What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

Oh, really? Well, I read Zemlinsky himself compared his work to Mahler's Das Lied, and as a matter of fact, the compositions share similarities: they both have a similar structure in movements, they both are based on oriental poems (chinese poems for Mahler, indian ones for Zemlinsky); boths alternate a male and a female voice (but with opposite registers), and boths have a more powerful, intense beginning, while ending in a peaceful, deep suggestive adagio.
I heard reminiscences of Mahler in the orchestration and in the extended harmonies, which anyway seem sometimes to handle a development in light dissonances that reminds the Expressionism tones; I agree the atmospheres are personal and evocative, and there's a brilliant use of the glissando.
I certainly enjoyed it, are there other works you could suggest?

Any of Zemlinsky's orchesterlieder are worth checking out as are his Psalms, Die Seejungfrau and since you're an opera fan, I would definitely look into Der Zwerg and Eine florentinische Tragödie. All of these are astounding works, IMHO.

[Lisztianwagner]

Any of Zemlinsky's orchesterlieder are worth checking out as are his Psalms, Die Seejungfrau and since you're an opera fan, I would definitely look into Der Zwerg and Eine florentinische Tragödie. All of these are astounding works, IMHO.

Suggestions accepted.

Die Seejungfrau, from:

[Mirror Image]

Suggestions accepted.

Die Seejungfrau, from:

I'll join you, Ilaria, but from this recording with Conlon on EMI:

[foxandpeng]

Einojuhani Rautavaara
The 8 Symphonies
Symphony 7 'Angel of Light'
Leif Segerstam
Helsinki PO
Ondine

This is quality in every way.

[Todd]

Op 2. 

[Karl Henning]

CD 8
JSB
Vn Sonata in c minor, BWV 1017
Vn Sonata in f minor, BWV 1018
Vn Sonata in G, BWV 1019

with Lars Frydén, vn

Grieg piano music was not on my bingo card at year's start ... but here we are:

CD 6
Grieg

Sonata in e minor, Op. 7
Lyric Pcs, Op. 12
Lyric Pcs, Op. 43

[Linz]

Tchaikovsky Symphony 3 with Mariss Jansons and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra

[Mapman]

Clara Schumann: Kontersatz in F minor
Fanny Mendelssohn: Piano Trio Op. 11
Louise Farrenc: Clarinet Trio Op. 44
Marie Grandval: Deux pièces (for oboe, cello, and piano)

I liked the Grandval the best: it was the most emotional and dramatic. (My girlfriend agrees.) There is very little of Grandval's music that has been recorded.

[classicalgeek]

Love the IPO disc, especially Konzertmusik for Strings and Brass.

It's an excellent performance, that's for sure! I also enjoyed the Mathis der Maler symphony quite a bit.

  It doesn't help the confusion that the Bournemouth Kullervo employs the Helsinki University Male Voice Choir.

I know! And of course they (the Helsinki University Male Voice Choir) are in his Helsinki Kullervo too! 

The whole disc actually. What I hear in these two works is eminently listenable, often quite beautiful but I don't detect a structure, a direction, a purpose. I feel like listening to movie credits music for a solid hour. Very pleasant as you make your way to the exit. Once you're out though, nothing remains.

Thanks so much for letting me know what you thought. I won't be as eager to sample Pavlova's music - there's too much great music out there!

TD: I had to get around to Casella eventually!

Alfredo Casella
Symphony no. 3
Italia
WDR Sinfonieorchester Koln
Alun Francis
(on Qobuz)



Casella is a fascinating and compelling original voice, that's for sure! There's a lot to "digest", as it were, in his orchestral music, so I'll continue to listen. But there's a lot to like, including his stunning and innovative orchestration and his command of large-scale form. And Italia is an orchestral tour-de-force, as dazzlingly orchestrated as the symphony - the piece it most reminded me of was Enescu's Romanian Rhapsody no. 1: a piece of late-Romantic nationalism, unashamed of its decadence. I quite enjoyed it, even if he does go a little overboard with Finiculi, Finicula near the end!

[DavidW]

[André]

Another disc of extremely fine orchestral music by Dietrich Erdmann:

Music for Strings, Musica multicolore, piano concertino, flute concertino. What a fine craftsman !

[Daverz]

Weill: Symphony No. 2



And based on a recommendation at MusicWeb:



That both composers were associated with musical theatre in Weimar Germany is a happy coincidence.

... I think the Spoliansky was oversold.  The melodic material didn't seem to be enough to sustain its length, and I don't think I'll be returning to it.

[classicalgeek]

After hearing so many good things about Braga Santos's Fourth Symphony, I had to give it a listen:

Braga Santos
Symphony no. 4
National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
Alvaro Cassuto
(on Qobuz)



This is powerful and compelling symphony, one with a sense of purpose and drive. And I found the tune that closes out the symphony by rising to a stirring climax very moving indeed. I'd really like to listen following a score, but those probably aren't easy to come with a composer like Braga Santos.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Guarnieri
Symphony No. 1
São Paulo SO
Neschling



Going to make way through the Guarnieri symphonies and piano concerti over the next week or so. Such a distinctive musical voice. He's certainly not the lesser composer compared to his more famous compatriot Villa-Lobos. There's a lot to admire in Guarnieri's music. I need to get some more of his recordings in particular chamber works, but I know these recordings are difficult to find.

[Mirror Image]

After hearing so many good things about Braga Santos's Fourth Symphony, I had to give it a listen:

Braga Santos
Symphony no. 4
National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
Alvaro Cassuto
(on Qobuz)



This is powerful and compelling symphony, one with a sense of purpose and drive. And I found the tune that closes out the symphony by rising to a stirring climax very moving indeed. I'd really like to listen following a score, but those probably aren't easy to come with a composer like Braga Santos.

Excellent! I listened to Braga Santos' Symphony No. 3 today and rather enjoyed it. I didn't mentioned it, but I also listened to his 6th, which was also very good despite being written in a more gnarly style, but not devoid of that lyricism that runs deep through his music.

[Operafreak]

Canteloube: Songs of the Auvergne-Kiri te Kanawa (soprano) English Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

NP:

Guarnieri
Symphony No. 1
São Paulo SO
Neschling



Going to make way through the Guarnieri symphonies and piano concerti over the next week or so. Such a distinctive musical voice. He's certainly not the lesser composer compared to his more famous compatriot Villa-Lobos. There's a lot to admire in Guarnieri's music. I need to get some more of his recordings in particular chamber works, but I know these recordings are difficult to find.

Nice album. I think the succeeding album of SY 2&3 gets even better! Also, I have a feeling that you will like the Francisco Mignone album by the same band.

[Mirror Image]

Nice album. I think the succeeding album of SY 2&3 gets even better! Also, I have a feeling that you will like the Francisco Mignone album by the same band.

Yep, I already own that Mignone album, Dry Brett. And yes, it's quite good, too!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Yep, I already own that Mignone album, Dry Brett. And yes, it's quite good, too!

Great! I love the Mignone disc so much.

[Mirror Image]

Great! I love the Mignone disc so much.

What do you think about Chávez, Revueltas, Villa-Lobos and Ginastera? Do these composers rank highly with you?