What are you listening 2 now?

[Operafreak]

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker- Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel

[VonStupp]

Franck's oratorio is not exactly a soloists' vehicle but here an all-star cast has been assembled for this very well recorded 1974 Bavarian Radio production: Kubelik conducts and the front cover lists only the best known singers from a most impressive line-up of 8 soloists. Jessye Norman contributes some incredibly beautiful sounds. Compared to the Rilling version, what struck me is how intensely dramatic this performance sounds: Kubelik conducts as if this was the Missa Solemnis.

Our own vonStupp wrote a very detaailed review on Amazon and I concur with his every comment !

You are too generous! I look back at some of those reviews and I can't stand my babbling.

If you liked Franck's Les Béatitudes, his Rédemption is a tad more memorable and more tightly structured. I think it was the Plasson on EMI I last enjoyed.

Of course, 20th 19th Century French oratorios are not everyone's cup of tea! 

VS

[Mirror Image]

Always a good thing.

Indeed, especially the recordings I was listening to. Fabulous performances.

[Florestan]

Of course, 20th Century French oratorios are not everyone's cup of tea! 

All the more reason to rejoice that Franck's oratorios are 19th Century. 

[VonStupp]

All the more reason to rejoice that Franck's oratorios are 19th Century. 

Ay!  Pardon my mistype. I can't go two seconds without wrangling my own dumb typos and mental foibles.

VS

[Mirror Image]

Various bits from this Nielsen misc. orchestral disc:

[aligreto]

Handel: Messiah [Butt] CD 2





This is a reconstruction of the original version of the work which was premiered here in Dublin in 1724, almost 300 years ago to the day. I am no expert on Handel, let alone his Messiah, and I can discern only a few differences between this and subsequent versions at this point [my focus here was more on the presentation itself than on the original version per se]. What I do know is that I like this presentation as a Messiah. It is strong, assertive, crisp, sharp and proclamatory. All of the vocal soloists are strong in their respective roles, the chorus are wonderful throughout. The instrumental accompaniment is also strong and assertive but also quite sensitive to the vocal lines, never sounding dominating or overpowering the vocal line. The pacing of the performance is also excellent. The recorded sound is excellent and the recording has great presence. This particular presentation has a unique "voice" of its own; one that I find very different and engaging.  I will definitely return to this version.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Mussorgsky, Pictures and Mountain. Karel Ancerl.

[Todd]

[Madiel]

Haydn op.1 no.3

Dear God. Even opus 1 is stunning and beautiful.

[Florestan]

Haydn op.1 no.3

Dear God. Even opus 1 is stunning and beautiful.

Ain't it? 

No, really, all of them prior to Op. 20 are real gems. I especially love the operatic-aria-like quality of the adagios as well as the mercurial contrasts of the minuets and trios. Plus, there are no two of them which sound alike. The notion that prior to Op. 20 Haydn wrote stuff of interest only to musicologists and music historians is bogus.

[Madiel]

Ain't it? 

No, really, all of them prior to Op. 20 are real gems. I especially love the operatic-aria-like quality of the adagios as well as the mercurial contrasts of the minuets and trios. Plus, there are no two of them which sound alike. The notion that prior to Op. 20 Haydn wrote stuff of interest only to musicologists and music historians is bogus.

I wasn't going to go there explicitly, just imply it...

Without going to check I think I have 42 out of the 68 quartets in my CD collection. It's not enough.

EDIT: No, I must only have 36. Even worse!

[aligreto]

Schubert: Symphony No. 8 [Jochum]





This is a wonderful, strong, powerful performance. The presence of the orchestra is massive on this recording.


I do not listen to nearly enough Schubert.

[Florestan]

Without going to check I think I have 42 out of the 68 quartets in my CD collection. It's not enough.

EDIT: No, I must only have 36. Even worse!

Shame on you!   

[kyjo]

Undine is a favorite. A gorgeous ballet. I love the 1st and 2nd Violin Concertos. The SQs are quite good. I don't know the symphonies well enough to comment. The man wrote a lot of music and, honestly, I'm still exploring much of it, but just have been dedicating much of my time to so many other composers at the moment.

Thanks for the feedback, John. I won't give up on Henze just yet.

[kyjo]

If there is an English composer's music I really dislike, it's the one by PMD. His symphonies are unbearably depressing to these ears, above all the No. 10. Definitely not my cup tea.

+1 ditto his SQs and Strathclyde Concerti, IMO. The only pieces by him that I like are his "light" works such as An Orkney Wedding and Sunrise, Mavis in Las Vegas, and Farewell to Stromness, which are great fun.

[kyjo]

PMD is unlikely to win many popularity awards, I guess. He appears to be the Marmite of British composers. Considering the complexity and relative inaccessibility of some of his writing, the oddness of his structures, and the scarcity of tunes, he isn't the obvious choice when seeking new music. Having said that, I don't think he is any more difficult than lots of other composers enjoyed on GMG. As with most, perseverance unlocks the benefits.

If I were starting again with PMD, I would begin with these.

Doesn't guarantee likes, however. Not everyone will be won over, by any means, I suppose. I would certainly recommend Tippett as as a more immediate return on your listening investment.

Eight Songs for a Mad King
Bassoon Concerto from the Strathclyde Concertos #8
Symphonies #1 and #5
An Orkney Wedding with Sunrise
A Farewell to Stromness
A Spell for Green Corn: The Macdonald Dances
Naxos Quartet #1

I certainly admire your appreciation for PMD's music!

[kyjo]

More Roussel this norming.

Returned to the second symphony, this time, for variety, the Eschenbach recording with the Orchestre de Paris



Beautiful music beautifully performed. Eschenbach is a bit slower in tempo and neoclassical in approach. A bit less fire and brimstone, a bit more clarity. Unlike Roussel's late symphonies, in which each movement has a discreet place in the symphonic scheme, this piece feels sort of like a suite of symphonic poems, with a mood which is expressionistic rather than impressionistic. A wonderful work which I have not fully appreciated until now.

I also listened to "Pour une fete de printemps" which (as I read) Roussel started, intending it to be the scherzo for the second symphony, although he ultimately completed it as a separate piece. Martinon, ORTF. Again the late 60's sound has some obvious distortion when the bass drum enters, but a convincing performance, nevertheless. This piece is part of Roussel's post-war acerbic phase, but there are some impressionistic clouds floating by.

Always great to read your posts about Roussel. You definitely have a great appreciation for and understanding of his music!

[kyjo]

Der Rosenkavalier not only contains some of Strauss' most opulent orchestral music, but the vocal writing is beautifully done. If you don't like vocals, then perhaps operatic music isn't for you.

When did I ever say I don't like vocals? And yes, Strauss' operas are very high on my "need-to-listen" list, I assure you!

[aligreto]

Janacek: Sinfonietta [Kubelik]





This Kubelik version with the VPO has a different "feel" to it when compared with Kubelik's version performed by the BRSO. Although this version with the VPO is fine in itself, it lacks a lot of the energy and drive of the BRSO version. Kubelik is not a favoured interpreter of this work for me irrespective of which orchestra he uses.