What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Papy Oli]

Good afternoon all 

[asin]B0009QYPBA[/asin]

CD 7 - Brahms - 4 Ballades Op.7, Variations on a theme by Paganini Op.35

[Marc]

After a sunny walk, I felt like listening to:



Stephen Layton and his ensemble Polyphony, offering a fresh and vivid interpretation of some of Poulenc's most beautiful vocal works.

[SonicMan46]

Nielsen, Carl - Piano Music, Complete w/ Martin Roscoe on 2 CDs packaged in a single jewel box size!  For those who may want all of this piano music, these are well done and not much more exists of recent vintage (recordings from 2007) - reviews: [MusicWeb Review HERE; and yet another one from MusicCriticism HERE - 

[CD]

Listening to the first disc (sonatas 1-4) of this set:

[SonicMan46]

Hasse, Johann (1699-1783) - Requiem C Major & Miserere w/ Paul Dombrecht & Il Fondamento - what an upbeat Requiem! 

[Scarpia]

Good to read that! And how about the piano concerto? (I do like that disc, btw, it makes a very good case for the 1st Symphony, a structurally flawed but very appealing piece)

Continued on to the piano concerto today.  The impression is very positive.  After a first listen I'd say the texture of the sound is what made the most distinct impression.  For example, the middle movement which begins with the piano playing rapid figuration against a slowly unfolding melody in various combinations of wind instruments.  Further listening will be necessary to really come to terms with it.

And why do you say the first symphony is "structurally flawed?"  In any case, the use of the term "flaw" with respect to any work of art always rankles me.  How can you define a flaw except in reference to the "unflawed" thing, which can't be defined.

[Coopmv]

Yes, this performance of the Mass is exemplary. I haven't heard Stravinsky's own recording of it in years, but I don't recall it making much of an impression on me. Craft's performance was quite good though. Have you heard this disc:

[asin]B002VD5DZG[/asin]

I've heard it is quite good. I was just curious about it.

Now playing:

[asin]B00004YU78[/asin]

Listening to The Shadows of Time. Fantastic work.

Who knows, maybe Herreweghe can even get me to like Stravinsky ...

[Coopmv]

After a sunny walk, I felt like listening to:



Stephen Layton and his ensemble Polyphony, offering a fresh and vivid interpretation of some of Poulenc's most beautiful vocal works.

Yeah, a young Lucia Popp was a doll ...   

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD4 - Etudes from this set for a first listen ...

[listener]

some really pleasant piano 4-hands:
SCHUMANN  Bilder aus Osten, op. 66
BRAHMS 16 Waltzes, op.39
MENDELSSOHN   Andante and Variations op. 83a
WAGNER Polonaise in D for piano 4-hands
                 Philippe Corre, Edouard Exerjean    piano 4-hands    good tempos, no banging.
and a MUSSORGSKY  Piano collection, but not the Pictures
                 Günter Krieger, piano

[Coopmv]

Now playing this CD, which arrived a week ago for a first listen ...

[bhodges]

Khachaturian: Gayane Suites Nos. 1-3 (André Anichanov/St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra) - Very enjoyable, although I agree with those who wondered why they didn't just record the entire ballet!

[asin]B0000013YN[/asin]

--Bruce

[Sadko]

Chopin - Études (Nikita Magaloff)

[asin]B000025W1F[/asin]

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD2 - Symphonies Nos 3 & 4 from this set for a first listen ...

[Sadko]

Khachaturian: Gayane Suites Nos. 1-3 (André Anichanov/St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra) - Very enjoyable, although I agree with those who wondered why they didn't just record the entire ballet!

[asin]B0000013YN[/asin]

--Bruce

Do you know this one under Kakhidze? I think it is the best Gayaneh ever.

[asin]B000023YQQ[/asin]

[Coopmv]

Chopin - Études (Nikita Magaloff)

[asin]B000025W1F[/asin]

I thought this set has been OOP for a while ...

[Sadko]

I thought this set has been OOP for a while ...

Yes, on Amazon UK there is only an MP3 download available.

[Coopmv]

Yes, on Amazon UK there is only an MP3 download available.

I have one of his Chopin box sets on LP.  I have no use for MP3 download ...   

[Sadko]

I have one of his Chopin box sets on LP.  I have no use for MP3 download ...   

Yes, I also only rarely use MP3s, except for checking whether it is worth getting something.

[Luke]

Continued on to the piano concerto today.  The impression is very positive.  After a first listen I'd say the texture of the sound is what made the most distinct impression.  For example, the middle movement which begins with the piano playing rapid figuration against a slowly unfolding melody in various combinations of wind instruments.  Further listening will be necessary to really come to terms with it.

Yes, it's certainly rich in textural interest. That middle movement foxed me initially, years ago when I first got to know it. I thought it as grey - that was the word which stayed in my head. And then suddenly, my ears learned how to hear it, and the colours switched on, and now it's all colour, that movement, these contrapuntal, canonic winds surmounted by this incredible proliferating heterophonic piano part. The first movement is my favourite though, the way it is so organic, the way every detail relates to the whole so magically. I love those glimpses of the lyical, magical Midsummer Marriage world too - the celesta which creeps into the piano cadenzas, the rolling plains of quartal harmony...

And why do you say the first symphony is "structurally flawed?"  In any case, the use of the term "flaw" with respect to any work of art always rankles me.  How can you define a flaw except in reference to the "unflawed" thing, which can't be defined.

Actually, I agree with that, I don't like the word 'flawed' in relation to music and I wouldn't usually use it. I did it here only as a kind of shorthand for a more complicated paragraph I didn't want to write, and because Tippett himself spoke of his music as being faulty at times. In the case of the first symphony, there are passages which remain earthbound because Tippett doesn't explore them in ways he might have - the passacaglia slow movement for instance, suffers a little because the passacaglia theme itself is very foresquare and never modulates, which means a stylistic mismatch between the vrious layers of activity. There's an interesting essay on the first symphony (amongst many essays on all the major pieces of both composers) in this fabulous book