What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[marvinbrown]

 

  Not sure how many of you have this recording in your collection but this is an Orfeo I bought many years ago and decided to give it a spin.  Gluck was opera's first reformer and to that effect the listener is presented with many variations, confusing versions here's how i understand it: there is an original Paris version, the revised Viennese version (in Italian I think  ), Berlioz then revamped this opera in French I believe and so on.  The Muti recording is the Viennese version in Italian.  The most attractive thing about this recording are the wonderful chorus parts and ballet music.  The remaining arias, recititivos etc. are rather stale and leave a lot to be desired- although I would argue that is the fault of the opera rather than the recording itself.

  By the way opera's second reformer is Wagner  0:) and I believe we can argue that unlike Gluck he is flawless  ............ 0:)!

  marvin

[Jay F]

I continue to listen to the Beaux Arts Trio doing Brahms' Piano Trios. I have never liked Brahms that much, so I'm surprised how much I like these. Just wonderful and melodic, and played with passion. They're my new favorite group, the BAT.

I also played one of my earliest classical CDs today, the DG Galleria disc of Helmut Walcha's Bach BWV 565 (1963), 534 (1964), 542 (1963), 564 (1963), & 525 (1965). Does anyone know which of these two Walcha box sets would have the exact versions that are on the Galleria CD?

[UB]

You might be interested in this thread, in which there is some discussion of Kabelac-

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,3675.msg97011.html#msg97011

Thanks for telling me about that thread. It reminded me of Viktor Kalabis who was about 15 years younger than Kabelac and died only a couple of years ago. I think I will listen to his music tomorrow.

[SonicMan46]

I continue to listen to the Beaux Arts Trio doing Brahms' Piano Trios. I have never liked Brahms that much, so I'm surprised how much I like these. Just wonderful and melodic, and played with passion. They're my new favorite group, the BAT.....

Hello Jay F - welcome to the GMG Forum, and glad to see you posting! 

The Beaux Arts Trio is a favorite around here; I have many of their recordings, including the ones you enjoy above!  You must explore some of their other recordings (and there are many!) - 

[SonicMan46]

Schaffrath, Christoph (1709-1763) - Trios & Sonatas w/ Epoca Barocca (shown below, right) - have none of this composer & just taking a chance! 

The performing group are four instrumentalists on period instruments (harpsichord, violin, oboe, & bassoon) - there are 5 works on the disc (about 70 mins), which are a combination of these various instruments - the playing is superb & the variety quite enjoyable - this performer/composer was closely related to the court of Frederick the Great, and also a competitor for various positions w/ the Bach boys - a 'tunesmith' in transition between the late Baroque & Gallant early classical music styles - I would enjoy hearing more of his music! 

 

[Jay F]

Hello Jay F - welcome to the GMG Forum, and glad to see you posting! 

The Beaux Arts Trio is a favorite around here; I have many of their recordings, including the ones you enjoy above!  You must explore some of their other recordings (and there are many!) - 

Thank you, SonicMan. So far, I have the Schubert (which got me started); a newish 4-CD set with Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Chopin, and others; the Mozart; the Brahms; and Ravel, Faure, and Beethoven in the mail. I've listened to classical music for over 20 years, but I never paid that much attention to chamber music until I heard the Schubert op.100 on the radio a couple of months ago. I would never have guessed I could like Brahms this much.

[Haffner]

Prelude to Act III



Lonely, at times tumultuous. Sach's inner made outer?

[karlhenning]

Lonely, at times tumultuous. Sach's inner made outer?

Everybody's got something to hide, except for Beckmesser and his monkey.

[ezodisy]

Today's composer for me is the 20th century (1908-79) composer Miloslav Kabelac. Symphonies #1, 3, 5 and the excellent Hamlet Improvisation. If you enjoy Martinu you should enjoy Kabelac. Unfortunately there is little of his music now available on cd. I collected my slim set of 6 cds over the last 15 years.

Utah Bill? It is great to see you post here once again. Years back I really enjoyed learning about new composers from you. Welcome back.

[Novi]

I continue to listen to the Beaux Arts Trio doing Brahms' Piano Trios. I have never liked Brahms that much, so I'm surprised how much I like these. Just wonderful and melodic, and played with passion. They're my new favorite group, the BAT.

Hi Jay - is that the set that also has the Horn Trio? That is one gorgeous piece as well 0:).

You should also hear Brahms's sextets if you're interested in more of his chamber works. They are some of my favourites .

[Jay F]

Hi Jay - is that the set that also has the Horn Trio? That is one gorgeous piece as well 0:).

You should also hear Brahms's sextets if you're interested in more of his chamber works. They are some of my favourites .

No, it's just the piano trios. But I will look for the horn trios.

I think I have a CD of the sextets. I guess I haven't listened to it much.

Thanks.

[Brian]

Just finished listening to Bruckner's Fourth for the first time (Tintner/Naxos). I found it incredibly dull, though, with only a few minutes of genuine interest after the fabulous opening. His Seventh will always be one of my favorites, but this one just didn't work for me.

Now listening to Andrzej Wasowski's Chopin Mazurkas, courtesy of a certain Polish piano pipeline of a poster

[Que]

Listening to this disc:                                                 From the 15-CD Leonhardt set:

       

Q

[Opus106]

I also played one of my earliest classical CDs today, the DG Galleria disc of Helmut Walcha's Bach BWV 565 (1963), 534 (1964), 542 (1963), 564 (1963), & 525 (1965). Does anyone know which of these two Walcha box sets would have the exact versions that are on the Galleria CD?

I believe it's the one on top. All the CDs in that set were recorded in stereo, and some of them are from the periods you mentioned.

[Wanderer]

[Harry]

One of the first Russian symphonies using serialism. An interesting work with a lovely slow movement.

Coupled with a rousing symphonic poem from 1947 'Leyla and Mejnun' which won the Stalin Prize and the most attractive 'Don Quixote'
film music. A composer with more taste than Kabalevsky or Khachaturian

Have ordered that too, and am happy that you find merit in it.

[Harry]

Schaffrath, Christoph (1709-1763) - Trios & Sonatas w/ Epoca Barocca (shown below, right) - have none of this composer & just taking a chance! 

The performing group are four instrumentalists on period instruments (harpsichord, violin, oboe, & bassoon) - there are 5 works on the disc (about 70 mins), which are a combination of these various instruments - the playing is superb & the variety quite enjoyable - this performer/composer was closely related to the court of Frederick the Great, and also a competitor for various positions w/ the Bach boys - a 'tunesmith' in transition between the late Baroque & Gallant early classical music styles - I would enjoy hearing more of his music! 

 

I ordered Schaffrath also a few days ago, so keep me posted what you make of him Dave.

[Harry]

Luigi Boccherini.

String Quartets.
Opus 64 No. 1
Opus 15 no. 1
Opus 24 no. 6
Opus 39 no 55

Petersen Quartett.
Capriccio recording 1993.

Again a winner from this box.Well considered and played SQ. Tight ensemble, and a keen sense for the music from this composer.
top notch recording too.

[Harry]

CPE Bach.
Six Symphonies for String and continuo.
WQ 182/H 657-662.

Kammerorchester <<Carl Philipp Emauel Bach>> Helmuth Haenchen.
Capriccio recording 1985-1986.

Well played and recorded, these are wonderful works to listen to. So much energy and compassion. A renewal and life confirming experience it is for me. Detailed and again well considered interpretations that can stand alongside the best.

[Lethevich]

Korngold's VC, repeatedly...



I am now sure that the dance tune in the middle of the finale must be the most ripped off piece of music in history, thanks to Hollywood. Although that is just the contender which pokes its head furthest out the top - the entire thing sounds very familiar thanks to J. Williams and Co.