What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Dancing Divertimentian]

OOP?

EDIT - Nope. Pretty cheap over at amazon.

Purchased today?

[George]

Purchased today?

Nope, but it's wishlisted. 

Got something else today. (see purchases thread) 

[Conor71]

A spot of Opera listening - First listen to the Strauss which I just purchased yesterday .

[Que]

Spanish Renaissance vihuela music by Luys Milán (c.1500-1561).

Good morning. 

Q

[Que]

More fortepiano ...
Now playing CD1 from this set for a first listen ...

That set is even better than his Mozart set IMO!

Q

[listener]

RHEINBERGER   Piano Concerto in A-flat  op. 94
LITOLFF Concerto Symphonique no 3 op. 45  (National Hollandais)
Michael Ponti, piano      Berlin Symphony O.      Volker Schmidt-Gertenbach, cond.
the LITOLFF no.3 again, with no. 5 in c, op.125
Peter Donohoe, piano     BBC  Scottish Symphony O.
and a disc of Spanish organ music played by Nicholas Jackson at Segovia Cathedral, Spain
CABEZÓN, CABANILLES, AGUILERA DE HEREDIA, and the Batalla famosa by ANON, etc.
love those horizontal trumpet sounds!

[Harry]

Edward German.
Orchestral Works, Volume I.

Richard III, Overture.
Theme and Six Diversions.
The Seasons.

RTE Concert Orchestra, Andrew Penny.
Recorded 1994.

This composer was unknown to me. Not anymore it is. The likes of Elgar but a notch or two better, his orchestral writing is amazing, especially in "The Seasons". The man has a ear for fine melodies, and perfectly crafted harmonies. Cleverly put together in the old English style, this composer is something of a miracle to my ears, and is totally unjustifiably neglected by the musical establishment. What a blessing that we have MP to fill the gap, for many of the works recorded never have been recorded before. And on top of it the orchestra plays marvelously, and Simon Rhodes made a perfect recording with a absolute fine front to back image, and all the detail in between. Grab them while you can, for I know from a very reliable source that MP will in some cases not reprint all what they have in the catalogue. Many of them will reappear on the Naxos label, although there is no saying which titles.

[Henk]

Great set. More lively interpretation compared to Curtis' more sober interpretations.

[AndyD.]

Bartok String Quartet no. 2 (Emerson SQ)

Profoundly inspired by this quartet; I'm copying the score into Finale as a way of studying it. Seems the second movement is especially metallic.

Am very happy to have discovered Bartok .

[Marc]

Trying to relax my rather restless stomach today with one of Wolfie's greatest ....

[Harry]

Alexandre Tansman.
Symphonies, Volume I.

Symphony No. 4 & 5 & 6.

Melbourne Chorale.
Melbourne SO, Oleg Caetani.

I learned about Tansman, when by accident I ordered a CD, thinking it was another composer. But how pleasantly I was surprised to find that this music represented a whole new musical fiesta to me. So when these CD's from Chandos were pleasantly priced, I made the dive and ordered that, what was considerably cheaper as normal. I will probably buy the rest full price, but for now 3 discs is a good start anytime. Between the 4th and the 6th there is a huge difference in mood and composition. Where in the 4th lucidity and complexity at the same time harmonize, the 5th and the 6th is a different kettle of fish altogether. More strident, harsh even, clear and loud statements, which nevertheless find a harmony in itself. Highly satisfying to undergo, and keeps you firmly in focus. Very logical buildup, excellent scoring throughout I could not find weak points in these works. The recording and performance is state of the art.

[Conor71]

I would never have imagined I would enjoy Tchaikovsky's Ballet Music as much as I do when I first started getting into Classical Music - This set is excellent and is one of my better purchases . I just got the Schubert with Britten/Pears earlier this week and this will be a first listen to these works - I dont own/listen to much Lieder so this one should be interesting!.

[George]

[Brahmsian]

Bartok String Quartet no. 2 (Emerson SQ)

Profoundly inspired by this quartet; I'm copying the score into Finale as a way of studying it. Seems the second movement is especially metallic.

Am very happy to have discovered Bartok .

Yes Andy, that 2nd movement of SQ# 2 rocks!

[AndyD.]

Yes Andy, that 2nd movement of SQ# 2 rocks!

It has that whole, pumping root note thing that you hear in a lot of metal. The violence of the Emerson version is awe-inspiring to me. Inspiring in general.

Have Mozart's k563 lined up for today, the Grimiaux. It's one of the only things by Mozart I still really like; I have to cleanse my ear pallette of the Bartok first, before I listen to the Mozart, otherwise I'll never be able to get into the latter.

[Brahmsian]

It has that whole, pumping root note thing that you hear in a lot of metal. The violence of the Emerson version is awe-inspiring to me. Inspiring in general.

Have Mozart's k563 lined up for today, the Grimiaux. It's one of the only things by Mozart I still really like; I have to cleanse my ear pallette of the Bartok first, before I listen to the Mozart, otherwise I'll never be able to get into the latter.

Andy, over the last year or so, Mozart's string quartets (the last 10) have grown on me immensely.  I seem to listen to those string quartets more often now, then I do Haydn's Op.20 and Op.76.

[AndyD.]

Andy, over the last year or so, Mozart's string quartets (the last 10) have grown on me immensely.  I seem to listen to those string quartets more often now, then I do Haydn's Op.20 and Op.76.

Chacun à son goût, mon ami!

[George]

This has been a great set and the first time I truly enjoyed performance on fortepiano ...

Me too, Stuart.

Now playing CD 1.

[CD]

(The sonata for flute, harp and viola)

[Harry]

Alexander Nikolayevich Tcherepnin.
The Symphonies and Piano Concertos.
Volume I.

Symphony No. 1 & 2.
Piano Concerto No. 5.

Singapore SO, Lan Shui.
Noriko Ogawa, Piano.

Again a unknown composer to me, but what a find. This sound world is truly unique. What a fine mix between traditional and modernism. It has to be said the scoring is phenomenal, and perfectly suits to the idiom he is creating. Not a note that I disliked. The recording is truly State of the Art, one of the best BIS ever made. The SSO under Shui ist ein erlebnis, tremedous orchestra, that has this composer under their skin.
Recommended.