although you could tell them apart still. Other stuff I've heard from him are alright, but no tru masterpieces.

[pjme]

I fiamminghi are a terrific outfit!

alas, since 2003 : no more Fiamminghi ! The orchestra went bankrupt in 2003.
Apparently, Werthen has some sort of a music school now,and conducts in Turku/Finland....see: http://www.rudolfwerthen.be/engine.php?p=1

Peter

[karlhenning]

Oof! Peter, I am sorry to need to cast the verb in the past tense.

[rickardg]

Mozart
String Quartet in G major K. 387
String Quartet in D minor K. 421
Quatuors Mosaïques


I had to give the D minor quartet en instant rerun...

I think it's this CD (my cover looks completely different), it was recorded in 1990, perhaps the pictured disc is a reissue.

[Haffner]

Mahler 2 (WP/Boulez, live). Practically the only performance of this work that I can get through.

Have you heard the Klemperer, Edward?

[Valentino]

It's the same recording, richardg. I'd prefer the reissue myself. My original cover is close to being apalling.
Apart from that the music making is superb, even if I do prefer the Hagen Quartett in the d minor.

Also Mozart: PC20, K. 466 in D MINOR. Sir Georg Solti conducting the ECO from the keyboard. Sluggish, sluggish sluggish.

[Kullervo]

This was the first and, as far as I know, the only album devoted entirely to Binchois*, whose fame in his day was more widespread than his now more famous contemporary, Dufay. The sound leaves a bit to be desired, the mix often going into the red (especially for the percussion parts), but what it lacks in polish it more than makes up for in enthusiasm. The vocal performances are rough and full of the vigor of youth, and the ensemble of vielles, sackbuts and a percussion battery sound great. I would love a new recording of Binchois's music in modern sound, but this will more than suffice for now.

* There seems to be a more recent disc by Vellard and Ensemble G. Binchois, but is only available through download.

[not edward]

Have you heard the Klemperer, Edward?

Yes. I like some of Klemperer's Mahler, but I just can't get through his Resurrection. I guess I find the piece needs a lighter touch (either that or the inspired craziness of a Scherchen) for it to work for me.

[Haffner]

Yes. I like some of Klemperer's Mahler, but I just can't get through his Resurrection. I guess I find the piece needs a lighter touch (either that or the inspired craziness of a Scherchen) for it to work for me.

Actually, that sounds like the perfect formula for any good performance of Mahler, Edward! laughing


Strauss Elektra (Gwyneth Jones)

[not edward]

Lazar Berman playing the third year of Liszt's Annees de Pelerinage, followed by Sviatoslav Richter playing the three "war sonatas" by Prokofiev.

Piano heaven.

[Lethevich]

This was the first and, as far as I know, the only album devoted entirely to Binchois*, whose fame in his day was more widespread than his now more famous contemporary, Dufay. The sound leaves a bit to be desired, the mix often going into the red (especially for the percussion parts), but what it lacks in polish it more than makes up for in enthusiasm. The vocal performances are rough and full of the vigor of youth, and the ensemble of vielles, sackbuts and a percussion battery sound great. I would love a new recording of Binchois's music in modern sound, but this will more than suffice for now.

* There seems to be a more recent disc by Vellard and Ensemble G. Binchois, but is only available through download.

If my assumption is correct, this 2 disc set is just the combination of two previously individual ones:



Although from a search of Amazon, the single disc does seem to be so un-findable as to prove your point... Very nice performances though, as usual with Ensemble GB, it's extremely middle-ground, polished and uncontroversial music-making, and advocates his lyrical style perfectly. Se la belle has become my favourite early music 'song', with melody strong enough to be enjoyed on its own terms by pretty much anyone (a little "insider knowledge" goes a long way towards appreciating early music from my experience - some great works are sometimes just damn hard to enjoy initially... Not the case with GB).

[Kullervo]

If my assumption is correct, this 2 disc set is just the combination of two previously individual ones:



Although from a search of Amazon, the single disc does seem to be so un-findable as to prove your point... Very nice performances though, as usual with Ensemble GB, it's extremely middle-ground, polished and uncontroversial music-making, and advocates his lyrical style perfectly. Se la belle has become my favourite early music 'song', with melody strong enough to be enjoyed on its own terms by pretty much anyone (a little "insider knowledge" goes a long way towards appreciating early music from my experience - some great works are sometimes just damn hard to enjoy initially... Not the case with GB).

Yeah, I saw that two disc set, but I'm not sure if I want to buy it as the material is nearly identical on both the discs. I also agree with you that it's hard to like a lot of early Renaissance music on the first listen. Before I started this project, I was afraid I would bore quickly because I had imagined all the music from that period to sound the same, but happily I was proven wrong. I find myself humming melodies by Machaut all the time now, they are extremely memorable (it could be the amount of repetition in the songs, though, and they're just drilled into my head  ).

[Dana]

Ludwig van Beethoven.
Symphony No. 6 in F major, opus 68. "Pastoral".
The London Classical Players/Roger Norrington.

The first movement Allegro non Troppo is done rather well, with a good tempi befitting the awakening of happy feelings, with very flexible playing of strings and brass. The agility with which they turn and push forward is amazingly done. The basses around 5:00 growl liked a happy bear! Very good indeed.
The second movement Andante molto mosso is something of a puzzle to me because it says Molto Mosso, and it is certainly Piu Mosso but nothing more than that. A bit to light for my taste, but rather delicate at other times, a mixed bag here obviously A gentle Brook indeed. Well I will get used to that, but some more intensity on the strings might have done the trick.
The third movement allegro is adequate.
The fourth movement Allegro storm and Tempest is ravishing beautiful and full of raw energy. The clashes of the wooden timpani are frightening to the bone. And the tempo is fast really fast, clocks at 3:42. Very good indeed!
The fifth movement Allegro-Presto, is coming out of the egg very slowly but effective, and the Violins around 0:30 are gorgeous, singing out their joy. Basses and celli are one hell of a body that push out the message very clearly.
Happy and thankful feelings indeed.
Well all in all, this is very good.

      You've inspired me to listen to my Klemperer recording, my absolute favorite recording of this symphony

[Wanderer]

Good morning, everyone! 

Mendelssohn: Symphony No.5 "Reformation" (Deutsches SO Berlin/Ashkenazy).

[Harry]

Goodmorning Tasos.

Thomas Tallis
Music for Queen Elizabeth.
Chapelle du Roi/Alistair Dixon.
Volume VII.

This disc is one of the most beautiful of the set, immaculately sung, with perfect pitch, and a fine layering of voices, especially the Soprano's, & Tenors. Diction is almost perfect, and the flow/tempi is done to perfection. The Diminuendo is amazingly applied. I would have liked a Introit in the beginning of every disc....
Good sound, and IMO indispensable in your classical collection.

[Danny]

Mahler Symphony No 8 on Naxos.  0:)

[Florestan]

Robert Schumann

Piano Trio No.1 în D minor, op.63
Piano Trio No.2 in F major, op.80

Jean Hubeau – piano; Jean Mouillère – violin; Frédéric Lodéon – cello

Sturm und Drang, if ever there was such a music!

[Harry]

Robert Schumann

Piano Trio No.1 în D minor, op.63
Piano Trio No.2 in F major, op.80

Jean Hubeau – piano; Jean Mouillère – violin; Frédéric Lodéon – cello

Sturm und Drang, if ever there was such a music!

Goodmorning Andrei.

[Florestan]

Goodmorning Andrei.

Good morning, Harry and all!

[Harry]

Francois Devienne.
Six sonatas for Bassoon & Cello, opus 24, 1-6.

Danny Bond, Bassoon.
Richte van der Meer, Cello.
Robert Kohnen, Harpsichord.

Excellent performances of these masterworks. I could not remember anything better as this, from my long history of listening.
Sound is topnotch too, and the music is perfect in every respect.
Recommended!