What are you listening 2 now?

[Todd]

Revisiting this masterful disc.  I've listened to an uncharacteristically high volume of Kodaly music lately.  Perhaps I should go on a Kodaly deep dive.

[kyjo]

TD:
Stanley Bate
Symphony no. 4
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Martin Yates



Cello Concerto
Lionel Handy, cello
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Martin Yates



Well-crafted, enjoyable music, with more personality than Richard Arnell's (the Fourth Symphony is coupled with Arnell's Seventh) and better orchestration. Maybe not the best pieces ever written, but still quite fine.

+1 for the 4th Symphony. That recording of the Cello Concerto is hampered by some unimpressive (IMO) playing by the soloist.

[VonStupp]

Richard Strauss
Taillefer, op. 52
Wandrers Sturmlied, op. 14
Die Tageszeiten, op. 76

Felicity Lott, soprano
Johan Botha, tenor
Michael Volle, baritone
Ernst-Senff Chorus
Dresden Philharmonic
Michel Plasson

This is my first time hearing these R. Strauss symphonic choral works:

Taillefer

An 11th Century minstrel who rode into battle alongside William the Conqueror during the Norman invasion of England. According to legend, Taillefer sang at the Battle of Hastings whilst juggling his sword and singly riding to the English line amidst song.

An extremely militaristic cantata with one rip-snorter of an orchestral battle sequence in the last third of its 18 minutes. Taillefer is a loud clamorous work with full-throated singing and the only solo singing on the recording.

Wandrers Sturmlied
Another full-to-the-hilt orchestrated choral work, although the second half of the 17 minutes affords some overwrought Romantic lyricism following the choral storm. Split into six-part chorus, Wandrers Sturmlied sounds a like an unrelenting, harrowing work for chorus. It brings to mind Brahms' orchestrated choral works such as Triumphlied or Gesang der Parzen.

Die Tageszeiten
This is the jewel of the recording. Written for men's chorus and orchestra, Tageszeiten is the most successful of voice-to-orchestra integration of the three here. At times, the chorus almost becomes an orchestral voice and the two forces receive equal measure texturally. The 2nd movement 'Mittagsruh' had some unexpectedly, emotionally powerful climaxes, despite its more relaxed atmosphere. Richard Strauss evokes the Evening and Night most colorfully, and this 4-movement work really caught me off guard as something quite special.
https://youtu.be/tj-RTRfUV-k?t=232

A fine recording all around, and it was a welcome surprise to my month's focus on R. Strauss' orchestral music. I wasn't familiar with any of these works, and while it might not be music from Strauss that is essential, oh boy, did I enjoy myself! I look forward to living with these for a while.

VS

https://www.youtube.com/v/tj-RTRfUV-k?&ab_channel=LeoMarillier

[Symphonic Addict]

Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 2
Kokkonen: Symphony No. 3

Vibrant and assertive rendition of the S-S. In spite of being an early work, it's a rather enjoyable piece.

The Kokkonen is an introspective, somewhat cold work, but not for that less appealing.

[stingo]

In Part III of Handel's Messiah - Christie, Les Ars Florissants et al. (Harmonia Mundi)

[Mirror Image]

Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 2

Vibrant and assertive rendition of the S-S. In spite of being an early work, it's a rather enjoyable piece.

Great stuff, Cesar. I LOVE that particular cycle. An equal to or even better than the much acclaimed Martinon cycle.

NP:

Glazunov
Saxophone Concerto in E-flat major, Op. 109
Lev Mikhailov, saxophone
Moscow RSO
Alexander Korneyev

[Operafreak]

Miloš: Aranjuez/  London Philharmonic Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin

[JBS]

Today's agenda

CD 2, which includes the Rondo in D K 485,
Piano Trio in B Flat Major K 502, and Piano Concerto 24 in c minor K 491



The centerpiece here is a rather jovial Shostakovich First Cello Concerto

[Symphonic Addict]

Great stuff, Cesar. I LOVE that particular cycle. An equal to or even better than the much acclaimed Martinon cycle.

Definitely I share your view of that stunning set, John. Martinon is good, but the new Warner set has better sonics.

[Mapman]

I just listened to Malcolm Arnold's 3rd symphony for the first time. (Actually, I listened to 1.5 movements a few days ago before I fell asleep.) It helps that the score is easily available online.

I'm still not entirely sure what I think. I like some of the themes in the first movement, but the other two are somewhat less appealing. Because I had read some notes online, I was able to hear the use of DSCH in the 2nd movement, and the movement does have a powerful ending. I thought that there were too many uninteresting woodwind scales in the final movement.

[Mirror Image]

Definitely I share your view of that stunning set, John. Martinon is good, but the new Warner set has better sonics.

Indeed. And while talking about Saint-Saëns, I'm now playing this entire recording before signing off for the night:



Interesting! I just found a link between Saint-Saëns and Tubin. There is a motif that occurs halfway (or roundabout) in Saint-Saëns' Marche héroïque that also occurs but in slightly different guise in the first movement of Tubin's Symphony No. 1. This is purely coincidental I'm sure, but when I heard it, I thought "Hey, I heard this in Tubin!"

Anyway, carry on good people.

[Mirror Image]

I just listened to Malcolm Arnold's 3rd symphony for the first time. (Actually, I listened to 1.5 movements a few days ago before I fell asleep.) It helps that the score is easily available online.

I'm still not entirely sure what I think. I like some of the themes in the first movement, but the other two are somewhat less appealing. Because I had read some notes online, I was able to hear the use of DSCH in the 2nd movement, and the movement does have a powerful ending. I thought that there were too many uninteresting woodwind scales in the final movement.

Keep trying with Arnold! He really is an outstanding composer. One of the great British symphonists.

[Mandryka]

Listening to op 90. No crass virtuosity. Sweet tone, well recorded, intimate approach.

[Mapman]

Keep trying with Arnold! He really is an outstanding composer. One of the great British symphonists.

I will! I also have symphonies 4, 5, and 6. Is there one of those that you would recommend?

[Mirror Image]

I will! I also have symphonies 4, 5, and 6. Is there one of those that you would recommend?

I like all of Arnold's symphonies, but my favorites remain the 4th, 7th and 9th. Probably his darkest, most turbulent symphonies.

[Symphonic Addict]

Indeed. And while talking about Saint-Saëns, I'm now playing this entire recording before signing off for the night:



Interesting! I just found a link between Saint-Saëns and Tubin. There is a motif that occurs halfway (or roundabout) in Saint-Saëns' Marche héroïque that also occurs but in slightly different guise in the first movement of Tubin's Symphony No. 1. This is purely coincidental I'm sure, but when I heard it, I thought "Hey, I heard this in Tubin!"

Anyway, carry on good people.

Interesting! I would never have linked Saint-Saëns with Tubin. I'll have to check it out for myself.

[Symphonic Addict]

Sibelius: Scènes Historiques I & II

Nice pieces overall. Chant d'amour from the 2nd Suite (assuming that it is) is the highlight here. So lovely.




Holst: Suite de ballet

I had listened to this work some while ago and I thought it was splendid. Today I confirm my impressions about it. Such a colourful and life-affirming composition.

[Undersea]

Currently:



Schubert: Piano Trio #1 in B Flat, Op. 99. D 898

[Operafreak]

Sibelius: Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52/  Sibelius: Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63


    Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
    Klaus Mäkelä

[Que]

Morning listening: Lamentations by Constanzo Festa (1485 - 1545)