What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[val]

FAURÉ:   Ballade opus 19            / Marie-Françoise Bucquet, Monte Carlo Orchestra, Paul Capolongo

Bucquet gives a very elegant version, but the orchestra is mediocre. We are very far from the balance of Casadesus and Bernstein.

[ezodisy]

Otherwise, why would you're working in that demeaning job your're doing now? 

Thomas

You are really a sad, pathetic little person. Only a scumbag would say such a thing.

What's that like?

This is very fine Haydn from Pogorelich.
He is playing here in Vienna soon, but I have read in several places already that his playing has gotten quite eccentric lately, and bears little resemblance to his artistry back in the 1980s and 90s. So I think I am skipping that. Any contradictory reports on that?

His playing now is amazing. I've been thinking about going to Vienna for the concert but probably won't. He's playing in Paris in Oct. too which for me would make for an easier and more interesting trip, so maybe I will go, because it's not everyday you get a chance to hear him play Ravel's Gaspard now, with his unbelievably strange and personal interpretations. Why on earth would you skip a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Be open minded, reserve judgement, because you'll never hear anything else like it.

[Christo]

Played Berglund's account of Vaughan Williams' Fourth in the car, and found it very good, perhaps one of the best. As in his version of the Sixth, in this same set, there's much drama but with a certain extra touch of 'solemnity' added to it, that reminds of Sibelius. It may be Berglund's trademark and is especially to be heard in his reading of the Sixth. Both are great recordings, imho, and I'm happy to have come across them:

             

[sound67]

Played Berglund's account of Vaughan Williams' Fourth in the car, and found it very good, perhaps one of the best. As in his version of the Sixth, in this same set, there's much drama but with a certain extra touch of 'solemnity' added to it, that reminds of Sibelius. It may be Berglund's trademark and is especially to be heard in his reading of the Sixth. Both are great recordings, imho, and I'm happy to have come across them:

             

It's the "grimmest" reading of No.4 that I know of, Finnish conductors always have a way with RVW. My personal favorite - RVW's own BBC recordings is wilder still, a little too wild actually.

Thomas

[The new erato]

Some people just get in return what they deal (as we would say) and the exchange with them follow other rules than one usually would abide to. I wouldn't be too worried by that.

Now playing:



This is a most excellent disc. Original music, colorful orchestration, joyful and profound. Strongly recommended!

[Drasko]

What's that like?

Very good. Clear, rhythmically strong, unsentimental playing. Some interesting phrasing in first movement of G Major, though slow movement comes off something of matter of fact. Left hand concerto is superb, maybe not the most barnstorming but interplay between Haas and orchestra is beautiful. Orchestra is brilliant throughout, perhaps one of the finest I heard in this repertoire. Haven't listened to solo pieces yet.

[johnQpublic]

LPs

Suppe - Overture to "Morning, Noon & Night in Vienna" (Paray/Mercury)
Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto #3 (Cliburn/RCA)

[Christo]

My personal favorite - RVW's own BBC recordings is wilder still, a little too wild actually.

An old favourite of mine too. It's definitely wild, and I love it all the more for that: the best proof we have against the "cowpat" view of Vaughan Williams. His own conducting clearly isn't from that school. 

And yes, "grimm" is the word that fits best with Berglund's reading of the Fourth - and it should be that way, as also proven by Bernstein and RVW himself. The "solemnity" I was referring at, applies only to his Sixth.

[Kullervo]

Prokofiev - Piano Concertos 1, 4, and 5 (Krainev/RSO Frankfurt/Kitaenko)

[Haffner]

Wagner Das Rheingold (Levine/Met)


Mainly because I want to see the work. The Levine has its moments, but can often be a letdown compared to many recorded versions (most of you know this already so I apologize for the superfluity). I've read that there has never really been a filmed version of the Ring that was entirely satisfactory, and I concur with that. I believe an animated version might be preferable...

[ezodisy]

The same goes for people who call others "scumbags", which only exposes your own character/lack thereof.

Thomas

Excessive maybe, but you repeatedly stray off-topic by attacking people directly when you can't defend or discuss the subject. Very poor showing on your part, I would have thought with age and experience you would have learned not to do that.

[George]

Continued from yesterday...

[Christo]

RVW, Sixth Symphony (1947)
Bournemouth SO, Paavo Berglund

Mightily impressive. Among the few really convincing performances of RVW's most challenging symphony I've heard, with an orchestra that might not even have been `top' in those years (1974).

[PaulR]

Sibelius:  Symphony #1 in E Minor Maazel/Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Good morning all

[Sergeant Rock]

Listening to Das klagende Lied




Sarge

[rubio]

I think this must be THE choice for a complete set of Mendelssohn's symphonies. But the competition is not excactly fierce. I just listened to the Italian and the Reformation symphonies. I especially love the Italian, even if Sinopoli is my favourite still.

[Opus106]

Which?

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Listening to this work after a long gap, on internet "radio": Beethoven Cello Sonata No.3;  Ma and Ax.

[Catison]

There are a few composers who I return to very often.  Their music never seems to get old.  Hindemith is one of these composers for me.  When I discovered this wonderful box set of recordings by Blomstedt, slowly, the composer grew on me.  Now I can't go very long without listening to it.

My two favorites are Konzertmusik, op. 50, which has some of the most amazing brass writing I have ever heard.  And also Nobilissima Visione, particularly the Passacaglia, which has one of the most thrilling ground melodies ever written.

[karlhenning]

Sibelius:  Symphony #1 in E Minor Maazel/Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Good morning all

Good morning! And that recording sounds like a great idea!

My two favorites are Konzertmusik, op. 50, which has some of the most amazing brass writing I have ever heard. . . . .

I don't really have any talent for playing brass, but's one of the pieces which makes me wish I had!

[SonicMan46]

Froberger, Johann Jacob (1616-1667) - Harpsichord Suites from the Strasbourg Manuscripts played by Ludger Remy on an instrument built by Martin Skowroneck, after a Franco-Flemish model; first Froberger recordings for me - this is a well-priced 2-CD set from CPO - not usually a big fan of solo harpsichord for long listening, but on the 2nd CD w/o any fatigue; beautifully composed, played, and recorded; excellent review from ClassicsToday -