What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Dvorak 7
Otmar Suitner
Staatskapelle Berlin



I think this should be regarded as the reference for Dvorak Symphonies.

Strongly seconded my lad!

[Mirror Image]

I seem to have caught a Martinů bug recently..

[asin]B000025R9R[/asin]
Listening to #1. I don't like the overall 'distant' sound of this set but the First truly shines.

I've recently listened to Martinu's 5th performance of Belohlavek's on Onyx and it's fantastic. Definitely a set worth considering. I also like Bryden Thomson's on Chandos a lot.

[Karl Henning]

“Papa”
Symphony № 49 in f minor, « La Passione » H.I/49
Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra
Adam Fischer

[asin]B0000666AF[/asin]

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Now:



Pulled out the ol' Reger box set of orchestral works and listening to Violin Concerto right now.

This box when I bought it 2 years ago, was and still is a virtual wonder to me. I simply love all the performances and above all the interpretations.  Sound in general is good too!

[Marc]

Now it's mister Sergei Prokofiev, with Anne Akiko Meyers, the Frankfurt RSO and Dmitri Kitaenko.



Yes, I will eternally remain a truthful baroque aficionado, but sometimes I have to listen to something else. And it seems to me that Meyers is much more at home in this repertoire than in f.i. Bach, which means that this is a good listen, too!

[Lisztianwagner]

On BR-Klassik:

Pyotr Il'ych Tchaikovsky
Ouverture 1912
Béla Bartók
Tanz Suite

Just finished; Bartok's Tanz Suite was absolutely beautiful, such thrilling, impressive music!!! Now I can return to Liszt's Piano Concerto No.1.

[Mirror Image]

This box when I bought it 2 years ago, was and still is a virtual wonder to me. I simply love all the performances and above all the interpretations.  Sound in general is good too!

Agreed, Harry! A fine set and the only set available of Reger's orchestral works, unless, of course, Koch ever gets around to boxing up their recordings.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Now it's mister Sergei Prokofiev, with Anne Akiko Meyers, the Frankfurt RSO and Dmitri Kitaenko.



Yes, I will eternally remain a truthful baroque aficionado, but sometimes I have to listen to something else. And it seems to me that Meyers is much more at home in this repertoire than in f.i. Bach, which means that this is a good listen, too!

Uhmmm, a nice babe too

[Mirror Image]

Uhmmm, a nice babe too

[Karl Henning]

On BR-Klassik:

Pyotr Il'ych Tchaikovsky
Ouverture 1912
Béla Bartók
Tanz Suite

Just finished; Bartok's Tanz Suite was absolutely beautiful, such thrilling, impressive music!!! Now I can return to Liszt's Piano Concerto No.1.

I am a big fan of the Dance Suite, too, Ilaria!

[pi2000]

Malcuzynski
Chopin
[asin]B00004WKIU[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

I am a big fan of the Dance Suite, too, Ilaria!

Me too!

[mahler10th]

Now:



Pulled out the ol' Reger box set of orchestral works and listening to Violin Concerto right now.

Very interesting.   I was sent this by Cato a couple of months ago, and I have not yet listened to it... ...I will put it on now...

[Karl Henning]

Ozawa
Berliner Philharmoniker
Prokofiev Symphonies


From this, which I do not have:



Listening to number 4.  What an interesting symphony!  Why have I missed this in the general melee of things?  This is like all the 'beautiful music' and 'busy passages' Prok could come up with, all jammed into an eminently melodious and sometimes tempestuous 4rth Symphony.  It may be that Ozawa is bringing something out of Prokofiev with the Berliners - it is something I have never heard before and it is brilliant.  Out of nowhere this recording has got me interested in Prokofiev and his fourth symphony.  I suppose that's what happens when something resonates with you to the very core.   
I do not have the box this comes from, but by all the Gods I will get it.

that's a box you'll like, Johnnie!

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Finished with a great performance of Tabula Rasa, now listening to Symphony No. 3.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

I have a few authentic performances of Beethoven piano concerto no.2, opus 19, so this interpretation is the odd one out. Well at least in my collection. the question is, would I have bought it as a separate entity? The answer must be no.
The first movement Allegro con brio, has a nice lilt to it, and for me is played at the right tempo. Textures are open and clear, and the pianism of Paul Lewis is to be applauded. He is a very able Beethovian interpreter, no doubt about that. This lucidity in his playing is a constant factor and he never sails against this wind, but as Beethoven stayed dissatisfied with this concerto despite his many revisions, so am I dissatisfied with the performance as a whole. While I think the first movement is working just fine, the second movement Adagio is simply taken to fast to unfold all the subtle details that are harbored in this gem of a movement. Lewis is simply overplaying the magic with his clearheaded approach, granted technically perfect, but emotionally limped. The rondo is going well enough, with some amazing Risoluto playing, but again bereft of the magic. The orchestra plays well but is rather overpowering at times. The intimacy is missing, well for me it is. Apart from all this, it is a good take, but not for me. The piano is sometimes to forward projected, especially in the high notes there is some hardness. Details are fine though.

[Karl Henning]

Maiden-Listen Mondays! (Well, I think this a first listen . . . .)

“Papa”
Symphony № 50 in C, Hob.I/50
Heidelberger Sinfoniker
Meriadoc Bracegirdle-Fey

[asin]B0009IOR98[/asin]

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Now:



Finished with a great performance of Tabula Rasa, now listening to Symphony No. 3.

That's a perfect performance!

[Marc]

Uhmmm, a nice babe too

http://www.youtube.com/v/0atv9v2nNww

[Todd]

Who knew Rubinstein was so good at Chopin?