What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[marvinbrown]

  In memory of a great man (Pavarotti) who passed away today:

 

[wilhelm]

Right now I just finished

[Harry]

Friedrich Gernsheim. (1839-1916)

Symphony No 1 in G  minor, opus 32.

Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland Pfalz/Siefried Kohler.

This recording was made in 1997, and is has a warm ambiance, but letting enough detail through to get the picture. Almost 38 minutes long, Kohler is not a man to beat around the bush, and his tempi's are on the fast side, and that is good, for with this thickly scored work that would drag, to do it as the composer intended. Firmly in the tradition of Johannes Brahms, these works come not near what Brahms wrote, but that said, allthough the imprint is Brahmsian, he managed to get a firm personal sound out of it all, and very pleasant at that. He is a excellent orchestrator which Brahms admired, they were good friends by the way. Expect a symphony with the drive of Beethoven as a classical model, and Brahms romanticism, and there you have Gernsheim. Its not a bad mix, and I begin after several hearings to get the hang of it.
Frankly, I was surprised that Gernsheim managed to work with the melodic material, and get these results.

[wilhelm]

Perhaps my favorite Bruckner symphony.



Fabulous. 

[karlhenning]

Rued Langgaard
Symphony No. 10, Hin Tordenbolig (Yon Dwelling of Thunder)
Danish National Radio Symphony
Ole Schmidt

Such a subtitle must surely be right up Langgaard's street! 

[karlhenning]

Friedrich Gernsheim. (1839-1916)

Symphony No 1 in G  minor, opus 32.

When did he compose the symphony, Harry?

[Harry]

When did he compose the symphony, Harry?

1875 Karl.

[Harry]

Friedrich Gernsheim.

Symphony No. 2, in E flat major, opus 46, composed in 1882.

Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland Phalz/Siegfried Kohler

Kohler must be considered a conductor that loves these works. He never tryes to disguise the affinity Gernsheims works have with Brahms. For this second symphony is again working on the same material as Brahms second and third symphony. Brahms used Beethoven as his classical example for writing his works, Gernsheim used Brahms. Wether you like it or not, he is a clever and gifted composer, that did not settle for mere copying Brahms, but try his inventive hand at it. And in my opinion he mastered the art. Not as blissfully as the master himself, but he is not a epigone.
Well recorded in a warm ambiance.

[marvinbrown]

But only to smack it down again!

  LOL 

[bhodges]

Beethoven: Cello Sonatas (Nicolas Deletaille / Jean-Michel Dayez) - Excellent, warm readings.  Sound is very close-in (you can hear a good bit of breathing) but not a problem for these particular works.  Wasn't familiar with this cellist at all.  Has an elegant website, here.



--Bruce

[Harry]

Mendelssohn.

A Midsummers Night Dream.

Lillian Watson, Soprano.
Delia Wallis, Mezzo.
Finchley Children Music Group.
LSO/Andrei Previn.

This recording made in 1976, by Christopher Parker is still a milestone yet to be surpassed. What a ambiance and detail in this recording, that is so natural.
Also the performance Previn conducts, is of great importance, for it still is a role model for many a performance. Previn has a feel for this work deep in his veins, and the results are mesmerizing, and captivating at the same time. The string section as the wind players are to be complimented, boy what a fine touch they have. I enjoyed this one enormously, and it was a recommendations from a GMG member.
Another performance I ordered at the same time I will play tomorrow, and see what that brings.

[karlhenning]

Very pleased you like that, Harry!

Hindemith
Konzertmusik for Brass & Strings, Opus 50
Philharmonia Orchestra
Paul Hindemith

[BachQ]

Beethoven: Cello Sonatas (Nicolas Deletaille / Jean-Michel Dayez) - Excellent, warm readings.  Sound is very close-in (you can hear a good bit of breathing) but not a problem for these particular works.  Wasn't familiar with this cellist at all.  Has an elegant website, here.



--Bruce

Very tasteful website, indeed .......

[BachQ]

Oh, and for me: Gould performing LvB's Emperor ....... Well, it's not totally repugnant .......

[karlhenning]

Well, it's not totally repugnant .......

The stuff that Press Releases are made of . . . .

[Kullervo]

Been gone for a bit, moving and all that jazz. I've been playing Brahms's Symphonies 1 and 3 (Karajan/BPO) and Beethoven Op. 18 quartets (Alban Berg QT).

[sidoze]

all that jazz. I've been playing Brahms

how can you go from jazz to this? 

[wilhelm]

[Harry]

I would if I were you also try the Chandos issue, much better proposition as this Naxos disc.
Only my two cents, of course.

[George]