What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Keemun]

Ah...such a sublime masterpiece!! Those two final movements Some of the most wonderful music ever composed!!

It's my favorite Mahler symphony, and one of my all around favorite works. 

[Lilas Pastia]

My friend lent me his copy of a 1960 french production of Si j'étais roi by Adolphe Adam (of Giselle and O Holy Night fame). This is midway between Opéra-Comique and operetta. Think of a lightweight Lakmé (both works are roughly contemporaneous and are set in ancient times India). This features an aria (from which the work takes its title) that is included on a recently issued Joseph Calleja recital (Decca). The difference between the unknown André Mallabrera and the rising star Calleja is amazing. Mallabrera is meltingly beautiful and mesmerizing whereas Calleja is merely seductive in a generic way. When it comes to french opera, nothing replaces the home grown product. But for some reason the recipe was lost in the mid-sixties. From thereon, french singers, orchestras and conductors have proved unable to retrace their steps back in time . IMHO this is one of the sharpest changes that ever occurred in any country's musical culture. Maybe russian musicians have gone the same way, too. The Lost World.

[Que]

Good morning everybody.

Q

[Opus106]

Andras Schiff talking about Beethoven's Op. 57.

[Opus106]

Andras Schiff talking about Beethoven's Op. 57.

Now Kempff playing the same work. (DG/Stereo)

[Que]

Symphony no. 9

Q

[Harry]

Symphony no. 9

Q

Samples maybe?.....and please if convenient some side remarks as to the performance?

[mn dave]

Disc 3

[Moldyoldie]

Currently marketed as...
Liszt: Les Préludes; Mazeppa; Tasso; Orpheus
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
Kurt Masur, cond.
EMI
I wasn't familiar with these pieces before hearing this disc, though I've long been familiar with the titles. While the early tone poem form is mainly a linear musical story-telling device, one needn't necessarily be familiar with the underlying programs to derive listening enjoyment...but it probably helps. Some of these works present stretches of mundane descriptive melody and inelaborate orchestration, however, they often build and progress to extended, rousingly satisfying conclusions. Masur and the Leipzig Orchestra are brilliantly precise in their execution, if seemingly a bit restrained. Though I'm unfamiliar with the works, I can certainly imagine more passionate and expressive performances. The early digital recording presents an up-close and broadly vivid soundstage with a bit of steeliness in the violins that can belie their natural timbre, though it shouldn't be a hindrance to enjoyment as the fine ensemble playing is actually a pleasure in itself. The combination of precise execution and close recording perspective certainly allows one to "get inside" these pieces. I imagine fans of Liszt and novice listeners alike will appreciate the technical facility on display here. However, though it has its moments, I can't say I was made an immediate fan of this music.

(FYI, this has been re-released in EMI's budget Encore series with the addition of Mephisto Waltz No. 2.)

[Catison]

Following along with David Hurwitz's book has given me some insights into this symphony.  I would usually pass them one off, but now I have a deep appreciation of it.  I predict it will be in my head for a couple days, playing itself over and over.

[SonicMan46]

For this chilly (high 30s) Sunday morn in North Carolina, some new arrivals:

Müthel, Johann (1728-1788) - Concertos & Chamber Music w/ Musica Alta Ripa on the MDG label; 2-CD set of varied music from this transitional era; MusicWeb Review HERE - 

Bach, JS (1685-1750) - French & English Suites, Nos. 1 & 2 on harpsichord w/ Alan Curtis; have the remaining 2 discs coming in the mail from BRO - only had these works w/ piano; recommendation of several members here, including Don, IIRC; excellent MusicWeb Review HERE - 

 

[Drasko]

Weill 2nd, Rachmaninov 3rd

[Drasko]

Mozart: symphonies 25 and 32: SWF Orchestra, Norrington. This is one of the good 25ths. Thre aren't that many.

Klemperer.

[Mozart]

Karl - please as a clarinetist, provide some comment?   Dave 

I have the Naxos disc of these works - not bad, but willing to 'change sides' - our new member, Mozart claims that "...this is the best recording of Brahms clarinet sonatas"; not sure if this is based on listenting experience from many different recordings or just a guess?  Hope for some clarification from Mozart on the basis of this opinion?  But would appreciate some other comments from those who may have heard this particular recording - love the clarinet works of Brahms - thanks all!   

Take a listen for yourself
1
http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/Z6KX2EMpPmE
2
http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/VxO-eIqFVWo
3
http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/cZgVPO2fV74


I just got this one, I love their Haydn OP 76 recording, but this was just...meh...disappointing so far.


Or maybe I am to sleepy to be able to hear.

[Brian]

Symphony no. 9

Q

Hey, Que, I've had my eye on this disc for quite a while, after hearing Spering/Das Neue Orchester's fabulous Kalliwoda album. What did you think of it?

[Kullervo]

Jean Cras - Âmes d'Enfants (Antonioli/Luxembourg PO)

Listening on computer speakers. 

[Lilas Pastia]

The Beethoven Academy - 1824 under Spering is quite wonderful. The Drei Hymnen are the Kyrie, Credo and Agnus Dei of the Missa Solemnis. Church authorities refused to allow performances of a Mass (or Mass parts)  in a secular context - the concert hall. So Beethoven renamed them "3 Hymns". I was very impressed by the beauty of sound achieved by the players and the engineers. Wonderfully transparent, immediate and solid sound. I wouldn't say the symphony ranks with the best, but it's a very, very good performance (especially in the finale). The Overture is played with urgency and punch, as well as lots of colours from the winds and brass. Very different from the WP Schmidt-Isserstedt one I have.

Thanks for the pointer, Milos. I haven't heard any of Klemperer's Mozart . Right now I have the Andromeda set (ex-Sony) by Walter and the NYP / Columbia symphony (mono performances from 1953 - 1956). THAT 25th is my favourite.

[Dundonnell]

Jean Cras - Âmes d'Enfants (Antonioli/Luxembourg PO)

Listening on computer speakers. 

Lovely piece

[Kullervo]

Lovely piece

I think it's telling that it remains affecting even when played on bad audio equipment.

[Brian]

Inspired by Que, I am going to be shooting from the HIP with this afternoon's playlist!

SCHUBERT | Symphony No 4
Anima Eterna, Jos van Immerseel

KALLIWODA | Overture No. 16
Das Neue Orchester, Christoph Spering

BEETHOVEN | Piano Concerto - not sure which yet (either 3, 4, 5, or 6)
Cristofori, Arthur Schoonderwoerd

BEETHOVEN | Symphony No 4
Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood

This evening I may turn to Rene Jacobs and the Freiburg Baroque for a Mozartian nightcap (the "Prague" Symphony).