What are you listening 2 now?

[Madiel]

Debussy, Diane overture.

Part of one of Debussy's unfinished Banville projects. Only exists as a piano duet, and I only know of one recording.

[vandermolen]

Agree with every word. One of the finest classical recordings ever released.

+1
I was listening to the radio this morning and there was an interesting programme about modern art in the church and the reading from the opening of Genesis was accompanied by 'Sospiri' which is, indeed, a most moving work.

[Madiel]

Debussy early songs, largely drawn from this disc again.



Some of these are beginning to show signs of the later composer. They're pretty great for a person aged 20 or so.

[San Antone]

Casken : The Deam of the Rood
The Hilliard Ensemble
Asko | Schönberg Ensemble
Clark Rundell conductor

The Dream of the Rood is inspired by and uses text adapted by Casken from the Anglo-Saxon poem of the same name which dramatically describes the story of the crucifixion in a highly original portrayal of Christ's death coupled with Casken's own arrangement of Pérotin's Viderunt omnes, the earliest surviving vocal work of plainsong in four parts. In both arrangements, Casken introduces a large instrumental ensemble and masterfully enhances the medieval texts and music of the originals within a highly effective contemporary context. Alongside these are three pieces from the rare Conductus repertoire of the 12th/13th centuries which have been core to The Hilliard Ensemble's performing library.

[Tsaraslondon]

+1
I was listening to the radio this morning and there was an interesting programme about modern art in the church and the reading from the opening of Genesis was accompanied by 'Sospiri' which is, indeed, a most moving work.

One thinks of short pieces being slight and indeed Elgar composed quite a lot of lighter music, but somehow this piece, Sospiri, has a profundity and an emotional impact which is quite extrordinary. It doesn't need to be any longer to make its effect/

[aukhawk]

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 15 Kondrashin]

Check the disc label again.     It's Maxim Shostakovich conducting.  (This was the premiere recording of this symphony.)

[Biffo]

Martinu: Les Ritournelles H227; Fantaisie et Toccata H281 - Rudolf Firkusny piano

[vandermolen]

Check the disc label again.     It's Maxim Shostakovich conducting.  (This was the premiere recording of this symphony.)

Best performance of the work.

[vandermolen]

One thinks of short pieces being slight and indeed Elgar composed quite a lot of lighter music, but somehow this piece, Sospiri, has a profundity and an emotional impact which is quite extrordinary. It doesn't need to be any longer to make its effect/

Totally agree with you.

TD
Myaskovsky Symphony 17 (cond. Alexander Gauk).
One of the highlights of the twenty seven.

[Papy Oli]

Good afternoon all,

Vaughan Williams - Violin sonata - 3rd mvt.

I gave up halfway through the 2nd mvt yesterday and disregarded the work. Thought I'd check the last mvt just in case. I might just about salvage it on its own... with a thin slice of humble pie...

Still a bit too craggy though   

[vandermolen]

Good afternoon all,

Vaughan Williams - Violin sonata - 3rd mvt.

I gave up halfway through the 2nd mvt yesterday and disregarded the work. Thought I'd check the last mvt just in case. I might just about salvage it on its own... with a thin slice of humble pie...

Still a bit too craggy though 

I told you it was good 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Martinu: Les Ritournelles H227; Fantaisie et Toccata H281 - Rudolf Firkusny piano

I have that disc too.  Love Firkusny and also find Martinu fascinating (in a good way!).  One way that I'm curious about:  I know that Firkusny recorded Martinu's piano concertos Nos. 2-4, but as far as I can see anyway, he never recorded No. 1?  Is there a story behind No. 1?  Has anyone recorded it?  Just looked further and see that Emil Leichner has....

By the way Biffo, have you heard this album of Martinu works?  It's a favorite of mine.   


Best,

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Good afternoon all,

Vaughan Williams - Violin sonata - 3rd mvt.

I gave up halfway through the 2nd mvt yesterday and disregarded the work. Thought I'd check the last mvt just in case. I might just about salvage it on its own... with a thin slice of humble pie...

Still a bit too craggy though 

Pardon, but what does craggy mean in this context?   

[Papy Oli]

I told you it was good 

Still don't like the first two movements...

[vers la flamme]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Sonata in C major, K46d & Piano Sonata in F major, K46e. Christoph Eschenbach. The young Eschenbach makes a solid case for these early Mozart sonatas from childhood. This is the very beginning of the first of five discs. Looking forward to exploring the piano sonatas of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through this full set. Eschenbach plays with more of a staccato articulation than Mitsuko Uchida, whose Mozart recordings I've also heard and enjoyed, some of them anyway—but far from the irreverent staccatissimo of Glenn Gould, whose recordings (and his words) lead me to believe that he has nothing but contempt for Mozart's music. Happy to have picked up this 5CD set at a local record store for $12, used, but in great shape.

[Papy Oli]

Pardon, but what does craggy mean in this context?   

A very bumpy and uneven feel to it, compared to other much more melodic works by VW.

I was also jesting with Jeffrey as he is keen on this word throughout the RVW thread to describe this work and a couple of others  0:)

[Christo]

Still a bit too craggy though 

Don't tell me. 

Pardon, but what does craggy mean in this context?   

No idea, nor in any other context. 

[Papy Oli]

Ralph again...

First listen to Symphony No.3 by Previn / LSO.

[Christo]

Ralph again...

First listen to Symphony No.3 by Previn / LSO.

Uncle Ralph, for you. Playing the same symphony at the moment, both the Elder & the Brabbins (both winners, B. the most IMHO.)

[Iota]

You won't be disappointed at all. Bittersweet at its best.

Okay thanks, will track it down.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean, but between the interesting album artwork and your unorthodox description I'm curious to hear it.

What I meant was both Bruckner and Celibidache, seem to be speaking directly from somewhere deep. There's something gigantic about both of them, and like the bumping together of tectonic plates producing the Himalayas, the results can be spectacular. Performance happens about the same speed too!