What are you listening to now?

[amw]

I didn't know this one and your description was intriguing, so I'm listening now. The timings immediately suggest I'll like it (I guess Mehta is no Bruno Walter, but whatever) and the LA Phil sounds great.

I like Neumann (Leipzig) and Kondrashin and Walter but not really anyone else in this symphony so far, including Mehta's other recording in New York. Will see how this one goes though.

Was good! Sort of like Solti, but less... Solti.




The D major sextet is on a higher level of invention and inspiration than any other work I've heard by Eduard Franck, in my view, and probably close in quality (and style, and temperament) to the Mendelssohn string quintets. Ok, maybe it's basically Mendelssohn's A major quintet in a different key with more instruments. Still though, I'm glad to have discovered it.

[aligreto]

Geminiani: Concerti Grossi Nos. 7-12 [Banchini]....





Lively, energetic and engaging music that also has a meditative element to it. Excellent performances in excellent recordings. Of particular note is the accompaniment to Concerto No. 12.

[millionrainbows]

Not 'easy' listening, but rewarding.

The Harbison is contrapuntal, melodic, not really what I would call serial, yet not the run-of-the-mill harmonic tonality. It is very interesting listening.
The Wernick seems to be the most 'serial' in its approach to what happens vertically in the harmony; very dissonant combinations.
The Gunther Schuller is uncompromising, yet harmonic; I can hear traces of b9 and 'jazz' sounding dominants, but not cloying or obvious. Some of the dense vertical structures are fascinating-sounding.

Mine has the newer cover art.

[aligreto]

More Bach, but an LP this time. Wonderful playing and sound.

I would like that one in my vinyl collection 
I must look out for it.

[aligreto]

Played today:

The only one that I know is the Herreweghe Brahms Requiem which is superb.
I love the artwork on the first two.

[Karl Henning]

Stravinsky
Canticum Sacrum ad Honorem Sancti Marci Nominis (1955)

[North Star]

Stravinsky
Canticum Sacrum ad Honorem Sancti Marci Nominis (1955)

Good day, Karl!   And a good idea -

Stravinsky
Canticum Sacrum
The Choir of Westminster Cathedral
John Mark Ainsley (T), Stephen Roberts (Bt)
Iain Simcock (org)
City of London Sinfonietta
James O'Donnell
[asin]B000002ZO4[/asin]

[eljr]

The Crossing / Donald Nally
John Luther Adams: Canticles of the Holy Wind

Release Date May 12, 2017
Duration01:06:20
Genre
Classical
Styles
Choral
Recording Date
Recording Location
St. Peter's in the Great Valley, Malvern, PA

[Karl Henning]

Good day, Karl!   And a good idea -

Stravinsky
Canticum Sacrum
The Choir of Westminster Cathedral
John Mark Ainsley (T), Stephen Roberts (Bt)
Iain Simcock (org)
City of London Sinfonietta
James O'Donnell
[asin]B000002ZO4[/asin]

Well done!

While it feels somehow disloyal to say so, I think that the performance in the Stravinsky's Own box is quite clearly the weakest of the four I have. 

[SonicMan46]

Bach, JS - Goldberg Variations - new arrival on harpsichord w/ Ignacio Prego (a Dubins MUST recommendation - see attachment), and one of my non-standard versions, i.e. Homecoming Woodwind Ensemble (modern instruments, i.e. 2 oboes, cor anglais, & bassoon) (short review also attached) - believe that I have over a dozen recordings of the Goldbergs, mostly harpsichord or piano, but also clavichord, guitar, harp, wind ensemble (now playing), and string trio - of course, there are plenty of MORE options -   Dave

 

[aligreto]

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 [Lill]....

[North Star]

Well done!

While it feels somehow disloyal to say so, I think that the performance in the Stravinsky's Own box is quite clearly the weakest of the four I have.

I did wonder why you chose to listen to that recording.

Thread duty - First listen
Hindemith
String Quartet No. 3 in C major, Op. 16 (1920)
Amar Quartet
[asin]B01N7J61FU[/asin]

[Mahlerian]

Well done!

While it feels somehow disloyal to say so, I think that the performance in the Stravinsky's Own box is quite clearly the weakest of the four I have.

So, I'm not crazy then?

Bartok: String Quartet No. 2
Alban Berg Quartet
[asin]B000F2C92K[/asin]

Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Cluytens
[asin]B000FOTHC8[/asin]

[aligreto]

Volans: Symphony: Daar kom die Alibama....





A first listen. This work has a very interesting soundscape comprising interesting and intriguing orchestral sonorities and textures. There are some very good [and, for me, challenging] musical ideas in there. I also like the understated tone of the work.

[Todd]

Mischa Maisky and Sergio Tiempo deliver some rich and robustly romantic Mendelssohn.  They are not afraid to stretch some music out or to push music, and they both deliver no matter what.  Maisky cedes the spotlight on multiple occasions to the obviously very talented Tiempo.  Tiempo's Mendelssohn flows beautifully, making me think he might do just swell in other rep, but perusing his thin discography reveals there's not a lot out there.  His duos with his sister don't interest me, and really only his "Martha Argerich Presents" disc holds much attraction.  Maisky is Maisky.  Is the disc too romanticized?  Maybe.  Doesn't matter.

[aligreto]

[asin]B000FOTHC8[/asin]

That is a set that I have long admired.

[kishnevi]

First encounter with this composer (I think)

Contents


The liner notes are rather vague and effusive. If anyone is familiar enough with Scelsi to answer this, please speak up:
In the Suite No. 9, the movements representing IX and X are missing. Did Scelsi not compose them, or did the pianist choose not to record them. The liner notes give no hint of an answer.

[aligreto]

R Strauss: Four Last Songs [sung by Cheryl Studer]....

[Ken B]

Well done!

While it feels somehow disloyal to say so, I think that the performance in the Stravinsky's Own box is quite clearly the weakest of the four I have.

I find that is often the case. Les Noces especially.

[SonicMan46]

Haydn, Joseph - String Quartets, Op. 54/55 w/ the London Haydn Quartet - a continuation of their chronological exploration of Papa's SQs - this 2CD set recorded in November 2015 - I own all up to this point and suspect the next one soon; attached are three reviews, two excellent and one somewhat unexpected from AllMusic (the reviewer has downrated a number of the other SQ releases of this group, esp. Op. 33).  Dave