What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Catison]

Thanks! (Though I wonder, did you get one of the performers of the Carter bumped up to Contrasts, which is a trio?)  The Carter I don't know, but both the Messiaen and Bartók were immediate favorites when I first heard them in 1983 

Oops.  Its fixed.

[karlhenning]

For your kind pains, I give hearty thanks!

Mmm. Argerich playing the Contrasts . . . .

[karlhenning]

Mmm. Argerich playing the Contrasts . . . .

And there's also the Prokofiev Opus 39 Quintet on that disc.  Saving up, now.

[Brian]

After years, I'm finally reacquainting myself with the Piano Concerto with this new recording.

Was it worth the wait? Well, yes, but I wish the wait had ended sooner! 

[Maciek]

Lethe and Bruce, you should ask Christo about ten Holt. My understanding is that he knows every single recording in existence.

BTW, Holt's nothing like Andriessen. The music is absolutely mellow and unaggressive.

(Prior to purchasing the Brilliant box I only knew Canto ostinato - the 4 piano version; and it - Canto ostinato, I mean - still remains my favorite, one of my favorite pieces of minimalism, and that's in fact a very short list, since I generally hate the idea; so it's difficult to judge whether the whole box is worth the outlay; is the 2-piano version on 2 CDs? because the recording in the Brilliant box is on 2 CDs - so that might be an important factor, a chance to hear a "fuller" version of the work - it can be stretched out to last much, much longer though; a Polish performance from the 90s - my first full exposure - lasted a couple of hours, almost a whole day, IIRC)

(sorry for the muddly punctuation)

[Lethevich]

(Prior to purchasing the Brilliant box I only knew Canto ostinato - the 4 piano version; and it - Canto ostinato, I mean - still remains my favorite, one of my favorite pieces of minimalism, and that's in fact a very short list, since I generally hate the idea; so it's difficult to judge whether the whole box is worth the outlay; is the 2-piano version on 2 CDs? because the recording in the Brilliant box is on 2 CDs - so that might be an important factor, a chance to hear a "fuller" version of the work - it can be stretched out to last much, much longer though; a Polish performance from the 90s - my first full exposure - lasted a couple of hours, almost a whole day, IIRC)

It seems to be an abridged version - or at least a condensed one, so hearing the full one would be very interesting. I guess that box has moved itself to "mandatory purchase"

[Wanderer]

[Solitary Wanderer]

[karlhenning]

Sergei Sergeyevich
Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Opus 25 Classical
Czech Philharmonic
Karel Ančerl

[imperfection]

Very heavy, emotional indeed...top quality performance by all counts 

[Kullervo]

Nørgård - Symphony No. 6 "At the End of the Day", Terrains Vagues (Dausgaard/DNSO)
RVW - Symphonies 8 and 9 (Haitink/London Phil)

[M forever]

Inspired by some recent discussions, I put this CD on today which I hadn't listened to in many years:



Exceptionally good music making.

[scarpia]

Inspired by some recent discussions, I put this CD on today which I hadn't listened to in many years:



Exceptionally good music making.

Had that one on LP, it was superb.  Somehow I missed the CD release, now it is nla, I believe.

Today, Malipiero second piano concerto, which was charming, despite what the linear notes say about it (uninspired, perhaps Malpiero's weakest effort, etc.).

[Lilas Pastia]

To tell you the truth, I was distracted by other things.  I am hoping that Pettersson's sound sort of seeps into my head so that I understand it more.  It is going to take many more listens for that to happen.

I suspect 'many more listens' will turn out to be one or two only: for some reason, initial disconcertation with Pettersson's works gives way to ready recognition of crucial signposts and harmonic language on second hearing, and the whole edifice becomes easily identifiable from then on. A very strange experience indeed.

As for Alfven, the second symphony is my favourite work of his. An out and out neglected masterpiece!

[springrite]

Inspired by some recent discussions, I put this CD on today which I hadn't listened to in many years:



Exceptionally good music making.

I remember hearing this LIVE in LA, about a year after the recording session, and buying the CD as soon as I saw it. Magnificent!


Now listening: Various works by Chopin played by Michelangeli

[Que]

Q

[Harry]

CPE. Bach.
Flute Sonatas WQ 134/124/127/129/128/133.
Eckart Haupt, Flute.
Siegfried Pank, Viola da Gamba.
Armin Thalheim, Harpsichord.
Capriccio Recording 1982.

Good morning all.

I must say that I was surprised to find such good recordings in this box, but there it is. Flute Sonatas, a case in point! Well articulated by this genius <Eckart Haupt> that impressed me also with his rendering of the Flute Concertos. And well aided by <Pank & Thalheim>.
It sounds authentic and is played that way. Lively tempi, good phrasing, integrated, whole, simple wonderful. Recording is a clear as a bell.

[Harry]

Luigi Boccherini.
Divertimenti for Flute, two Violins, Viola, two Cellos and Contra Bass. (ad lib)
Opus 16, No. 1,4,5,6.

Eckart Haupt, Flute, Mi-Kyung Lee & Silvia Walch Violins.
Deimut Poppen, Viola. Ludwig Quandt & Gotz Teutsch, Cellos.
Esko Laine, Kontra Bass.
Capriccio 1993.

Excellent recording and performance.

[Harry]

Paul Hindemith.

Sonata for Trumpet and Piano, 1939.
Sonata for Organ, No, 1,2,3. 1937-1940.
Sonata for Horn and Piano. 1943.

Ensemble Villa Musica.
Hannes Laubin, Trumpet, Radovan Vlatkovic, Horn, Kalle Randalu, Piano, Rosalinde Haas, Organ.

A excellent disc, that has a proven value, just listen.

[Harry]

Ludwig van Beethoven.

Symphony no. 7 in A major, opus 92.
Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, David Zinman.
Arte Nova, 1998.

Very well recorded to begin with, well played, and perfectly conducted!
The first movement comes in with quite some weight, with a tempo that is in my ears a little to slow, and could need a bit more dancing on the notes activity. From 3:00 onwards the picture is lucid and straightforward, but a touch to deliberate, and tad to slow. But the argument comes over strongly nevertheless. You can walk through the desks, and hear every detail! But the trusting urge is somewhat missing, and it must be said, no recording I know, gives me a satisfying seventh. The brass around 8:00 onwards sounds marvelously raspy. The intermingling of the strings around 9:30 onwards is also clearly discernible with all the different melody lines. And that's not always the case.
The "Allegretto" movement is solemn enough, but still a tad to slow for comfort, that flowing breezing wind is not caressing my senses as entirely appropriate, but well enough done, and better as many others, going towards the climax around 2:00, and should have had more impact on the first strings, when the basses come pounding in to little effect, although one can hear every note. The flowing line keeps all steady as a rock, it must be said. But a tiny amount more of emotion and a keener sense where to put the stress on the strings, to imprint the intensity, would have done the trick!  Around 5:40 it gets a bit better in respect of intensity though. Minor criticisms they are, for this works out marvelously, hearing Flutes and Horns punctuated by pizzicato on the basses at the end!
The "Presto" has a good momentum altogether! Well paced, and well separated in all departments, never a overpowering note that obscures any other desk in the process. Forward trust again could have been better, and would have brought even more impact, but I will not complain about this, for this really rocks all the furniture in my listening room from their sockets. My PassLab is enjoying this no end!
The third movement "Allegro con Brio" is just that, and what a energy is coming out the hands of the Tonhalle orchestra, with surging strings, and pounding celli and basses. It really crowns this performance in every way. The crowing fanfare of brass and winds, in different places makes it even more celebratory in its expression.