What are you listening to now?

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Cheers. Interestingly, and just as a by the way, Fetes is my least favoured of the Three Nocturnes.

That's because you're not listening to Paray!   

[Roasted Swan]

I could just walk upstairs to the attic, pick it up and type the forces, but I'm too lazy for that, so here it is:





    Artwork [Ceramics On Photo] – Václav Šerák
    Booklet Editor [Cover Editor] – Dana Melanová
    Chorus – Kühnův Dětský Sbor (tracks: D1), Pražský Filharmonický Sbor* (tracks: D1)
    Chorus Master – Jiří Chvála (tracks: D1), Josef Veselka (tracks: D1)
    Conductor – Václav Neumann
    Contralto Vocals – Christa Ludwig (tracks: C2, D1)
    Design [Cover Design] – Josef Zich
    Engineer – Stanislav Sýkora
    Orchestra – Česká Filharmonie*
    Photography By [Cover Photo] – Antonín Vodák
    Recording Supervisor – Milan Slavický
    Sleeve Notes – Vladimír Lébl
    Sleeve Notes [Translations] – Hana Tomková, Joy Kadečková, Kamil Šlapák

This was one of the very earliest Supraphon digital recordings and I remember it being well received at the time.  I rate the entire Neumann/Czech PO/Mahler cycle - especially if you are not into 'epic' heaven-storming Mahler.  So in the early Wunderhorn Symphonies his more lyrical approach pays real dividends.  Helped greatly in the choral sections by the excellence of the Czech soloists (in Nos.2&4) and the quality of the choral singing.  Of course having a Mahler singer of the stature of Christa Ludwig here is a major bonus too.  Very strongly recommended......

[Roasted Swan]

Many thanks for input, Roasted Swan too. All a matter of taste but generally I prefer Boult to the more heart on sleeve Barbirolli approach. I was struck by how noble the Boult account of the Fantasia, although it is one of Barbirolli's most famous recordings I preferred Boult.

Another famous recording is Silvestri's EMI RVW/Elgar. "In the South" received rave reviews but I confess to be unmoved by it. Because of this I have given the coupling Tallis and "The Wasps" short shift. After your advocacy I will give the Fantasia a spin at the first opportunity.

Yes indeed - the Silvestri/Tallis is definitely worth a relisten - recorded in the ideal (for this work) acoustic of Winchester Cathedral I recall.......

[aligreto]

Britten: Phaedra [Whitfield]





This is the only version of this work that I own but I find it to be a compelling performance. Felicity Palmer sings with strong conviction and the performance is infused with tension and drama. It is an electric and atmospheric performance throughout.

[aligreto]

That's because you're not listening to Paray!   

[aligreto]

This was one of the very earliest Supraphon digital recordings and I remember it being well received at the time.  I rate the entire Neumann/Czech PO/Mahler cycle - especially if you are not into 'epic' heaven-storming Mahler.  So in the early Wunderhorn Symphonies his more lyrical approach pays real dividends.  Helped greatly in the choral sections by the excellence of the Czech soloists (in Nos.2&4) and the quality of the choral singing.  Of course having a Mahler singer of the stature of Christa Ludwig here is a major bonus too.  Very strongly recommended......

Thank you for the input which was most interesting.

[HIPster]

Playing this morning:

[asin]B00J587LG4[/asin]

[asin]B01K8L9UVK[/asin]

[asin]B017IWGGUA[/asin]

On a Roberta Invernizzi kick at the moment (easy for me to do!). 

Related: has anyone heard this recent release:

[asin]B07LD35FBH[/asin]
Seems to be a reissue.

[ritter]

Great, vibrant music!

Indeed. This recent homage to Boulez at the Monday Evening Concerts in LA, reviewed here, was rather aptly titled « Élégance Brutale »  . BTW, can anyone spot the journalist's lapsus memoriae in the text? 

Good day to you, cher baron.

[SonicMan46]

McEwen, John (1868-1948) - Violin Sonatas w/ Charlier & Tozer - just arrived 'used' CD w/ pristine surface - excellent MusicWeb Review, for those interested.

Rubbra, Edmund (1901-1986) - Symphonies w/ Richard Hickox and the BBC NO of Wales; MusicWeb Reviews of the individual discs included in the 5-CD ' double jewel box' - starting w/ the first two discs today.  Dave

 

[Karl Henning]

"Wolferl"
Symphony in C, K.200
Symphony in A, K.201
Symphony in D, K.202
RCO
Harnoncourt

[aligreto]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 [Rosbaud]





The opening movement is a very lyrical, buoyant affair with an added touch of poignancy in there too. The strings are full and rich in the meditative second movement which yields up a wonderfully atmospheric presence. The third movement is a very exciting affair and it is given a strong, exuberant  performance here. The Final movement is very interesting for its sonic textures which are very well presented here.

[André]

Bach cantatas, vol 8. Ridiculously short timing for a 2 cd set (78 minutes), but since these now sell for a song on the marketplace, I can't complain. Bach had an incredible capacity to reinvent himself.

[André]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 [Rosbaud]





The opening movement is a very lyrical, buoyant affair with an added touch of poignancy in there too. The strings are full and rich in the meditative second movement which yields up a wonderfully atmospheric presence. The third movement is a very exciting affair and it is given a strong, exuberant  performance here. The Final movement is very interesting for its sonic textures which are very well presented here.

Many years ago, when considering a first ever purchase of the 7th symphony I hesitated between that Rosbaud LP (which I now have a cd of) and this one, by Schuricht - which I bought:



They are very different interpretations, Rosbaud's classical, apollonian vision to Schuricht's intense, bluff and burly  interpretation.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Bach cantatas, vol 8. Ridiculously short timing for a 2 cd set (78 minutes), but since these now sell for a song on the marketplace, I can't complain. Bach had an incredible capacity to reinvent himself.

How often do you see "AAD." One of the very early CD releases that duplicated Vol 8 of the LP series. In those days CDs were limited to 72 minutes. Amazing how value per price has improved.

[Karl Henning]

"Wolferl"
Symphony in D, K.297
Symphony in B^b, K.319
Symphony in C, K.338
RCO
Harnoncourt

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

"Wolferl"
Symphony in D, K.297
Symphony in B^b, K.319
Symphony in C, K.338
RCO
Harnoncourt

I think you're overdosing on Wolfgang Amadeus! 

[Florestan]

I think you're overdosing on Wolfgang Amadeus! 

It is my profound conviction that Mozart is the highest, the culminating point which beauty has reached in the sphere of music. Nobody has made me cry and thrill with joy, sensing my proximity to something that we call the ideal, in the way that he has....

--- Пётр Ильи́ч

[Kontrapunctus]

Stunning.

[Florestan]

Chopin - Variations on La ci darem la mano

Recorded live, and I was in attendance. 

[ritter]

It is my profound conviction that Mozart is the highest, the culminating point which beauty has reached in the sphere of music. Nobody has made me cry and thrill with joy, sensing my proximity to something that we call the ideal, in the way that he has....

--- Пётр Ильи́ч

A tad cursi, good old Пётр Ильи́ч, no? 

Good evening, Andrei,