What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

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Priming up for a huge Mahler-a-thon with these recordings for tonight:

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Going to be listening to Symphonies 3 & 4 from this set:

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Then I'll listen to Symphony No. 9 from this set:

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[Gold Knight]

On Spotify:

Robert Schumann--Symphony No.3 in E-Flat Major, Op.97 {"Rhenish"} and Symphony No.4 in D Minor, Op.120, both performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Sir Adrian Boult.

[Mirror Image]

Now:

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I'm going to have to put Mahler on hold for now. Ravel's music has me hook, line, and sinker yet again.

[listener]

Baltic Works for String Orchestra
BALAKAUSKAS  Ostrobothnian Symphony
VASKS  Symphony for Strings "Stimmen"
NARBUTAITÉ Opus Lugubre
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orch., / Juha Kangas
Love's Old Sweet Song, Victorian and Edwardian Ballads
Felicity Palmer, sop.,  John Constable, piano

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Piano Concerto in G. Fantastic performance.

Edit: These are good performances of Ravel's PCs, but I still prefer Bavouzet in these concerti. There's something about his performances that seem much more energetic and emotional. I find these performances, as good as they are, to be a little bit too emotionally cool for me. I love Boulez's conducting, but I have to say I've never been greatly impressed with his skills an accompanist. Tortelier I think outshines Boulez here and while I think the Cleveland Orchestra are great, I don't think they performed as well as the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Boulez, in his early days, conducted a lot with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and it's hard not to see why: they're certainly a very accomplished orchestra who can perform a wide variety of music. I also thought the woodwinds sounded fuller from them than the Clevelanders. The cor anglais player in the Adagio assai movement of the Piano Concerto in G in the BBC Symphony sounded much better than the Clevelander cor anglais. These may be very minor points to some, but I've heard so many performances of Ravel's PCs that I've finally come down to the few performances I enjoy the most. Right now, for the Piano Concerto in G my choices are Bavouzet/Tortelier and Argerich/Abbado (1st performance). For the Concerto for left-hand, Bavouzet and Zimerman are my favorites.

[pi2000]

Enescu conducts Schumann 2(Dutton)
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[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Muzio Clementi.
The complete Piano sonatas, volume V.

CD I
Two sonatas and two Capriccios for the Piano Forte, opus 34, dedicated to Isabella Savory.

As I said before in my review (10-5-2012) the whole set is a gem, and should be treated as such. A excellent set to begin with.

[Que]

EDIT: This was on my exit pile, and I decided it's going to stay there.
Though I appreciate the music itself much better than when I bought it, I can't get my head around this performance. There is something missing: the German chorus sounds utterly dry and boring, the organ doesn't sound suitable. The result is too rigid and lack charm. Avoid IMO.

Q

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

CD II.

Six Progressive Sonatinas for the Piano Forte, opus 36.
Capriccio No. 2, opus 34.

As good as the first CD. See review 10-5-2012.

[The new erato]

Meanwhile,  thread duty:  just landed today, and quite good.
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And Caldara more and more emerges as the baroque composer in direst need of more recording coverage.

[The new erato]

As I said before in my review (10-5-2012) the whole set is a gem, and should be treated as such.

Locked up in a safe?

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Locked up in a safe?

That's not a bad idea, will do that after listening.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

CD III

Three Sonatinas for the Piano Forte, opus 37, dedicated to Miss Harriot Compertz.

Most excellent. See review 10-3-2012.

[Que]

And Caldara more and more emerges as the baroque composer in direst need of more recording coverage.

In the Italian Baroque choral departement, I would nominate Bononcini as well.

First run of the Weckmann set below, listening to the keyboard disc with Siebe Henstra playing.
Those with the NMClassics Sweelinck keyboard works set know what to expect!
Quite different from Jan Katschke's (beautiful) mixed harpsichord/lute-harpsichord disc (CPO): more straightforward and bolder, highly structured. Very Dutch, basically. A multi intruments disc as well: two harpsichords, one after Ruckers and one after Italian XVIIth c. models, and a clavichord after XVIIth c. models from Northern Germany.

Very nice indeed.

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Q

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

First run of the Weckmann set below, listening to the keyboard disc with Siebe Henstra playing.
Those with the NMClassics Sweelinck keyboard works set know what to expect!
Quite different from Jan Katschke's (beautiful) mixed harpsichord/lute-harpsichord disc (CPO): more straightforward and bolder, highly structured. Very Dutch, basically. A multi intruments disc as well: two harpsichords, one after Ruckers and one after Italian XVIIth c. models, and a clavichord after XVIIth c. models from Northern Germany.

Very nice indeed.

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Q

It counts as a favourite with me. I find his playing very direct and honest, no frills, but lots of authenticity.

[Lisztianwagner]

Sergei Prokofiev
Romeo and Juliet

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[mc ukrneal]

18th Century American Overtures. This was far more entertaining than I ever expected. It's foot-tapping stuff, even if it doesn't stay with you long. Yet, it is definitely mood enhancing! Happy music. 
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[Karl Henning]

Sergei Prokofiev
Romeo and Juliet

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Quite a natural successor to some Nielsen, yes, Ilaria?  I can easily pass between the respective works of those two composers!

[Karl Henning]

Good morning, all! First listen:

Nielsen
Serenata in vano, FS68 (1914)
Scandinavian Chamber Players

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A minor work, but entirely charming!

[Karl Henning]

First listen (this recording):

Nielsen
Wind Quintet, FS100 Op.43 (1922)
Scandinavian Chamber Players

Brilliant writing!

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