What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Sergeant Rock]

Listening to a Berlioz rarity, Hymne des Marseillais, his arrangement of La Marseillaise for soloists, chorus, children's chorus and orchestra. Jean-Pierre Jacquillat conducting the Orchestre de Paris on their debut recording.




Sarge

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

First listen.

Symphony No. 1 in E major, opus 5. "Slavyanskaya".
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Jose Serebrier.

I took me a long time, buying a second cycle of the Glazunov Symphonies, simply because there was no alternative to the Orfeo recordings with Neeme Jarvi. The Naxos cycle I do not even take into consideration, because that was a dead born child. Lifeless performances badly performed and recorded. After I bought 2 CD'S of that series I abandoned it altogether. So why did I buy this new cycle. Because it is a viable alternative, not replacing, but on a few counts better as Jarvi, not least because they are better recorded. Serebrier's tempi are more to my liking, fast and furious, his attention to the many finer details in the scoring is obvious, creating as it were another layer, opened by his better insight, which Jarvi underplays on many a occasion.  The Orchestra's are a match, in which I prefer the Bambergers with Jarvi, but the Scots sound marvellous too, especially the brass, is pretty spectacular to say the least. I am going to enjoy this.   

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Historic Organs of Austria.

CD IV

Composers: Kerl, Froberger,Fischer, Speth, Pachelbel, Muffat, Hassler, Erbach, Poglietti.

Amazing what Leonhardt is doing on this fabulous instrument ( Schlagl, Klosterneuburg). There is everything to admire this Dutch master, and nothing to criticize. A fine choice of composers, well recorded. It sets you back in the time they were composed, so vivid is the impression.

[North Star]

I've been on a Chopin binge for this week
From the set below:
Ashkenazy's mazurkas and waltzes, and other pieces
Pires's nocturnes
Pollini's etudes, 2nd & 3rd sonatas
Zimerman's Ballades & Fantaisie Op. 49
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[PaulR]

Finishing up a few papers while listening to:

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[Opus106]

I've been on a Chopin binge for this week
From the set below:
Ashkenazy's mazurkas and waltzes, and other pieces
Pires's nocturnes
Pollini's etudes, 2nd & 3rd sonatas
Zimerman's Ballades & Fantaisie Op. 49
[asin]B002NFCHBA[/asin]

Ha! Though I've not been on a binge of Chopin (not even of music! ), I've been planning to listen to the disc with Scherzi this evening.

[not edward]

This wonderful disc, never far from my CD player:

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If asked to nominate a single CD track as proof of Ives' stature as a composer, it would surely be Dohnanyi's From Hanover Square North...

[Todd]

[Leon]

I am listening to various performances of one of my favorite pieces, the Brahms Intermezzo, Op. 117, No. 1 in E-flat.

1. Vladimir Ashkenazy
2. Jonas Vitaud
3. Van Cliburn

That's who I'm starting with, but there are many others i will hear this morning.

[Mirror Image]

Now:

[asin]B00004YR65[/asin]

Listening to Century Rolls. A decent piece but nowhere near as inspired as his earlier successes (Harmonium, Harmonielehre, Nixon in China).

[Leon]

I am listening to various performances of one of my favorite pieces, the Brahms Intermezzo, Op. 117, No. 1 in E-flat.

1. Vladimir Ashkenazy
2. Jonas Vitaud
3. Van Cliburn

That's who I'm starting with, but there are many others i will hear this morning.

After hearing these others:

Yorck Kronenberg
Geza Anda
Pavel Egorov
Emanuel Ax
Hakon Rotterdam
Ivo Janssen
Ludwig Olshansky
Yuri Didenko
Antony Grey
Idil Beret
Boris Kraljevic
Andreas Pistorius

I was struck that few of the interpretations stood out as exceptionally distinctive.  Van Cliburn took the piece a bit faster than the others, but overall there was a similar, contemplative and lyrical approach used by all the pianists.

[Sergeant Rock]

Haydn String Quartet A major op.55/1 played by Meta4




Sarge

[bhodges]

After hearing these others:

Yorck Kronenberg
Geza Anda
Pavel Egorov
Emanuel Ax
Hakon Rotterdam
Ivo Janssen
Ludwig Olshansky
Yuri Didenko
Antony Grey
Idil Beret
Boris Kraljevic
Andreas Pistorius

I was struck that few of the interpretations stood out as exceptionally distinctive.  Van Cliburn took the piece a bit faster than the others, but overall there was a similar, contemplative and lyrical approach used by all the pianists.

Arnold, you are obviously better acquainted with versions of this piece than I am, but have you heard Ivo Pogorelich below? I know, I know--he seems to be quite controversial in his interpretations, but I must say, this is quite a moving performance, and along with his Ravel/Prokofiev, one of my favorite Pogorelich recordings.

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--Bruce

[Opus106]

After hearing these others:

Yorck Kronenberg
Geza Anda
Pavel Egorov
Emanuel Ax
Hakon Rotterdam
Ivo Janssen
Ludwig Olshansky
Yuri Didenko
Antony Grey
Idil Beret
Boris Kraljevic
Andreas Pistorius

I was struck that few of the interpretations stood out as exceptionally distinctive.  Van Cliburn took the piece a bit faster than the others, but overall there was a similar, contemplative and lyrical approach used by all the pianists.

This, of course, calls for a GMG Blind Listening!

[Leon]

This, of course, calls for a GMG Blind Listening!

That would be very hard, at least for me, since the performances were so similar.

Arnold, you are obviously better acquainted with versions of this piece than I am, but have you heard Ivo Pogorelich below? I know, I know--he seems to be quite controversial in his interpretations, but I must say, this is quite a moving performance, and along with his Ravel/Prokofiev, one of my favorite Pogorelich recordings.

[asin]B000001GHV[/asin]

--Bruce

Thanks for that, I will seek it out.  I found all these on Spotify, and didn't come close to hearing all of them, so maybe his is there - but if not, since I love this work so much I will look for the recording.

[North Star]

I'm not an expert on the matter, but I like Kovacevich very much in the late Brahms pieces
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[Lisztianwagner]

Fryderyk Chopin
Impromptus

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[Que]

Time for some evaluation...

Q

[Leon]

Time for some evaluation...

Q

I like their recordings, and was quite surprised by the result from the blind listening test of Op. 50.  Please, let us know what you think.

[madaboutmahler]

listening to 15 recordings of an extract from the scherzo of Mahler 6 for the Blind Comparison. Such brilliance!

Links coming out before Friday hopefully.