What are you listening 2 now?

[Maestro267]

I still find No. 13 the most unique among Myaskovsky's symphonies. I still haven't figured it out yet.

[André]

Two composers only: Berlioz and Massenet. From the former Brueggergosman sings the song cycle Les Nuits d'été. The rest is from the operatic repertoire, including three strategically placed orchestral excerpts. The recital is one of the best I've heard. The Berlioz is of course a favourite and I dare say this is the best of them all, both as voice and interpretation. Brueggergosman is endowed with a powerful voice that is vibrant yet pure on top, warm and velvety in the middle and low registers. The high reaches of Teresa's aria from Benvenuto Cellini and from Massenet's La Vierge hold no terror for her. Her French diction is absolutely perfect. An unadvertised bonus follows the main program, in the form of an unaccompanied negro spiritual, sung with great intensity and beauty of voice. Yoav Talmi secures rich playing from the Quebec Symphony. Excellent sound. Extase indeed.

[Kontrapunctus]

This is the final volume. Whoa, Ullen's playing defies belief at times. The final "etude" is a 55 minute quintuple fugue!

[Symphonic Addict]

This is the final volume. Whoa, Ullen's playing defies belief at times. The final "etude" is a 55 minute quintuple fugue!

Does the cover art represent a strip of Jupiter?

[Symphonic Addict]

Swanwhite - Incidental music

A pretty enchanting work, where the ending was a special hymn-like moment . Not top-notch Sibelius, though, it deserves some listens.

[Mirror Image]

This disc:



From this set:



Well...this is pretty marvelous. Sometimes overfamiliarity with works can lead to not getting much out of the music any longer or, worse case scenario, just not enjoying it as much as you did in the past. Thankfully, I have avoided this trap and I have purposely put Stravinsky on my own reserves and the reward has been greater than someone who has heard Le sacre, for example, 100 times. Of course, if we love the music, then it will never get old, but I like to maintain a certain level of freshness and spontaneity in my listening to where I'm constantly surprised whenever I hear a work I thought I knew.

[Irons]

Malcolm Williamson: Violin Concerto
IMO one of the great 20th Century violin concertos and like much of Williamson's music totally neglected. It is a powerful, catchy, memorable and moving work. The LP cover, featuring David Wynne's fine sculpture of Yehudi Menuhin was IMO much better than the rather drab CD cover. I first came across the LP of this fine work in the small record library of the Commonwealth Institute in London. I discovered Lilburn's 2nd Symphony there as well:
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The best of Menuhin's later recordings.

You brought back many memories of the Commonwealth Institute, Jeffrey. A forest of flags/poles of the Commonwealth nations at the front area. It was pulled down and the Design Centre built in it's place. I did large job at the block of flats to the left of the Institute. The flat had at one time belonged to Alma Cogan who held many parties there, one of which she and a young John Lennon........ Big age difference, but he was reportedly most upset at her death.

[Symphonic Addict]

2nd String Quartet

Sensational, just sensational. The 2nd movement is beyond words in terms of beauty, craft and mastery. Not to say the other movements. Superb pound by pound.

[Madiel]

Haydn, Missa in tempore belli, aka 'Paukenmesse'.



And boy do those timpani get a workout.

[vandermolen]

The best of Menuhin's later recordings.

You brought back many memories of the Commonwealth Institute, Jeffrey. A forest of flags/poles of the Commonwealth nations at the front area. It was pulled down and the Design Centre built in it's place. I did large job at the block of flats to the left of the Institute. The flat had at one time belonged to Alma Cogan who held many parties there, one of which she and a young John Lennon........ Big age difference, but he was reportedly most upset at her death.

Interesting Lol. I lived within walking distance of the Commonwealth Institute when I was growing up. Whenever football was called off at my prep school we were always taken to the Commonwealth Institute. I remember the rather tedious 'Look at Life' type films in the cinema there ('Folk dancing in the Shetland Islands' etc) and the rather mangy stuffed lion. I also remember the sad early death of Alma Cogan but was unaware that she was canoodling with John Lennon - an unlikely couple I'd have thought.

[Kontrapunctus]

Does the cover art represent a strip of Jupiter?

I'm not sure--it could. They all have a somewhat similar design (broad swaths of color) made by Juan Hitters.

[JBS]

Landed today.

[André]

It seems that Taneyev loved and admired Bach and Mozart above any other composers. Consequently he aimed at expressing beauty through naturalness and simplicity. This can be heard in these trios. Using only three voices from instruments close to the human voice was both a delight and a challenge to the polyphony-oriented composer. The music is very melodic, with a distincly 'vocal' quality. The whole disc is a delight.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Korngold
Suite for 2 Violins, Cello and Piano Left-hand, Op. 23
Leon Fleischer et. al.

[Symphonic Addict]

String Quartet No. 10 in A-flat major

I hadn't paid too much attention to this recording of the whole quartets. I'm impressed.

We are in agreement that Shostakovich didn't write any ordinary quartet, right?




Symphony No. 7

An expertly, cogently written composition. It sounds rather clear to me that Sibelius was an influence.

[Mirror Image]

Stravinsky
Movements for Piano and Orchestra
Charles Rosen (piano)
Columbia SO
Stravinsky



From this set:

[Carlo Gesualdo]

Musica of new america on apex sound nice all in all , it's a period I wont to investigate the new worllf annd renaissance I got something from ricecar dont remenber the title.

[Kontrapunctus]

[Mirror Image]

One more work before bed:

Mahler
Kindertotenlieder
Gerhaher
Montreal
Nagano

[Madiel]

Saint-Saens, Tarantelle for flute, clarinet and orchestra, op.6.

A total charmer.