What are you listening 2 now?

[Pohjolas Daughter]

From Brahms' Cello Sonata No. 2 to Dohnanyi's Konzertstück for Cello and Orchestra from this CD:



Interesting to read about Brahms' influence on him and how he helped him to succeed as a composer. 
PD

[Papy Oli]

JS Bach - English Suite No.2 BWV 807
JS Bach - French Suite No.5 BWV 816
Blandine Rannou

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I think that all the pieces are by Lundquist (I may be wrong). I enjoyed the First Symphony as well.

You are right. I was confused.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Bach

Inventionen & Sinfonien

Wonderful disc!

[Traverso]

Wonderful disc!

It is nice to see that we share an appreciation for a few recordings 

[DavidW]

He takes it briskly, non-indulgent like the classic Klemperer.

[The new erato]

Really fine stuff. Slightly Handelian but perhaps less opulent.

[Roasted Swan]

He takes it briskly, non-indulgent like the classic Klemperer.

I like this version a lot.  Apart from anything else the rich sonority of the Czech PO Chorus is a joy!!

[Spotted Horses]

I haven't heard the Belohlavek recordings, but glad that you're enjoying them.  I have the set with Neumann and also a wonderful recording of No. 4 with Turnovsky on Supraphon. 

Neumann is the finest there is, in my opinion. Natural yet vivid recording perspective and vibrant performances that don't miss the lyricism in the music.

[Spotted Horses]

Listened to Mozart PC 17 again, in the Brendel/Mackerras recording on Philips. Nicely done, but not as vivid as the Brautigam/Wallen recording that made such a huge impression. Brendel is very fine, but I was a little disappointed that Mackerras' handling of the orchestra wasn't as historically informed as I expected it to be.

My David Diamond discs have arrived and have been ripped, maybe I will try a bit of that next.

[Papy Oli]

Debussy - Violin Sonata in G minor

[The new erato]

A treasure trove of a set. After listening to most of the modern stuff I have been working my way backwards somewhat randomly, now playing disc 9; Haydn nos 27-30.

[kyjo]

And speaking of Naxos, its deep series about composers and works is astonishing. A proof: the utterly magnificent recordings of Ginastera's chamber music. The String Quartet No. 1 for now, and now. This does blow me away!!! Ginastera is a hell of a composer. The "Argentinean" Bartók, and it's not a dismiss to either composer. What it has of insane virtuosity, it has of sheer Pampean poetry and scenery-evoking. A masterpiece.

Oh, there is something about Ravel in the fourth movement. Terrific, just terrific.

I dearly love this work as well! I had the wonderful opportunity of performing it a few years ago. Personally, I prefer it to any of Bartok's quartets (I doubt you'll agree ) and certainly to his later two quartets which I find quite difficult.

[Brian]

Listened to Mozart PC 17 again, in the Brendel/Mackerras recording on Philips. Nicely done, but not as vivid as the Brautigam/Wallen recording that made such a huge impression. Brendel is very fine, but I was a little disappointed that Mackerras' handling of the orchestra wasn't as historically informed as I expected it to be.

My David Diamond discs have arrived and have been ripped, maybe I will try a bit of that next.

Last night I listened to 17 with Perahia and the English Chamber Orchestra. Might try Brautigam today as it's such a wonderful work I can easily imagine listening two days in a row to two very different approaches. The ECO had good bassoon work.

[kyjo]

Quattro Pezzi Sacri

This is a more restrained and spiritual Verdi. I'm enjoying this.

The fourth piece, the Te Deum, is definitely my favorite work I know by Verdi (not that I know too much ). It's epic and imposing, and without annoying operatic excess!

[kyjo]

This is an exceptionally fine disc



I much prefer the symphony performance here to the only other version from Hickox on Chandos.  The Concerto di Chiesa is a really forgotten gem of British String Music - up there with the RVW Tallis and Tippett Corelli Fantasia and Howells Double Concerto.  But in all my years of playing I've never encountered it once.  It sounds as if it must be a joy to play and receives a warm and glowing performance here.  Some echoes of Respighi too I thought......?

Indeed, the Concerto da Chiesa is a glorious work! Fine as the Symphony is, the Concerto is the star of the disc.

[Mirror Image]

First-Listen Monday -

Penderecki
Hymne an den heiligen Daniel
Warsaw Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra
Wit

[Spotted Horses]

Last night I listened to 17 with Perahia and the English Chamber Orchestra. Might try Brautigam today as it's such a wonderful work I can easily imagine listening two days in a row to two very different approaches. The ECO had good bassoon work.

The highlight of the Brautigam/Wallins recording for me is the vivid sonority of the period instrument ensemble. It took some effort for me to get over the toy-like sound of the forte-piano, despite Brautigam's energetic approach. The middle movement is the highlight of it, for me.

I have to suppress the impulse to listen to all of my recordings of this work (Ashkenazy, Schiff, Brendel/Marriner, Uchida, Bilson, O'Connor/Mackerras, Barenboim/ECO, Barenboim/BPO, Sofronitsky, Staier/Koln) lest I start to hate Mozart.

[kyjo]

Returning to my other binge at the moment (George Lloyd), finally listened to Symphony no. 5 on Spotify:



Absolutely delightful as expected. A really lyrical and beautiful first movement and a slow movement (the fourth movement in this case) that has some real anguished music, not a common occurrence in Lloyd. And of course a whirlwind finale with a snare drum gone rogue!

I've enjoyed reading your impressions of the Lloyd symphonies, with which I very much agree! I love the variety of mood between the five movements of the work: the pastoral first (with one of the most beautiful symphonic openings known to me); the "stony", chorale-like second; the balletic, capricious third; the tragic, almost operatic fourth; and the breezy, toccata-like, exuberant finale.

[Brahmsian]

First-Listen Monday -

Penderecki
Hymne an den heiligen Daniel
Warsaw Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra
Wit

Another great piece on a great disc!