What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[T-C]

Bax: Symphony No. 1, In the Faery Hills, The Garden of Fand

           David Lloyd-Jones/ Royal Scottish National Orchestra

[Harry]

Michael Haydn.

Symphonies.

No 34-39.

Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss/Johannes Goritzki

These are absolutely fine compositions, and in quality no less than Joseph's!
But the wonderful way in which they are played is nothing short of a miracle.
The sound is ravishing.

[Hector]

Today is St. Georges's day, not that I could care a flying f..., but it gives the neo-Nazis that infect this Great Nation of ours the opportunity to legitimately fly the Cross of St. George.

However, putting aside Mvarinsky's performance of Tchaikovsky's 5th on R3 ("Hey, Peter, can you repeat that theme again as I missed it on its 4th appeareance") even though it has an English connection in that it was recorded in Wembley Town Hall, I opted for Elgar's 'The Music Makers' that uses 'Nimrod' and themes from the violin concerto amongst others and Arnold's 3rd and 4th symphonies.

The first movement of the 4th is quite astonishing in juxtaposing different themes that vary between a sweeping melody that could have, easily, graced a Romantic Hollywood movie to, almost, bursting out with something akin to 'West Side Story.'

The writing for the percussion is of interest.

These are from Handley's recently reissued set on Decca. Accept no substitutes!

[Drasko]

[Don]

Bach's Goldberg Variations played by pianist David Popper on the Skarbo label.  Only 53 minutes because he omits the majority of repeats, but the performances are thoroughly enjoyable.  Fantastic clarity, articulation, balance of voices, and detail of musical lines.  The sound is top of the line also.

Popper does well with both Bach's bleak and exuberant variations.  However, where he's best is when he gives us "Bach the Boxer" as he punches, jabs and weaves this way through the music.  There's a lot of bold phrasing here with precision jabs and right hooks that will knock you off your feet.

[Choo Choo]

Now trying to work out why (apparently) the American Record Guide rated Heinz Rögner's Bruckner #5 as the best of all.

[Sergeant Rock]

Battle can be such a great singer, and we all know about the tenor. I haven't checked out Donizetti's works yet, and this looks like quite the credible purchase.

Hey, Andy. Actually, a safer bet would be to recommend Pavarotti's earlier performance on Decca with Joan Sutherland, Bonynge conducting. Although an analog recording from 1971 it actually sounds better than this '89 digital version and Pavarotti is in better voice. However, this one has Battle, and I adore Battle. She's often the deciding factor when I'm considering my favorite recordings: her Mahler Fourth with Maazel; her Don Giovanni (the Karajan recording we discussed in the opera forum); her Ariadne auf Naxos with Levine; this Elixer...you get my point.

This is a fun opera and has some intensely beautiful and moving moments too. For example, the second act's great tenor aria, Una furtiva lagrima, followed by the soprano aria, Prendi, per me sei libero. Kathleen will break your heart 

Sarge

[Harry]

Hans Huber.

Symphony No 3 opus 118, "Heroische"

Stuttgarter Philharmoniker/Jorg Peter Weigle.
Barbara Baier, Soprano in the fourth movement.
Stephan Leuthold, Organ.

I like this work very well. It has so much in it, that it will take me a while to figure out all the crevices. Colorful highly suggestive, even spiritual at times, but above very good melodies, that capture your imagination and fly with you to unknown shores.
The first movement "Adagio Molto" is very soft spoken, and inward. The second movement "Trauermarsch" is just that, very well done.
Then the "Totentanz" very bizar and in a highly romantic vein, fascination with dead it self.
The Finale, "Allegro con fuoco" is crampfull of idea's that float around, and bring you from one mood in the other very quickly, nevertheless gorgeous. This is one of my favourites from the complete set so far, still a few to go.
I suppose the orchestra is doing their utmost, and the sound engineers also, well it will do. That's all.
I could have done without the screaming soprano really!

[Sergeant Rock]

Now trying to work out why (apparently) the American Record Guide rated Heinz Rögner's Bruckner #5 as the best of all.

Because they didn't listen to Dohnányi/Cleveland? Or Furtwängler? Or Barenboim? If they did and dismissed them, that tells me all I need to know about the ARG Bruckner critic (or critics).

Sarge

[Choo Choo]

...or Schuricht or Abendroth or Wand or ...

Yes quite.

[Choo Choo]

(...not to mention Suitner  )

[Choo Choo]

(and Horenstein  )

[Haffner]

Hey, Andy. Actually, a safer bet would be to recommend Pavarotti's earlier performance on Decca with Joan Sutherland, Bonynge conducting. Although an analog recording from 1971 it actually sounds better than this '89 digital version and Pavarotti is in better voice. However, this one has Battle, and I adore Battle. She's often the deciding factor when I'm considering my favorite recordings: her Mahler Fourth with Maazel; her Don Giovanni (the Karajan recording we discussed in the opera forum); her Ariadne auf Naxos with Levine; this Elixer...you get my point.

This is a fun opera and has some intensely beautiful and moving moments too. For example, the second act's great tenor aria, Una furtiva lagrima, followed by the soprano aria, Prendi, per me sei libero. Kathleen will break your heart 

Sarge

Love Battle in general, and THANKS so much for the scoop on Battle doing Mahler's 4th, Sarge!

[Harry]

Ludolf Nielsen.

SQ No. 2 in C minor, opus 5.

Aros Quartet.

This is a all female Quartet, you don't see that to often, and boy are they good!
Tis stunning music Nielsen is producing. Thoroughly immersed into late romanticism, it makes for good listening.
It has a fine structure of intricate melodies, that hit you the moment they leave the score. It is already the fourth time I listen to these SQ, and they make me happy. Very good recording and performance.

[Daverz]

Because they didn't listen to Dohnányi/Cleveland? Or Furtwängler? Or Barenboim? If they did and dismissed them, that tells me all I need to know about the ARG Bruckner critic (or critics).

I don't think any Furtwängler Bruckner has good enough sound to be generally recommendable.  Non "hi-fi" recordings have never been mentioned in the overviews (Furtwängler's DG Schubert 9th was shortlisted in the Schubert overview).  The Dohnanyi recording is praised, but Donny Vroon doesn't like Dohnanyi's conducting ("some of us will never enjoy his objectified Bruckner"), so it doesn't get shortlisted.  The overview complains about too close placement and extraneous noise in the Barenboim recording.

[Sergeant Rock]

...or Schuricht or Abendroth or Wand or ...

Yes...

(...not to mention Suitner  )

yes...

(and Horenstein  )

and yes again.

Sarge

[Daverz]

The ARG Bruckner overview mentions Suitner and Horenstein, but dismisses them.

[Sergeant Rock]

I don't think any Furtwängler Bruckner has good enough sound to be generally recommendable.  Non "hi-fi" recordings have never been mentioned in the overviews

Okay, I can buy that. I don't usually recommend "historical" recordings either as a first choice.

The Dohnanyi recording is praised, but Donny Vroon doesn't like Dohnanyi's conducting ("some of us will never enjoy his objectified Bruckner"), so it doesn't get shortlisted.

Hmmm...."objectified Bruckner"...I don't know. I think it's the most overtly dramatic of any version I've heard. Dohnányi plays down the usual reverential, spiritual elements and gives us a full-blooded. hyper-Romantic experience. I wouldn't call that objective conducting.

The overview complains about too close placement and extraneous noise in the Barenboim recording.

Nitpicking? That seems a poor reason to discard it anyway.

I appreciate your post, Dave. Now I know some of the reasoning behind the choices made.

Sarge

[Charles]

1st exposure to these works ....

I am enjoying the Concert Music for Brass and Strings. I've read on Musicweb that the gem on this recording is the Violin Concerto.



Charles

[Harry]

Ludolf Nielsen.

SQ No. 3 opus 41 in C major.

Aros Quartet.