What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Karl Henning]

Daniel Hogan (MAD) 3 Nocturnes No.3 played by Keiko


Sarge

Another party I happily join : )

[Lisz]

Mahler's Letter to Alma

Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp Minor
Gustav Mahler
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick Nezet-Seguin, conductor
Philadelphia Orchestra

What a beautiful piece of music this is.

Part of WQXR's Annual Countdown
Number 18 in list of listener favorites

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On 19 December 1901, Mahler wrote a 20-page letter to Alma, in which he set out to his wife his plan for a future life and requested that she abandon her composition work: "How do you imagine both wife and husband as composers? Do you have any idea how ridiculous and subsequently how much such an idiosyncratic rivalry must end up dragging us both down? How will it be if you happen to be just "in the mood" but have to look after the house for me, or get me something I happen to need, if you are to look after the trivialities of life for me? - Does this mean for you breaking off your own life, and do you think you will have to do without a high point of being which you cannot live without, if you entirely give up your music in order to possess - and also to be - my own?"

Alma was confused and wrote in her diary, "He thinks nothing at all of my art - and thinks a great deal of his own - and I think nothing of his art and a great deal of my own. That's how it is! Now he constantly talks of preserving his art. I can't do that. It would have worked with Zemlinsky, because I empathize with his art - he is a brilliant chap."

[Que]

.[asin]B000002A8F[/asin]

The first recording of Schumann's piano concerto that I ever heard, is still dear to me.

Q

[madaboutmahler]

Another party I happily join : )

Thank you very much, Karl!!

[Sergeant Rock]

Thank you for listening, Sarge! Hope you enjoyed it!

I did. Very beautiful piece. I hope Keiko records the complete Nocturnes.

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

I did. Very beautiful piece. I hope Keiko records the complete Nocturnes.

Sarge

Yes, she had quite the poetical touch with that Third.

[madaboutmahler]

I did. Very beautiful piece. I hope Keiko records the complete Nocturnes.

Sarge

Yes, she had quite the poetical touch with that Third.

Thank you both very much! Very pleased that Keiko has told me that she will be recording the whole set, very excited to hear her performances!

[Karl Henning]

Thread duty:

The String Quartet Gala notwithstanding, it seems appropriate on this final day of 2012 to listen to the composer's final score:

Дмитри Дмитриевич [ Dmitri Dmitriyevich (Shostakovich) ]
Sonata for Viola & Piano, Op.147
Юрий Абрамович [ Yuri Abramovich (Bashmet) ], va
Святослав Теофилович [ Sviatoslav Teofilovich (Richter) ], pf
Recorded 26.ix.1982

[asin]B0000AMKAO[/asin]

[Gurn Blanston]

Don Giovanni or The Dissolute is Punished



I don't see mention of these Drottningholm issues very often, but they are splendid little gems, actually. And this DG is right there with them.  Nice way to end out the year.

[SonicMan46]

Very interesting post. I have one disc of his, but have not really given him much attention.

Neal - glad that you enjoyed! 

Another interesting fact about him (again, not known to be until last night) was that his birth name was Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann, i.e. E.T.W. Hoffmann, and he continued to use those initials in official documents; for his 'pen name' he became Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann, hence the E.T.A., presumably in homage to Mozart.  Dave 

[Lisz]

On QXR -- easy listening today!   

Classical Countdown No. 17
Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61, Ludwig van Beethoven Carlo Maria Giulini, conductor. Philharmonia Orchestra. Itzhak Perlman, violin.

[Karl Henning]

As LvB goes, though, that's chewier-than-average ; )

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to The Rose Lake. I prefer this performance to Colin Davis' for the simple reason that I think Hickox handled the overall arch of the work more effectively.

[Karl Henning]

Дмитри Дмитриевич [ Dmitri Dmitriyevich (Shostakovich) ]
Sonata for Viola & Piano, Op.147 (arr. for viola and string orchestra by Vladimir Mendelssohn, 1991-92)
Юрий Абрамович [ Yuri Abramovich (Bashmet) ], va
Kremerata Baltica

[asin]B000HKDCJY[/asin]

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Still Christmas Cheer.

As promised I will play all my Christmas CD'S, even if I am still playing them in the Spring 2013.

An old one this time from Pro Cantione Antiqua & Medieval Wind Ensemble, Mark Brown, recorded by Anthony Howell, on MCA Classics in 1986, and produced by Louis Greenaway. Still a favourite of mine. Singers like Charles Brett, Timothy Penrose, Michael George bring back memories almost forgotten. Of course its well recorded and performed.

[SonicMan46]

From my recent JPC order - yet another 'filler' to justify shipping - never heard of this composer, BUT the clarinet sold me and the CPO label was 'on sale' there:

Volckmar, Adam (1770-1851) - Quartets & Trios (clarinet use on all but a piano trio) w/ Arte Ensemble; a modern clarinet is used - the dates of composition of these works are not stated in the liner notes, although certainly in the early 19th century; the composer studied the development of the clarinet likely when Boehm was improving the instrument.

The recordings are well performed & recorded; the clarinet is beautifully played - recommended for lovers of this instrument; sorry, but I cannot find a review & this is the only CD by this composer listed on Amazon USA!  In fact, these works were in manuscript form until published between 2004-07 - how much more is gathering dust?  Also, there is no English Wiki bio that I could find; however one in German is available HERE.  Dave

 

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

From my recent JPC order - yet another 'filler' to justify shipping - never heard of this composer, BUT the clarinet sold me and the CPO label was 'on sale' there:

Volckmar, Adam (1770-1851) - Quartets & Trios (clarinet use on all but a piano trio) w/ Arte Ensemble; a modern clarinet is used - the dates of composition of these works are not stated in the liner notes, although certainly in the early 19th century; the composer studied the development of the clarinet likely when Boehm was improving the instrument.

The recordings are well performed & recorded; the clarinet is beautifully played - recommended for lovers of this instrument; sorry, but I cannot find a review & this is the only CD by this composer listed on Amazon USA!  In fact, these works were in manuscript form until published between 2004-07 - how much more is gathering dust?  Also, there is no English Wiki bio that I could find; however one in German is available HERE.  Dave

 

Yes this composer was a surprise for me too, and I enjoyed this one immensely when I bought it, and also recommended it.

[TheGSMoeller]

Дмитри Дмитриевич [ Dmitri Dmitriyevich (Shostakovich) ]
Sonata for Viola & Piano, Op.147 (arr. for viola and string orchestra by Vladimir Mendelssohn, 1991-92)
Юрий Абрамович [ Yuri Abramovich (Bashmet) ], va
Kremerata Baltica

[asin]B000HKDCJY[/asin]

Great one, Karl. I was looking for something to listen to, I think I'll join you.

[kishnevi]

What may the last listen of 2012 (depending on whether or not I get out of work this evening in a timely fashion)

Beethoven:  String Quartets in f minor (Op. 95, "Serioso") and B Flat Major, Op. 130, with the original ending (Op. 133, Grosse Fuge) and the revised ending as the final track of the CD.

You know, they just don't make CD covers like they used to....I have a few CDs from that label with similar style cover art.

And on that note (so to speak) may everyone have a 2013 that is better than their 2012 was.

And to any and all Catholics and Anglicans,  have  a happy Circumcision.   

(Non Catholics, see the eighth day after December 25, remember that Jesus was a good Jewish boy, and then look up an older Catholic festal calender)

[Mirror Image]

Now:

[asin]B00288AUX4[/asin]

Listening to In the South. Absolutely amazing performance.