What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Scarpia]

Ok, after that Blomstedt stuff, when back to the source on Schubert's Unfinished. 

[asin]B00000E333[/asin]

Karajan, '65.  Oh my god, it is so good.  Everything is the opposite of what I claim to like, the outbursts in the first "sighing" theme are not vehement, but morose and reticent, there are subtle retards everywhere which give the thing a reluctant feel throughout the opening section, no repeat.   But the crescendo that rises through the first part of the development section, slow, heartless, inexorable, relentless, like a psychotic episode in the mind of a schizophrenic, it grinds to its climax.  Not a virtuoso display, but amazing control of sonority.

[Lethevich]

...and again before work. This must be the 10th time I've played this disc since buying it maybe 5 months ago. It's proven to be an essential purchase for me - the piano quartet is an equal to the more famous quintet, the third trio is somewhat obscure but echt-Schumann in its rough edges. The Fantasy Pieces are top-drawer early maturity Schumann (the high opus number is deceptive).

[asin]B00004VXCT[/asin]

[mc ukrneal]

I agree Sara. I know Sid knows RVW's music pretty good, but probably not as well as he thinks he does. The general problem I have with Sid is he mouths off about composers he doesn't like too often without having heard much of their music (I used to be guilty of this). Hearing only five works from a composer doesn't make someone an expert on that composer and reading about them on the Internet certainly doesn't either. For what it's worth though, Sid is entitled to his opinion whether his opinion is formulated on his own or not (how often have I heard the term cow pat music thrown around ), we must accept that people don't like the same things we do. We all can argue about music until the cows come home, but the reality is we still enjoy what we enjoy. From my own experience of talking with Sid, he seems to listen to music based on sound rather than the emotional element of the music, which is fine, but if I don't get any emotional satisfaction from a piece of music, I don't really have a reason to listen to it. I also don't pretend to like something just because it's hip or modern and I'm not saying Sid or anyone else does this, but I'm simply just giving my opinion.

I ended up in a coughing fit this morning when I started reading this post, because I was reminded of a similar post by a certain member who mouthed off about a certain Mahler conducter and a particular member of the Schumann family.

[mc ukrneal]

...and again before work. This must be the 10th time I've played this disc since buying it maybe 5 months ago. It's proven to be an essential purchase for me - the piano quartet is an equal to the more famous quintet, the third trio is somewhat obscure but echt-Schumann in its rough edges. The Fantasy Pieces are top-drawer early maturity Schumann (the high opus number is deceptive).

[asin]B00004VXCT[/asin]

Hey - that's sounds like a good way to start the day. On it goes...

[otare]

Starting the day with Schumanns "Märchenerzählungen" from this box:

[Que]

Ealier coments on the whole box set HERE.

Morning!

Q

[Scarpia]

[asin]B00004VXCT[/asin]

Now that cover looks like it should be on a Vaughan Williams cow-pat album. 
[runs away]

[mc ukrneal]

Now that cover looks like it should be on a Vaughan Williams cow-pat album. 
[runs away]

Warning - warped logic alert...A 'shtuck' in some languages can mean a thing or object. So translate this as fantasy thing/object and, well, there you go... 

[Lethevich]

Pastoral-eroticism, alert.

[Scarpia]

Pastoral-eroticism, alert.

Definitely not Vaughan Williams.   

[mc ukrneal]

Pastoral-eroticism, alert.

All joking aside though, you are right, this really is a fantastic disc. The musc connects with me, it's extremely well balanced and played, and the sound is so transparent to my ear. I can see why you have repeated it so many times...

[Sadko]

Again:



Shchedrin: Chaika [The Seagull, ballet music] (Lazarav)

[Que]

.[asin]B000F8MH8U[/asin]

Q

[FideLeo]

Gern brought this to my attention again yesterday. 



A worthy performance though the Brodmann fp sounds quite unlike today's restorations.

[Lethevich]

All joking aside though, you are right, this really is a fantastic disc. The musc connects with me, it's extremely well balanced and played, and the sound is so transparent to my ear. I can see why you have repeated it so many times...

It somewhat vindicates the composer, as if his chamber music was nearly as well performed as this on a regular basis, his stock would be much higher. The Florestans have done wonderfully elsewhere, but it's in their two Schumann trio discs (and also the violin sonatas disc with members of the trio) that reveal the value of this partnership of ensemble and label. The sound quality is certainly demonstration level.

[mc ukrneal]

It somewhat vindicates the composer, as if his chamber music was nearly as well performed as this on a regular basis, his stock would be much higher. The Florestans have done wonderfully elsewhere, but it's in their two Schumann trio discs (and also the violin sonatas disc with members of the trio) that reveal the value of this partnership of ensemble and label. The sound quality is certainly demonstration level.

I was thinking of playing the second disc after the first, but thought it would be nice to leave for another day as the first left me in a lasting good mood. I would add the Brahms trios to that list above as well. And to think I got all of them at Berkshire (at one time or another) at a relatively cheap price!!

[marvinbrown]

  Now this is a real treat:

 

  Verdi's first attempt at comedy early in his life was met with limited success.  After abandoning the genre for practically the rest of his life, favouring more dramatic subjects, Verdi was to return to comedy with a vengeance.  An old man, nearing the end of his life Verdi unleashes what is arguably his most elusive, most mercurial peice.  It is as if this opera is out of context with the rest of his output and yet in its own way one of the biggest jewels in his operatic crown.   

  marvin

[Lethevich]

.[asin]B000055ZYH[/asin]

I was thinking of playing the second disc after the first, but thought it would be nice to leave for another day as the first left me in a lasting good mood. I would add the Brahms trios to that list above as well. And to think I got all of them at Berkshire (at one time or another) at a relatively cheap price!!

I'm a total Florestan Trio fangirl in general, I love everything they have done. I only hope that they record a few more Haydn discs now that they have begun to exaust the standard repertoire.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

I find that I play this disc over and over again, mainly because its addictive playing, that sinks in slowly, but when done its hard to put it away after listening to it.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Some of the works I like very much, like his four studies opus 4, very dreamlike, and emotionally gripping. The rest of the works is more or less hard to grasp, sharp dissonances destabilize my musical equilibrium, and the relentless hammering of certain octaves. This pushing insistence of demanding front page covering, and the lack of ease, to sooth your nerves , which in my case is necessary throws me off balance many a time. Still I hear the greatness in his music. Dennis Lee, is a virtual expert in playing this up to perfection. not a foot wrong here, no sirree!