What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Brian]

Komei Abe. (1911-2006)

Symphony No. 1. (1957) World Premiere Recording.
Russian PO, Dmitry Yablonsky.

A composer I never heard of before, and by the experience with his first Symphony, I regret that very much, for this work impresses me profoundly with its structural clarity, and sound scape Abe paints in broad strokes, with well defined brass and perfectly written out strings, in such harmony that it does not cease to amaze me. Economical scored, with emotive power that is very aligned to my own, sparse at moments, lush at others. Tonal, with a broad canvas into every direction.
Well recorded, and it must be said well performed, with very disciplined musicians.

Hey Harry! That is one of my very favorite CDs of 20th century music, and definitely my favorite from Naxos' Japanese Classics series; I especially love the work for saxophone and orchestra.

[Wanderer]

Wand is awesome. How are those recordings, Wanderer?

Blissfully good. I see myself reaching for symphonies nos. 7-9 (same forces) next.  0:)

The Fleisher/Szell partnership works wonders in Brahms' concertos, superlative readings. I suppose their Beethoven is also worthwhile? Which concertos are you listening to?

[MN Dave]

Blissfully good. I see myself reaching for symphonies nos. 7-9 (same forces) next.  0:)

It appears I need more Wand Bruckner.

The Fleisher/Szell partnership works wonders in Brahms' concertos, superlative readings.

Indeed.  0:)

I suppose their Beethoven is also worthwhile? Which concertos are you listening to?

I was listening to no. 2, but all are must-buys! Here I can safely say, do not hesitate.

[marvinbrown]

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHARD WAGNER   0:)

  It's Wagner's Birthday today  0:) and what a glorious day it was in the history of opera.  Born in Leipzig on May 22, 1813 Richard Wagner would change operatic history as we know it  0:).  To commemorate this occasion I am playing this:

    0:)


 
  marvin

[Lethevich]

Did you know Karajan never conducted it? I wonder if he either didn't understand it, or, what is more likely, just didn't connect with it.

IIRC Karajan was a surprisingly principled guy who didn't conduct works which he didn't (at the time) understand - there are some big ommissions in his Mahler discography as well. I do think that he would have done well in the symphony (although I have yet to hear K in any Sibelius) - I already own too much Sibelius relative to other composers in my collection (I tend to go silly with RVW and Sib).

Edit: Actually, I totally forgot about the EMI Karajan megabox. There will certainly be some Sibelius in there - I should check later.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHARD WAGNER   0:)

  It's Wagner's Birthday today  0:) and what a glorious day it was in the history of opera.  Born in Leipzig on May 22, 1813 Richard Wagner would change operatic history as we know it  0:).

Happy birthday, Richard 0:)

[Harry]

Robert Schumann.

Album fur die Jugend opus 68, Part I, for the little ones.
Part two, for slightly older ones.
Jorg Demus, Piano.

Marvelous playing.....
Opus 68 is for me essential Schumann, lyrical, romantic, filigree detail to be found, and Demus gets that out quite easily.

[MN Dave]

schumann via sofronitsky...

[ChamberNut]

Beethoven

String Quartet No. 3 in D, Op. 18
String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18

Quartetto Italiano
Philips

[Harry]

Beethoven

String Quartet No. 3 in D, Op. 18
String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18

Quartetto Italiano
Philips

It was the first box I bought, vinyl  mind, costing me a bundle in those student days, and after the cd's came, I bought them also. My first and still strong love.

[Cato]

A few days ago I mentioned I would be playing Allegri's Miserere several times for my Latin classes.

The reaction was very positive: they found the music "unusual" and several 8th Graders commented basically: "I would like going to church if they played works like that!"

A few commented they would attend every Sunday    0:)   ...implying that they do not always show up!  

Today for myself an eclectic mix: Max Steiner's King Kong score!  I have been comparing the version from the 1970's with Fred Steiner (no relation) conducting the National Philharmonic (released on CD in the '80's under "Southern Cross Records") with the Moscow Symphony's version under William Stromberg.

Although the earlier version has a half-hour less music, I think it has more of the original drive and "edge" than the latter.  

And then...


I have been working my through the Ten Piano Sonatas of Alexander Scriabin!

Ruth Laredo's performance from the 1970's.  

I used to have the Michael Ponti version on VOX records: his performance was always criticized as rather eccentric, but I always liked it.

[ChamberNut]

It was the first box I bought, vinyl  mind, costing me a bundle in those student days, and after the cd's came, I bought them also. My first and still strong love.

Harry, this was my first "chamber music purchase", when I first started liking classical music (well....Beethoven, at the time).  These string quartets turned me into a ChamberNut. 

[Harry]

Harry, this was my first "chamber music purchase", when I first started liking classical music (well....Beethoven, at the time).  These string quartets turned me into a ChamberNut. 

I am happy to hear that my friend.
Would like more nutters around.........

[Lethevich]

Finlandia (Icelandic SO/Naxos). The slightly rough and enthusiastic playing on this disc almost makes the piece enjoyable once again.

[George]

I'm listening to Fleisher/Szell Beethoven.

Perfect.  0:)

You got that right! 


Me, I got Szell in another stellar performance:

[Brian]

Finlandia (Icelandic SO/Naxos). The slightly rough and enthusiastic playing on this disc almost makes the piece enjoyable once again.

There really never was a time when I liked that piece; first I disliked it because it was unfamiliar and weird, and then eventually I disliked it because it was too familiar and dull. I don't think there was a time between 

[Lethevich]

There really never was a time when I liked that piece; first I disliked it because it was unfamiliar and weird, and then eventually I disliked it because it was too familiar and dull. I don't think there was a time between 

Aww It was one of the handfull of things that got me into classical (along with the Tannhäuser overture and a few LVB things), but it does become problematic after years of listening

[Keemun]

[Bunny]

Monteverdi: Vespro della beata Vergine -- René Jacobs; Nederlands Kammerkoor; Concerto Vocale; et al.

[Wanderer]

Lots of Bruckner...

[not edward]

A pair of interesting works I'm looking forward to getting to know better. I've found Tippett rarely gives up his secrets all at once but is usually well worth revisiting.