What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[KeithW]

They delayed mine, then sent out it before the (revised) ship date, and when they shipped they sent it (unusually for them) by priority mail, so I got it two days after they sent out it.

Same here.  Arrived today. Will give it a spin at the weekend.

[listener]

WEBER   Piano Concertos 1 & 2
Friedrich Wuhrer, piano   Vienna Pro Musica,  Hans swarowsky, cond.
Beware! Concerto 1 pressed out-of-phase
R. STRAUSS  Josephs-Legende
Bavarian State Opera Orch.,  Robert Heger cond.

[Philoctetes]

http://www.youtube.com/v/R1ulRBtCP8U
http://www.youtube.com/v/xAwSDwF-YXQ

[Que]

Volume V of the Complete Sonatas, which was lying around for a long time, and was sadly enough forgotten. This morning I had to go through my to listen pile and discovered that most of it is Orchestral music, just 5 CD'S left in it with baroque music, and these Clementi sonatas. I have to do some serious listening in what is waiting for me. And "Yay" I can rummage through my collection for baroque music, first time in 15 years. Anyways those who doubt the quality of the Clementi sonatas should do some serious dipping in Volume V, opening with two sonatas dedicated to "Miss Isabella Savery", no doubt a beauty with some amazing talents, for the opus 34 works are nothing short on genius. I enjoy all works for this instruments written by him, but the opus 34 are a breed apart. One in C and G, the perfection of which is shimmering like a light from heaven, and so well written that I could not help myself, and listen twice, just to make sure how good they are. Also added is a delightful ditty a Capriccio No. 1 in A, also opus 34. What needs mentioned also is the excellent instrument Mastroprimiano is playing on, "A Clementi ca 1828-Edwin Beunk Collection" Perfect. Sound is almost state of the art. Giovanni Caruso is to be complimented on this, Sjoerd Heijda did the tuning to perfection a'=430Hz.

I share your enthusiasm, Harry! Since this series goes chronologically through Clementi's output, it gets better and better all the time.

Good advice to other GMG'ers to start with one of the later volumes, to get a real sense of Clementi's musicial qualities!

Q

[Philoctetes]

http://www.youtube.com/v/JqDN7RZIUIQ

[Philoctetes]

http://www.youtube.com/v/YW-1uigZ-14

[Philoctetes]

A composer that's been creeping up on me.

http://www.youtube.com/v/btFSg1ZT6KQ

[Philoctetes]

http://www.youtube.com/v/kPBrFKJVZbY

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Hey guys, got a winner in my player, no really!
Brilliant has a nose for spotting talents, for they released this stupendous beautiful CD a month ago! Impressive, and thoroughly convincing in its execution, this marvel of creative outburst comes from a ensemble that makes its debut on the Brilliant label, on period instruments. Very dedicated they deliver a highly polished, (in a good sense) performance that will create many admirers. Music from the Dancing Master, published by John Playford, (1623-1686) and some other composers, to many to name, but all within the 16th to 18th century, Purcell, Byrd, Lawes, just to name a few. Instrumental and vocal contributions that gladdens your heart no end, with a soprano who made me fall in love with her voice, Nina Akerblom Nielsen, is her name, and she is a resurrection of a young Emma Kirkby.  A clean vibrato less voice, as clear as a bell, but with lots of warmth nevertheless. The instrumental contributions are top notch and expertly done. Recording is state of the art. The music is divided in the four seasons, very delicately done, and well chosen. The booklet is brimful of info, (song texts too) so Brilliant is to be congratulated on this, as well as promising more recordings of this ensemble in 2012.  Do not miss out on this one. You will like this, or I eat my hat!

[Lisztianwagner]

My favourite is the Martha Argerich/Riccardo Chailly version from around 1983.  Not note perfect, but a breathtaking performance.  I felt so sorry for the orchestra, having to keep up!  I frequently listen to this when running - keeps the cadence up.

The recording is readily available, and I have seen a broadcast on YouTube - now available as a single file at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6vARZLkaSY&feature

It really is worth watching (but not when running!)

Thank you for the feedback, Keith; I shall certainly watch the video!

[Henk]

Kreutzer - Violin Concerto no. 17

[asin]B0040MF23O[/asin]

Just one concerto, while having a coffee break.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

And now that I am at it, another Brilliant release, that will set some parameters as to how to perform Telemann, and of showing the excellence of his music, by such fine performances as Ensemble Cordia delivers, under the guidance of Stefano Veggetti. I had this CD for quite a while now, and a recent search through my piles of CD'S brought this one to the surface. They play on original instruments, or copies, with such intrinsic motivation, that I had several times a wow feeling. For them Telemann is not simply a composer who composed an unbelievable large quantity of music, but in this case quality music. It is told on the front cover that all the works are first recordings, and if so, then the world has grown richer by it, in having them available, in what seems to me benchmark interpretations. Sound is delicious full and detailed, and tempi are brisk. The booklet gives ample info, and detailed descriptions of the instruments used, plus fine pictures of the Ensemble Cordia. It has my personal seal of approval

Concerti e sonate a 4.
Concerti con strumenti obligati.
Recorded in 2009

[Henk]

Kreutzer - Violin Concerto no. 18

[Karl Henning]

First-Listen Fridays!

Busoni
Seven Elegies BV249 [& BV252?]
Sandro Ivo Bartoli

[asin]B004Z34MRU[/asin]

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Antonin Vranicky. (1761-1820)

Sextet No. 7 in G major, for Flute, Oboe, Violin, Two Violas, and Cello.

Pavel Vranicky. (1756-1808)

Sextet No 3/4/6 in E flat major/C major/D minor. Same instruments as above.

Recorded in  1998.

Fine suave interpretations, perfectly recorded, and with some genuine folksy feeling in it. I played them one year ago, twice, and now renewing the acquaintance,  am delighted with what I hear.

[Lisztianwagner]

W.A. Mozart
Symphony No.41

[asin]B000001GY8[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

Holst
The Planets Op.32
Philharmonia Orchestra
Rattle

[asin]B000083LR0[/asin]

[North Star]

Rachmaninoff
Preludes, Op.3/2, Op. 23, Op. 32
Steven Osborne
[asin]B001URRA50[/asin]

[Gurn Blanston]

Gustav Leonhardt playing the English Suites. On SEON. Very excellent playing.



[asin]B0000029VT[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

First-Listen Fridays!

Dvořák
Symphony Variations, Op.78
Cz Phil
Neumann

[asin]B0077DDWEE[/asin]