What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[karlhenning]

"Sanitized" is too much of a simplification (incidentally).

This needs investigation, but my working hypothesis is this:

Long before Shostakovich's re-write of the opera (a thorough overhaul which he officially titled Katerina Izmailova), before Pravda's fatwa, the Moscow production (IIRC) of the original Ledi Makbet went by the name Katerina Izmailova.  I believe the suite, even under the title Katerina Izmailova, consists of the entr'actes from the original opera.  One of my questions is whether those original entr'actes were retained in the revision.

[karlhenning]

First-Listen Fridays!

Rózsa
Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Cello & Orchestra, Opus 29 (1958)
Anastasia Khitruk, vn
Andrey Tchekmazov, vc
Russian Phil
Yablonsky

Rózsa – Violin Concerto/ Sinfonia Concertante

[karlhenning]

First-Listen Fridays!

Rózsa
Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Cello & Orchestra, Opus 29 (1958)
Anastasia Khitruk, vn
Andrey Tchekmazov, vc
Russian Phil
Yablonsky

Rózsa – Violin Concerto/ Sinfonia Concertante

This was officially the first large-ensemble work by Rózsa, not written for a film, I've ever heard.  But from his chamber music, my expectations were high, and were met very tidily.  Good composition, large span, exciting writing for the soloists.

[pi2000]

E.Grieg Sonata for violin and piano nr.3
Alexandru Tomescu-violin
Horia Mihail-piano

from this new CD

[Franco]

Prokofiev String Quartet #1
Britten String Quartet

So far, it is not sending me into paroxysms of glee - but it is not bad either.

[listener]

ZEMLINSKY   Die Seejungfrau    Psalm XIII  op. 24
Berlin Radio Symphony O.,        Ernst Senff Chamber Choir (Psalm)
Chailly, cond.
.... for those who like Rimsky-K's Sheherezade, more in a similar style without all the exotic solos.
The Psalm's harmonic language is much like that of Schönberg's Friede auf Erde, tonal but with no fear of lingering on passing tones.
BRAHMS:  Variations on an Original Theme, on a Hungarian Song   opp.21 nos. 1&2
    Chaconne (after Bach) in d for left hand       4 other studies after Chopin, Weber and Bach
Idil Biret, piano

[karlhenning]

First-Listen Fridays!

Ginastera
String Quartet № 2, Opus 26 (1958/68)
Ensō Quartet

Ginastera – Complete String Quartets

[Papy Oli]

good evening all 

[Conor71]

Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 1 In D Minor, BWV 1052
Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 2 In E Major, BWV 1053
Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 3 In D Major, BWV 1054

First listen to this recently arrived Disc 0:).

[bhodges]

Janáček: Suites from The Cunning Little Vixen, Fate and From the House of the Dead  (Jílek/Czech PO) - Wonderful disc, now out of print, I believe, with a Janáček conductor new to me, František Jílek.  If this is representative of his work, I've been missing out on a lot of great Janáček.  Doing a little research, don't think he conducted much other than Czech music, but his recordings seem to garner high praise.

--Bruce

[Brahmsian]

First-Listen Fridays!

Ginastera
String Quartet № 2, Opus 26 (1958/68)
Ensō Quartet

Ginastera – Complete String Quartets

Love those first two quartets, Karl! 

[karlhenning]

First-Listen Fridays!

Ginastera
String Quartet № 2, Opus 26 (1958/68)
Ensō Quartet

Ginastera – Complete String Quartets

Substantial omaggio a Bartók, particularly in the closing Furioso.  Not that one minds . . . it is a toothsome idiom.

[karlhenning]

Love those first two quartets, Karl! 

Ah, yes, Ray . . . I am recalling that there was some trouble with the Third! ; )

I look forward to giving that a test drive later.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



An outstanding recording. This is one of the greatest performances I've heard of Pohjola's Daughter. Segerstam and the Helsinki Philharmonic are on fire!

[karlhenning]

First-Listen Fridays (this recording)!

Berg
Violin Concerto, To the memory of an angel (1935)
Louis Krasner, vn
BBC Symphony
Webern

[Luke]

Ah! That recording (the only one I tend to listen to, in fact) - what do you make of it, Karl? Intense, I think, hardly begins to cover it, but that's just IMO

Separately - Ludus Tonalis is just a fabulous piece, and heartbreakingly beautiful at times - my favourite Hindemith, maybe (maybe, though, that is because I know it more intimately than any other HIndemith piece). It's a truly rewarding gem to play, as well.

[not edward]

Hearing Tippett's 1st symphony for the first time: Colin Davis' recording with the LSO. First impressions are of a strong, direct work, though not as memorable as the 2nd. (I'll be listening to that next, probably.)

I also listened to the Solti recording of the 4th. This seemed a superficial performance, obsessed with showing off the virtuosic playing of the CSO. The composer's own recording on NMC impressed me much more.

I'm leaving the 3rd for last: I've heard so many bad things about the work that I've been shying away from it.

[Mirror Image]

Now:





This is a great recording of Sibelius' Violin Concerto. I still think Viktoria Mullova is underrated.

[Mirror Image]

Now:





Listening to Symphony No. 4 and it's a glorious performance. Beautifully realized by Segerstam and performed by the Helsinki Philharmonic.

[Harry]

Now:





This is a great recording of Sibelius' Violin Concerto. I still think Viktoria Mullova is underrated.

This is the only CD I have from her, and I think its indeed the best she ever made.