What are you listening 2 now?

[Symphonic Addict]

I think I'm going to spend a couple of days with Glazunov, so I'll visit that recording too, on your recommendation. Thank you! I wouldn't have known about the quotation but the motif is beautiful 🙂. I realise that the Naxos orchestral series of about 20 releases has variable reviews, but I bought them all as they came out, so will probably poke some of those too.

The power of music never fails to amaze me.

I have to admit I was wrong there. The 4th couldn't quote the Strauss because the latter hadn't been written yet (1893, circa 1912). It was an uncanny coincidence, nevertheless.

Yes, kudos Naxos/Marco Polo for embracing this Glazunov series.

[André]

A fine disc. I find the first movement of the piano concerto too slow, making it lose a bit of its jaunty, bittersweet character. The work emerges as a bit beefier, more concert-hall material. I don't object. The harpsichord concerto is very good, especially its orchestral contribution (as usual the harpsichord sounds a bit puny). The organ concerto never ceases to enthrall. Such a bracing, majestic work.

Throughout, the orchestra is superbly captured in clear, lifelike acoustics. An excellent compilation.

I wonder if there is a a version of the Concert champêtre where the harpsichord is recorded with suitable boldness and impact ? After all, it was written for Landowska, who used to play big Pleyel Grand modèle de concert instruments built especially for her concert tours. A YT audio file of her playing the Poulenc work in 1949 reveals a very different sound - and conception -  than what Cole and Hickox give us. I find it a bit too much for my taste (the orchestra is led by Stokowski !) but surely there must be some middle ground...

[Symphonic Addict]

Lutoslawski's Concerto for Orchestra by the Warsaw Philharmonic under Rowicki.

Masterpiece!

[Symphonic Addict]

I must say that nothing else I've heard by Rheinberger can compare in inspiration to his marvelous Piano Quartet, IMHO, including this symphony.

Among his chamber music -besides the Piano Quartet- I remember his piano trios having distinctiveness and charm enough.

[Symphonic Addict]

Bohuslav Martinů
Symphony 1
Royal Scottish National Orchestra - Bryden Thomson

Here is a composer who loves syncopations and scalular figures. What a joyous and fresh first symphony!

VS

Bohuslav Martinů
Bouquet of Flowers

Kateřina Kněžíková, soprano
Michaela Kapustová, mezzo
Jaroslav Březina, tenor
Adam Plachetka, bass

Prague Philharmonic Choir
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra - Tomáš Netopil

VS

Both phenomenal recordings!

[Karl Henning]

CD 21

François Couperin

Les Folies françoises, ou les dominos (3^e  livre de pièces de clavecin, 13^e ordre

Ravel
Scarbo

Debussy
Hommage à Rameau
Estampes

Roussel
Sonatine, Op. 16

Delightful program. The Roussel was completely new to me.

[Todd]

[Symphonic Addict]

Wolf-Ferrari: English Horn Concertino

A pleasant listen.





Vermeulen: Symphonic Prolog, Passacaille et Cortège et Interlude from The Flying Dutchman

The more I listen to his output, the more convinced I am about his talent. Atmospheric music with reminiscences of Bax.

[foxandpeng]

McEwen: 'A Solway Symphony'

I also heard this today! McEwen is excellent; the SQs in particular.

Very long day travelling to and from an afternoon and evening of live music, so now unwinding from the drive with ...

Alexander Glazunov
Complete Symphonies
Symphony 7 'Pastora'nayal'
Neeme Järvi
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra

[Symphonic Addict]

Extraordinary music! Traumsommernacht for female chorus and orchesta is a peach. The other works are strong as expected. A fabulous and compelling composer in my view.

[Mirror Image]

Minor Arnold, but a gem!

Indeed.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Penderecki
Horn Concerto, "Wintereisse"
Radovan Vlatković, horn
Sinfonietta Cracovia
Krzysztof Penderecki



A f****** masterpiece!

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Gerhard
Piano Concerto
Geoffrey Tozer, piano
BBC SO
Bamert

[Mirror Image]

NP:

[Symphonic Addict]

Bax: Nympholept

Sheer magic.

[vandermolen]

Bax: Nympholept

Sheer magic.

+1 although Bryden Thomson's recording is my favourite version.

Early morning listening here.
'Transcriptions from Truro'
Vaughan Williams 'Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus' (transcribed for organ):

[Que]

Morning listening:



Amazing recording.

[vandermolen]

Ibert 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol'

[Tsaraslondon]

I feel a little bit guilty about listening to this at the moment, given Gergiev's unapologetic support of Putin, but I'm in a Prokoviev period and this is the only recording of Romeo and Juliet I have. It's a superb performance, by the way.

[Mandryka]

Music by Peter Philips and Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck on disc 6 of the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book.

Sofar Belder's Philips impresses me the most. Hopefully that's not because I have little to compare it with.. 

The Philips is excellent - and I would say that the Sweelinck is even more excellent! In the Sweelinck, he brings a sense of dream. The Philips is like an intense and hypnotic hallucination, the Sweelinck is like a sweet daydream.