What are you listening to now?

[vandermolen]

It's hard to imagine a better introduction to Vaughan William's oeuvre than this, containing two of his most beloved works (Lark Ascending and Greensleeves) and what VW himself considered one of his finest works (Falstaff). Indeed, The composer himself wanted the last 3 movements played at his funeral. I was not aware of this, but the very fine liner notes (by our own Vandermolen  ) shed very useful light on the work's genesis. I did not know either that Holst closely followed the work's composition and attended all the orchestral rehearsals. Fine performances all around. Very good, refined sound with a wide and deep soundstage, which allows precise location of the percussion and brass instruments.

Thanks for the kind words André which are much appreciated 

Actually I was quite pleased with this release as I suggested to the CD company that Wordsworth's recording of 'Job' was an excellent one and worth reissuing. I also saved them by almost having an identical cover image to a recent Naxos release of 'The Lark Ascending' (as a result they changed the background colour). Maybe they should have listened to my suggestion of using one of William Blake's illustrations to Job! However, the Lark obviously is the more popular work. The CD is also interesting I think as it's the only one to include the poem on which 'The Lark Ascending' is based by Meredith. Yes, VW was lost after Holst died as they were good friends and he relied on Holst's musical advice. I like the idea that Vaughan Williams's Sixth Symphony is, in some respects, a tribute to his old friend as the second movement seems to show the influence of 'Mars' and the spectral finale has echoes of 'Saturn' and especially 'Neptune' from The Planets Suite.

[vandermolen]

Yes, a deeply moving and involving "journey" of a work indeed. That ending could hardly be more cathartic.

That Kamu recording of Symphony No.6 is one of the best performances of any Pettersson symphony that I know. It is also IMO one of his best symphonies along with 7 and 8 as well as the VC No.2 which is like a symphony in itself. Why was the Kamu never released on CD? (like Commissiona's DGG recording of the eighth symphony). I remember buying the LP at a record shop in Whitby whilst on holiday in the North of England. I recall the notes referring to the cathartic and very moving ending as 'the long struggle towards the sunrise'.

[Que]

Morning listening:

[asin]B000028CL1[/asin]
My 1st recording by this ensemble. Sofar so good... 

Q

[Harry]

Morning listening:

[asin]B000028CL1[/asin]
My 1st recording by this ensemble. Sofar so good... 

Q

I am glad you like it, for me it was a great surprise, hearing so much vocal perfection.

[Que]

I am glad you like it, for me it was a great surprise, hearing so much vocal perfection.

They also did some recordings on DG Archiv,  do you know any of those? 

Q

[Madiel]

I'm watching La Gioconda (by Ponchielli) on Operavision.

To be honest it will probably take me a couple of nights, an act at a time. Grand opera is more of a curiosity than a pleasure at this stage, but I very much appreciate Operavision as a means of trying it out.

Night two.

What I didn't mention is that the staging of this production (from La Monnaie/De Munt in Brussels) is pretty awful. I just watched the Dance of the Hours at the end of Act 3, which included a little simulation of rape or sexual assault. This added precisely nothing to my enjoyment. I may have to see if I can find the Fantasia version to improve my mood.

I get that La Gioconda has a dark plot. but they're hamming it up in ways that are bad as a substitute for, you know, building sets and things.

[Harry]

They also did some recordings on DG Archive,  do you know any of those? 

Q

No, I haven't been able to find them for reasonable prices, but must admit that I did not look for them for quite some time.

[Que]

No, I haven't been able to find them for reasonable prices, but must admit that I did not look for them for quite some time.

Thanks. 

Now:

[asin]B0000263XE[/asin]
Q

[Mandryka]

No, I haven't been able to find them for reasonable prices, but must admit that I did not look for them for quite some time.

I enjoy what they do, and I have quite a few of their recordings, music by Dufay, Busnois, Ockeghem and Josquin, but I didn't know about the Musica Vaticana CD, which I've just ordered. So thanks for pointing it out.

I have a transfer of their LP of Dufay's Missa Ancilla Domini, if anyone wants it they can send me a message,

[Andy D.]

I heard Petterson's Symphony no. 11 last night and it's the first thing I really liked by him. Now I'll probably have to give his other music more serious investigation. I believe it was the Dorati.

Had a wonderful time also watching/listening to Borodin's Prinz Igor for the first time, the performance filmed at the 2012 Sommernachtkonzert.

[Biffo]

Sibelius: Lemminkäinen and the Maidens of the Island (original version, 1896) - Sibelius revised his Lemminkäinen Suite several times, this is the first attempt - not all of the original version survives - probably for completists only though it is beautifully played by the Lahti Symphony Orchestra conducted by Osmo Vanska.

The daily super bargain from eclassical is Vol 1 - Tone Poems of the Sibelius Edition. I already have a lot of the content but there is enough to interest me including Vanska's Lemminkäinen Suite as a lossless download (I only had it as mp3).

Later -  Lemminkäinen in Tuonela - 1896 version –reconstruction based on the performing edition by Colin Davis (2004)

[ritter]

Some hyper-romantic chamber music: the Franck Piano Quintet in F minor and the Chausson String Quartet in C minor, op. 35. Played by the Quatuor Ludwig (with Michaël Levinas at the piano in the Franck).

[asin]B0000060CH[/asin]

[Traverso]

Wolfgang Rihm


Jagden und Formen "On the hunt for Form"

[Madiel]

Mahler, Des Knaben Wunderhorn



I actually have the Gielen Mahler box set, but this is the cover for the single disc. Many of the songs are first listens for me, a few are not. Blumine is also included as an instrumental break.

The whole disc is well thought out and seems thoroughly well done, but the goosebump moment is having Urlicht at the very end. It's gorgeous.

[Biffo]

Beethoven: Symphony No 3 in E flat major Eroica - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Herbert von Karajan - fine performance

[André]

Thanks for the kind words André which are much appreciated 

Actually I was quite pleased with this release as I suggested to the CD company that Wordsworth's recording of 'Job' was an excellent one and worth reissuing. I also saved them by almost having an identical cover image to a recent Naxos release of 'The Lark Ascending' (as a result they changed the background colour). Maybe they should have listened to my suggestion of using one of William Blake's illustrations to Job! However, the Lark obviously is the more popular work. The CD is also interesting I think as it's the only one to include the poem on which 'The Lark Ascending' is based by Meredith. Yes, VW was lost after Holst died as they were good friends and he relied on Holst's musical advice. I like the idea that Vaughan Williams's Sixth Symphony is, in some respects, a tribute to his old friend as the second movement seems to show the influence of 'Mars' and the spectral finale has echoes of 'Saturn' and especially 'Neptune' from The Planets Suite.

Very interesting, thanks Jeffrey! The Abravanel disc of VW 6 is waiting in the pile and I'll give due attention to these holstian vibes in mov II and IV. Thanks again! 

[Que]

Next:

[asin]B001435SFY[/asin]
Q

[André]

I heard Petterson's Symphony no. 11 last night and it's the first thing I really liked by him. Now I'll probably have to give his other music more serious investigation. I believe it was the Dorati.

Had a wonderful time also watching/listening to Borodin's Prinz Igor for the first time, the performance filmed at the 2012 Sommernachtkonzert.

For most Pettersson lovers, symphonies 6-9 are the kernel of his oeuvre. Personally, no 11 is the one I've been most taken with. Time for another listen, it must be 3 years since I last heard it. 

[vandermolen]

Very interesting, thanks Jeffrey! The Abravanel disc of VW 6 is waiting in the pile and I'll give due attention to these holstian vibes in mov II and IV. Thanks again! 

Greetings André. 
I think that it was the musicologist Stephen Johnson or possibly Michael Kennedy in his notes to the Haitink recording who made these Holst connections.  Johnson also suggested that the repeated two chords at the end of Symphony 6 (and I'm sure that you'll enjoy the Abravanel CD) were an 'unresolved 'Amen'' which does ring true to me - certainly very thought provoking.

[Florestan]

Light, airy, lilting --- galaxies apart from the subversive ideology Schumann's wild flight of imagination read in these works.