What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD12 from this set for a first listen ...

[listener]

I had never heard of these and am now curious to hear them. They seem to have been composed at the height of WWII -- how odd that Strauss would set about reworking music of the French baroque!

They're very much in the spirit of his re-working of Lully in the music for Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme.
Tonight   VIERNE Triptique  op. 58  (Matines, Communion, Stèle pour un enfant defunt)
  24 Pieces in Free Style, op. 31
Colin Walsh,  organ of Lincoln Cathedral   (Willis, Harrison  & Harrison) 3 - 32-ft. stops in the pedal.

[Sid]

Benjamin Lees: String Quartet No. 5.  These are excellent "contemporary" neo-Classical string quartets, and the recording here as an ideal blend of presence and ambiance.

I bought that recording, & it's the only music I have heard from Lees. Not a bad set of SQ's, even though the idiom is not too advanced (but nothing wrong with that). I also especially like the 5th quartet, the trill like bird song bit in one of the movements is quite memorable, and reminds me a bit of Messiaen.

Still listening to that Zemlinsky set:

- 6 Songs for mezzo-soprano & orchestra, Op. 13 (text by Maeterlinck) (with Violeta Urmana, mezzo)
- Symphonic Songs, for baritone & orchestra, Op. 20 (texts from African-American poets, 1929) (with Michael Volle, baritone)
Cologne Phil./Conlon (both above)
EMI

These two works show the diversity of Zemlinsky's style(s), and the skill with which he could combine a solo voice with the full gamut of sounds from an orchestra. The 6 Songs for mezzo soprano & orchestra remind me of Mahler and his lieder for this voice colour. Some very lush writing for the orchestra, some of which also brings to mind Ravel or Debussy (somewhat lighter in the orchestral scoring than Mahler, perhaps?). & the Symphonic Songs for baritone and orchestra is also an interesting work. These are settings, translated into German, of poems by African-American poets. Capturing the spirit of the heady 1920's, these songs are full of percussive and even jazzy rhythms. I plan to give this excellent set some more in-depth listening over the holidays. I'm glad I snapped it up after I saw this copy in a classical music store on Sunday, it's now out of print, and will probably be harder to get...

[Scarpia]

Weinberg: String Quartet No. 13.

I'm starting to become somewhat disenchanted with the Danel's Weinberg cycle.  The sound is dry and lacks presence, which is unhelpful in this music.  And the Danel Quartet's tone itself seems infelicitous.

I'm finding Weinberg's later quartets infelicitous compared with the earlier ones, not sure the Danel Quartet has anything to do with it.

[Mirror Image]

Glad I am not the only one who loves Spring Fire!

Almost 20 years ago, Richard Capman at KUSC had a Friday afternoon program called TGIF. It is two hours featuring the letter F. One program was my suggestion, which is FIRE. And the first work I suggested (that is NOT The Firebird) was the BAX. But he did not play the one I suggested, thought TGI Fire was programed.

I think it's one of Bax's best works outside of the symphonies. I have an interesting radio request story as well. A few years ago, I called my local classical station, and asked them if they could play some Bartok and the guy I was talking to who is one of the hosts asked me "Who is Bartok?" I was appalled, so I hung up the phone and never listened to the station again.

Interestingly enough the local NPR station played Bantock's Celtic Symphony tonight and I was quite impressed with this selection. Finally somebody is thinking outside of the box a little!

Now listening:




Listening to Symphony No. 1 right now, which will be followed by the 6th.

[Coopmv]

Now playing this CD from my Bach collection ...

[Daverz]

I'm finding Weinberg's later quartets infelicitous compared with the earlier ones, not sure the Danel Quartet has anything to do with it.

It's not just this particular one I have a problem with, this is just an example.  Oh, well, there's not going to be another survey of Weinberg's Quartets anytime soon.

[mc ukrneal]

With a bit of Raff controversy on the Purchases thread (and after listening to #3 and #4 yesterday), I pulled out the only other Raff symphony I have: #7 on the CPO label. I don't remember what I thought of this before (and cannot remember listening to it, though I probably did). Harry liked the CPO recordings. Jens did not. 

Well, I can happily report that this one is outstanding in every way. The music is wonderful and the opening of the work is simply outstanding. Here is a full blooded account of the music! And the lyricism of some of the other parts is not lost. Oh how I am enjoying this. I found this review along the way (and a Raff site - so may be interesting to others as well - no idea who the reviewer is): http://www.raff.org/records/reviews/symphony/12.htm. I should mention that the sound is excellent and orchestra playing crisp and fine as well. No complaints whatsoever. I cannot compare to the Tudor and cannot comment on the other releases in the CPO series, but this seems to me very nicely done. This may make a good test disc to see whether you like the music or not. In any case, enjoying it immensely...

[pi2000]

Francesco Tristano Schlimé-piano
Ravel Concerto in G

[Harry]

With a bit of Raff controversy on the Purchases thread (and after listening to #3 and #4 yesterday), I pulled out the only other Raff symphony I have: #7 on the CPO label. I don't remember what I thought of this before (and cannot remember listening to it, though I probably did). Harry liked the CPO recordings. Jens did not. 

Well, I can happily report that this one is outstanding in every way. The music is wonderful and the opening of the work is simply outstanding. Here is a full blooded account of the music! And the lyricism of some of the other parts is not lost. Oh how I am enjoying this. I found this review along the way (and a Raff site - so may be interesting to others as well - no idea who the reviewer is): http://www.raff.org/records/reviews/symphony/12.htm. I should mention that the sound is excellent and orchestra playing crisp and fine as well. No complaints whatsoever. I cannot compare to the Tudor and cannot comment on the other releases in the CPO series, but this seems to me very nicely done. This may make a good test disc to see whether you like the music or not. In any case, enjoying it immensely...

Thank you for this Neal. I can report that the Tudor recording is different, but the CPO has its own merits, in both cases excellent performances.  Albert is a very experienced conductor and a man I hugely respect, as I do the Philharmonia Hungarica, a well trained orchestra with a outstanding history. The question when they are going to release the rest of the Symphonies, which are already recorded some time ago.

[Brian]

Probably one of the most moronic things I've seen all year, thanks for the good laugh.

Doesn't Shaq's conducting style remind you of Frankenstein's monster?

[Harry]

The second CD of this outstanding set.

[Daverz]

The second CD of this outstanding set.

We seem to be staking out our own personal typefaces here.  I call dibs on italic, underlined, bold.

[Brian]

We seem to be staking out our own personal typefaces here.  I call dibs on italic, underlined, bold.

I call extremely obnoxious comic sans!

[Brian]

Just kidding of course.

JULES MASSENET | Scenes alsaciennes
Orchestre du Conservatoire, Paris
Albert Wolff

[Sergeant Rock]

Beethoven String Quartet in E minor Op.59/2, Végh Quartet




Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

When I "cracked" the Bruckner Seventh and came to really love it, the key to my success was listening to the slow movement by itself first...

I solved my Bruckner problem in a similar manner but, being a considerably less profound a person than you, it was the Scherzos I keyed in on, particularly those of the 4th, 7th and 8th. Critical consensus says Bruckner was incapable of writing a bad Scherzo and I believe that is true.

Sarge

[jlaurson]

Clang-a-dang-Thursday


Muzio Clementi (1752-1832)
Keyboard Sonatas op.7/3, 8/1, 25/5, 34/2
Laure Colladant (Molitor Hammerklavier)
Mandala

A production more quaint than professional (reg. font, print, notes et al.), but with fine playing and some exemplary music.

[Antoine Marchand]

Just saw this and thought I'd give it another shot.  Ouch.  "Coldly calculated" is right.  Rhythmically dead and much too thought out--lacks life, charm, and spontaneity.  And the sound of her piano is ugly, tinny.  Played Goode to clear my palate and then Kovacevich's sensual recording.

So apparently  you don't like Annie, Dave? Not problem at all: tastes are like colors... This morning I am listening to the first disc of the cycle and I would say exactly the opposite: rhythmically compelling (f.i., the Scherzo of the sonata N°12); a bit clinical, but overall very intelligent approach; nice piano and sound quality (although a very slight hiss is audible). Specially I like some sense of mad genius at work that I feel from her performances, like sometimes occurs with the best Gould.     

Anyway, I think we have some similar tastes in Beethoven at some degree, with liking for unpretentious performances (avoiding eccentricities, although I know Annie is not probably the best example) . IIRC you like Brüggen (symphonies) and these days I have known that you also like the Alexander Quartet. Coincidently, I ordered one week ago the complete cycle of Beethoven sonatas by Goode (it's crazy, I am waiting for two new complete cycles, being Pommier the other one). 

[Antoine Marchand]

Clang-a-dang-Thursday


Muzio Clementi (1752-1832)
Keyboard Sonatas op.7/3, 8/1, 25/5, 34/2
Laure Colladant (Molitor Hammerklavier)
Mandala
A production more quaint than professional (reg. font, print, notes et al.), but with fine playing and some exemplary music.

One of the best discs that I have purchased this year. Great interpretations, substantial and beautiful music and -sorry, Jens- incredibly charming instrument. It's offered for almost nothing at JPC.