What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Harry]

Johannes Brahms.

Serenade No. 1 in D major.

Capella Augustina, on period instruments, Andreas Spering.

Second try, and I still miss the agility in orchestra. To me it sounds a bit plodding at times, and I am not sure that I find all the accents well placed, or the image that transparent, as I would wish it to be. The squareness of playing bothers me greatly too, it makes for rather unforgiving non lyrical sounds. Harmony and balance are key elements, also a see through transparency, listen around 5:00 upwards in the first movement, that's were my problems have root. Or around 6:10 onwards, were the horns are playing very instable, and thus give a impression of carelessness, more often encountered as I would like. It never really assumes a face, rather the opposite.
The recording is rather bland, and at times bass heavy, not at all what I expect of CPO.
That said, I am enormously pleased with the fact that we have a performance on period instruments, but I rather wish I could be more positive about the outcome.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Sure, you will hear nothing from me anymore, although "Shocked by its vulgarity" seems to me a form of trauma.

I took it as funny hyperbole, knowing Christo!

And where is she staying, pray tell me!

She is staying incognito in a hotel, accompanied by her mother...   (And a very lovely young woman she is, too.)

[Harry]

She is staying incognito in a hotel, accompanied by her mother...   (And a very lovely young woman she is, too.)

Well there aren't too many hotels in Groningen.........

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Well there aren't to many hotels in Groningen.........

I'll warn her to steer clear of a man pushing a cart filled with classical CDs, then.

[Harry]

A interesting aside, did you know that CPE Bach visited us on 8 January 1767, and graced us with a concert with his own works!
A ticket, then 1 Gulden, quite a amount in those days.
Played in Het Concerthuis in the Poelestraat in Groningen.
Later on J.C. Bach visited Amsterdam in 1769.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

A interesting aside, did you know that CPE Bach visited us on 8 January 1767, and graced us with a concert with his own works!
A ticket, then 1 Gulden, quite a amount in those days.
Played in Het Concerthuis in the Poelestraat in Groningen.
Later on J.C. Bach visited Amsterdam in 1769.

No, I didn't know that... I wonder whether any great composer ever visited Delft. I know Mahler was in Leiden once (to meet Freud).

[Wanderer]

[Sergeant Rock]

Listening to Das Rheingold from Furtwängler's Rome cycle.




Sarge

[Christo]

I wonder whether any great composer ever visited Delft.

At least Constantijn Huygens did, and no doubt many more in his time. There's also a good chance that many passed through Delft by train, on their way to/from Amsterdam: Mahler, Stravinsky, Van den Budenmayer, amongst them.

[johnQpublic]

Lortzing - Overture to "Der Waffenschmied" (Guhl/Marco Polo)
D'Indy - Clarinet Trio (West,Drinkall,Baker/Klavier)
Zwillich - Flute Concerto (Dwyer/Koch)

[wintersway]

Good morning/day to all!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

At least Constantijn Huygens did, and no doubt many more in his time. There's also a good chance that many passed through Delft by train, on their way to/from Amsterdam: Mahler, Stravinsky, Van den Budenmayer, amongst them.

Zbigniew Preisner? Never heard of him...

[Christo]

Zbigniew Preisner? Never heard of him...

Preisner? Who's Preisner? Is he famous enough to have been caught eating pancakes in Delft, as was Bill Clinton? 

[ChamberNut]

Wagner

Das Rheingold

Wiener Philharmoniker, Solti
Decca

[Harry]

Johannes Brahms.

Serenade No. 2 in A major. On period instruments.

Capella Augustina, Andreas Spering.

The second Serenade fares much better under Sperings hands, more gaiety, and somehow fresher, more on their toes to present a lucid yet warm Brahms. Discipline is better throughout, amongst the brass most noticeable. Still think that the tempi are to slow for my comfort. But the texture of the score is openly presented, and its a hear through now, all desks are in the spectrum of my hearing.
I hope some other period instruments group will pick up these serenades, which are darn difficult to play in such a way as they deserve and need, to get it off on a good start, and I may actually enjoy what I hear to the full.

[mozartsneighbor]

Listening to this right now:


What a simply incredible cd! 17th century German cantatas: as the title of the cd indicates a bit on the somber side in mood, but some of the stuff on here compares well with Bach's best efforts in the cantata field. Hefty claim, but I'll stick by that. In my opinion 17th century music is undeservedly ignored in favor of the 18th -- great period, full of transition and experimentation.
Tip top performers and sound (it's SACD) as well.

[Harry]

Listening to this right now:


What a simply incredible cd! 17th century German cantatas: as the title of the cd indicates a bit on the somber side in mood, but some of the stuff on here compares well with Bach's best efforts in the cantata field. Hefty claim, but I'll stick by that. In my opinion 17th century music is undeservedly ignored in favor of the 18th -- great period, full of transition and experimentation.
Tip top performers and sound (it's SACD) as well.

And Zomers, could you describe her voice?
Big? Vibrato, Loudness?
Just in general you see, never heard her voice, and since I am very careful with sopranos.......

[Lethevich]

I keep wondering why so many people like that Segerstam set. It is kind of "nice" and the recorded sound is kind of "nice", too, but Sibelius is all about the fine detail and there isn't much of that in Segerstam's readings. He just pours a thick, sticky sauce over to the music.

I've avoided him due to several people mentioning things like this... If a slightly more romantic take is required, Sanderling is hard to overrate.

[Harry]

Third time listening to the

Serenade No. 1 in D major, by Johannes Brahms.
Capella Augustina, Andreas Spering.
On period instruments.

This time with the score I lend from a friend of mine.

[not edward]