What are you listening to now?

[Sergeant Rock]

Well, if she also chose Pinnock 1...A splendid recording, I think.

She did, and it is. I wanted to hear Egarr but couldn't find it....so her choice played while I hunted.

Thread Duty:

Schumann Piano Trio No.3 G minor played by Faust, Queyras and Melnikov




Sarge

[Mahlerian]

Takemitsu: Spirit Garden for orchestra
Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony, cond. Wakasugi


Takemitsu: Garden Rain for brass ensemble
Philip Jones Brass Ensemble


Takemitsu: A Bird Came Down the Walk
Kaori Kimura, Fumiko Kai


Debussy: Sonata for flute, viola, and harp
Wolfgang Schulz, Wolfram Christ, Margit-Anna Suess

[Mirror Image]

Martinu: Symphony No. 4

Giving this a spin having listened to N. Jarvi's account recently.

And what do you think of this performance, Keep Going?

[SimonNZ]

Debussy's Preludes, book one - Monique Haas, piano

[Keep Going]

And what do you think of this performance, Keep Going?

The Tennstedt 4th is excellent. In particular, the largo is paced beautifully.

I may be wrong, but the N. Jarvi / Bamberg appears to bring out those soaring violin lines in the slow movement just that little bit more. Also, in the allergo vivo, the percussive rhythms feel somewhat more pronounced, without taking the music faster than Tennstedt.

My neutral assessment would be that both readings are quite worthwhile. A more discerning listener than I might be able to, uh, discern in further detail.

[Mirror Image]

The Tennstedt 4th is excellent. In particular, the largo is paced beautifully.

I may be wrong, but the N. Jarvi / Bamberg appears to bring out those soaring violin lines in the slow movement just that little bit more. Also, in the allergo vivo, the percussive rhythms feel somewhat more pronounced, without taking the music faster than Tennstedt.

My neutral assessment would be that both readings are quite worthwhile. A more discerning listener than I might be able to, uh, discern in further detail.

Thanks for your feedback. A lot of people are quite impressed with Jarvi's cycle on BIS, but I remain on the fence about his cycle. I think Thomson on Chandos and Belohlavek on Onyx have done a remarkable job in their respective cycles and I suppose I can't help but to feel an even greater attachment to Thomson's cycle since it was my first.

A side note: I didn't really like Martinu too much the first time I heard his music. I listen to his Symphony No. 1 and was just scratching my head the entire time, but soon enough his music clicked for me and he has remained a solid favorite of mine for many years now.

[prémont]

Well, if she also chose Pinnock 1, her powers are almost supernatural. 

A splendid recording, I think.

Yes, even if the continuos emergence of all kind of Brandenburg concerto recordings make status difficult to access (much time is needed), it is still my favorite along with the Linde Consort.

[SimonNZ]

Bach's Brandenburg Concertos - Cafe Zimmermann

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Sinfonia Concertante. i adore this work. There are no other words.

[Todd]

Book I.  Levinas states in the accompanying interview that he strove for a 'rounded' sound, and one that, at times, is 'vocal' in nature.  His heavy use of the sustain and una corda pedals certainly results in a rounded sound in many pieces, with washes of colorful sound to tickle the ear.  The vocal aspect is less obvious, but appears from time to time.  The E flat minor Prelude stands out, sounding like either a solemn religious devotional hymn or a tender dirge.  At times, he plays fast and articulate and with notable dynamic range, but other times the playing is restricted.  The reverberant recording - though the amount of reverb varies - contributes to the overall feel of the set.  Most enjoyable, and in line with Levinas being a pianist of ideas as evidenced by his LvB and Debussy.  Three CDs of Book II await.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening the VC. Fine performance from Mordkovitch/Jarvi.

[Keep Going]

Poulenc: Organ Concerto

[Mahlerian]

Boulez: Pli selon pli
Christine Schaefer, Ensemble InterContemporain, cond. Boulez

[andolink]

Charles Wuorinen: Piano Concerto No. 4
Peter Serkin, piano
Boston Symphony Orchestra/James Levine



First listenings to the 4th Piano Concerto and 8th Symphony a little while earlier. The piano concerto struck me as an out and out masterpiece of contemporary American music. Both the performance and recorded sound of the concerto seemed superior to the symphony which suffers from a quite noticeably limited width of soundstage making the orchestra sound a bit congested. But again, these are first impressions so take them with a grain of salt.

[Todd]

8.

[Kontrapunctus]

A Mozart day.



Followed by disc 3--the F major Sonatas.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Symphonies Nos. 1 & 6. Totally awesome.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

The other day Mirror Image accused me of not being a big fan of the Late Romantic. So now it is time for me to prove him wrong by listening to some of my favourite composers from this wonderful style.

[Mirror Image]

The other day Mirror Image accused me of not being a big fan of the Late Romantic. So now it is time for me to prove him wrong by listening to some of my favourite composers from this wonderful style.

Very good! Carry on!

Now playing this new acquisition:



Listening to the Chamber Symphony. It's hard to pin-down who this sounds like exactly --- it's almost like a hybrid of Shostakovich, Schnittke, Prokofiev, and even some Britten.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Boulez: Pli selon pli
Christine Schaefer, Ensemble InterContemporain, cond. Boulez

Definitely the best version