What are you listening 2 now?

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Very good solo keyboard music in that series, I listened to the Prussian Sonatas a couple of months ago

Yes, some of the albums sound very good!  What is Tangent Piano?  Sounds good anyway.

[Que]

Having finished the above last week, I can fully relate to Gurn's warm enthusiasm for it, it's a marvellous performance in almost every way (my only quibble being a slightly over turbocharged overture, and it's a very small quibble).
For comparison purposes I've started listening to the Solti recording on Decca with Te Kanawa, von Stade, Popp, Thomas Allen et al, which I already own and enjoy, and so far I must admit in terms of personal preference, the Jacobs is winning out comfortably so far.

I share your enthusiasm for Jacobs' Le Nozze!

My personal favourite amongst Old School/pre-HIP, is the Le Nozze under Erich Kleiber (Decca/Universal).

[Que]

Yes, some of the albums sound very good!  What is Tangent Piano?  Sounds good anyway.

A rare but lovely kind of piano:

The tangent piano is a very rare keyboard instrument that resembles a harpsichord and early pianos in design. It normally features five octaves of keys and the strings are acted upon by narrow wooden or metal slips when the keys are depressed.

The tangent piano has an unusual sound that combines the qualities of the harpsichord and piano. The treble resembles the bright sound from a light action piano, and the bass resembles the bass from a harpsichord. The sound varies from instrument to instrument, as do personal descriptions of the tangent piano's sound.

[SonicMan46]

Spohr, Louis (1784-1859) - Clarinet Concertos & Double Quartets - will be sampling my 30 discs of Spohr - the ones below are probably some of my favorites - he wrote 4 clarinet concertos and I have sets w/ Karl Leister from 1983 (believe on a modern German instrument) and with Michael Collins on Hyperion; the 'double quartets' have been in my collection for ages, from the 1980s - for those not knowing this composer, a nice introduction to his music (brief bio below) - Dave

NOTE: the 'Double Quartets' are 8 string instruments, so don't expect added winds.

Louis Spohr was a German composer, violinist and conductor. Highly regarded during his lifetime, Spohr composed ten symphonies, ten operas, eighteen violin concerti, four clarinet concerti, four oratorios, and various works for small ensemble, chamber music, and art songs. Spohr invented the violin chin rest and the orchestral rehearsal mark. His output spans the transition between Classical and Romantic music, but fell into obscurity following his death. The late 20th century saw a revival of interest in his oeuvre, especially in Europe. (Source)

     

[Madiel]

Pure, unadulterated, heavenly bliss.

As Emil Cioran put it (quoted from memory), "I don't want to die, it's inconceivable to me that some day I won't be able to hear Mozart anymore..."

Besides, you'll need all that time to perfect the official ranking of every single Mozart aria.

[Madiel]

Robert Simpson
Symphony 1

London Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Adrian Boult

There are a few symphonists I gave up on after hearing the first symphony or so, many now with regret, such as Albéric Magnard, whose later symphonies reeled me back in with immense pleasure.

So it is with Robert Simpson now. I think I engaged with Simpson way too early to appreciate this music, before hearing many of the warhorses, both modern and historical.

I really enjoyed the 1st Symphony this time around with Boult, having owned the Handley on Hyperion in the 90's and promptly selling it off.

I am sure I will trawl through the Simpson thread eventually, but are there any suggestions on where to navigate after the 1st?

I seem to remember hearing Simpson's 8th Symphony as well, and thinking it was a noisy, strife-laden affair. I found it most disagreeable, but time usually mends most wounds.

VS

The Boult performance of the 1st is far better than the Hyperion one. And I suspect that's a big problem with the symphonies in general...

I've always responded to 2, 4 and 7 myself.

[Linz]

Ann Sophie Mutter playing the Beethoven Violin Concerto and 2 Romances with the New York Symphony Orchestra and Kurt Masur

[Madiel]

Shostakovich Preludes and Fugues op.87, Levit.

He's off to a very good start.



EDIT: Pausing at the halfway point. Unless something goes terribly wrong in the second half, this is going to join my top tier of recommendations. Very solid throughout.

[Mapman]

Hanson: Piano Concerto
List, Epstein: MIT Symphony Orchestra




Haydn Symphony #84
Marriner: ASMF

The fugato at the end of the 2nd movement is great!

[Operafreak]

Beethoven: Works for Voice and Orchestra

Reetta Haavisto (soprano), Dan Karlström (tenor), Kevin Greenlaw (baritone)-Kurku Philharmonic Orchestra, Leif Segerstam

[Irons]

Alwyn: Three Winter Poems (for String Quartet).

[Lisztianwagner]

Ralph Vaughan Williams
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2

[vandermolen]

Vaughan Williams: 'A London Symphony'
Hallé: Sir Mark Elder

[vandermolen]

Robert Simpson
Symphony 1

London Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Adrian Boult

There are a few symphonists I gave up on after hearing the first symphony or so, many now with regret, such as Albéric Magnard, whose later symphonies reeled me back in with immense pleasure.

So it is with Robert Simpson now. I think I engaged with Simpson way too early to appreciate this music, before hearing many of the warhorses, both modern and historical.

I really enjoyed the 1st Symphony this time around with Boult, having owned the Handley on Hyperion in the 90's and promptly selling it off.

I am sure I will trawl through the Simpson thread eventually, but are there any suggestions on where to navigate after the 1st?

I seem to remember hearing Simpson's 8th Symphony as well, and thinking it was a noisy, strife-laden affair. I found it most disagreeable, but time usually mends most wounds.

VS

I agree about Boult's performance of Simpson's 1st Symphony (my favourite of his symphonies). Also that is a fabulous CD which also features Robin Orr's powerful, memorable and eloquent Symphony in One Movement (my favourite of the three featured works). Fricker's 2nd Symphony has the most exciting last few pages. I still don't like the Simpson symphonies that much (I stick with my belief that they are like very impressive and carefully constructed pieces of scaffolding which, when removed, reveal that there is no building underneath). Apart from No. 1, I like No.3 (especially in Horenstein's recording) most. No.9 is considered to be a great masterpiece by some and I'd like to hear 2 and 4 again.

[Traverso]

Bach

[Madiel]

Haydn, Missa Cellensis, aka 'Mariazellermesse'

[Operafreak]

Ian Bostridge sings Berlioz, Ravel and Debussy/Adams

Les nuits d'été, Shéhérazade, Le livre de Baudelaire (After Debussy's L. 64)- Ian Bostridge (tenor), Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Ludovic Morlot

[Traverso]

Krommer

[Papy Oli]

Good afternoon all,

Making a start on Bizet's Carmen:

[Operafreak]

Aho: Double/Triple Concertos

Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Olari Elts