What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[karlhenning]

I am, and always shall remain.  A leopard does not shed its spots. 

I knew we should return before long to the Shed . . . .

[Brahmsian]

Thanks for the warning.

Morning! 

Morning, George. 

[Sergeant Rock]

Speaking of, have any of you heard Beethoven's 6th conducted by Pletnev?     The opening movement is so blindingly fast.  Nothing 'Pastoral' about it. 

I haven't heard it. All the negative reviews of his cycle convinced me not to bother.

Sarge

[Keemun]

Tchaikovsky
Violin Concerto
Leonid Kogan, violin
Constantin Silvestri
Orchestre de la Société du Conservatoire Paris

[Sergeant Rock]

Speaking of, have any of you heard Beethoven's 6th conducted by Pletnev?     The opening movement is so blindingly fast.  Nothing 'Pastoral' about it. 

I just listened to the first minute at JPC.  Well, that's different    Part of if sounds like someone playing a 33rpm record at 45rpm. You know, I could enjoy this if the horns weren't so recessed; they make no impression. I just compared it to Norrington/LCP; those natural horns are just so good for Norrington (he's slower than Pletnev but not by much). In the third movement too Pletnev's horns have no real presence. I must have horns.

Sarge

[DavidRoss]

She recorded Beethoven with Previn? I'm only familiar with the Masur and Karajan recordings. Or do you mean her Tchaikovsky with Previn?...which, even for me, is excessive (it's the only Mutter recording I actively hate). The coupled Korngold withstands the schmaltz attack somewhat better.

Please forgive my error.  It was the Masur recording I had in mind, erroneously thinking only a hubby/lover could support such indulgence (as with Barenboim and DuPre's dreadful Elgar VCC!).  I do like their Korngold, however, but agree that the Tchaikovsky on the same disc brings to mind André Rieu....    Hmmm...haven't heard it in awhile, think I'll give it a spin to see if that impression still holds!

Now playing:

[Harry]

Jean Fery Rebel
"Tombeau".
The complete trio sonatas. (1712.
Ensemble Rebel.

CD 41 from the Harmonia Mundi box.

This  is a amazing disc.

[jlaurson]

Please forgive my error.  It was the Masur recording I had in mind, erroneously thinking only a hubby/lover could support such indulgence (as with Barenboim and DuPre's dreadful Elgar VCC!).  I do like their Korngold, however, but agree that the Tchaikovsky on the same disc brings to mind André Rieu....    Hmmm...haven't heard it in awhile, think I'll give it a spin to see if that impression still holds!

Now playing:

The Korngold is highly arguable, too. I see why one might like it, if the listener enjoys how it's completely played up... like a send-up of a star wars score. I *always* feel like Chewbakka when I listen to that interpretation. And I absolutely hate it, because I think it's ridiculous. Compared to such tasteful and 'classical' interpretations as Shaham (!!!) and Znaider. Heifetz underplays almost too much, as if he's afraid of getting dirtied by the Hollywood stain.

The Tchaik., we agree, is ridiculous. But there are only two pre-20th century discs of ASMutter that I *truly* enjoy, anyway... one of them being the Masur/NYP Brahms VC. Un.Be.Lievable. On paper the worst-of-the-worst; Indulgent *and* boring... and in fact searing, white-hot, as if all the planets had re-aligned for that moment.


Review: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2006/06/dip-your-ears-no-63_19.html

Thread Duty -- Bruce, listen up!:


Elliot Carter * Udo Zimmermann

Cello Concerto (2001) 21:30

Lieder von einer Insel« [2009] 17:39
Concerto per Violoncello ed Orchestra

1 Ich hab im Traum geweinet 3:04
2 Reflexion (Come una Cadenza) 2:22
3 Versöhnung (quatuor canones et cantus firmus) 6:59
4 Aufbruch 2:46
5 Erinnerung 2:29

Jan Vogler, violoncello
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Kristjan Järvi, conductor
Neos SACD

Ingenious. I was at the world premiere of the Zimmermann (http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2009/05/ionarts-at-large-american-night-at.html - the concert where this disc was recorded at) and liked it then, love it still.

[Franco]

Salvatore Sciarrino: Quaderno di strada

After only hearing the music of Salvatore Sciarrino this year, he has become one of my favorite contemporary composers.  This work is fascinating in how the voice blends with the instruments creating a remarkable texture.  Very exciting work.

[bhodges]

Thread Duty -- Bruce, listen up!:

Thanks, Jens!  That disc looks fantastic (although at only 39 minutes...well, you know, just saying...).  But never mind; I will probably get it anyway. 

Salvatore Sciarrino: Quaderno di strada

After only hearing the music of Salvatore Sciarrino this year, he has become one of my favorite contemporary composers.  This work is fascinating in how the voice blends with the instruments creating a remarkable texture.  Very exciting work.

He's one of my favorites, too.  I haven't heard this--actually haven't heard any of his more large-scale pieces, except for his opera, Macbeth.  And that isn't so large; IIRC, he uses a chamber ensemble. 

Here is a review I did--wow, 8 years ago--of one of the most intriguing concerts I've ever heard, of some of Sciarrino's chamber music.  He really has quite an interesting mind.

--Bruce

[jlaurson]

Thanks, Jens!  That disc looks fantastic (although at only 39 minutes...well, you know, just saying...).  But never mind; I will probably get it anyway. 
--Bruce

The press flyer says--and I couldn't agree more!!!: "We deemed it appropriate not to dilute the impact of these two works by adding any filler, just to get to a greater play time for this SACD."
Bravo!

[DavidRoss]

The Korngold is highly arguable, too. I see why one might like it, if the listener enjoys how it's completely played up... like a send-up of a star wars score. I *always* feel like Chewbakka when I listen to that interpretation. And I absolutely hate it, because I think it's ridiculous. Compared to such tasteful and 'classical' interpretations as Shaham (!!!) and Znaider. Heifetz underplays almost too much, as if he's afraid of getting dirtied by the Hollywood stain.

The Tchaik., we agree, is ridiculous. But there are only two pre-20th century discs of ASMutter that I *truly* enjoy, anyway... one of them being the Masur/NYP Brahms VC. Un.Be.Lievable. On paper the worst-of-the-worst; Indulgent *and* boring... and in fact searing, white-hot, as if all the planets had re-aligned for that moment.

Funny...within a couple of minutes after I began spinning the Mutter/Previn Tchaikovsky, a John Williams movie soundtrack came to mind!  Shaham is my gold standard for the Korngold, but I like Mutter's alternate view--more grand and sweeping than schmaltzy in my view, with passages of dazzling virtuosity...her subtleties of tone and attack in the finale absolutely command my attention.

As for the Brahms, it is a fine recording as well...but still Shaham takes the prize in my book, and many others are in the running.
Another of her recordings that surprised me is the Sibelius, arguably as good as any in the catalog and better than most.  [Insert dodging thorns and arrows emoticon] 

Curious re. the other pre-20th C. Mutter you like.  The one that really surprised me (favorably) is her Vivaldi Four Seasons, with the Trondheim Soloists, which she also conducts, as with the later Mozart recording.

[bhodges]

The press flyer says--and I couldn't agree more!!!: "We deemed it appropriate not to dilute the impact of these two works by adding any filler, just to get to a greater play time for this SACD."
Bravo!

Well, that's interesting...perhaps the first time I've actually seen that in print! 

--Bruce

[Bogey]

  Shaham is my gold standard for the Korngold,

[jlaurson]

As for the Brahms, it is a fine recording as well...but still Shaham takes the prize in my book, and many others are in the running.
Another of her recordings that surprised me is the Sibelius, arguably as good as any in the catalog and better than most.  [Insert dodging thorns and arrows emoticon] 

Curious re. the other pre-20th C. Mutter you like.  The one that really surprised me (favorably) is her Vivaldi Four Seasons, with the Trondheim Soloists, which she also conducts, as with the later Mozart recording.

I was going to leave myself some wiggle room, saying there was another 20th Ct. piece.
I would probably pick the new Mozart. http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2005/12/would-you-like-some-mozart-with-your.html
Also: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2006/11/mutter-in-mozart.html
But I can't stand the Trondheim Vivaldi. http://www.weta.org/fmblog/?p=122

How her interpretation of the Mozart concertos actually sounds? Well, it's very... personal. This Mozart has 'Ego' written all over it. She arrives upon the scene of concerto no. 2 (K211) like a wild cat thrown into from above, claws ready. And this kitten has attitude, and that is established in almost every note. There are little touches, flourishes, and aggressive new lines that have "Mutter" written all over them. There are even times where she out-nadia-salerno-sonnenbergs Nadia Salerno-Sonnenberg, although I grant Mutter more judiciously chosen (and constant) tempi.

Absolutely agree about Sibelius, but that's well into the 20th Ct., of course. Or pirate copies of the Prokofiev Concertos... unbelievable. Her Berg, her Rihm... all stupendous. (Come to think of it, Korngold is 20th Ct., too, but that one *really* doesn't feel like 20th Ct. :-) )

[Bogey]

[Père Malfait]

Another CD that grows on me, so well sung and such unknown repertoire. I can safely recommend this, its unable to disappoint.

This *is* a fascinating recording. I'll have to hunt it down and give it a spin this afternoon.

[karlhenning]

Again! The third movement in particular is wonderful.

Britten
Concerto for Violin, Viola & Orchestra (1932)
Benjamin Schmid, vn
Daniel Raiskin, va
Berlin Symphony
Lior Shambadal

Britten, Bruch, Benjamin – Double Concertos

[The new erato]

Carl Vine: Symphonies 4.2 and 5. This is fun and rewarding music!

[otare]

Earlier today:



The main work for me on this CD was the Passacaglia, which really is a major work. Great music.

Now my wife is here, and so I must play some more traditional things, so :



The Rhenish Symphony (3rd) with Gardiner.