What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Harry]

Domenico Scarlatti.
Cantate da Camera.
Volume II.
Lavinia Bertotti. soprano.
Ensemble Seicento Italiano, on period instruments/Daniele Boccaccio.

Rerun II

For me this is absolute bliss, well performed and recorded.

[Harry]

Good morning all!

Goodmorning Andrei! and all.

[Harry]

James Brooks.(1760-1809)
Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major.
Elizabeth Wallfisch, Violin.
The Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman.

This is a fine violin Concerto. Well executed, and recorded.

[Harry]

Thomas Linley JNR. (1756-1778)
Violin Concerto in F major.
Elizabeth Wallfisch, Violin.
The Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman.

Rerun II.

Delightful music. The second movement "Adagio" last only 1:55, but it is stunningly beautiful, with a yearning in it, that was quite beyond its time, and a great distinction in this F major concerto. The following movement Rondeau comes as a anticlimax, but not necessarly a degrading one.

[Harry]

Thomas Shaw. (ca 1755-1830)
Violin concerto in G major.
Elizabeth Wallfisch, Violin.
The Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman.

A nicely worked out first movement with quite some virtuosity in it, and Wallfisch brings that out in a effective way, not forgetting the Parley, that is turning many a note into bloom. The second movement "Arioso" is short but dazzling. A sprightly Rondeau darts the concerto to a happy close.

[Harry]

Samuel Wesley. (1766-1837)
Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major.
Elizabeth Wallfisch, violin.
The Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman.

The longest of the four Violin Concertos on this disc from Hyperion.
The concerto has grand ambitions, in that it is in such a way composed, scored for 2 Horns, Bassoon, Strings and Fortepiano, that it sounds larger than the total of instruments would give you. A remarkable feat really.
The Allegro Maestoso first movement is nicely scored especially the Horns and Bassoon have fine things to play, and the solidity that the violin brings in, makes for a interesting but slightly boring display. Might have to do with the fact that the tempi are on a whole somewhat sedate really, allthough the Allegro comes into play at certain points with vigour, the Maestoso element is predominant.
As a whole not as adventurous as the other concertos.

[Christo]

Ralph Vaughan Williams, Symphony No. 7 (Antarctica) (Haitink\London Philharmonic)

It's been a long time since I last listened to it. The work hasn't weakened a bit.

The Sinfonia Antartica - spelled without a C, in Italian, as even RVW had discover after in time, after which he correct the spelling - is quite intriguing. Of course it shows some of its programmatic origins as film music, and in that sense relates to the rest of his symphonies as does Tchaikovsky's Manfred to his.

But at the same time, a comparision with the original film music learns, that he only used it in order to create something completely  new, and much more symphonic. And its underlying theme: tragic human heroïsm (or better the other way around, if we had a word like 'tragicness''), presents yet another variant of his lifelong symphonic quest.

Musically, it opens new alleys into his later style, as presented by the two last symphonies and in the cantatas The Sons of Light and Hodie.

[Harry]

The Segovia Cathedral Songbook..

Works by: Isaac/Obrecht/Busnois/Tinctoris/Ghizeghem/Wreede/del Encina/de la Torre.

Ensemble Daedalus.
Maria Cristina Kiehr, Otto Rastbichler, Josep Benet, Josep Cabre, Roberto Festa, Koko Taylor, Hugh Sandilands, Renee Stock, Sergi Casademunt, Rene Van Laken.

Rerun III.

One of the best discs I bought this year, so far!

[ChamberNut]

Schumann - Symphony No. 3 and No. 4

Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich
David Zinman

Arte Nova Classics

[Harry]

Schumann - Symphony No. 3 and No. 4

Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich
David Zinman

Arte Nova Classics

Bravo!

[springrite]

Kimi tried to listen to some Debussy (Paul Jacobs), but the fireworks outside are just too loud. It is the last day to legally set off fireworks in Beijing. So it is very VERY loud, though much quieter than New Year's Eve when with the windows closed you won't be able to hear fire alarm inside the house.

So, we played Finlandia, followed by some R&B.

[Harry]

Johann Strauss.
Wiener Blut.
Operetta in three acts.
Act two and three.
Cd II.
Libretto by Victor Leon, and Leo Stein.
Complete recording in the German language, and dialog.
Recorded in London 1954.

This is a very good recording, and a sublime performance. It gives me so much pleasure. All concerned had enormous pleasure recording this, and you hear that, especially in the dialogs, the laughter and jollity is well meant.
Catchy songs, and melodies. I prefer this recording to the 1965 Eurodisc recording, but its a close shave.

[toledobass]

Started out with the Emerson quartet playing the Art of the Fugue and now it's Claude Franck in Beethoven piano sonata 23.


Allan

[karlhenning]

Good morning, Allan!

Gian Francesco Malipiero
Symphony No. 6, degli archi
Moscow Symphony
Antonio de Almeida

[Harry]

Johann Strauss.
Wiener Blut.
Operetta in three acts.
Acts II and III.
After personal directions from Johann Strauss, worked for the stage by Adolf Muller Jun.
Text, Hans Weigel.
Chor der Wiener Staats Oper.
Neues Wiener Schrammelquartet 1965.

Beautiful!

[karlhenning]

Gian Francesco Malipiero
Symphony No. 5, Concertante in eco
Moscow Symphony
Antonio de Almeida

[toledobass]

Good morning, Allan!

Gian Francesco Malipiero
Symphony No. 6, degli archi
Moscow Symphony
Antonio de Almeida

Never heard his? music.  Are you enjoying it?  what's it like? 

Is it cold up there?

Allan

[karlhenning]

Bitter cold these past few days, Allan!

I really like Malipiero's music.  His voice is his own;  but there is something of the energy and specificity of Stravinsky, tempered with the refinement of Ravel.  Very idiomatic string choir writing.  I think you'll like this disc.

[longears]

First hearing and with very divided attention, but seems well worth careful listening:

[karlhenning]

Astor Piazzolla
Adiós, Nonino