What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[listener]

César FRANCK  Fantaisie in C,  Prélude, Fugue et Variation,    Grande Pièce symphonique
André Marchal,    Barker-Merklin-Gonzalez organ at Saint-Eustache, Paris
PAËR   Le Maître de Chapelle
Mady Mesplé, Isabelle Garcisanz, Michel Sénéchal, Pierre Pégaud...
Chorale Stéhan Caillat, ORTF Chambre Orch.,     Jean Paul Kreder, cond.
LLOYD WEBBER Starlight Express     - London original cast recording
a reminder that the cast performing on roller skates was more memorable than the music.

[Mirror Image]

Now:





Listening to Piano Concerto right now, which is a very turbulent, troubled work, but not without moments of intense lyricism.

[Sid]

...Listening to Piano Concerto right now, which is a very turbulent, troubled work, but not without moments of intense lyricism.

Yes, that's also one of my favourite piano concertos. Love the way he uses the rhythms & colours of Balinese gamelan, both in the piano part and also when the pianist has a dialogue with a solo cellist. I sent this work to a friend overseas (the Sculthorpe disc on ABC Classics which was part of the Melbourne Symphony's 100th anniversary series) & she liked this work the most, thought it reminded her of a few film scores...

[Mirror Image]

Yes, that's also one of my favourite piano concertos. Love the way he uses the rhythms & colours of Balinese gamelan, both in the piano part and also when the pianist has a dialogue with a solo cellist. I sent this work to a friend overseas (the Sculthorpe disc on ABC Classics which was part of the Melbourne Symphony's 100th anniversary series) & she liked this work the most, thought it reminded her of a few film scores...

Yes, its a wonderful work and could very well stand against some of the more well-known piano concertos of the 20th Century. All it takes is somebody willing to take a chance and get out of their comfort zone to listen to it.

[Lethevich]

Bax - Irish Landscape; Overture: Work in progress
> I like this overture.

I'm glad you liked the Bax! I haven't heard that recording but it's on my to-acquire list.

[Sid]

I'm not a huge fan of Bax. I find his music to be a bit like a watered-down version of Debussy's La Mer. Has anyone else around here had the same experience with his music? I wouldn't dream of saying this on the Bax thread, it's a bit too much a negative (& possibly controversial?) opinion to have around here...

[Henk]

Please give your comments on this one, David. I have an eye on it.

[Que]

I'm continuing with disc 5 - what a great set! 



Q

[Harry]

I'm continuing with disc 5 - what a great set! 



Q

Absolutely, its my third time over now playing the complete set, and I cannot get enough of it. A jewel in the crown of Hyperion.

[Lethevich]

I really dig these colourful and lively pieces.

[mc ukrneal]

Tchaikovsky. Sleeping Beauty. Rozhdestvensky and the BBC on BBC Legends. This is a performance to treasure. It is not a perfromance to dance to. It was a concert performance, so if you are looking for a performance more in line with the tempos of the ballet, you will need to look elsewhere. But if you are looking for great music making, then this is pretty fantastic. The pure joy of the music shines through the less than perfect sound (but still fine, despite some shrill moments, the live audience and other relatively minor issues).

It is a magical performace. I love the drive and drama. I enjoy it more and more after every listening...

[Brian]

I'd be interested in your comments as well, Dave - when I first played the disc, there seemed to be some moments of real magic, but also a lack of contrast which suggested to me that maybe it's not to be heard in one sitting...

[Harry]

I was surprised by the quality of these compositions. Fabulous composed pieces, that kept me spellbound for 77 minutes, Well performed and recorded.

[Harry]

Excellently played, fine music, very good recording, the English Mendelssohn, with as much fire, and a ability to shape fine melodies.

[karlhenning]

#2
Perhaps my favorite of the 5.  I really love relative simplicity of the opening few measures, and the piece growing from there.  The cadenza is something to behold as well.

Yes, and generally I am crazy about that Béroff/Masur set. I've got it loaded onto my Sansa Fuze . . . .

[George]

Yes, and generally I am crazy about that Béroff/Masur set. I've got it loaded onto my Sansa Fuze . . . .

It's a damn fine set and I thank you for recommending it to me some time ago.

[Harry]

A magnificent work, absolutely marvelous. A fantastic performance and recording. Be warned, only 31 minutes of music on it, but worth every penny I paid for it.

[Brian]

CARLOS KLEIBER CONDUCTS JOHANN STRAUSS
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
New Year's 1989

Boy, the Vienna Philharmonic's singing in the "Bauern Polka" is really dire. 

[SonicMan46]

Absolutely, its my third time over now playing the complete set, and I cannot get enough of it. A jewel in the crown of Hyperion.

Harry - I'm getting behind - have listened to my set just twice -     

[Antoine Marchand]

One of my preferred discs of CPE Bach:



Les Amis de Philippe:

Manfredo Zimmermann, flute
Manfredo Kraemer, violin
Monica Schwamberger, violoncello
Ludger Rémy, harpsichord

Stylish, dramatic or tender when is required; it's difficult to imagine better renditions than these.

These are true friends!