What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[TheGSMoeller]

Double feature night, Elgar's Falstaff by Rattle and the CBSO, and Faure Piano Quartet No.1 Op.15. The Faure has to be one of the best recommended discs I purchased recently, big thanks to the Bri-Man for that.

[Mirror Image]

Tonight must be La Mer night, anyway...listening to this performance:



A good, solid La Mer, though this is a work that is no stranger to CD. Great sonics and orchestral balances.

[StLukesguildOhio]

Yesterday... some appropriate New Years music:



Continuing into today:



Moving on into some French chamber music... with the exquisite violin of Shlomo Mintz:

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Going to listen to this entire recording. It's just that good. One of my favorite Debussy orchestral recordings.

[StLukesguildOhio]

Now:



Going to listen to this entire recording. It's just that good. One of my favorite Debussy orchestral recordings.

Good to hear... I've been debating picking this one up for some time... but dammit! I do so love Debussy!

[Mirror Image]

Good to hear... I've been debating picking this one up for some time... but dammit! I do so love Debussy!

I wrote a short little review of it on Amazon (something I don't do that much):

Now, here is a recording that, in my opinion, has slipped through the cracks. Abbado is known for his Ravel performances with the London Symphony Orchestra, but he's not as well-known as a conductor of Debussy's music. In my estimate, I think he understands both composers' music extremely well. I would say, and this is just a guess based on good reviews, is that Abbado's most acclaimed Debussy recording is his performance of "Pelleas et Melisande" with the Vienna Philharmonic (also on Deutsche Grammophon). Truly a gorgeous recording in my opinion and worth picking up as is this 2001 release of the "Pelleas et Melisande Suite."

In addition to "Pelleas et Melisande Suite," we get "Nocturnes" and the ever-popular "Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune." All of these performances are top-notch and received exemplary readings from Abbado and the Berliners. Abbado brings such a remarkable clarity to the shape of the music. He simply doesn't wallow in its orchestral lushness like so many other conductors tend to do. He gives some of the rhythms, especially in "Nocturnes," sharp, articulated accents that give the music some electricity.

A reviewer mentioned this wasn't a necessary Debussy recording and, while, it may, in hindsight, be terribly unimportant, that shouldn't discourage listeners. Truth be told, this is turning out to be one of my favorite Debussy orchestral recordings and, yes, I'm familiar with the classic performances: Haitink, Martinon, Ansermet, etc. As for the audio quality, it's warm, clear, and has a great atmospheric sound to it. For the Debussy fan, don't miss this one.

---------------------------------------------------

This is one of the best Nocturnes and Prelude performances I've heard and that's saying a lot considering how large my Debussy collection is! Pull the trigger, it's a hell of a recording.

[Gold Knight]

Anton Bruckner--Symphony No.5 in B-Flat major {Haas Version}, performed by the Roberto Paternostro led Wurttemberg Philharmonic Orchestra.
Anton Bruckner--Symphony No.8 {1890 Version}, once again featuring the Wurttemberg Philharmonic Orchestra and Roberto Paternostro.

[Coopmv]

Now playing the following CD from my Bach collection ...

[Mirror Image]

Now:



A logical step forward after listening to some Debussy. Listening to Symphony No. 1.

[stingo]

Just landed, first listen (GMG strikes again)

RHEINBERGER Quintet Op. 82

From the Complete Chamber Music set on Thorofon.

[Mirror Image]

Now:

[asin]B000B6N6GI[/asin]

A new acquisition. Listening to Introduction & Allegro. Sounds good so far.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Another listening for Liszt's Via Crucis in the de Leeuw-led recording, and I finally realized what was nagging away at me about this piece: in its restraint and simplicity there are numerous passages that sound almost like proto-Satie.

Having spent quiet a lot of time with Liszt's music over the last year, I can say that I had not realized what an incredibly radical figure he was, musically speaking, probably because many of his finest works are almost totally unknown (and many of his best-known works are comparatively lightweight). But, as a friend reminded me recently, it's easy to forget that the B minor sonata comes less than half way through Liszt's creative life, and that unlike many composers, he became more--not less--experimental the older he got.

Very nice to read.

+1

Speaking of experimental, I've always had a fondness for the third book of Années. But I think it takes a pianist who identifies with the music to really bring it to life. Zoltán Kocsis has always been a reliable guide for me.

[Octave]

I wrote a short little review of it on Amazon (something I don't do that much):

[...snip...]

Ah, now I know who you are, more or less.  I mgiht even  have left a note on a review or two of yours.  I have already benefited more than a couple times, maybe several, from your reviews and lists.  I'm certain you were the initial catalyst for me getting the Villa-Lobos CHOROS/BACHIANAS (Bis) set, which has improved many days for me.  If I browsed your reviews again, I would no doubt remember more.  Cheers!

[Octave]

Opera is a very recently acquired taste for me, so I have been carefully rationing myself the goods from across the ages.  PAGLIACCI is another work that it's hard to believe I've been so long encountering, aside from glancing blows from pop culture (e.g. SEINFELD); it's not even clear to me if this is considered lightweight as operas or art music go, but the raw encounter (sans libretto, in fact, as I almost always do the first time through an opera) is exciting.  Actually, I immensely enjoyed both of the recordings in the edition below (short operas each), though I still don't know how they rank among all other performances...I'll have to look into that. 

[asin]B0007Z0Y7C[/asin]

Leoncavallo: I PAGLIACCI
Maria Callas (Soprano),
Rolando Panerai (Baritone),
Giuseppe Di Stefano (Tenor),
Tito Gobbi (Baritone),
Nicola Monti (Tenor)

direction by Tullio Serafin
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra,  Milan Teatro alla Scala Chorus

[Mirror Image]

[...snip...]

Ah, now I know who you are, more or less.  I mgiht even  have left a note on a review or two of yours.  I have already benefited more than a couple times, maybe several, from your reviews and lists.  I'm certain you were the initial catalyst for me getting the Villa-Lobos CHOROS/BACHIANAS (Bis) set, which has improved many days for me.  If I browsed your reviews again, I would no doubt remember more.  Cheers!

Yeah, many of them are just poorly written, but I'm glad to hear that my own personal tastes have helped you in some way. Thanks for the kind words. I certainly don't deserve them. I'm happy to hear you enjoy that Villa-Lobos BIS set. It certainly has brightened up many of my days too!

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Good morning all, and have a good musical start into 2013.

Let me start today with some appropriate compositions by Bach, for the days that past us already and for some days yet to come.

Weinachts-Oratorium. Part 2.

Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben. ( Am fest der beschneidung Christi)
Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen. ( Am Sonntag nach Neujahr)
Herr, wenn die Stolzen Feinde Schnauben. ( Am Epiphaniafest)

Its a absolute joy to hear this performance, every year again. For me its the best on the market in terms of the Weinachts-Oratorium.

[Octave]

Since Harry mentioned some Bach/Suzuki---and one that it turns I'd forgotten I owned, otherwise I would have played it this season as a companion to the Karl Richter recording----I have to say by coincidence I was listening to this again earlier today, a recording that has brought me great joy:


Bach: BRANDENBURG CONCERTOS & ORCHESTRAL SUITES (Suzuki/JBC - Bis, 3sacd)

I found a pretty good deal on this at Importcds, for those in N. America.  It came to ~US$14 including shipping for three full SACDs.  I've already heard probably too many [sic] recordings of these pieces, and Suzuki's might be top of the heap, among recordings of any approach.  An embarassment of riches in this repertoire.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

I forgot how beautiful this Christmas Story, Cantiones Sacrae is. A fine performance and recording.

[Sadko]

Landed yesterday:

Haydn

Piano Chamber Music

Haydn Trio Eisenstadt
Cornelia Löscher (violin)
Martin Bramböck, Dominik Taschler (horn)

CD 1:
Concertino C-dur Hob XIV:12
Divertimento C-dur Hob. XIV:7
Concertino F-dur Hob. XVIII:F2



These recordings are as nice as their Haydn trio recordings.

[Opus106]

When Norman was good, she was really something. I played this last night for a friend who had never heard Norman before, and she thought it was gorgeous. (What are your other two recordings?)

--Bruce

The other half of the two-fer is the disc containing orchestral lieder (LG/Masur). And still in shrink-wrap (), Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 (Robert King and his Consort).