What are you listening 2 now?

[Christo]

Vintage Kodály, the finest performances that I know, those from the 1970s under Antal Dorati:

[Spotted Horses]

I'm continuing to wander through this set, now listening to the Moments musicaux, in Ruth Laredo's recording.



The music belies the canard that Rachmaninoff's compositions are made up of pianistic pyrotechnics. In particular, No 3 in b minor contains achingly beautiful, poignantly dissonant harmonies.

[Karl Henning]

Robert Russell Bennett
Old American Dances
Down to the Sea in Ships
Four Preludes
Symphonic Songs
Autobiography
RNCM Wind Orchestra
Clark Rundell & Mark Heron

Bennett's brand of Americana reminds me of Don Gillis.
VS


Electric Park, Kansas City MO

I really hope that Ensemble Aubade upload one of their performances of RRB's Seven Postcards to Old Friends (they found the MS. in the Library of Congress. It's a charming set.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Bax: Cello Sonata.



... Not star of the show though as that accolade goes to Arnold Bax! At an hour of symphonic listening my admittedly short attention span is on the wane and it would take something special to perk me up (so to speak ). Middle movement of the Bax Cello Sonata is stunningly beautiful.

Hi Irons,

Well, after digging around (both in LPs and CDs), no Bax Cello Sonata.    I did find it on Youtube though (with Bernard Gregor-Smith and Yolande Wrigley which I think someone here posted listening to recently as the cover looked familiar).

I've been enjoying it.     Perfect music for a rainy/cloudy day.

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Of the Kalevala - Kalevalasta - Ur Kalevla (Finnish Sketches)

Thanks...I'll look into it. 

PD

[Spotted Horses]

I've also been dipping into Savall's recording of Bach's musical offering,



Based on listening to this music years ago, I tend to think of it as dry and academic, but under Savall is sparkles.

[Todd]

Sweet Suite No 2.

[SonicMan46]

Beethoven - Keyboard Sonatas - finishing my selective perusal of my collection w/ the two below today (own 4 sets total, Annie Fischer & Wilhelm Kempff, stereo, the others) - probably will not make any changes; need one PI performance and feel that Brautigam is the best available, as attested by the reviews attached for those interested (BUT if not at least look at the fun comments by Bob Greenberg, the Great Courses music guru).  Dave

 

[DavidW]

Beethoven - Keyboard Sonatas - finishing my selective perusal of my collection w/ the two below today (own 4 sets total, Annie Fischer & Wilhelm Kempff, stereo, the others) - probably will not make any changes; need one PI performance and feel that Brautigam is the best available, as attested by the reviews attached for those interested (BUT if not at least look at the fun comments by Bob Greenberg, the Great Courses music guru).  Dave

 

Can't go wrong with Gulda!

[Florestan]

I'm continuing to wander through this set, now listening to the Moments musicaux, in Ruth Laredo's recording.



The music belies the canard that Rachmaninoff's compositions are made up of pianistic pyrotechnics. In particular, No 3 in b minor contains achingly beautiful, poignantly dissonant harmonies.

Whoever claimed that was an irredeemable idiot.

[Que]

Beethoven - Keyboard Sonatas - finishing my selective perusal of my collection w/ the two below today (own 4 sets total, Annie Fischer & Wilhelm Kempff, stereo, the others) - probably will not make any changes; need one PI performance and feel that Brautigam is the best available, as attested by the reviews attached for those interested (BUT if not at least look at the fun comments by Bob Greenberg, the Great Courses music guru).  Dave

It's interesting to read how some reviewers struggle with their prejudices towards fortepianos. Is Brautigam successful despite playing a fortepiano or because of it? Does the instrument matter at all? Who knows? 

[prémont]

Beethoven - Keyboard Sonatas - finishing my selective perusal of my collection w/ the two below today (own 4 sets total, Annie Fischer & Wilhelm Kempff, stereo, the others) - probably will not make any changes; need one PI performance and feel that Brautigam is the best available, as attested by the reviews attached for those interested (BUT if not at least look at the fun comments by Bob Greenberg, the Great Courses music guru).  Dave

 

I think your collection represents Beethoven's piano sonatas quite well. Annie Fischer and Kempff II rank among my favorites. While Gulda doesn't appeal to me — I would favor others such as Backhaus, Eric Heidsieck, Claude Frank, or Paul Badura-Skoda — it's ultimately a question of individual taste. With Brautigam's fortepiano performances, you're well off. Therefore, unless the versions you possess don't suit your taste, or you have a particular fascination with Beethoven's piano sonatas, or you're an aspiring completist, there's no need for extra acquisitions.

[prémont]

It's interesting to read how some reviewers struggle with their prejudices towards fortepianos. Is Brautigam successful despite playing a fortepiano or because of it? Does the instrument matter at all? Who knows? 

Artistically, there is no great differencee between Badura-Skoda's two recordings (PI and MI), but the period instruments make the PI version more appealing to me. So the instrument matter to me. Others may feel differently.

[Florestan]

it's ultimately a question of individual taste.

This is the ultimate question in anything.

My favorite rendition of the Andante cantabile from Tchaikovsky's First SQ is this:

It's as HIP as it gets, vibratissimo portamento and all (if in doubt, google it).

I very much doubt Tchaikovsky would have approved of the Dudok's version, let alone imagine Leo Tolstoy weeping over the self-same...

[Florestan]

SQ No. 1

Meh!!!

Vibrato-less, feeling-less, metallic-cum-strident sound.

Fans of genuine Tchaikovsky, avoid!

[prémont]

— it's ultimately a question of individual taste.

This is the ultimate question in anything.

Yes, indeed - in cases like this.

[Christo]

Time and again, as I don't have time for listening to music for months in a row, but still find some during a few car tours: Ruth Gipps, Symphony no. 3 (1965), one of the most wonderful symphonies I know, and indeed the very best "Third" I know. Listened to it again this morning while touring through neigbouring Germany, and was overwhelmed again: simply superb.

Let me add the picture, not a bad portrait of her either:

[Cato]

Concerning my catching of a part of Au Jardins de Marguerite by Ducasse this morning on the radio:

Indeed, a couple of weeks ago.

https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,29166.msg1559672.html#msg1559672

It is a large  one hour symphonic poem with chorus and solo voices . lyrics by the composer , after Goethe.

So somebody at that radio station really enjoys the work!  It would be unusual to program it again after only a month!

[Cato]

Let me add the picture, not a bad portrait of her either:

Available on YouTube in 4 sections:

[Lisztianwagner]

Ludwig van Beethoven
Missa Solemnis

Otto Klemperer & New Philharmonia Orchestra