What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

Schoenberg
Five Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 16
Boulez
BBC SO

[Traverso]

In order.

[Traverso]

Shostakovich

Symphony No.12 & 3

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Although I have two other versions (Haitink and Barshai) I am not very familiar with these works.
It all sounds great and the reluctant approach of Ashkenazy not to leave too strong a mark on these works suits me perfectly.
What I hear is nothing short of amazing, although I have to get used to (every time) the voluminous character that the Russian soul finds necessary to express itself.

[San Antone]

That LP box was how I originally heard these works.

[Traverso]

That LP box was how I originally heard these works.

The same for me

This is the edition I have,it has a booklet with 160 pages

[Papy Oli]

Some Moeran for this afternoon :

[asin]B00GK8P1HI[/asin]

[Ratliff]

Listening today to another disc of Uchida's Schubert.

Torn between the opposing camps, as it were: frequently thinking it's great and highly enjoyable, but then sometimes being distracted by just how much Uchida is prepared to bring the tempo to a halt in the name of expression.

All of her slowing downs make some kind of musical sense, but some of them just seem very overdone.

I'm yet to identify a perfect Schubert box set for me. Because the ones with the best repertoire selection might not quite have the performances. Uchida is pretty nigh well ideal in terms of repertoire, but can I live with these massive decelerations? I'm not sure.

I also think of Uchida as generally excellent, but a bit mannered at times.

Kempff is my ideal, although the audio quality is lacking in some of the sonatas. I should listen to Brendel.

[Mirror Image]

The same for me

This is the edition I have,it has a booklet with 160 pages

I just love those old Boulez sets. I wouldn't mind tracking this set down.

[vandermolen]

Aren't they all masterpieces, Jeffrey?

(By the way I have listen to the first Holst CD on Lyrita, and found it to be a spiritual experience.)

Excellent Harry.

No.5 is the other Arnell symphony which really stands out for me (No.3 commemorates his mother and 5 references his father), but they are all great.

[Traverso]

I also think of Uchida as generally excellent, but a bit mannered at times.

Kempff is my ideal, although the audio quality is lacking in some of the sonatas. I should listen to Brendel.

That's right and you should indeed listen to Brendel who is in my view still the best Schubert performer.

[Mirror Image]

Ravel
Le Tombeau de Couperin
Tharaud



This is just my opinion, but I have found no one better matched for Ravel's solo piano music than Alexandre Tharaud. Everything just feels right from start to finish. He's fleet-fingered but also knows how to give into more of the poetic moments when them music warrants it. Also, the audio quality is crystal clear, which is exactly what this music needs.

[vers la flamme]

Very nice, but I don't think the audio quality of these recordings is too good. I prefer Abbado's earlier cycle, which contains one of the most incredible performances of the 3rd I've heard. Also, his earlier 6th with the Chicago SO is much better than any of his remakes with other orchestras, IMHO.

I don't mind the sound. The main reason I got the Abbado was to have a version in the Andante-Scherzo order, which the earlier recording does not have. Though I do really like the Abbado/Chicago Mahler 7.

[Ratliff]

I don't mind the sound. The main reason I got the Abbado was to have a version in the Andante-Scherzo order, which the earlier recording does not have. Though I do really like the Abbado/Chicago Mahler 7.

You know you can listen to the tracks on your CD in whatever order you choose?

[Ratliff]

The first four (of six) Impromptus by Faure, Stott.



Lovely. The first three are relatively early works, and characterized by beautiful melodies supported by flowing arpeggios and figuration. The forth is a late work, more dense, obscure, with a much more ambiguous distinction between "melody" and "accompaniment." Beautiful all around, Stott's performances are convincing.

[Ratliff]

That's right and you should indeed listen to Brendel who is in my view still the best Schubert performer.

I think Brendel made two traversals on the Schubert piano music for Philips, analog then digital. Do you find them equally satisfying?

[Mandryka]

It's an american university ladies choir and it sounds like it. That's not good. In my head they all look like Velma and Daphne from Scooby Doo.

[vers la flamme]

That's right and you should indeed listen to Brendel who is in my view still the best Schubert performer.

I got Brendel's CD of the Impromptus last week. I like it, but I need to spend more time with his and other recordings before declaring any one pianist as the best Schubertian. Brendel is quite good though. 

[vers la flamme]

You know you can listen to the tracks on your CD in whatever order you choose?

I don't believe in that. Call me old school if you must.

[andolink]

[andolink]