What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[KeithW]

Another new release from Hyperion

Bruckner, Symphony No. 7, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Donald Runnicles

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There's a great review in the current issue of BBC Music Magazine (no conflict of interest!).  As you would expect from the label, the recording quality is great. 

[Mirror Image]

First-listen Friday -

Elgar
Symphony no. 1, Pomp and Circumstance Marches nos. 1, 3 & 4
Andrew Davis & BBC SO
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Some of Elgar's weakest compositions IMHO, although Pomp & Circumstance March No. 3 is my favorite of the five. These definitely don't represent the Elgar that I know.

[Opus106]

  The chamber concerto and the piano concerto are wonderful too. I came to Ligeti after recently listening to Pettersson's symphonies.....so I have already been immersed in the "unusual", the "bizarre" but nothing could have ever prepared me for the Mysteries of the Macabre!

  marvin

I'm previewing it here:

http://www.youtube.com/v/6jmzoIdiLKY

It takes one aback, certainly.


Paaaaaarty!

[Karl Henning]

Mysteries of Mr Micawber . . . in short, when something turns up.

[The new erato]

This disc from the newly released Sony Vivarte 6 CD box.

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Brisk and transparent, but I do perhaps occasionally miss a somewhat darkertoned and "heavy" choir.

[bhodges]

I'm previewing it here:

http://www.youtube.com/v/6jmzoIdiLKY

It takes one aback, certainly.


Paaaaaarty!

Quite something, isn't it! In 2010 I saw Rattle and Hannigan do this piece with Ensemble ACJW; it was my pick for "best of 2010."

http://www.musicweb-international.com/SandH/2011/Jan-Jun11/ACJW1912.htm

--Bruce

[Mirror Image]

  I'll join you in the spirit of First-Listen Fridays!  I'll see your Schoenberg and I'll raise you a Ligeti  !:

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  Oh yes, first time listen and such a strange composer, his sound world is unlike anything I have ever heard before.  Just finished CD1 (Melodien, Chamber Concerto, Piano Concerto and quite possible the strangest composition of all Mysteries of the Macabre  !

  I fear that which awaits on CD2......... (Lontaine, Atmospheres, Apparitions and the Romanian Concerto)....

  marvin

Ligeti is a strange brew for sure, but he's one of my favorite composers of the last half of the 20th Century. One of the only 'avant-garde' composers I can enjoy. I don't find his music that strange at all really, but rather find that I truly believe his heart is in the music. He's not into noise for it's own sake. His orchestral works are especially rewarding on multiple listens because their structure becomes more and more apparent and textures reveal some interesting harmonies. I own this set you're listening to and the second disc that awaits you are some of his most successful orchestral works like Lontano and Atmospheres. Enjoy!

[Que]

It's a good bargain - Amazon MP sellers have it at $17.45 - cheaper than the Bach Mass alone.  The box includes four recordings (6 CDs in total), each in jewel cases with original liner notes:  the box is

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Actually, the Bach Mass would be the least desirable item in that box IMO, but the rest is the best of best!

Q

[Opus106]

Quite something, isn't it! In 2010 I saw Rattle and Hannigan do this piece with Ensemble ACJW; it was my pick for "best of 2010."

http://www.musicweb-international.com/SandH/2011/Jan-Jun11/ACJW1912.htm

--Bruce

Thanks for the link, Bruce. I wonder if all the shenanigans are written into the score as well. (Okay, it's very unlikely that Ligeti would have known about Justin Bieber; apart from that. )

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

  The chamber concerto and the piano concerto are wonderful too. I came to Ligeti after recently listening to Pettersson's symphonies.....so I have already been immersed in the "unusual", the "bizarre" but nothing could have ever prepared me for the Mysteries of the Macabre!

  marvin

I stay happily oblivious of this composer, I shudder at the mere thought of being confronted with the sheer horror Ligeti composed.

[madaboutmahler]

On youtube: A selection of Grieg's Lyric Pieces (Håkon Austbø, pianist)

These are so very beautiful, so simple and divine!

[Opus106]

I stay happily oblivious of this composer, I shudder at the mere thought of being confronted with the sheer horror Ligeti composed.

Even The Devil's Staircase?

http://www.youtube.com/v/1ZTaiDHqs5s

It is horror, in a way, but it's not horrible. (Don't mind the Reality TV introduction. )

[bhodges]

I stay happily oblivious of this composer, I shudder at the mere thought of being confronted with the sheer horror Ligeti composed.

Aww...but Harry, it's such great stuff! You might try Mysteries; it's short, and (among other things) it's quite amusing.



--Bruce

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Aww...but Harry, it's such great stuff! You might try Mysteries; it's short, and (among other things) it's quite amusing.



--Bruce

I am sorry I hurt your feelings my friend. I can go pretty far in modern music, but Ligeti is a bridge I cannot cross. 

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Even The Devil's Staircase?

http://www.youtube.com/v/1ZTaiDHqs5s

It is horror, in a way, but it's not horrible. (Don't mind the Reality TV introduction. )

That was the piece some of my friends made me listen to. After 30 seconds I made a jump for the door and made a run for it!

[bhodges]

I am sorry I hurt your feelings my friend. I can go pretty far in modern music, but Ligeti is a bridge I cannot cross. 

Oh no need to apologize. (No feelings hurt in the least.) Well, hope someday you have a good experience with his music. E.g., I think Atmosphères is one of the greatest works of the 20th century - in its own way, as gorgeous as anything by Debussy.

In any case, not to worry. With thousands of composers around, one can always cross a few off one's personal list. 

--Bruce

[KeithW]

Actually, the Bach Mass would be the least desirable item in that box IMO, but the rest is the best of best!

Q

I'd be content to agree that the Bach is the least desirable in this box (I still haven't heard the Monteverdi, but I have owned and enjoyed the Pergolesi/Scarlatti for a while now).  But I wouldn't for one moment suggest that this Bach is undesirable (and neither did you).  Whilst I wouldn't give up my Richter or Suzuki, or a few others, to keep this one, I am glad to have it in my collection.  It's an idiosyncratic performance, for sure, and certainly isn't big choral Bach, but it provides us with some very fine artists at the height of their vocal powers.

[Karl Henning]

I stay happily oblivious of this composer, I shudder at the mere thought of being confronted with the sheer horror Ligeti composed.

Oh, you should give Lontano and Atmosphres a try sometime, mijn vriend. No horror involved there! : )

[The new erato]

Listening to the War Requiem from the latest BBC Music Magazine. Sounds pretty good (though I am not very knowledgeable about this work, having only the Hickox which I haven't heard for 10 years). Neither is it my favorite Britten.

[classicalgeek]

Just finished:


Gustav Mahler
Das Lied von der Erde

Michelle DeYoung, mezzo-soprano
Jon Villars, tenor
Minnesota Orchestra, conducted by Eiji Oue

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What amazing music - is there anything more moving than the end of 'Abschied'?  This is a decent performance overall - I didn't find Villars' singing much to my liking, but DeYoung is excellent (and something of a Mahler specialist, as I recall).