What are you listening 2 now?

[Harry]

Anton Urspruch.
Symphony opus 14.
Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Marcus Bosch.

I knew some of the chamber works by this composer, and was impressed from that moment on. After hearing the piano concerto, opus 9 my admiration grew. Now with listening to his symphony my admiration grew exponentially to great heights.  A romantic in heart, a top notch orchestrator and a gifted melodious vein in his bloodstream, he makes quite an impression in every movement of this Symphony. Surprise after surprise, harmonies with long lines, rest in unrest almost, it is an achievement that I do not hear often. It is really a shame that he feel in between tasks and time, and too many composer that could easily overshadow him in musical society, but his genius they hardly met on equal terms. For me he is one of the greats.
The performance is quite good, as is the recording, though not as good as CPO usually records. Stephan Rey would have made a spectacular recording no doubt.

[Harry]

More of "the one that got away", streaming from Spotify:

[asin]B005CN3MK0[/asin]
The more I hear of it, the more I regret missing the opportunity to buy the CD set. 
It ran OOP pretty quickly...

Q

Is this one the CD you meant Que?

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/mozart-haydn-fagott-konzerte/hnum/7414679

[vers la flamme]

Gustav Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde; Kindertotenlieder; Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen. Bernard Haitink, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, w/ Janet Baker & James King (DLvdE), Hermann Prey (the other two cycles).

Really in a Mahler Lieder mood this morning, I guess. It's always easier to stomach his Lieder (& that includes the immaculate Das Lied) than any of the symphonies. Moreover, I'm beginning to really like Haitink's Mahler, largely because of the highly impressive playing of the Concertgebouw, one of the great Mahler orchestras of the world, who are sadly in short supply in my Mahler collection. I ought to check out some of Haitink's recordings of the symphonies—I have his 8th, which is not my favorite Mahler symphony, and sadly maybe not even a great recording of it anyway.

[Harry]

Carl Maria von Weber.
Symphonies No 1 & 2.
Invitation to the Dance.
Bassoon Concerto.

Karen Geoghegan, Bassoon.
BBC Philharmonic, Juanjo Mena.

I waited a long time for the performance that would suit me in every respect and finally found it in this super fine interpretation. what a spectacular fine soloist Geoghegan is. Her superfluous tone, never overbearing in volume, always alert to the details in this composition. Never heard it played in such a way, my way! A big WOW!
The Symphonies and Invitation to a Dance sound in the hands of Mena as totally new discoveries. The orchestra is brought back to a reasonable size, with a performance style that lets you hear the details, instead of playing as loud as one can. And thus emerges music that ceresses my ears in a way that makes me addicted to the music. Put in the bargain the state of the art sound and one has a winner.

[Tsaraslondon]

Piano Trios 4, 5 & 6.

Thoroughly delightful music, beautifully played and recorded.

[aligreto]

Penderecki: Symphony No. 2 [Penderecki]





This is a first listen to this work for me. What a wonderful sound world this is. Drama and tension abound throughout. The scoring is often rich and often bleak. The tone and mood are very atmospheric, often turbulent and oftentimes contemplative and the work is filled with gravitas, solemnity and intensity. The performance is also majestic and compelling. It is a powerful work with a great presence.

[Traverso]

Bach

Trauer Ode: "Lass Fürstin,Lass noch einen Strahl". BWV 198

Motets : Kom jesu Komm BWV 229  & Jesu meine Freude BWV 227


Taverner consort and players Andrew Parrott

[Florestan]

I wonder if Tchaikovsky knew this (composition, not recording).

[Biffo]

Vaughan Williams: Violin Sonata in A minor - Marianne Thorsen violin & Ian Brown piano (members of the Nash Ensemble. I have been reading Keith Alldritt's biography of RVW and he is quite enthusiastic about the Violin Sonata and it prompted me to listen to it - it is a work I have hardly ever listened to.

[André]

Gustav Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde; Kindertotenlieder; Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen. Bernard Haitink, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, w/ Janet Baker & James King (DLvdE), Hermann Prey (the other two cycles).

Really in a Mahler Lieder mood this morning, I guess. It's always easier to stomach his Lieder (& that includes the immaculate Das Lied) than any of the symphonies. Moreover, I'm beginning to really like Haitink's Mahler, largely because of the highly impressive playing of the Concertgebouw, one of the great Mahler orchestras of the world, who are sadly in short supply in my Mahler collection. I ought to check out some of Haitink's recordings of the symphonies—I have his 8th, which is not my favorite Mahler symphony, and sadly maybe not even a great recording of it anyway.

Yes and no. Haitink's Mahler has always been about the orchestra, not the conductor. In this, Mahler's most 'public' work, that approach (and the recording, which is slightly recessed) makes the work sound almost timid. Like, « Hey, are you trying to hide something? ». In the end what remains is the fabulous playing and a solid, stalwart presentation. The Solti version has the thousand players and singers almost in your lap. With Haitink, if you boost the volume the tension and emotion of the reading  emerge well enough. I still count this recording as very successful in its own way.

[Christo]

Szymanowski: Stabat Mater

Hope this recordings is fine, as I don't know it yet. I do know this to be the finest Stabat Mater I'm aware of, an absolute favourite, the darker tones the better (& more 'Polish'). 

[Traverso]

Yes and no. Haitink's Mahler has always been about the orchestra, not the conductor. In this, Mahler's most 'public' work, that approach (and the recording, which is slightly recessed) makes the work sound almost timid. Like, « Hey, are you trying to hide something? ». In the end what remains is the fabulous playing and a solid, stalwart presentation. The Solti version has the thousand players and singers almost in your lap. With Haitink, if you boost the volume the tension and emotion of the reading  emerge well enough. I still count this recording as very successful in its own way.

This also happens when two people argue, but it does not add any meaning to their arguments.

[SonicMan46]

More of "the one that got away", streaming from Spotify:

[asin]B005CN3MK0[/asin]
The more I hear of it, the more I regret missing the opportunity to buy the CD set. 
It ran OOP pretty quickly...

Hi Que - last year, I put up the post below in the listening thread - transcriptions by Azzolini - wonderfully played and recorded - assume that you're listening on Spotify?  Good luck in finding the CDs - Dave

Bach, CPE - Bassoon Music w/ Sergio Azzolini - 3 disc set recorded 2003, 2006, and 2010; notes by the bassoonist who did the transcriptions of the Bach works included, written for cello, flute, or keyboard - well done review from Amazon attached for those interested. Dave

 

[SonicMan46]

Mendelsshon, Felix - Cello & Clarinet Chamber Works - starting a perusal of my Mendelssohn collection w/ several instruments usually not associated w/ this composer, but both are excellent w/ Alan Hacker and friends on period instruments, available on Amazon USA but not cheap - reviews attached for those interested.  Dave

 

[aligreto]

JS Bach: Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor - arr. Respighi [Monteux]
Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini Overture [Monteux]

I was never fond of Respighi's transcription above.

[vandermolen]

Hope this recordings is fine, as I don't know it yet. I do know this to be the finest Stabat Mater I'm aware of, an absolute favourite, the darker tones the better (& more 'Polish'). 

It's certainly my favourite recording and I own a few. I like the Symphony No.3 as well.

Thread duty:
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2
A very fine version, completely lacking in self-indulgence and paradoxically more affecting as a result.
Interestingly Sargent had performed the work as soloist which must have given him special insight. I regard him highly as a conductor:

[Symphonic Addict]

Alfven: Symphony No.4 'From the Outermost Skerries'.
I've just realised how similar it is in places of Zemlinsky's 'The Mermaid':

This will be playing today at home. AFAIK it's one of his best works.

[Symphonic Addict]

JS Bach: Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor - arr. Respighi [Monteux]
Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini Overture [Monteux]

I was never fond of Respighi's transcription above.

I do like Respighi's arrangement of the Bach, but in another recording with better sound. It's heavy and relentless as I want. 

[vandermolen]

Vaughan Williams: Violin Sonata in A minor - Marianne Thorsen violin & Ian Brown piano (members of the Nash Ensemble. I have been reading Keith Alldritt's biography of RVW and he is quite enthusiastic about the Violin Sonata and it prompted me to listen to it - it is a work I have hardly ever listened to.

I like it very much. It was one of the first pieces of chamber music which I enjoyed.

[vandermolen]

This will be playing today at home. AFAIK it's one of his best works.

I think it is Cesar.

This is the most atmospheric performance I think: