What are you listening 2 now?

[vers la flamme]

Britten's SQs are...incredible pieces of music. I have five cycles of them: Brodsky, The Britten Quartet, Belcea, Endellion, and Emperor. All of his music for string quartet (even the early works like String Quartet in F major, Simple Symphony, Rhapsody, etc. are worth hearing, IMHO).

Awesome. I loved what I was hearing, beautiful sounds. Arvo Pärt spoke thus of Britten upon his passing:

"Why did the date of Benjamin Britten's death – 4 December 1976 – touch such a chord in me? During this time I was obviously at the point where I could recognise the magnitude of such a loss. Inexplicable feelings of guilt, more than that even, arose in me. I had just discovered Britten for myself. Just before his death I began to appreciate the unusual purity of his music – I had had the impression of the same kind of purity in the ballads of Guillaume de Machaut. And besides, for a long time I had wanted to meet Britten personally – and now it would not come to that."

I might be able to hear what Pärt means in that great string quartet. Anyway, I ordered the other Maggini Quartet Britten disc, completing their cycle. I don't suppose I will succumb to completist urges for further recordings of these quartets (unless I really fall in love with the music, and it's too soon to tell)–but stranger things have happened.

[vers la flamme]

Whereas frankly I'm surprised.

Not least because in a great many cases Martinon impressed me, so when his Tombeau didn't do much for me I thought it was the piece not the performance. But Ozawa is excellent.

None of which negates that I consider Ravel's piano music to be one of the great gems of the whole classical canon and I've played Pascal Roge's recording of the Prelude several times over the last 2 days because I can't get it out of my head. But I accept one of the great orchestrators also knew how to orchestrate his own music pretty well.

This is exactly what I was getting at. Ravel used his greatest gift to transform an extremely profound work of piano music into something perhaps just as profound, but completely different. By the way, I certainly agree that Ravel's piano music is a gem of the repertoire. It's some of the hardest piano music out there, but when done right it is miraculous. I went ahead and put on Pascal Rogé's recording of Le Tombeau just now on your good word. I'm going to check out the Ozawa disc you mention too.

[Mirror Image]

Awesome. I loved what I was hearing, beautiful sounds. Arvo Pärt spoke thus of Britten upon his passing:

"Why did the date of Benjamin Britten's death – 4 December 1976 – touch such a chord in me? During this time I was obviously at the point where I could recognise the magnitude of such a loss. Inexplicable feelings of guilt, more than that even, arose in me. I had just discovered Britten for myself. Just before his death I began to appreciate the unusual purity of his music – I had had the impression of the same kind of purity in the ballads of Guillaume de Machaut. And besides, for a long time I had wanted to meet Britten personally – and now it would not come to that."

I might be able to hear what Pärt means in that great string quartet. Anyway, I ordered the other Maggini Quartet Britten disc, completing their cycle. I don't suppose I will succumb to completist urges for further recordings of these quartets (unless I really fall in love with the music, and it's too soon to tell)–but stranger things have happened.

I also forgot that I own the Takács cycle of the Britten SQs (on Hyperion).

[SimonNZ]

[vers la flamme]

I also forgot that I own the Takács cycle of the Britten SQs (on Hyperion).

The Takács Quartet will be playing a concert at Spivey Hall in Morrow next month. Unfortunately no Britten, but Brahms, Beethoven and Haydn. I don't know how interested you are in such repertoire, but I will definitely be there. Damn fine quartet, they are.

[San Antone]

Missa Brevis

First listen. 

[Symphonic Addict]

I've written this composer off in the past as I found him to be nothing more than a one-trick pony, but I wouldn't mind revisiting some of his music to see if my opinion has changed at all. The only work which I thought was 'kind of' cool was Symphony No. 2, "Mysterious Mountain", which, from what I understand, is his best known work.

I understand your position towards him because you're fond of 'spicier' music, e.g. music with more-advanced harmony. Granted, Hovhaness is not a 1st-tier composer, but I've enjoyed all what I've heard by him. His music speaks to my soul, despite there is no much contrast among his works.

[Symphonic Addict]

Thank you for this!  I agree completely with what you wrote Symphonic Addict, though I confess to knowing very little about VW.  Hovhaness is a favorite of mine as well. 

This disc looks very interesting.

Cheers!

Cheers, HIPster!

Yes, it's a pretty nice disc featuring his works for string quartet + a work by Zhou Long (Song of the Ch'in). They're tinged by exotic sonorities which are a strong appeal IMO.

[Symphonic Addict]

Thanks for the Fricker reports.  Have you heard his Violin Concerto?  It's quite accessible.

[asin] B00MPP8M6W[/asin]

No, I haven't. I could try it later. I hope it will be as good as the symphonies 1 and 3 or better.

[Symphonic Addict]

Mathias - Piano concertos 1 & 2

Having enjoyed previously his Harp Concerto, the turn is for the PCs. Instantly attractive. The very beginning of the 1st PC sounded pretty similar to a work by Prokofiev. It's tense and a bit piquant. The 2nd PC is more individual and there are more dissonances throughout, maybe reminding me a little of Stravinsky or Bartók.

[Karl Henning]

Fantastic work!  Wuorinen is among my favorite composers, and here lately I've been going back over his works.  Fun journey.

Excellent!

[Kontrapunctus]

Op.131.

[SimonNZ]

[Karl Henning]

I did re-listen to the Zimerman/Rattle Age of Anxiety.

But now, continuing my long-overdue survey of the Britten Operas II box:

The Turn of the Screw

[Symphonic Addict]

Discs 3 & 4 (6 Mazurkas, Op. 56; Impromptu in D Minor, B. 129; Dumka in C Minor, Op. 12, No. 1; Furiant in G Minor, Op. 12, No. 2; Humoresque in F-Sharp Major, B. 138; Suite in A Major, Op. 98, B. 184, "American"; 2 Pieces, Op. posth., B. 188 - 8 Humoresques, Op. 101, B. 187; Poetic Tone Pictures, Op. 85)

Finishing listening to these charming discs. The Suite in A major 'American' is really wonderful on this version for piano, and must be one of the most tuneful works Dvorak ever composed. Poetic Tone Pictures is the largest work for solo piano, and very substantial musically speaking it is. Looks like a summary of this part of his output.

[mc ukrneal]

I did re-listen to the Zimerman/Rattle Age of Anxiety.

But now, continuing my long-overdue survey of the Britten Operas II box:

The Turn of the Screw

I would think this piece right up your alley for a number of reasons. Hope you enjoyed it!

[j winter]

New purchase, first listen: Rachmaninov PC2, Rudy/Jansons....

[Karl Henning]

I would think this piece right up your alley for a number of reasons. Hope you enjoyed it!

Terrific!

[Karl Henning]

New purchase, first listen: Rachmaninov PC2, Rudy/Jansons....

Beauty!

[Mirror Image]

I did re-listen to the Zimerman/Rattle Age of Anxiety.

But now, continuing my long-overdue survey of the Britten Operas II box:

The Turn of the Screw

Great stuff, Karl!