What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Lethevich]

Haydn - String quartets op.22 (Mosaïques )

[FideLeo]

[orbital]

Tonight, the New York Philharmonic's opening night concert.  Some last-minute plans prevented me from committing to a ticket inside, so I'm going to wander around outside on the Lincoln Center plaza, where they're broadcasting the show on giant-screen TV.  (PBS is also showing it on TV, on Live From Lincoln Center.)  It's supposed to be a beautiful, clear night in New York so this could be a lot of fun.

New York Philharmonic
Lorin Maazel, Conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, Cello

Dvořák: Carnival Overture
Dvořák: Cello Concerto
Dvořák: Symphony No. 7

--Bruce

I could drop by if only it was a tad warmer  -or if it was not an all Dvroak program-; either would do 

[Brian]

Tonight, the New York Philharmonic's opening night concert.  Some last-minute plans prevented me from committing to a ticket inside, so I'm going to wander around outside on the Lincoln Center plaza, where they're broadcasting the show on giant-screen TV.  (PBS is also showing it on TV, on Live From Lincoln Center.)  It's supposed to be a beautiful, clear night in New York so this could be a lot of fun.

New York Philharmonic
Lorin Maazel, Conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, Cello

Dvořák: Carnival Overture
Dvořák: Cello Concerto
Dvořák: Symphony No. 7

--Bruce

OH what a program! I wish I were there.   

Tonight I shall assemble an iTunes playlist of the above works, and turn up my headphones' volume to 70%, as consolation.

[BachQ]

R. Strauss Burleske for Piano, Timpani and Orchestra in d minor
Bruckner, Sym no. 6 (Jochum)

[karlhenning]

In a parallel universe, Bruckner wrote nothing but Burlesken . . . .

[karlhenning]

. . . and turn up my headphones' volume to 70%, as consolation.

Why, that's 7.7 on the eleven-gauge amplification scale!

[orbital]

OH what a program!  

You think? I don't understand dedicating the whole opening night concert to one composer  

Tonight I shall assemble an iTunes playlist of the above works, and turn up my headphones' volume to 70%, as consolation.

The PBS broadcast is going to be aired nationally I think. If you are in the US, your local PBS channel should have it.

[bhodges]

The PBS broadcast is going to be aired nationally I think. If you are in the US, your local PBS channel should have it.

You're right, it's going to be broadcast nationally. Brian, aren't you near Austin?  KLRU is broadcasting it:

http://support.klru.org/site/PageServer?pagename=homepage

--Bruce

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Havergal Brian.


Symphony No. 3.

BBC SO/Lionel Friend.

After two helpings of the second Symphony, I decided to move on to the third, not really know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. To begin with, the third is played by a orchestra that has far better knowledge how to tackle this composer, and much more insight into the difficult nature of Brians scoring. And a conductor that has a better understanding were the music should go, and keeps a tight grip on the proceedings, from beginning to end. Furthermore the recording that Tony Faulkner made in the Maida Vale in 1988, is in some ways superior to the Naxos recording with the second, in that it offers more detail, and the front to back balance is better. But what is missing is enough air around the instruments, and the whole orchestra at that. In that the Naxos is far better. Hyperion is a somewhat dryish sound, but otherwise excellent. It is afterall not easy to record 120 musicians, for so many are needed for this large symphony, plus two piano's no less.
It doesn't sound gigantic though, but oddly enough it keeps it lucidness and never sounds compressed in any way. The timpani have a nice reverb, and spreads round the orchestra in a impressive way.
The music is at one time chaotic structured but comes together as a unity ever so often. As a sound structure it is somewhat similar to the second. I enjoyed the frolicking third movement, quite cleverly done. It is a constant going and coming of dreamlike sequences, and hard hitting reality, and the combination makes me revel in the music. Easier to approach then as the second, and it really benefits when a good orchestra plays this, as good as the Moscow SO may be.

Great write-up, Harry!

I agree with most of the things you're saying. The music is kaleidoscopic and varied, but only on the surface - there is a great unity underneath that reveals itself after a few hearings, if you're attuned to Brian (you are, that's clear). I have a BBC performance of the Third that, to me, is slightly stronger - especially the passage for two pianos near the end of the first movement really comes off - stark, jagged, as if the whole argument of this movement is compressed in a few bars. But the Friend recording really shines in the last movement - the playing of the strings is wonderful, and imbued with real grandeur and tragedy.

Johan

[Harry]

Great write-up, Harry!

I agree with most of the things you're saying. The music is kaleidoscopic and varied, but only on the surface - there is a great unity underneath that reveals itself after a few hearings, if you're attuned to Brian (you are, that's clear). I have a BBC performance of the Third that, to me, is slightly stronger - especially the passage for two pianos near the end of the first movement really comes off - stark, jagged, as if the whole argument of this movement is compressed in a few bars. But the Friend recording really shines in the last movement - the playing of the strings is wonderful, and imbued with real grandeur and tragedy.

Johan

I will certainly play it many times.

[The new erato]

[Harry]

That one is on my list, but I am always interested in your opinion.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

In honour of Harry, who has just heard it for the first time, I'm listening to Brian's Third Symphony.

[Novi]

Some beautiful late-night Beethoven 0:):



Good night all .

[not edward]

This is a fine Xenakis album..
Particularly taken by Échange for bass clarinet & ensemble (16'47)
and the powerhouse Xas for saxophone quartet (8'56)

I think Échange ranks right at the top of Xenakis' late period works.

Listening to an OperaShare download of Mitropoulos conducting Mahler 9 with the NYPO.

[Catison]

I love the 6th to death, and my only quibble with it is this: how can the rest of the work top the first movement (particularly the crystaline beauty of its opening bars)?

My sentiments exactly.  Those first few measures almost bring tears to my eyes every time I hear them.  The fourth symphony is equally burdened by an incredible opening.

[Solitary Wanderer]

Acts 1,2 & 3

[Novi]

Acts 1,2 & 3

Wow, this one's been getting quite a work out lately, SW .

[Harry]

Joseph Haydn

Schopfungsmesse.

Ann Monoyios, Soprano.
Barbara Holzl, Mezzo.
Jorg Hering, Tenor.
Harry van der Kamp, Bass.
Tolzer Knabenchor.
Tafelmusik/Bruno Weil.

I am in two minds, about this Mass. It seems to me a rougher ride than the previous volumes in this box.
The Choir sings more aggressively as usual, and that leads almost to some piped notes from the trebles. Not all the time mind, but just occasionally. Furthermore I am none to happy about the choice for the Mezzo, she simply does not fit in with the brittle Monoyios, who sings delightfull. Holzl simply sings to operatic, which is not in character with the piece. That said, it is still a beautiful performance that I prefer far above any other I have heard so far. And it will be a tough call to find anything better, at least to my ears. The recording is more direct, instead of laid back in the previous recordings, and I rather liked the last option.