What are you listening to now?

[Madiel]

Haydn, Missa brevis in F.

The 1749 original, followed by the 1805 revision.

[asin]B002IVRBBU[/asin]

The 1805 version completes my first run through this box.  Which, according to my self-imposed rules, means I'm now clear to make new classical purchases.

[Dee Sharp]

Bernstein Symphony No. 2.  "Age of Anxiety" Entremont/Bernstein/NYP. Given all the turmoil going on in the US now, this seemed like a topical choice. I like this recording better than Bernstein's later one for DG. Entremont is driven. And excellent sound for 1965.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Richard Mills: Double Concerto for clarinet, violin and chamber orchestra. Don't know who is playing it as I got the file from a USB without details as to the performers.

[San Antone]

[NikF]

Brahms: Klavierstücke Op. 118 - Grimaud.

[asin]B0001CKQXS[/asin]

e: followed by
Brahms: String Quintet No.2 Op.111 - Hagen Quartett/Causse.

[Mirror Image]

Schoenberg Verklärte Nacht, Chailly conducting the RSO Berlin




Sarge

What do you think of Chailly's cycle, Sarge? So far I have Bernstein (DG), Haitink (partial Berliner cycle), and Abbado (complete DG cycle) ripped on my iPod. Definitely will be ripping the Levine recordings once I get them.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Four Last Songs, AV 150. One of my favorite recordings in my collection. Popp and Tennstedt are absolutely exquisite from start to finish. The emotional commitment from all involved is awe-inspiring and a real treat to hear.

[Ken B]

What do you think of Chailly's cycle, Sarge? So far I have Bernstein (DG), Haitink (partial Berliner cycle), and Abbado (complete DG cycle) ripped on my iPod. Definitely will be ripping the Levine recordings once I get them.

I am a big fan of the Chailly cycle. Deliberate tempos overall. Gorgeous playing. Great sound. In terms of sound and quality one of the best sets.

[Mirror Image]

I am a big fan of the Chailly cycle. Deliberate tempos overall. Gorgeous playing. Great sound. In terms of sound and quality one of the best sets.

Thanks, Ken. I remember being absolutely impressed with his 3rd many years ago. I don't remember much about the other performances in his cycle. Which symphonies do you think he does the best in?

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Mainly for Mahler 7, although the first piece on this recording is an interesting discovery for me which I will listen to properly another time.

[Mirror Image]

Mainly for Mahler 7, although the first piece on this recording is an interesting discovery for me which I will listen to properly another time.

What do you think of that performance, Jessop?

Now playing:



A new acquisition. Absolutely enthralling! Santa Fe Listener on Amazon gave this recording a bad review, which usually always translates to me enjoying the recording.

[SimonNZ]

Toivo Tulev's Black Mirror - Michael Wendeberg, cond.

Live: World Premiere, 21 October 2016, Estonia Hall, Tallinn, AFEKT International Contemporary Music Festival

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7Bn_NHAQQI

[anothername]

Just finished this one!

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

What do you think of that performance, Jessop?

I hadn't heard it before but it's very good. It is very grand but not quite as grand as Sinopoli's. The thing about this symphony is how much the tempi vary in each interpretation. Chailly takes his time to the most wonderful effect I have heard in the more lyrical subjects in the exposition and recapitulation and the changes tempo are imperceptible, almost like Elliott Carter and his metric modulation. The only thing about this interpretation is that there are times in some of the most heroic or climactic moments of the first movement that it feels a bit restraint. Perhaps because Chailly views things on more of a macro level in terms of the underlying pace of the movement. Personally I think that there could have been a bit more variety in the phrasing in these moments in the work, but the way Chailly builds up from 23:48 to 24:03 is absolutely thrilling. The middle movements are all pretty good to me, but where this interpretation really shines is in the finale where the fast pace is really complemented by wonderful micro-phrasing and really obvious articulations and accents that bring the movement to life. Around the 2nd minute and the 3rd minute of the last movement this is really apparent, with the music always seeming to be moving forwards to the next idea, the next colour, the next mood, in what always sounds like a logical fashion. The timpani+trumpet combination sound bright and dazzling, and the last couple of minutes (which are my favourite last minutes in any Mahler symphony) have that kind of heightened passion and intensity that I felt was missing at times in the recap/coda of the first movement.

Now listening to some wonderful French music........

[GioCar]

Indeed, I've been fixated with Nono's music as of late  . I've always very much admired his "orthodox Darmstadt" music, but am now reappreciating his later, "quietist" period.

I still haven't heard Da un diario italiano. Your comment makes that CD go straight to my wishlist, GioCar.   

Saluti cordiali,

Very glad for that, you won't be disappointed.
We all would need to listen to Nono's voice much more now, in our dark times...Have you ever heard / see Intolleranza 1960?
I really wish I had the chance to see it staged live at least once.

Saludos cordiales 

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Ah, Luigi Nono is one composer I haven't yet really come to love, hopefully I will soon seeing that his music is much admired here! Any recommendations as to where to start?

[GioCar]

EML

Frescobaldi: CD2 from his Opera Omnia

[asin]B005910DMA[/asin]

Wow! Wonderful music! In CD2 there is the 1637 appendix of his "Toccate e partite, libro 1 - 1615", that one with the monumental and glorious "Cento partite su passacagli" (more than 100 variations on a passacaglia bass - in 10 minutes of music!).
All the rest in that CD is absolutely amazing as well, a sort of preparation to this Frescobaldi pinnacle.

[GioCar]

Ah, Luigi Nono is one composer I haven't yet really come to love, hopefully I will soon seeing that his music is much admired here! Any recommendations as to where to start?

If I were you, I'd go straight to Prometeo - Tragedia dell'ascolto. I recommend this recording (altough a live/staged experience could be a lifetime one)

[asin]B000VKW79G[/asin]
The second part of the title (tragedy of listening) is almost always omitted, but is the true key of this masterpiece

If "it clicks" for you, you are going to be a Nonian for the rest of your life 

PS thanks for you very interesting review of Mahler 7 with Chailly.

[Crassus]

A fascinating arrangement for String Trio by Sitkovetsky of Bach's magisterial keyboard magnum opus.
Different but still retains the essence of the original.

[asin]B00570JXNI[/asin]

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

If I were you, I'd go straight to Prometeo - Tragedia dell'ascolto. I recommend this recording (altough a live/staged experience could be a lifetime one)

[asin]B000VKW79G[/asin]
The second part of the title (tragedy of listening) is almost always omitted, but is the true key of this masterpiece

If "it clicks" for you, you are going to be a Nonian for the rest of your life 

PS thanks for you very interesting review of Mahler 7 with Chailly.

Hm I can't find that on Spotify or YouTube..........anything else I could start with?