What are you listening 2 now?

[Linz]

Gershwin The final disc of this set with Rhapsody in Blue, "Porgy and Bess" Suite, Cuban Overture and An American in Paris with Kurt Masur Siegfried Stöckigt on the piano

[classicalgeek]

For the Skrowaczewski/Bruckner - it first appeared on the bargain Arte Nova label as separate issues of all the symphonies.  Not easy to find but they are still out there and for some reason usually cheaper than the Oehms releases of the same performances (which are very good).

Amazon has a good price:

https://www.amazon.com/Bruckner-Complete-Symphonies-Box-Set/dp/B00SNZX3JE/

I didn't know they had a box set, I might check it out.  The Bruckner cycle might be back in print because I recently found it on Amazon MP.  It is not easy to get a hold of but since it is reasonably priced I think it is back.

Edit: yes Daverz provided the link.

Thank you all for the information! I don't know if I've checked on Amazon before (it would seem an obvious place to look, but it's entirely possible I didn't!); it's good to know they have it at a reasonable price. Of course, there's the Skrowaczewski 90th Birthday Collection which includes this Bruckner cycle, but that's out-of-print too. 

DavidW: The Prazak Quartet box was just released last month, and at least in my opinion it's well worth getting! The various Amazons have it now, and it's available at a higher price from the UK retailers (Presto and Europadisc.) I got mine at JPC: https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/complete-praga-digitals-recordings/hnum/11065826

Alban Berg
Wozzeck

Claudio Abbado & Wiener Philharmoniker

Excellent choice, Ilaria! My favorite opera in my favorite recording! 

[Karl Henning]

Alfred Schnittke's
Choir Concerto

Valery Polyansky, Russian State Symphonic Cappella

A fantastic piece that I don't remember hearing before. Very Russian, with wonderful chordal writing, basses from the depths and (nicely) shrill sopranos. Big thumbs up.

Great piece!

TD:

CD 29

Debussy
La Mer
Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York (New York Philharmonic)
Dmitri Mitropoulos
recorded 27 Nov 1950

Ibéria from Images pour orchestre
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Eugene Ormandy
recorded 11 Mar 1951

CD 33

Berlioz
Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17 Complete Orchestral Score
Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York (New York Philharmonic)
Dmitri Mitropoulos
recorded 27 Oct 1952

[j winter]

[Symphonic Addict]

Ustvolskaya: Octet for two oboes, four violins, timpani and piano

Trying something different from my usual listens.

[prémont]

Two very different versions, almost too different to make a sensible comparison. Which one do you prefer?

[Linz]

Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor Op.68, Schicksalslied OP.54 and Academic Festival Overture Op.80 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and The Ambrosian Singers

[ritter]

It's been ages since I've listened to this "Greek temple made of plastic"  .



Oedipus Rex is far from my favourite Stravinsky, but this time around I'm rather enjoying it. This Cologne performance from 1951 (with Cocteau's narration in French spliced in in 1952 and adding authenticity) is much better than I remember it. Sound is quite good for its vintage, the soloists (including Peter Pears, somewhat of a bète noire for me) are all accomplished, and the orchestral playing is exact and "ascetic" (as it should be).

I've neglected Igor Feodorovich for quite some time. Can a Stravinsky phase be starting for me? I certainly hope so (it would be like returning to a place where you've been very happy in your childhood).

The disc pictured above is CD 11 of this treasure trove:

[vandermolen]

Ustvolskaya: Octet for two oboes, four violins, timpani and piano

Trying something different from my usual listens.

And what's it like Cesar?

[vandermolen]

Joonas Kokkonen: Symphony No.4
My favourite of his works - a powerful, eloquent and ultimately moving symphony which eschews all sentimentality:

[ritter]

More "Greek" Stravinsky: Agon (an all-time favourite of mine).

Michael Gielen conducts the SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg.

[aligreto]

Magnard: Symphony No. 3 [Bollon]





I like the opening poignant chorale. This is soon transformed into a broad, sweeping orchestral vista which has many twists and turns to it, musically. The music is interesting, texturally. It is also well driven. I like the broad sweep and the spaciousness of the music, along with its intensity as the movement progresses.
The second movement is an exciting affair. The music is also well driven here. This movement also has  wonderfully rich and interesting orchestral textures on display.
The third, slow movement opens with a wonderful, extended and poignant oboe aria. This is ultimately assumed into the broad orchestral body and further developed in a wonderful way. I find the conclusion to be interesting.
The final movement opens with gusto and this music too is very well driven. Things do settle down rather quickly but the music remains constantly interesting and expansive. The mood is somewhat tense and exciting and this is ultimately whipped up to make for an exciting, powerful and stimulating conclusion which also has lyricism at its heart.

[vandermolen]

Kenneth Leighton
Symphony No.3
'Laudes musicae'

[Karl Henning]

More "Greek" Stravinsky: Agon (an all-time favourite of mine).

Michael Gielen conducts the SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg.

Cracking disc!

TD:

CD 34

Prokofiev
Violin Concerto № 2 in g minor, Op. 63
Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York (New York Philharmonic)
Dmitri Mitropoulos
recorded 27 Oct 1952

Bach
Concerto for Violin, Strings and Continuo in E, BWV 1042
Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Geo. Szell
recorded 6 Jan 1953

Zino Francescatti, vn

Prokofiev
Piano Concerto № 3 in C, Op. 26
Robin Hood Dell Orchestra of Philadelphia
Dmitri Mitropoulos, piainist & conductor
recorded 26 July 1946

[Symphonic Addict]

And what's it like Cesar?

It's a bleak, dark, depressing, disquieting work, with some tinges of Schnittke, perhaps. Even though this is not something I'd like to listen to with any regularity, I found the whole thing surprisingly arresting and original in its combination of forces.

[j winter]

Two very different versions, almost too different to make a sensible comparison. Which one do you prefer?

Yes, that's what I was going for -- trying to get at the work from two totally different directions.  Stating a preference is like saying if I prefer chocolate cake or a cheeseburger -- I like them both, but they feed very different appetites.

The Scherchen is admittedly a bit of a personal indulgence, I'd put it almost in the same category as Stokowski's transcriptions (which I also love) -- I think it speaks to the underlying structure and logic of Bach's music that it still comes powerfully through, even when gilded with romantic orchestrations.  But I'd say it's definitely an adaptation of Bach -- not to get into the whole HIP vs modern debate, but I think it's undeniable that Robert Hill's harpsichord recording is much closer to what Bach originally had in mind -- it's Bach in a much purer form, and is definitely more suitable for getting to know the piece.  The structure of the fugue is much easier to follow on the harpsichord (to the extent that I can follow it -- I have a ways to go on that particular learning curve) without the additional flavoring, rubato etc. of the orchestra.  I've also enjoyed several chamber settings of the AOF over the years, ranging from brass ensemble to saxophone to strings.  

Honestly, it depends on my mood... on a typical day I'm probably more likely to listen to a "conventional" recording like Hill, Leonhardt, or Walcha -- but I do enjoy something different like Scherchen to occasionally stir things up.    

[Que]

[Karl Henning]

i think @Spotted Horses, esp. will enjoy this

[Karl Henning]

[Karl Henning]