What are you listening to now?

[Kontrapunctus]

I don't know about Sibelius' "Finlandia," but the other works sound great in these arrangements. I was initially puzzled as to why it took 3 guitars to play Albenez' "Leyenda," which works fine on one guitar, but this is a wild re-imagining of the piece.

[Traverso]

The only Brendel I own ... I'm otherwise allergic to his playing... but he just really has a knack for Schubert, it can't be denied

Great record!

[Harry]

You're right, Harry. I had forgotten the military ranks! 

Anyway, full disclosure: I was a member for a very short time, and I was always kindly treated by Rod and his troop. 

Well I even made it to the top, becoming a full fledge General no less. And I was only for a short time on Rod's forum.
But yes he always treated me with respect too.

[Harry]

Onslow, Georges - String Quintets w/ the Elan Quintet - my newest acquisitions of this composer; recordings recent (2015-17) - Onslow wrote 34 'String Quintets' (from his Op. 1 to Op. 82 - more information HERE in one of the Onslow threads); he also composed 36 'String Quartets'.  Dave

   

I am impatiently waiting for volume IV.

[Kontrapunctus]

Very well played.

[prémont]

Well I even made it to the top, becoming a full fledge General no less. And I was only for a short time on Rod's forum.
But yes he always treated me with respect too.

Even I posted there for a short time, but I can't beat your rank, Harry. And I was always treated with respect. In this respect (pun intended) it is a rather pleasant forum.

[André]

I was very doubtful about this set. A friend of mine brought it to me last week. 14 discs of harp concertos, chamber music and salon pieces.

Lily Laskine was to the harp what Marie-Claire Alain, Maurice André and Jean-Pierre Rampal were to the organ, the trumpet and the flute respectively. All four of them megastars and all four Erato artists. The 1963 recording of Mozart's flute and harp concerto is the biggest seller of any classical music disc made in France, ever. According to the liner notes, Laskine's harp playing is instantly recognizable. I can't argue, as I don't know much about the harp or other harpists. Xavier de Maistre, Nicanor Zabaleta - any others?

I've listened to the first four discs and I can say there was not a dull moment in these 4 hours of fine music (yes!) and extremely characterful playing. Laskine's harp vocalizes and sings. Quite amazing. When playing chamber music her sound blends in the textures beautifully. There is no attempt at spotlighting (sound engineers) or scene stealing. You can count on french composers to achieve perfect balance between instruments. Elegance and refinement rule.

The earliest performance here is from 1929, the last from 1981 (she was 88, died at 94). During the stereo era Erato chained her to her harp to re-record all her repertoire. Multiple versions of the flute and harp concerto (5), Ravel Introduction and Allegro (3), Debussy Danses sacrées et profanes and Sonata for flute, viola and harp (3), Pierné Concertstück, Handel concerto (2) etc. Works by unknown, little known or forgotten composers... Nobody investing in such a set will be harping about work duplication (sorry, couldn't resist  ). In the chamber works we can compare the artistry of other great artists like Alain Marion, J-P Rampal or Marcel Moyse (Ravel Introduction et allégro), etc.

I fully expected to put this on while reading a Lars Kepler crime novel - aural wallpaper. But no, I listened to everything with interest and delight. Wow!

[SonicMan46]

I am impatiently waiting for volume IV.

Hi Harry - listened to those 3 volumes for the whole afternoon and enjoyed again!  Not sure about the next volume but expect that you're in touch w/ Naxos - hope that its appearance is soon; of Onslow's 70 String Quartets/Quintets, I own about 2 dozen - PLENTY more to collect!  Dave

[listener]

Daniel SPEER (1636-1707)
Musicalisch-Türckischer Eulen-Spiegel  (That is: Strange antics of a very modest Turkish imperial court and field fool who eventually became a Mufti
Markus Miesenberger, vocal   Ars Antiqua Austria     Gunar Letzbor, cond.
Good set of notes to give background, original German texts provided.
Enrique Fernández ARBÓS: Chamber music
Tres piezas originales en estilo español  op. 1     Trio Bellas Artes
Tango, op. 2     Seis rimas de Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, op. 3
Cuatro canciones para la marquesa de Bolaños, op. 4     Oieza de concurso for cello and piano
Assorted performers
Background notes, original Spanish and French song texts not translated.
       finally getting some first listens.

[kyjo]

Bartók: Two Pictures for orchestra

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A relatively early and enjoyable Bartók work. The first movement, In voller Blute (In Full Flower) is faintly impressionistic and atmospheric but not overtly lush. It recalls some music from his contemporaneous ballet The Wooden Prince. The second movement, Dorftanz (Village Dance), is imbued with the stamping folk rhythms that would come to characterize his mature music.


Tchaikovsky: Grand Sonata in G major

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This has usually been viewed as a somewhat problematic work, and it's not too hard to see why. I quite enjoyed the majestic first movement, actually; it has some endearing ideas. But after that my attention started to drift. Despite Lugansky's fine interpretation, I doubt this is a work I will return to.


Tavener: The Protecting Veil

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My goodness, this is such heavenly, rapturous, spiritual music! It's not all serene and contemplative, either - there are moments of searing intensity. Steven Isserlis plays with complete and utter involvement and his playing fits the music like a glove. Highly recommended even to those who might be skeptical of Tavener - like I once was!


Pierné: Piano Trio in C minor

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This trio of symphonic breadth lies somewhere between the monumentality of Franck and the colorful elegance of Ravel. It's characterized by virtuosic writing for all three instruments and some novel rhythms (especially in the 2nd movement). Definitely a work that lovers of French chamber music should investigate!


Chadwick: Symphony no. 3 in F major

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If I'm not mistaken, Cesar (SymphonicAddict) recently posted that he listened to this. It's a really appealing symphony in the Brahms/Dvorak mould (there's nothing very "American" about it), with an uplifting feel and rich textures. Perhaps its melodies lack the last degree of memorability, but that's not a huge gripe. Jarvi and the Detroit SO clearly believe in this music and play it for all it's worth.

[Artem]

This morning:

[asin]B00I0I0JDM[/asin]

[Harry]

Even I posted there for a short time, but I can't beat your rank, Harry. And I was always treated with respect. In this respect (pun intended) it is a rather pleasant forum.

Well put!

[Mandryka]

I'm listening to the 6th quartet. It's a good example of engineered sound, I mean live music doesn't sound like this, but what the DG people have done is really effective and I can well imagine some people think that it sounds better than live music.

As far as performance goes, what comes across as special is that it is controlled and accurate playing, but nonetheless communicative. I clearly have an empathy with The Hagen Quartet as I find pretty well everything they do stimulating.

[Madiel]

Shostakovich: Symphony No.4



Definitely one of the Shostakovich symphonies I still know the least. So a step in putting that right.

[vandermolen]

Shostakovich: Symphony No.4



Definitely one of the Shostakovich symphonies I still know the least. So a step in putting that right.

What's the performance like?

[vandermolen]

Yesterday. An interesting coupling of the Copland (Third Symphony) and Chavez (Sinfonia India). Very enjoyable if not my first choice for either symphony. In its favour, however, I was delighted to hear the original ending of Copland's Third Symphony being used without the cut suggested by Bernstein:

[Madiel]

What's the performance like?

Well I like it, same as I like most of Petrenko's and for the same reasons. He knows how to hold these whopping great big movements together so that they sound like a structure rather than a bunch of disconnected episodes.

A few people don't like him because they feel he's not as fiery and dramatic as some conductors. But I'm in favour of reducing the shouting just a little so that I can still understand all of what you're saying...

[Que]

Morning listening:



Q

[Andy D.]

Shostakovich: Symphony No.4



Definitely one of the Shostakovich symphonies I still know the least. So a step in putting that right.

That is the  performance that really kicked symphony 4 in for me where the Barshai and Maxim didn't.

Me:

Enjoying the Complete Wind Quintets of David Maslanka.

[Irons]

Shostakovich: String Quartet No.12.



As a DSCH cycle of string quartets go Borodin and Fitzwilliam are probably enough but I enjoyed this recording very much. Special mention to the viola player, a Mr Galkovsky. His playing/instrument is like an iron fist in a velvet glove. Listening, my ear was drawn to him which in string quartet terms I guess is not ideal, but I liked it.