What are you listening 2 now?

[T. D.]

[Karl Henning]

Love this!

[aligreto]

Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 [Schmidt-Isserstedt]


The poise and balance of the presentation of this work is evident from the opening bars and the quality of the interpretation follows through to the conclusion. This is really very fine, terrific music making. It is powerful, thrilling and exciting. This is undoubtedly one of the best versions of Beethoven's second symphony that I have heard, and yet the slow movement is sympathetically and gloriously handled.

[aligreto]

That's one of the great Barber discs in my opinion Fergus.

Cheers, Jeffrey. I was very pleased after listening to it.

[Klavier]

[Todd]

[VonStupp]

Beautiful!

[kyjo]

Ibert, Le Chevalier Errant, this morning.

The two ballets on that disc were two of my greatest discoveries of last year!

[SimonNZ]

[Carlo Gesualdo]

Jacob Arcadelt Lyricord Alejandro Planchart- missa noe noe  & secular works very tasty sixties heartshaker hey, the vynil were so good back then hey, what about i, well the sounds is huge, the album well done. Capella Cordina remain one of my favorite ensemble and highly regards the work of this great director for Franco-Flemish rule of Burgundy, hoping someone said hey deprofundis nice catch, nice LP, I drool Lyricord from the early 70 or ending 60'' fabuleous it's not even on Discogs  ? 

[Symphonic Addict]

I think this is one of the best examples when you combine some renowned composers such as Holmboe, Nielsen, Rosenberg and Sibelius. Remarkable. The tension and craggy harmonies and rhythms make of this symphony a truly outstanding first symphony by anyone. Revelatory. The gripping feeling enchants the ear effortlessly.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

The two ballets on that disc were two of my greatest discoveries of last year!

Same for me this year!

William Walton: Hamlet, A Shakespeare Scenario. Neville Marriner, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, w/ narration from Sir John Gielgud

First listen. This CD was a blind purchase from a local bookstore. Wow, I like it. Guess I'm in a film music kind of mood today...

I love "As You Like It." I slightly prefer this recording to the EMI recording.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I think this is one of the best examples when you combine some renowned composers such as Holmboe, Nielsen, Rosenberg and Sibelius. Remarkable. The tension and craggy harmonies and rhythms make of this symphony a truly outstanding first symphony by anyone. Revelatory. The gripping feeling enchants the ear effortlessly.

Interesting to hear that. I thought that veteran members like you and others tended to regard compilation albums a little less favorably.

[Symphonic Addict]

Interesting to hear that. I thought that veteran members like you and others tended to regard compilation albums a little less favorably.

Why? I'm not inclusive enough? 

[Mirror Image]

According to the liner notes, after the premiere (Mravinsky conducting the Leningrad Phil) "Shostakovich returned to his hotel room, wept, buried his head under the pillow and then turned to the vodka bottle."  Doesn't seem that bad to me, but I guess he has to be the better judge.

Oh yes. 0:)  And this I think is my favourite recording, even above Kondrashin (who premiered it.)  This is a nice disc indeed.

I think Shostakovich absolutely loathed writing patriotic music and I believe this work Song of the Forests was written to please Stalin, which is never a good thing.

[Mirror Image]

That's a great CD John!

Indeed! The whole series is cracking good fun. A fifth installment will be released soon, so looking forward to this one.

[Symphonic Addict]

One of many Martinu's masterworks. I could do it without the narration, though.

[Mirror Image]

One of many Martinu's masterworks. I could do it without the narration, though.

I like the work, but I seldom play it. I prefer so many other works from Martinů's oeuvre.

[Mirror Image]

First-Listen Sunday

Penderecki
Double Concerto
Bartłomiej Niziol (violin), Katarzyna Budnik (viola)
Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra
Penderecki

[Mandryka]

Strange and interesting music.