What are you listening 2 now?

[ritter]

And to end tonight's listening, some Krenek from a recent arrival:


The Sestina is new to me, while I've known (and admired) the Lamentions—here given in a severely abridged version—for many years.

CD 5 of this set:

[asin]B083X6NLMQ[/asin]

[vandermolen]

William Alwyn conducting his own Second Symphony (1953) - a very atmospheric recording, one to cherish:

IMO that's the best performance of Alwyn's favourite of his own symphonies.

[vandermolen]

4.  Clearly the best of the symphonies, or at least the most to my taste, it's in league with other death of loved ones inspired works (Suk's Asrael, Berg's VC, Mahler 9), and exceptionally beautiful.  Though I've not heard Mehta's take, the music seems almost tailor made for him.  I may end up buying his take in the next few years.

I sampled No.4 from this set and it sounded wonderful. Furthermore a friend of mine has recently acquired the set and described it to me as excellent in every way. I'm not sure that I'll get it as I only really like the 4th Symphony but I may get it just for that.

[Symphonic Addict]

Some Busoni orchestral with Järvi/Goerner/chandos and Masini/Swann/agora.

The Indian Phantasy, though not a masterpiece, is more interesting, stringent and modern-sounding in the Järvi-recording, IMHO.

That Busoni series allowed me to enjoy some intereting works.

[vandermolen]

New acquisition, first listen.

Maximilian Steinberg.
Violin Concerto, opus 37.
Symphony No. 4, "Turksib" , opus 24.
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Martin Yates.
Sergey Levitin, Violin.

Much is already said about this recording on GMG, so I add a little of my impressions. The Violin concerto is a well written piece of great art, thoroughly romantic in nature, and so well performed by the Violinist and Orchestra, they form a perfect synergy in this music, and there conversation is well informed. As a whole this symphony is arguing quite a case for this composer, and I love every note of this music. Again well argued, and presented in lush and bold colours. Really a trip to remember, and as a side effect, for my wife was listening too, she exclaimed, ' I join the fanclub' .
This Dutton CD is really one of the best State of the Art recordings I heard so far.

I'm delighted that you enjoyed it Harry but I think that we're in the minority here! 

[vandermolen]

New acquisition, first listen.

Erkki Salmenhaara.
Suomi Finland.
Tampere PO, Eri Klas.

Well, well, if I would not have been a fan of this composer, the present CD hooked me stock and barrel. What a amazing composer, if you are able to write such gorgeous music. The third movement "Adagietto" is to die for. Salmenhaara's life is told in these four movements, and especially the last movement "Le Bateau ivre" is an eulogy of his journey through his short life. The last 20 bars or so, gave me the shivers as if the boat was drawn into utter darkness that begets darkness. It made me think of the wise words of Lao Tzu.

""The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth.
The named is the mother of ten thousand things.
Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.
Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations.
These two spring from the same source but differ in name;
this appears as darkness.
Darkness within darkness.
The gate to all mystery."

The 24 bit recording is one of the best I ever heard from this label. The performance is exemplary.

Note to Jeffrey:

My wife wants to join the "unofficial international fanclub of Salmenhaara"

Haha - great to hear that Harry and I enjoyed the extract from the Tao te Ching as well - a book which I often consult.

[André]

Bought today for €1,50 at FNAC here in Madrid, and listening to it right now:

[asin]B000I2K9ME[/asin]
So far Jeanette Scovotti sounds great in A Berenice. Let's see how she manages my favourite Mozart concert aria, Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio! (with its Viscontian connotations)—it's at the end of the disc. Edda Moser sings the more famous Misera, dove son! and Bella mia fiamma.

A superb series. Berlin Classics issued 3 discs of Mozart concert arias For soprano split btw Moser and Scovotti. Although very different in tone both ladies display spunk and finesse in equal measure. Note that Moser's account of the fiendishly difficult scena Popoli di Tessaglia is a different one than that on her famous Mozart arias disc issued by EMI Electrola.

[Daverz]

I sampled No.4 from this set and it sounded wonderful. Furthermore a friend of mine has recently acquired the set and described it to me as excellent in every way. I'm not sure that I'll get it as I only really like the 4th Symphony but I may get it just for that.

The whole set is pretty cheap (at least for download), so I can also recommend it for 2 and 3 (haven't listened to 1).

TD:  Holmboe: Concerto for Recorders, Celesta & Vibraphone



Why aren't there more modern recorder concertos?  As long as the concerto is not too long (under 20 minutes here), it's an enjoyable bright and perky sound.  Even the overblowing used here (judiciously) is charming.

Earlier:

Haydn: Symphony No. 97

[asin] B0000041AR[/asin]

Oops, I misheard the Hurwitzer, it's Davis's No. 98 that he recommended.  Anyway, this is lovely.

[Symphonic Addict]

String Quartet No. 2

Revisiting this coruscating piece. This stuff makes me say "wow!".

[Todd]

[Madiel]

TD:  Holmboe: Concerto for Recorders, Celesta & Vibraphone



Why aren't there more modern recorder concertos?  As long as the concerto is not too long (under 20 minutes here), it's an enjoyable bright and perky sound.  Even the overblowing used here (judiciously) is charming.

Basically, many modern recorder concertos can be traced back to Michaela Petri. Including this one. In my personal opinion her own performance is a much better one, I found the BIS performance disappointing compared to the flute concertos on the same disc.

[Daverz]

Basically, many modern recorder concertos can be traced back to Michaela Petri. Including this one. In my personal opinion her own performance is a much better one, I found the BIS performance disappointing compared to the flute concertos on the same disc.

Yes, the flute concertos are very lovely.  I'll seek out the Petri recording.

TD:  Sean Hickey, Cello Concerto

[asin] B00BR6Y750[/asin]

Neo-classical/neo-Romantic in style, I'm reminded somewhat of Piston.  The Clarinet Concerto is even finer.

[Symphonic Addict]

Taneyev: Piano Quartet in E major
Fauré: Piano Quintet No. 2 in C minor



How wonderful Taneyev's chamber music is. The outer movements of this PQ have some interesting harmonic and rhytmic gestures, whereas the slow movement has an idyllic nature featuring a great melody.

Fauré knew how to make C minor sound contemplative. This work is just poetry. The slow movement is precious. There is a distended and sincere lyricism that seems coming from the bottom of his heart. It's rather touching.

[kyjo]

Taneyev: Piano Quartet in E major
Fauré: Piano Quintet No. 2 in C minor



How wonderful Taneyev's chamber music is. The outer movements of this PQ have some interesting harmonic and rhytmic gestures, whereas the slow movement has an idyllic nature featuring a great melody.

Fauré knew how to make C minor sound contemplative. This work is just poetry. The slow movement is precious. There is a distended and sincere lyricism that seems coming from the bottom of his heart. It's rather touching.

Two wonderful works, both among my most cherished pieces of chamber music ever composed. The coda of the Taneyev, where that wonderful theme from the slow movement is reprised in a most touching way, never fails to bring a tear to my eye. The passionately played CPO recording is the finest available.

[Carlo Gesualdo]

Hello guys I'm currently listening to Gesualdo  Tenebrae by ensemble graindelavoix, I did not like it at first, because download did not render justice to this ''tour de force'' triple album of Gesualdo I have it now in CD media and it fantastic.

My first listen did not like it , but now I consider this a great album, it sound like nothing I heard from Carlo Gesualdo, very colorful & brilliant.

graindelavoix really nails it this time, whit this awesome release, whit all the Tenebrae Responsoria I have this is one of the best new one since release in 2020, the voices are  melancholic & warm, what do you think folks 4/5 or 5/5 stars, I like it more than the Herreweghe Tenebrae Responsoria, this is telling, but I don't denied mister Herreweghe works in general R.I.P

[kyjo]

Gernsheim: String Quartet in A minor, op. 31



I find this composer to be rather hit-or-miss, but I'd mark this work down as a "hit". It's dramatic, lyrical, compellingly argued, and rarely slips into "Brahms-lite" mode like some of his works can. As usual, the Mandelring Quartett perform superbly, and I see the equally fine Diogenes Quartett have recently started a Gernsheim SQ cycle on CPO.


Mozart: Piano Concertos nos. 17 and 20



Of these two concerti, I prefer no. 17 for its infectious joyouness and freshness of invention. In no. 20, it sounds a bit to me like Mozart is "trying too hard" to be dark and dramatic (I don't feel that way about most of his minor-key works, btw), and I don't find the slow movement as special as many do. Superb performances from Andsnes and the Norwegian CO, whose woodwinds play with such great character it made me smile on multiple occasions!


Szymanowski: Piano Sonata no. 2



Despite the fact that it might lack indelibly memorable thematic material, this sonata still makes a significant impact (that final fugue is thrilling!), especially when performed as coruscatingly as it is here. Debargue is a powerhouse of a pianist, and I particularly admire his imaginative programming.


Vierne: Cello Sonata



A passionate, melodically strong work. I'll have to pay more attention to this composer. It's been ages since I've listened to his Piano Quintet...


Dvořák: Rusalka



This is one of those instances where I repeatedly ask myself: "Why did I wait so long to listen to this??". This is absolutely glorious music; I really don't have enough superlatives to describe it!! It confirms Dvořák's status as one of my most cherished composers, perhaps my most cherished. Really, this is more like a gigantic tone poem with voices than an opera; it all flows so seamlessly and organically, with the glittering strands of Dvořák's masterly orchestration driving the action. And I really can't imagine a more magnificent recording that the one here. Discovering music like this is why I will always - as the Hurwitzer says - "keep on listening"!

[kyjo]

Raff: String Quartet no. 7 Die schöne Müllerin



Listened to this at Cesar's recommendation. What lovely music it is, above all the first movement with its flowing lyricism and bittersweet harmonies. It's also a rare example of a programmatic chamber work (I can also think of Schoenberg's Verklarte Nacht and Onslow's String Quintet The Bullet). And unlike Schubert's song cycle of the same name, the work ends happily (well what do you expect, it is Raff after all)!


Zemlinsky: String Quartet no. 1 and Clarinet Trio

 

The quartet is one that improves with each successive movement, culminating in a riveting, joyous, thematically memorable finale in which the spirit of Dvořák can be heard. In the trio, it's the brooding, passionate first movement which is the highlight, with its deeply haunting main theme.


Kinsella: Symphony no. 10



I enjoyed this more than his Symphonies nos. 3 or 4. Scored for a classical-sized orchestra, I loved the punchy rhythmic energy this music possesses. The music's dynamism is helped in so small part by the prominent and virtuosic timpani part.


Rouse: Symphony no. 4



Another superb 21st-century symphony. It's in a bipartite form, with two movements titled Felice (happy) and Doloroso. They are, as you would expect, polar opposites. Rouse's masterful orchestration effectives highlights the differences in mood and texture between the two movements.


Boëllmann: Piano Quartet



An absolutely marvelous work, with one memorable melody following after the other. It's quite similar to Saint-Saëns in style (witness the secondary themes of the scherzo and finale, for instance), and, indeed, can match that composer in terms of inspiration. I have a hard time choosing between this recording and the one by Hungarian musicians on Marco Polo; the Trio Parnassus have a more elegant, "French" sound and can boast the excellent partnership of violist Gérard Caussé, while the Hungarian musicians play with more overt passion and I overall prefer their brisker tempi.

[Artem]

Beautiful music beautifully performed.

[Papy Oli]

Dubois, Pierre-Max (1930-1995):

Quatuor pour clarinettes



Saxophone Concerto No. 2



Quatuor pour trombones

[Papy Oli]