What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Scarpia]

Wondering how this compares to another recording of the concertos in which Ashkenazy was both soloist and conductor, with the Cleveland Orchestra.  It includes the Choral Fantasy; does this set?

I find Ashkenazy a half-baked conductor even when he isn't trying to play the piano at the same time.  Solti can't be topped in this.  (BTW, no Choral Fantasia in this set.)

[listener]

BIZET L'Arlésienne   Incidental Music
               Michel Plasson, Orchestre du Capitôle de Toulouse     with chorus   Orfeon Donostiarra
    uses the "original 1872 manuscript", although this seems to be an expanded version as the original instrumentation was for 26 players.
GODOWSKY    Piano music played by Ran de Waal
      The "big pieces" are the Passacaglia (on the opening of Schubert's 'Unfinished Symphony'), Aufforderung zum Tanz after Weber, and Kunsterleben after Jn. Strauss
Well played, but the piano seems to require a heavy touch in climaxes.   The closing Alt Wien was a pleasant relief after the thunderous ending of Kunstlerleben.

[Harry]

A very pleasant disc to play in the morning.

[Harry]

CD IV from this set. What one could say about this collection of Cello Sonatas is, well played and recorded, but a little dull. Tempi are constantly to slow, and presses the liveliness out of it all.

[Harry]

Adolphe Adam. ( with additions by Frederic Burgmuller.)
Giselle.
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Richard Bonynge.

The 35 disc box arrived, and this is the first CD. Well recorded and played. This is really going to be fantastic.

[mc ukrneal]

Adolphe Adam. ( with additions by Frederic Burgmuller.)
Giselle.
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Richard Bonynge.

The 35 disc box arrived, and this is the first CD. Well recorded and played. This is really going to be fantastic.

That is a good version of Giselle too. Hope you enjoy the others as much.

I'm listening to a disc that I just kept skipping over. It's quite enjoyable, with very good playing.

[jlaurson]

D.Scarlatti
17 happy freaks
Zhu Xiao-Mei
IMV  019

Wow. wow. wow! What Scarlatti this is! Bolder than her supra-musical
but understated Bach and Haydn... but not as bold and spiky as Pletnev.
Still, it manages just the same amount of rhythmic verve that makes
Pletnev (in my ears) so very special. Hurray, I have a new second-favorite
Scarlatti disc.

[Florestan]

Rameau

Overture to "Zais"*

Marc Minkowski / Les Musiciens du Louvre

The slow opening hints to Beethoven. Absolutely gorgeous!

* Pastorale heroique, no less!

[Opus106]

Rameau hinting to Beethoven!

Incidentally, check out the size of this period ensemble (the same one, if you're wondering) playing Baroque music (of the same composer's no less)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKvd4tMkFHc

[Florestan]

Rameau hinting to Beethoven!

Shocking, eh? Check it for yourself, from start till aproximmately 2:30!

Incidentally, check out the size of this period ensemble (the same one, if you're wondering) playing Baroque music (of the same composer's no less)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKvd4tMkFHc

Do you find it oversized? I think that for an 18-th Century French royal opera house it's just about the right size.

[Opus106]

Shocking, eh? Check it for yourself, from start till aproximmately 2:30!

If I'd not been watching the initial minute or two, with no harpsichord and the occasional hint of melody, I would have guessed a "modern" composer, instead. Quite an eye-opener this piece. Thanks. As for Beethoven, I think I might have heard a bit of it in the winds, but that's about it.

And it's also from the same concert I posted. OedipusColoneus is one amazing channel for quality HIP Baroque music.

Do you find it oversized? I think that for an 18-th Century French royal opera house it's just about the right size.

Yes, indeed. The three rows of cellos seem odd for some reason. I guess I should be watching more music from now.

[Florestan]

And it's also from the same concert I posted. OedipusColoneus is one amazing channel for quality HIP Baroque music.

Yes, excellent channel.

[Opus106]

Totally New Tuesday

Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63
London Symphony Orchestra|Osmo Vänskä

Recorded Live|10 Feb 2010
Royal Festival Hall, London

[Harry]

Victorian Concert Overtures.

George Macfarren. Chevy Chase.
Hugo Pierson. Romeo and Juliet.
Arthur Sullivan. Macbeth.
Frederick Corder. Prospero.
Edward Elgar. Froissart.
Hubert Parry. Overture to a unwritten tragedy.
Alexander Mackenzie. A nautical Overture.

English Northern Philharmonia, David Lloyd Jones.
Recorded 1991.

This disc is a lot of fun! Well recorded by Tony Faulkner, and excellently performed by the ENP. Some of them unknown works for me, so that was quite a discovery. A must in every collection.

[Wanderer]

[Wanderer]

I have all 4 discs in this simply wonderful series, but the two volumes you list are my favorites, having recently played through the whole series a couple of times.

They're indeed splendid.

[Harry]

Mozart.
Complete Symphonies, CD 10.
No 38 in D major & No. 39 in E flat major.

It goes from strength to strength. Perfectly played, and there is no shame in that, neither does it mean that it must by necessity sound routine, which it doesn't. There are people that think it cannot be possible that a authentic orchestra has ever sounded like this. Rough and ready is the norm for perfect, but not the sound The English consort is producing. Some even say that the symphonies are not distinguishable from each other because of this sameness. All humbug I tell you! I think Mozart would have danced from pure joy, if he would hear these performances. That said, I like Hogwood too, have this set on loan, and will buy it, but not before the price goes down considerably.  Pinnock however is still my favourite because its so perfect. 

[Lethevich]

This could be the first time I've gotten around to hearing Alwyn, not sure. The 5th symphony was an interesting thing - reminds me a little of Berkeley's 3rd in the "tough cookie", yet quite accessable kind of way. I found it less compelling than that piece, though.

yes would be interested too - have been on a Leighton run lately and he interests me but dont know exactly why - tonal with bite interests me too but what is dirgey

Just the slightly gloomy opening - I had expected something a little different from English string music. The rest of the CD continued that impression. There is a lot of shades of the tonality of English composers of the previous generation or two, but there is more of a modern sensibility to the music as well. There are hints towards the "busy stilness" of several Baltic composers - not minimal, but with a slightly cool feel. I didn't follow up with my impressions immediately because frankly, beyond those, I have none. I feel Leighton's music will take a while to absorb.

[Henk]

[offbeat]

This could be the first time I've gotten around to hearing Alwyn, not sure. The 5th symphony was an interesting thing - reminds me a little of Berkeley's 3rd in the "tough cookie", yet quite accessable kind of way. I found it less compelling than that piece, though.
Just the slightly gloomy opening - I had expected something a little different from English string music. The rest of the CD continued that impression. There is a lot of shades of the tonality of English composers of the previous generation or two, but there is more of a modern sensibility to the music as well. There are hints towards the "busy stilness" of several Baltic composers - not minimal, but with a slightly cool feel. I didn't follow up with my impressions immediately because frankly, beyond those, I have none. I feel Leighton's music will take a while to absorb.

tks Lethe thats very interesting and will have to have my curiosity satisfied and order it - im still trying to get to grips with his Symphony 3 which has some great bits in it but not yet fully understand it