What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[The new erato]

I will dive into the matter and no doubt order many of them, thanks Erato for the info. I stopped reading Gramophone a long time ago, too expensive over here, too much emphasize on opera and long winded interviews that bored the hell out of me. I like to read more practical reviews instead of academic views.

Yes, I've switched to International Record Review. They still do opera  , but all the fancy-schmanzy interviews and glossy festival promotion stuff is thankfully missing, instead there are long, indepth review articles which cover a great amount of releases and rereleases.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Yes, I've switched to International Record Review. They still do opera  , but all the fancy-schmanzy interviews and glossy festival promotion stuff is thankfully missing, instead there are long, indepth review articles which cover a great amount of releases and rereleases.

Well will look in that also.

[mc ukrneal]

Beethoven Mass in C major. Not what I was expecting - a bit lighter and less bombast, but interesting none the less. Totally unheard Beethoven for me (well, until now)...
[asin]B0000DIGLD[/asin]

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Beethoven Mass in C major. Not what I was expecting - a bit lighter and less bombast, but interesting none the less. Totally unheard Beethoven for me (well, until now)...
[asin]B0000DIGLD[/asin]

Well you were able to digest Rebecca Evans and Pamela Helen Stephen! I applaud you for that

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Another one of this very successful series, Hoboken XV 21-23. Volume IV.

[mc ukrneal]

Well you were able to digest Rebecca Evans and Pamela Helen Stephen! I applaud you for that

They were new to me too. I don't recall any major issues. But I was distracted by all the wonderful music!

[Conor71]

Elgar: String Quartet In E Minor, Op. 83
Walton: String quartet In A Minor


Currently listening to the Walton - this is quite a turbulent work with a haunting slow movement at its heart.
Overall this is a good Disc - the performance and sound are great

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

They were new to me too. I don't recall any major issues. But I was distracted by all the wonderful music!

I know, most people have no problems with Sopranos, but I seem to have some life long battle with them. Which is kind of funny for I almost sing for 30 years in a Church Choir, but then I  have issues with them too.

[val]

DEBUSSY:   Sonata for violin & piano           / Arthur Grumiaux, Istvan Hajdu

Very beautiful version, perhaps the best I ever heard of this work.  The sound of Grumiaux violin is sublime, in special in the first movement.

[listener]

BEETHOVEN    Piano Concerto 2 in B^b, op. 19
                     32 Variations on an Original theme, in c
Emil Gilels, piano     George Szell, Cleveland Orchestra

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Gilels is looking so serene into the world.

[jlaurson]

J.S. Bach
Thomanerchor Leipzig & Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum
Hans Joachim Rotzsch
Cantatas

disc 7
BWV 106 "Gottes Zeit..." (Actus Tragicus)
BWV 31 "Der Himmel lacht..."
BWV 66 "Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen

disc 8
BWV 140 "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme"
BWV 61 "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland"
BWV 36 "Schwingt freudig euch emport"
Berlin Classics


Still making me very happy. From strength to strength, it seems.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

First listen.

I do not know yet what to make of this composer, the music disturbs and delights me equally. There is for me something very repelling in the structure of the composition which draws me in at the same time. Its densely scored, and is based on two thoughts. One to depict the outer world, and one that concentrates on the inner world of man. That's a first impression, I have to listen much more to it, to get the hang of it. The sound is open, lucid, and lets you hear most of the detail, even in some heavy crescendo's. A good image is presented. Recorded in 2007 by Stephan Reh, well known by me.

Brand, Symphonic drama.

[mc ukrneal]

Now listening to Disc 2 (symphony 2) of this Martucci set. What a surprise this set has been. I'm not sure why, but I had very low expectations when I bought this one and it has turned out quite well. Some wonderful harmonies and melodies here.
[asin]B000UX8JH8[/asin]

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Now listening to Disc 2 (symphony 2) of this Martucci set. What a surprise this set has been. I'm not sure why, but I had very low expectations when I bought this one and it has turned out quite well. Some wonderful harmonies and melodies here.
[asin]B000UX8JH8[/asin]

That's a fine set indeed. I have the originals, bought them when released.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

First listen

Another sound world that intrigues me, but does not open yet to my mind. I certainly hear all the qualities, for they are abundantly clear in the scoring. All desks keep constantly busy with some very intricate weaving of sound patterns. The struggle in the music itself coming directly from the composer feelings did not go amiss with me. I have the same struggle to find some connection point, for his logic seems kind of lost on me for the moment. It will come to me, I am sure, but I must work for it. Phil Rowlands made a fine recording, (2009) with a good front to back image.

Symphony in D minor. ( original version) 1942.

[mc ukrneal]

First listen.

I do not know yet what to make of this composer, the music disturbs and delights me equally. There is for me something very repelling in the structure of the composition which draws me in at the same time. Its densely scored, and is based on two thoughts. One to depict the outer world, and one that concentrates on the inner world of man. That's a first impression, I have to listen much more to it, to get the hang of it. The sound is open, lucid, and lets you hear most of the detail, even in some heavy crescendo's. A good image is presented. Recorded in 2007 by Stephan Reh, well known by me.

Brand, Symphonic drama.

That looks quite interesting (wishlisted), though I had to retype the name several times when I looked him up!

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

First listen

I have all the recordings available on Naxos from this composer, and a few works on other labels, so you could say I am a admirer of his works.
Now added compositions I did not hear before, and made quite some impression on me. It is well orchestrated, indeed very much so! Its easy to picture the images he conjures through his music, that colorful and evocative he is. The orchestra play well under Vecchia, and the recording, (2009-10) is upfront but not up your face, detailed with a excellent sound stage, with at times a tad too much prominence for the first violins. But that's a minor quibble.

Impressioni dal vero I-III.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

First listen.

Disc V from this excellent set. Most excellent!
Recorded in 2008, Lerma, Collegiate Church of St Peter.

Magnificat primi toni a 8.
Alma Redemptoris Mater, Antiphon a 8.
Missa Alma Redemptoris Mater a 8.
Ut queant laxis, Hymn a 4.
Magnificat quarti toni a 4. ( Antiphona: Sancta Maria, succurre.)
The odd numbered verses are replaced by verses for Organ by Antonio de Cabezon.

Vadam et circuibo civitatem, motet a 6.
arr Giovanni Battista Bovicelli 1594.
Solo alto Clare Wilkinson.

Pange lingua. ( "more Hispano") Hymn a 4.

[Lisztianwagner]

George Gershwin
Rhapsody in Blue
LA Philharmonic Orchestra
Leonard Bernstein