What are you listening 2 now?

[Symphonic Addict]

Homage to the Queen

The complete ballet. Wow! What colourful, sparkling, and celebratory music Arnold created here. He really knew how to print magic in his scores. The recording is in mono, but it's stunning mono. And the performance is terrific.

I think ballets have been my main discoveries this year, and this one is not an exception at all!

[Madiel]

Does anyone happen to know where I can find an English translation of Mozart's La finta semplice?

Unfortunately the sources I readily have to hand don't have a booklet and I can only find the Italian version online so far.

[kyjo]

Glazunov Symphony 5/The Seasons

There has been some criticism of the Serebrier cycle here but I thought that Symphony No.5 was excellent and 'The Seasons' as heart-warming as any other performance that I have heard.

That's a superb disc containing two of Glazunov's finest (IMO) works. Serebrier's recordings may not be the most fiery and authentically "Russian" but they're hardly lacking in energy and are beautifully recorded, bringing out the glittering details of Glazunov's orchestration.

[kyjo]

Closing the Pierné loop by revisting this one.

Fantastically colorful and eclectic stuff, audibly influenced by Daphnis in places (cue the wordless chorus!) and in other sections charmingly neo-rococo, complete with a harpsichord solo at one point! But I'm prepared for you to say you weren't a fan...

[kyjo]

That's a good one. Do you know his symphonies 1 and 2? No. 2 is particularly impressive.

Hopefully the other symphonies will be recorded some day.

Re: Steinberg

I prefer nos. 1 and 2 to no. 4. For some reason I didn't really connect with the latter (a bit too "Social Realist"?).

[SimonNZ]

[Symphonic Addict]

Jan Kalivoda - String Quartets 1 and 2: My goodness, this is some truly brilliant music by this Bohemian composer! One doesn't need to be an expert to notice that these quartets are remarkable and fine in every way. They seem to lie in the middle of Classical and Romantic styles. Beethoven and Cherubini would have given their approval, no doubt on it. I'm listening to the 3rd quartet tomorrow. Recommended with enthusiasm.




Jan Hanus - Sinfonia concertante for organ, harp, timpani and strings: This disc is kind of recognized for its inclusion of the only (I think) recording on disc of Kabelac's masterpiece Mystery of Time, but this work by his compatriot Hanus also deserves several listens. It's an exciting and intense piece whose somewhat regrettable recording doesn't do justice to it. An interesting discovery.

[Symphonic Addict]

Re: Steinberg

I prefer nos. 1 and 2 to no. 4. For some reason I didn't really connect with the latter (a bit too "Social Realist"?).

I agree, for my ears they're also better.

[kyjo]

Grechaninov: Symphony no. 5



While this isn't a masterpiece (Grechaninov's orchestration is a bit heavy), I found it quite enjoyable and it held my attention throughout. I thought the final two movements were the strongest, in particular the finale with its lovely and memorable secondary theme.


Atterberg: Double Concerto



It's great to hear a double concerto for violin and cello besides the one by Brahms. This folksy, lyrical work by Atterberg certainly deserves a place in the repertoire.


Moeran: String Quartet in E-flat



Sheer sublimity. That's all I need to say.


Walton: Violin Sonata



A really strong, meaty sonata with a great sense of color, superbly performed here. It's interesting to note how some of the thematic material here seems to prefigure that of the Cello Concerto.


Berlioz: Te deum



I've expressed a distaste for several other Berlioz vocal works on this forum, so it came as a shock to me how much I enjoyed this work! This is inspiriting, celebratory music, with a marvelously imposing organ part at times. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the final movement, Judex crederis is one of the most stunning things I've heard recently. It builds inexorably to a conclusion that keeps the listener awaiting with bated breath as to how it will resolve. Abbado and his forces turn out a magnificent performance, caught with great impact by the DG engineers.

[vandermolen]

Re: Steinberg

I prefer nos. 1 and 2 to no. 4. For some reason I didn't really connect with the latter (a bit too "Social Realist"?).

My order of preference is 4,2,1
I much prefer 4 and 2 to 1

Early morning listening before work.
'The Sea' by Frank Bridge
This is the best disc I know of Bridge's orchestral music:

I preferred the Winslow Homer painting LP cover which was fortunately retained in the boxed set devoted to recordings by Sir Charles Groves:

[T. D.]

Jan Hanus - Sinfonia concertante for organ, harp, timpani and strings: This disc is kind of recognized for its inclusion of the only (I think) recording on disc of Kabelac's masterpiece Mystery of Time, but this work by his compatriot Hanus also deserves several listens. It's an exciting and intense piece whose somewhat regrettable recording doesn't do justice to it. An interesting discovery.

I acquired this fairly recently and agree. The Hanus was a pleasant surprise.

   

[Irons]

That's a good one. Do you know his symphonies 1 and 2? No. 2 is particularly impressive.

Hopefully the other symphonies will be recorded some day.

I do not will investigate. Impressive depiction of a shunting steam engine in finale of "Turksib".

I enjoyed the other work on CD the Violin Concerto too.

[Papy Oli]

[Papy Oli]

[Christo]

An old favourite, 'A Colour Symphony':

[Christo]

Another old favourite, 'Morning Heroes', a symphony for speaker, chorus and orchestra (1930) in this recording:

[MusicTurner]

Andsnes plays piano concertos by Lutoslawski and d'Albavie, solo pieces by Kurtag and Sørensen.

A fine, beautiful disc, bought at a barn sale when I visited the island of Møn recently. More delicate and crystalline than outwardly dramatic in the playing.
I've always agreed that d'Albavie's concerto isn't among the best, but it can be entertaining at times.

However, those who don't want too many records/recordings, and who prefer substantial-programmes only, might benefit from an all-Lutoslawski programme (DG, Naxos), or the combination with piano concertos by Szymanski and Panufnik (Polish Accord label).

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/leif-ove-andnes-shadows-of-silence

[Traverso]

Haydn

I still remember waking up one Saturday morning and lying in bed turning on the radio next to my bed and hearing the report that the tenor Fritz Wunderlich (aptly named) had died in a fall from the stairs.
Even though I was very young, I felt it as a great loss. This Schöpfung is the last recording he took part in.
Werner Krenn has taken care of the missing parts. (He sang the part before under Karl Münchinger)

[Todd]

Disc three equivalent.

[Madiel]

La Mer