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#1
General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...
Last post by Harry - Today at 08:36:23 AMQuote from: Roasted Swan on Today at 08:23:44 AMHarry - our tastes are aligned on so much! Sadly with Ethel Smyth much less so...... I find much to admire in her sheer determination and perserverance but strikingly little in terms of real musical inspiration. For a political/social radical she is a musical conservative I reckon.
Well that's okay my friend, we match in much of the musical choices we make, so no harm done!
I will not say that her music is unique, it is conservative even, but her perseverance in trying to build a coherent and accessible portal in her musical thinking, is what draws me to her. So yes, not groundbreaking music but still brightness that oozes out of every pore, which I call musical inspiration. #2
Classical YouTube Video Library / Mozart - K. 478 - Piano Quarte...
Last post by W.A. Mozart - Today at 08:36:02 AMMozart composed this piece in 1785, when he was 29 years old.
He received a commission for three quartets in 1785 from the publisher Franz Anton Hoffmeister. Hoffmeister thought this quartet was too difficult and that the public would not buy it, so he released Mozart from the obligation of completing the set.
Hoffmeister's fear that the work was too difficult for amateurs was borne out by an article in the Journal des Luxus und der Moden published in Weimar in June 1788. The article highly praised Mozart and his work, but expressed dismay over attempts by amateurs to perform it:
"[as performed by amateurs] it could not please: everybody yawned with boredom over the incomprehensible tintamarre of 4 instruments which did not keep together for four bars on end, and whose senseless concentus never allowed any unity of feeling; but it had to please, it had to be praised! ... what a difference when this much-advertised work of art is performed with the highest degree of accuracy by four skilled musicians who have studied it carefully."
The assessment accords with a view widely held of Mozart in his own lifetime, that of a greatly talented composer who wrote very difficult music.
Performers: Beaux Arts Trio
Mozart - K. 478 - Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor (1785):
00:00 I. Allegro, in G minor
14:25 II. Andante, in B-flat major
21:21 III. Rondo (Allegro), in G major
He received a commission for three quartets in 1785 from the publisher Franz Anton Hoffmeister. Hoffmeister thought this quartet was too difficult and that the public would not buy it, so he released Mozart from the obligation of completing the set.
Hoffmeister's fear that the work was too difficult for amateurs was borne out by an article in the Journal des Luxus und der Moden published in Weimar in June 1788. The article highly praised Mozart and his work, but expressed dismay over attempts by amateurs to perform it:
"[as performed by amateurs] it could not please: everybody yawned with boredom over the incomprehensible tintamarre of 4 instruments which did not keep together for four bars on end, and whose senseless concentus never allowed any unity of feeling; but it had to please, it had to be praised! ... what a difference when this much-advertised work of art is performed with the highest degree of accuracy by four skilled musicians who have studied it carefully."
The assessment accords with a view widely held of Mozart in his own lifetime, that of a greatly talented composer who wrote very difficult music.
Performers: Beaux Arts Trio
Mozart - K. 478 - Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor (1785):
00:00 I. Allegro, in G minor
14:25 II. Andante, in B-flat major
21:21 III. Rondo (Allegro), in G major
#3
General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...
Last post by Roasted Swan - Today at 08:23:44 AMQuote from: Harry on Today at 07:38:53 AMEthel Smyth.
Orchestral Works.
Recorded: 1995 at Studio 7 New Broadcasting House, Manchester, UK.
See for further details back cover.
It is by now well known, that I am an admirer of her music, all the way. I bought this CD when it was released, and return after many years back to this gorgeous disc. Were there is so much music, this production stands out as a bright star, dazzling one's ears. A good solid performance and SOTA sound.
Harry - our tastes are aligned on so much! Sadly with Ethel Smyth much less so...... I find much to admire in her sheer determination and perserverance but strikingly little in terms of real musical inspiration. For a political/social radical she is a musical conservative I reckon.
#4
Great Recordings and Reviews / Re: Beethoven's Piano Sonatas
Last post by Madiel - Today at 08:14:49 AMQuote from: prémont on Today at 07:55:43 AMIndeed, she seems tailor-made for this business, yet she may be swiftly forgotten.
18 years is not a short career in popular music. Knock it off.
#5
Great Recordings and Reviews / Re: Chopin Recordings
Last post by (poco) Sforzando - Today at 08:05:52 AMQuote from: San Antone on February 18, 2024, 11:45:06 AMBy far my favorite recordings of Chopin's piano music is "The Real Chopin" box set, played on period pianos.
Why so? because it's played on period instruments, or because of some unique qualities of the interpretations?
#6
Great Recordings and Reviews / Re: Beethoven's Piano Sonatas
Last post by prémont - Today at 07:55:43 AMQuote from: AnotherSpin on Today at 04:00:40 AMNot pianists only. They create fictional galactic stars out of nothing, like Taylor Swift.
Indeed, she seems tailor-made for this business, yet she may be swiftly forgotten.
#7
Great Recordings and Reviews / Re: Chopin Recordings
Last post by (poco) Sforzando - Today at 07:52:09 AMQuote from: Mandryka on April 22, 2024, 09:48:09 PMAmusing comments from Lim in the booklet
https://static.qobuz.com/goodies/32/000169823.pdf
Phew! maybe he should stick to playing the piano. To me, op. 10/1 sounds like a study in major-key arpeggios accompanied by a deep bass, and 10/2 like a study in minor-key chromatic scales for the weaker 3-4-5 fingers. Etc.
#8
Great Recordings and Reviews / Re: Beethoven's Piano Sonatas
Last post by prémont - Today at 07:50:39 AMQuote from: Brian on Today at 05:27:51 AM..the fake Scholz Bach Brandenburgs.
These recordings have been issued under a plethora of pseudonyms. The most credible release I have encountered was indicated to be performed by the Hamburg Symphonisches Orchester, conducted by Gabor Ötvös - both are well-established and reputable names. However, the soloists were not credited.
#9
Great Recordings and Reviews / Re: Landmark performances of S...
Last post by Mandryka - Today at 07:48:34 AM
What a pleasant surprise - I like both of Holzmair's Schwanengesang recordings very much. Light barytone, both very nuanced and expressive, the second one (2014) is more "vocal" - the effect is of a suave and velvety vocal timbre and a lyrical style. The second also takes more time due, I would say, to tasteful and expressive suspensions.
Top tier Schwanengesænge.
#10
General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...
Last post by Harry - Today at 07:38:53 AMEthel Smyth.
Orchestral Works.
Recorded: 1995 at Studio 7 New Broadcasting House, Manchester, UK.
See for further details back cover.
It is by now well known, that I am an admirer of her music, all the way. I bought this CD when it was released, and return after many years back to this gorgeous disc. Were there is so much music, this production stands out as a bright star, dazzling one's ears. A good solid performance and SOTA sound.
Orchestral Works.
Recorded: 1995 at Studio 7 New Broadcasting House, Manchester, UK.
See for further details back cover.
It is by now well known, that I am an admirer of her music, all the way. I bought this CD when it was released, and return after many years back to this gorgeous disc. Were there is so much music, this production stands out as a bright star, dazzling one's ears. A good solid performance and SOTA sound.