What are you listening 2 now?

[ritter]

Saint-Saëns' two string quartets, played by the Quatuor Viotti:

CD 14 of the edition:


Very well-crafted, and very enjoyable music (particularly SQ2). Now, it's soooo conservative, next to it even someone like Reynaldo Hahn sounds as if he were part of the Darmstadt School! 

[Mirror Image]

Now playing: Prokofiev Alexander Nevsky, Op. 78 (Slatkin/St. Louis SO):

[SonicMan46]

Marais, Marin (1656-1728) - Books I & V - trying to 'fill-in' my Marais collection - just received the top two recordings below from PrestoMusic, both the 'complete books' - now I have a mixture of Books II-IV on 8 or 9 CDs, including the two at the bottom and trying to decide if I have a near complete Book II?  The Jean-Louis Charbonnier is a 2-CD set of Tombeaux to Ste Colombe & Lully while in the Savall 5-CD box there is one disc devoted to Bk II that seem to be other pieces, but 'how much' is left - plus I cannot find a source that thoroughly lists ALL of the works in each of the books (Marais' Wiki article simply states the general titles of the Books).  Thanks for any enlightenment -    Dave

 

 

[Karl Henning]

CD 3:
Shostakovich
String Quartet № 1 in C, Op. 49 (1938)
String Quartet № 15  in e^b minor, Op. 144 (1974)

Somehow the 15^th Quartet really hit me today. Now:

CD 3:
Shostakovich
String Quartet № 2 in A, Op. 68 (1944)
String Quartet № 12  in D^b, Op. 133 (1968)

[Karl Henning]

Saint-Saëns' two string quartets, played by the Quatuor Viotti:

CD 14 of the edition:


Very well-crafted, and very enjoyable music (particularly SQ2). Now, it's soooo conservative, next to it even someone like Reynaldo Hahn sounds as if he were part of the Darmstadt School! 

(* chortle *)

[Que]

plus I cannot find a source that thoroughly lists ALL of the works in each of the books (Marais' Wiki article simply states the general titles of the Books).  Thanks for any enlightenment -    Dave

Maybe this of any help? 

https://imslp.org/wiki/List_of_works_by_Marin_Marais

[Florestan]

Part of this superb boxset:



Charming the ear and caressing the soul beyond words. Sublime music.

[VonStupp]

Gioachino Rossini
Stabat Mater (1841)

Pilar Lorengar - soprano, Yvonne Minton - mezzo
Luciano Pavarotti - tenor, Hans Sotin - bass
London SO & Chorus - István Kertész (rec. 1971)

Just listened: Captivating from start to finish.

The words of the Stabat Mater are so grief-laden, but I love when a composer's style juxtaposes that heartfelt text. My favorite example of this contrast is perhaps Francis Poulenc's Stabat Mater, a wonderful work, and Rossini's Italianate musical language follows in that line. I could see his sunny musicmaking off-putting to those searching for a serious-minded religious experience, but I think it is great!

The outer movements and mid-movement are moody and almost terrifying, but the arias and duets that surround are drenched in olive oil. There are quite a bit of unexpected chromatic lines and harmonies, particularly in the two a cappella movements. The finale fugue is a most unusual nod towards a German choral tradition, as if it was ripped straight from Handel or Bach.

Kertész and his London forces play up Rossini's melody-ridden, solo-focused high-drama with no excuses. I last heard Pavarotti in Berlioz's Requiem with James Levine and the Berlin PO, and he is a delight - so secure and reliable here (that high D-flat!), among an extremely solid international soloist team.

VS

[SonicMan46]

Maybe this of any help? 

https://imslp.org/wiki/List_of_works_by_Marin_Marais

Thanks Que - the link is exactly what I was hoping to find - now to see if I can match these listings w/ what I own -    Dave

[Symphonic Addict]

Bræin: Symphonies 1 and 2



Listened to these on Cesar's recommendation, and they didn't disappoint! Some energetic, concise, and characterful music is contained here. Echoes of Nielsen and Shostakovich are not infrequent, but not to the point of the music becoming derivative. The 2nd Symphony is the darker of the two works, with its impressively brooding opening slow movement. I look forward to the 3rd Symphony. BTW, Edvard Fliflet Bræin has to be one of my new favorite composer names!


Nielsen: Symphony no. 1



It's always a pleasure to revisit this immensely characteristic and quirky first symphony of the Great Dane. You know how Rachmaninoff said Stravinsky was "Bach on the wrong notes"? Well, Nielsen's 1st is "Brahms on the wrong notes"! Great stuff, and in splendid performances and sound.


Milhaud: Symphony no. 1



A charming, pastoral work with some dark undercurrents. Not strikingly memorable, but unfailingly well-crafted music.


Kapustin: Piano Concerto no. 4 and Double Concerto for Violin and Piano



The ever-unpredictable Hurwitz selected this as his Disc of the Year! Well, it sure is great jazzy fun, but will you find the unforgettable tunes of, say, Gershwin here? Not quite. The highlight for me was the tremendous romp that is the finale of the Concerto for Violin and Piano.


Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances, Suites 1-3



I find this "old wine in new bottles" kind of music so irresistible, and nobody did it better than Respighi, who dressed up these simple tunes in delicious modern orchestral clothing. If forced to choose, my favorite would be the 2nd Suite on account of its incredibly infectious, joyful finale which manages to sound like Copland (!) at times in its rhythmic syncopations and open-air feel.

All superb selections! Glad you enjoyed the Braein's symphonies,. These works have personality and spark.

From the Kapustin CD I've only heard the Chamber Symphony so far and it's so cool.

[Symphonic Addict]

You need to hear the Chailly/Cleveland Orchestra performance of Le sacre, Cesar. It's stunning! Also, the Ozawa/CSO on RCA is a barn-burner.

I have heard the Chailly, and yes, terrific performance and recording. I don't know the Ozawa yet.

[Symphonic Addict]

NP:

Honegger
Symphony No. 2 for string orchestra and trumpet
CzPO
Baudo



This set continues to be the best cycle of Honegger symphonies for me.

+1

[Symphonic Addict]

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5

Very good performance overall, but not my first choice. A big disappointment was the tame tam-tam. I was expecting a real explosion from it, but it never happened. The 4th movement is just insane, extremely fast! It seems like Bernstein had an urgency to go to the bathroom whilst conducted. 

[Symphonic Addict]

Lalo: Piano Concerto in F minor

I wonder why this concerto is so underrated on record. A very cohesive and compact piece.

[VonStupp]

You need to hear the Chailly/Cleveland Orchestra performance of Le sacre, Cesar. It's stunning! Also, the Ozawa/CSO on RCA is a barn-burner.

+1 for the Ozawa. I don't mind the paired Petrouchka either.

VS

[Karl Henning]

When Ozawa was good, he was very good.

[Florestan]

Saint-Saëns' two string quartets, played by the Quatuor Viotti:

CD 14 of the edition:


Very well-crafted, and very enjoyable music (particularly SQ2). Now, it's soooo conservative, next to it even someone like Reynaldo Hahn sounds as if he were part of the Darmstadt School! 

Exagerate  exagerate, there'll always be something left! 

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Revueltas
Ventanas
Orquesta Filarmónica de la Ciudad de México
Enrique Bátiz



This is a smoking performance! Completely visceral and in-your-face. It certainly blows the Salonen on Sony away (even though he has better audio quality).

[listener]

a HINDEMITH hear here too:
the Prelude to the Requiem for those we love      Symphony <Mathis der Mahler>
Sinfonia Serena    (second movement a paraphrase for wind and percussion of a march by Beethoven WooO.18)
third movement a conversation for two groups of strings   - nice pieces
Sydney S.O.     Werner Andreas Albert, cond.
and a couple of Canadian pieces   Malcolm FORSYTH Atayoskwin Suite
and Harry FREEDMAN  Oiseaux Exotiques  ballet suite
Edmonton S.O.      Uri Mayer, cond.

[Karl Henning]

No surprise:

CD 5
Shostakovich
String Quartet № 8 in c minor, Op. 110 (1960)
String Quartet № 7 in f# minor, Op. 108 (1960)
String Quartet № 3 in F, Op. 73 (1946)