What are you listening 2 now?

[Mapman]

Hindemith: Kammermusik 1-3

The whole Kammermusiken or this complete album/recording would be a good choice for Hindemith on Hurwitz's series 'If I could only choose one work by...'. It encapsulates the best of the composer methinks.

I'm not very familiar with Hindemith, other than the Symphonic Metamorphoses. I just listened to
Kleine Kammermusik, performed by London Winds.

This wind quintet is fun to listen to, and seems like it would be fun to play.

[Karl Henning]

I'm not very familiar with Hindemith, other than the Symphonic Metamorphoses. I just listened to
Kleine Kammermusik, performed by London Winds.

This wind quintet is fun to listen to, and seems like it would be fun to play.

Yes!

[Que]

This is an excellent new release. I need to listen to more Saint-Saëns! (I own a fair amount--he just slips beneath my radar for some reason.)

Chamber music is Saint-Saëns' forte! Recording looks interesting.

[Que]

Morning listening. On disc this time, which arrived yesterday.

[Harry]

A secret labyrinth.
CD 8.
Mateo Flecha el viejo.
Burlesques of the Spanish Renaissance.
El Fuego.
La Negrina.
La Justa.
Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel.

This is very good, well performed and recorded.

[Wanderer]

Kudos to you, then. I find it a formless hodgepodge far surpassing even that formless hodgepodge called Romeo et Juliette. 

Truth be told, Berlioz is far from being a favorite composer of mine, to put it mildly. Too much histrionics for my taste. 

But, of course, we are still friends in my book. 

Then your main problem is with Berlioz in general (histrionics?!😀🤷�♂️), not with Lélio itself. I can't help you there, but I will say that you should save/note down these posts so that in months or years to come, whenever the magnificence of Berlioz finally hits you, you'll be able to read them again and say (paraphrasing here:) "God, what a schmuck I was!" 😁😉

[Wanderer]

Not as strong as anything by his compatriots Mahler or Bruckner, but very good on its own terms all the same.

Ah, I was in front of this painting less than a week ago. And Natursymphonie is indeed a quite worthwhile work.

[Wanderer]

Not even his melodies? They're as good as Debussy's. Given the chronology he might be considered the (or at least a) founder of the French art-song tradition.

Not to mention that Le pêcheur that opens Lélio is in itself one of his finest mélodies.

[Wanderer]

[Harry]

Music in Germany from Schütz to Bach.
CD III.
Composers on this disc.
Thomas Selle, Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, Franz Tunder, Matthias Weckmann, Dietrich Buxtehude.

I am enjoying this hugely. Sure there are some pieces I skip, but the majority of music and their interpretations are really good. Despite the fact that all the music is taken out of its context, the flow of it al is seamlessly integrated, through the work of Jerome Lejeune. Sound is always good to excellent!

[Harry]

Christian Erbach.
Complete Organ Music.
CD II.
Manuel Tomadin, plays on a Costanzo Antegnati Organ, 1588.
Venue: San Nicola's Church, Almenno, San Salvatore.
Pitch: a=443 Hz at 18 degrees.
Temperament: Meantone.

The second CD is fabulous as was the first one. A beautiful Antegnati organ from 1588, makes a huge impression, and not only by its first rate recording, but the fabulous sound of the instrument makes you rejoice, certainly if you have a passion for old organs. And the music, well Erbach was quite famous in his time for many reasons, but one part was almost revered by his pupils and public alike, his compositions. And I can only stress the sentiment, its good, even very good. A must have box, without question.

[Florestan]

Not to mention that Le pêcheur that opens Lélio is in itself one of his finest mélodies.

Well, that's exactly my problem: the Lelio sections work fine as individual, stand-alone pieces of music. It's the whole that I find incoherent.

[Wanderer]

Well, that's exactly my problem: the Lelio sections work fine as individual, stand-alone pieces of music. It's the whole that I find incoherent.

You're off to a good start. You'll get it in time. 😉

[Florestan]

You're off to a good start. You'll get it in time. 😉

 

Please, recommend me the best Lelio recording in the market. I only listened to Colin Davis.

[Wanderer]

[Florestan]

Btw, I forgot to mention that I greatly enjoy Harold in Italy. Also Les francs-juges and Le carnaval roman overtures.

[Operafreak]

 



Martin Fröst (clarinet)

Tapiola Sinfonietta, Jean-Jacques Kantorow

   

[aligreto]

JS Bach: Motets BWV 228-230 [Thomas]





I recently posted a vinyl version of Thomas' presentations of JS Bach's Motets BWV 225-227.
This CD has the six Motets BWV 225-230 under the baton of Thomas. I like Thomas in Bach even given that he is very old school. I find that there is something appealing in his treatment of the music.

I am in a culling mode at the moment and the vinyl version will be culled from my collection merely because of duplication and also because the vinyl is incomplete.

[Wanderer]

Please, recommend me the best Lelio recording in the market. I only listened to Colin Davis.

Well, don't feel compelled to be converted to the work *right now*! I'd say, as in all things musical, wait until you're in the mood for it. That said, I'm not aware of a Lélio recording that is seriously lacking or outright bad and I do like the Colin Davis you're familiar with. I, however, also strongly think that a less operatic and more attuned to lieder/mélodies tenor voice is paramount in unlocking Lélio's unique ethos. In that regard, my favourite current version is the Wiener Symphoniker/Philippe Jordan with the superb Cyrille Dubois. Other versions that I like and come to mind at the moment include Dutoit, Dausgaard, Muti. And there are some very fine individual recordings of the final Fantaisie sur la "Tempête" de Shakespeare. Speaking of which, it's often noted as marking the first use of the piano as an orchestral instrument (be reminded that the piano also starts the work in Le pêcheur). Between that, the narrator (again, bear in mind that if not on disc he does make sense in concert), the idée fixe and the all-encompassing common theme of Shakespeare I think you'll be at some point able to appreciate Lélio for what it is (and not fret about it not being what you want it to be). Someday. 😉

[Harry]

Bernard Zweers.
Symphony No 1 in D major.
Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra, Ed Spanjaard.

Daniël de Lange.
Symphony No. 1 in C minor.
Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra, Anthony Halstead.

To my ears beautiful works, well performed and recorded. Both composers are largely forgotten, but that does not take the fact away that the music is worthwhile to listen. Big romantic works, with dreamy melodies and vigorous allegro's. Both works can stand deservingly alongside the masters of their time without being embarrassed.