What are you listening 2 now?

[San Antone]

And there was sampling, and there was springing: the first purchase.

I listened to this this afternoon; and enjoyed it.

[vers la flamme]

Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No.9 in E minor, op.95, "From the New World". Libor Pešek, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

[André]

Serious, and seriously fascinating music. The huge first Trio is 'middle period' Scott (he was 41 when he composed it). The other works are from his old age - so to speak, as he was a mere 72-76 senior (he died in 1970, at age 91). At that stage of his life his compositions had become concentrated, pithy, and freer in language, sometimes toying with atonality and constant metre changes. IOW here are 4 major works (the Cornish item is a trifle), demanding undivided attention from the listener. No background music this, and not to be listened to at one sitting.

[Karl Henning]

I listened to this this afternoon; and enjoyed it.

Cheers!

[Symphonic Addict]

Indeed the Yuasa recordings of the first two symphonies are on YouTube! Thanks for the tip. Also by Bekku on YouTube: Third and Fourth Symphonies, a Sinfonietta for Strings, and a Viola Concerto. I don't know if these are from other CDs, LPs, or concert performances, but I'm looking forward to exploring!

I know, I suspect I'll be enthralled! So much great music, so little time...

It's a really fine work. Maybe not as immediately approachable as the Bekku, but well worth getting to know.

I'll definitely give it another listen down the road.

TD:
Castelnuovo-Tedesco
Violin concerto no. 1 'Italiano'
Violin concerto no. 2 'The Prophets'
Tianwa Yang, violin
SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiberg
Pieter-Jelle de Boer
(on Spotify)



The first concerto didn't really do much for me - though the performance was extraordinarily fine! The second concerto, on the other hand, is quite a fine piece. Sort of Korngold-meets-Bloch (in his more Jewish-inspired works) again, with splashy orchestration mixed with that harmony rich in parallel fifths and fourths. In both pieces Ms. Yang is an exceptional soloist, and the orchestra is excellent.

Good to know you're enjoying all this music by Japanese composers and Castelnuovo-Tedesco. Definitely there is much to discover in these composers and in others.

[Symphonic Addict]

Serious, and seriously fascinating music. The huge first Trio is 'middle period' Scott (he was 41 when he composed it). The other works are from his old age - so to speak, as he was a mere 72-76 senior (he died in 1970, at age 91). At that stage of his life his compositions had become concentrated, pithy, and freer in language, sometimes toying with atonality and constant metre changes. IOW here are 4 major works (the Cornish item is a trifle), demanding undivided attention from the listener. No background music this, and not to be listened to at one sitting.

Quite interesting, André. Of his chamber music I'm only familiar with the Piano Quintet which is intensely Impressionist and sensuous in style.

[vers la flamme]

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.2 in B-flat major, op.19. Mitsuko Uchida, Kurt Sanderling, Bavarian RSO

Not very familiar with this work at all but it sounds great at the moment.

[JBS]

From the Barbirolli Box
Two successive CDs of French music
These were Pye recordings from the late 1950s, but the remastering gives them excellent sound.

CD 35
Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique/Three Orchestral Pieces from Damnation de Faust

CD 36
Chabrier Joyeuse March
Massenet Scenes Alsaciennes III Sous les tilleuls
Debussy La Mer
Ravel Daphnis et Chloe Suite 2/La Valse/Ma mere l'oye Suite

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Ravel
Trois poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé
Felicity Lott, soprano
Ensemble de Chambre de l'Orchestre de Paris
Michel Plasson

[Mirror Image]

Greeting from the new house, where I've now successfully connected the desktop PC and the CD player to the wifi network.

There's nothing like home, Monsieur Madiel.

[classicalgeek]

Good to know you're enjoying all this music by Japanese composers and Castelnuovo-Tedesco. Definitely there is much to discover in these composers and in others.

I really am - between old favorites and new discoveries, there's enough great music to last several lifetimes!

TD:

Sadao Bekku
Symphonies nos. 1, 2
National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
Takuo Yuasa



I enjoyed both of these works immensely! Cesar/Symphonic Addict compared these works to Prokofiev, and I can definitely see that. I heard a definite French influence, maybe Ravel, Roussel, maybe a little Dutilleux? But totally original all the same, and I found the result delightful! I'll definitely keep exploring the Naxos Japanese composers series, and I want to return to these works (as well as hear the Bekku I found on YouTube!) Thanks again for your recommendations, Cesar!

[Karl Henning]

I really am - between old favorites and new discoveries, there's enough great music to last several lifetimes!

Amen.

[JBS]

The theme of the evening, French music, continues

From the Erato Complete Recordings set: the last of the studio recordings (the cover image is from a 2010 vinyl issue) made in 1968/69.
The last nine CDs of the set are live recordings.

[Mirror Image]

The theme of the evening, French music, continues

From the Erato Complete Recordings set: the last of the studio recordings (the cover image is from a 2010 vinyl issue) made in 1968/69.
The last nine CDs of the set are live recordings.

Lovely, Jeffrey.

[Mirror Image]

First-Listen Wednesday

Martin
4 Sonnets à Cassandre
Barbara Rearick, mezzo-soprano
The Britten-Pears Ensemble



This song cycle would happily fit on a program with Ravel's Trois poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé and Falla's Psyché. Beautiful.

[Mirror Image]

Revisiting this sensational performance:

Lutosławski
Concerto for Orchestra
CSO
Ozawa

[kyjo]

Robert Schumann: String Quartet No.3 in A major, op.41 no.3. Fine Arts Quartet

This is the slowest recording of this quartet that I have, so I don't often listen to it, but it is good. Schumann's string quartets are great; it's a shame he only ever wrote three, all collected in a single opus.

I agree; Schumann's SQs are delightful. I highly recommend the below recording of them by the Ying Quartet - they really find the charm and personality in these works. I don't recall being too impressed by the Fine Arts' recording.

[kyjo]

Prokofiev: Russian Overture



In this astounding and compact piece is condensed some of the best Prokofiev besides from his symphonies and other orchestral pieces. It's a damn fine piece.



Arnold: Symphony No. 5



It's incredible how Arnold managed to combine so many moods in a piece and make it sound cohesive and arresting.

My only quibble is the bass drum stroke. It's more overwhelming in the Naxos recording.



Nielsen: Symphony No. 6



The more I listen to this piece, the more I'm convinced that Nielsen did right to follow this compositional path. An ironic, irreverent composition, that showed a more disturbed and mad condition, also as a product of his health condition for that time.


Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances



Are we in agreement that this work is an absolute masterpiece?

The fragment from 10:27 to 11:14 in the 1st mov. is one of Rachmaninov's most magical and beautiful moments. It's a passage to die for, and there is a "Coplandesque" rhythmic gesture at 2:50 min. in the III. mov., like a sort of hommage to America?

Four smoking masterpieces!!

[kyjo]

NP:

Schubert
Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat major, D929
Trio Wanderer

Pounds the table!

[classicalgeek]

Revisiting this sensational performance:

Lutosławski
Concerto for Orchestra
CSO
Ozawa

That is a great performance! One of the reasons I ordered the RCA Chicago Symphony/Ozawa box. Enjoy!