What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[kishnevi]

Your comments made me think back to the days I explored the Haydn SQts for the 1st time - I had six or so discs from that set. Must confess that they appealed at first and later disappointed. Don't recall them as overly Romantic but certainly not as emotional and intense either... They do make big gestures, but I found them rather empty and generic. Middle of the road interpretations aided by an authentic Hungarian sound, but ultimately lacking in proper Classical phrasing, articulation and Haydnesque wit. That was my verdict back then. I sold them off and looked elsewhere, drifted off into the realms of period performances...and the rest is history.

Q

I've got the Kodaly's Op. 76, and I have to agree with Que.  Very blah, almost made me lose all interest in Haydn, since those were the first recordings of Haydn chamber music I ever listened to.  Fortunately, I preservered.

[Todd]

Friday night Fourth.  Hot damn!

[Lilas Pastia]

Benjamin Godard: piano concerto, Introduction and Allegro for piano and orchestra, and Symphonie orientale. A Dutton production. Royal Scottish National Orchestra cond. by Martin Yates.

I had never heard a note of Godard (1849-1895) - my loss. This is delightful stuff. Think of Gounod, Saint-Saens and Liszt, combining flashy virtuosity with fastidious craftsmanship and musical good taste.

An utterly winning program. Godard wrote three descriptive symphonies, the Orientale, , the Gothique and the Légendaire. I hope they are not too far away in the future. This disc was released in 2011. Wonders never cease.

[Conor71]

Mahler: Symphony No. 3 In D Minor


Now playing the epic 3rd Symphony - after this I will listen to some recently arrived Orchestral Music.

[TheGSMoeller]

[Mirror Image]

Encouraged by John's return, now:


Concerto for Double String Orchestra

Such a great piece!

Yes, a great piece indeed. A very fine compliation. Have you heard Tippett's Fantasia On A Theme By Handel yet, Daniel? It's for piano and orchestra and though it doesn't get as many performances as say Double Concerto or even his Piano Concerto, it's still a fine work that has some gorgeous piano writing.

[TheGSMoeller]

Britten: Lachrymae
I Musici De Montreal/Turovsky - Rivka Golani (viola)

[Conor71]

Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 78, "Organ"


Next I will play this newly arrived Disc for a first listen - I own a couple of different versions of the Saint-Saens Symphony but this will be the first version of the famous Dukas piece I have owned. After the new Disc I will play Disc 1 of the Scriabin set which is also a fairly new arrival. I have listened to all of the Scriabin set already but I have'nt memorized it yet - my first impressions of the music were good but I think it will take me a while to get to know it so I may play it a few times today for starters

[TheGSMoeller]

Britten: Canticle II "Abraham and Isaac"
David Daniels (Countertenor), Ian Bostridge (Tenor), Julius Drake (Piano)

Not sure I could explain in words the absolute beauty this piece conveys. And the performance delivers. Entire disc is worthy.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Lindberg's Violin Concerto. A beautiful work and a concerto that I'm surprised hasn't been recorded other than this recording. I think Hahn or even Steinbacher would do well in this concerto.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Schubert sonata D.840, the "Unfinished", though Richter plays out the torsos of the two unfinished movements (the last two). The final movement breaks off just as a new and tantalizing theme had been introduced. It certainly had me wishing Schubert would've finished it out. Seems it was gonna bring this sonata to a grand close. 

[Mirror Image]

Now:

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Listening to Petrouchka right now. Always a fun piece to listen to. Will let this recording play on through Le Sacre du Printemps as well.

[Que]

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See my comments HERE.

Q

[val]

BEETHOVEN:     Piano Sonata n. 30 opus 109               / Artur Schnabel  (1932)

This is to me the supreme version of this masterpiece. The sublime phrasing of Schnabel, the spirituality of the 3rd movement, are unique.

More severe, Rudolf Serkin (1989) almost reaches the level of Schnabel.

Far from them but at a good level of quality, I also like Kempff (1951), Gulda and Solomon.

[The new erato]

Pure enjoyment, no grittiness here:

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[The new erato]

BEETHOVEN:     Piano Sonata n. 30 opus 109             
More severe, Rudolf Serkin (1989) almost reaches the level of Schnabel.

Is that the one in this set?:

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[Sergeant Rock]

Jumping 3 pages of posts to answer yours: Thanks for your reply and your list of favourites. It does give me an idea of what may fire the Rock . If you have the opportunity, try the VSO Prêtre version. I *think* it combines  the best attributes of the versions you like. If a combination of Szell and Païta could be imagined, it would come close to this. I just listened to it again tonight and found out my initial impression was entirely confirmed. It has gone up in the top five in my collection.

Thanks for the recommendation, André. I couldn't find a commercial release (is it available somewhere on CD?) but did find a download. Listening to it now: Bruckner Symphony #8  C minor, Georges Prêtre conducting the Vienna Symphony.

Sarge

[DavidRoss]

D960, Endres

[val]

The new erato
Is that the one in this set?

No. It is one of the last recordings of Serkin, live, for DG, whith the three last Sonatas. The interpretation of the opus 109 is, in my opinion, the great moment of this CD. The versions of the opus 110 & 111 are not that good.

[North Star]

Rachmaninoff
Piano Sonata no. 2
Études-tableaux
Collard
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