What are you listening 2 now?

[Madiel]

I just made myself a Haydn symphony randomiser.

It decided to start with No.96 in D major. Bit of a surprise to immediately start with the Londons (and the first of them chronologically at that), but I'll go with it.

[Florestan]

Eminently enjoyable fluff. How on earth the gentle, amiable Paisiello became the favorite composer of the Corsican Ogre is beyond me. 

[Lisztianwagner]

Franz Liszt
Années de pèlerinage, Troisième année

Pianist: Bertrand Chamayou

[aligreto]

Vasks: String Quartet No. 2 "Summer Tunes" [Navarra Quartet]





The opening movement endeavours to depict "Coming Into Bloom" which is the title of the movement. I think that it depicts wonderfully the bursting forth of Life in its opening passage. We then enter a metronomic passage which I take to be the unfurling of a myriad of buds and blooms. The music has an unrelenting force and drive to it. The final section celebrates the final blossoming. These thoughts, by the way, are all products of my imagination and may not reflect what the composer envisaged.

The second movement is entitled "Birds'' which is self explanatory. The movement is a chorus of representative birdsong. It varies in intensity throughout the movement. It is notable, to me, for its various textures and sonorities and how these interplay with each other. The movement concludes with a climax of excitement and intensity. 

The final movement takes the concluding intensity of the second movement and begins with it. However, the tempo suddenly subsides into a tranquil passage with a constant, almost mesmeric drone from the cello. Over this we have much fluttering from the higher register strings with a somewhat pastoral, if poignant, melody from the first violin. The subsequent passage is more effusive with considerable contributions from all of the voices. As the movement makes its way towards its conclusion the musical language becomes really engaging with "tranquil" dissonances abounding.

[Que]

 

A recording with mixed instrumental music and songs from the Spanish Baroque. From a set (12 CDs) with music featuring José Miguel Moreno as a solist or accompanist (vihuela/guitar), or as director.

[foxandpeng]

Vasks: String Quartet No. 2 "Summer Tunes" [Navarra Quartet]





The opening movement endeavours to depict "Coming Into Bloom" which is the title of the movement. I think that it depicts wonderfully the bursting forth of Life in its opening passage. We then enter a metronomic passage which I take to be the unfurling of a myriad of buds and blooms. The music has an unrelenting force and drive to it. The final section celebrates the final blossoming. These thoughts, by the way, are all products of my imagination and may not reflect what the composer envisaged.

The second movement is entitled "Birds'' which is self explanatory. The movement is a chorus of representative birdsong. It varies in intensity throughout the movement. It is notable, to me, for its various textures and sonorities and how these interplay with each other. The movement concludes with a climax of excitement and intensity. 

The final movement takes the concluding intensity of the second movement and begins with it. However, the tempo suddenly subsides into a tranquil passage with a constant, almost mesmeric drone from the cello. Over this we have much fluttering from the higher register strings with a somewhat pastoral, if poignant, melody from the first violin. The subsequent passage is more effusive with considerable contributions from all of the voices. As the movement makes its way towards its conclusion the musical language becomes really engaging with "tranquil" dissonances abounding.

Along with the rest of Vasks' music, the SQs are simply excellent. I'm glad that the beauty he so clearly conveys, is apparent in your personal reflections. He is constantly redemptive and singularly optimistic in his writing - something to which I feel endlessly drawn.

[Traverso]

Bach


Trauer Music  (reconstruction)


One of the most attractive recordings I have of Bach. It's like a glowing fire, clear and soulful, superbly sung and beautifully recorded, a real gem. 😍

[Mandryka]

Morning listening - Spanish Renaissance songs from a collection in the Royal Library:




https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancionero_de_Palacio

It's a huge collection, so any recommendations of other recordings are welcome!

I think there are some gorgeous things in Savall's CD.

https://www.discogs.com/release/8668711-Hesp%C3%A8rion-XX-Jordi-Savall-El-Cancionero-De-Palacio-1474-1516

I've just started to listen to this, and it sounds rather good

https://www.discogs.com/release/24769754-Juan-Del-Encina-ContrArco-Consort-Todos-Los-Bienes-Del-Mundo-Juan-Del-Encina-And-Musical-Traits-In-S

[Todd]

How is the packaging of that box? Sleeve art, backs of sleeves, booklet, etc.

Robust, compact cube; cardboard sleeves; conventional thick booklet; revamped art for some, recycled for others.

[Papy Oli]

Peteris Vasks - Dona Nobis Pacem (from "Baltic Voices" by Paul Hillier)

[Brahmsian]

Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 3

Ah, the BBB! (Bedazzling Bovine Borodin) set.

[Papy Oli]

I went on a Vasks spree last year but limited to his orchestral works: I have yet to get his string quartets. How is that Navarra Qt recording?  [ETA: You already posted about it; I just hadn't gone far enough in the thread.]
 The Oboe Concerto CD is excellent. The only work which didn't succeed with me is the Cello Concerto @Papy Oli posted (btw, Vasks wrote a second cello concerto after that recording was made, so that concerto is now CC1) which is earlier and stylistically different from most of his output. But anything else--in almost any recording--I'd recommend.

Thank you for that Jeffrey @JBS , I'll have to dig up the second one.

Re the first cello concerto, I dipped this morning into the "Surprised By Beauty" chapter on Vasks (co-wrote by our Jens @SurprisedByBeauty ) and it was enlightening as to its meaning, and more generally about Vasks' vision and compositions.

Quoting loosely, The middle three "harsher" movements are meant to portray the continuous attempts by the Soviet powers trying to crush the beauty of humanity (of the 1st mvt) through the ferocious theme being repeated by the orchestra to overcome and destroy the cello. The cello however survives and rises again in the last mvt, representing the steadfastness of people.

Knowing that, I will need to go back to that work re-assess it.       

[Harry]

Bedrich Smetana.
Orchestral Works.
Volume II.
The Bartered Bride. Overture.
Overture to "The Secret".
From the Devil's Wall.
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia.
Overture to "The Kiss".
Entr'acte from "Dalibor".
The Two Widows.

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda.

Recording venue Studio 7, BBC Broadcasting House, Manchester; 4, 7 & 8 October 2008.

Its a pity again that Chandos only recorded two volumes, which so often happens with them. Did not sell enough I guess. Noseda delivers a full blooded performance, passion and commitment enough, and some gorgeous playing from this orchestra. And fun music it is beautifully orchestrated, bursting with superb melodies. The recording is also yummy!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

NIKOLAY ROSLAVETS - CHAMBER SYMPHONIES Nos. 1 & 2.

[Florestan]

[Karl Henning]

From Triad's concert of a year ago:

[DavidW]

How is the packaging of that box? Sleeve art, backs of sleeves, booklet, etc.

In most cases the sleeve art is the same as the individual releases (not the original with the white background but the reissue).  Track info, dates etc. on the back of each.  The color coordination of the sleeves makes it easy to at a glance to say jump to the Haydn section.

The booklet contains an interview with the members celebrating their fifty years.  And the box itself has the index printed on the sides!  That is you can quickly find the cd #s for say Janacek.  And the organization is alphabetical by last name of the composer.

I give it a thumbs up on presentation.

[Tsaraslondon]

Another delightful recital disc from Barbara Bonney, with Antonio Pappano swapping the conductor's podium for the piano. I can't attest to how authentic Bonney's accent is, when singing in Swedish, Norwegian and Finish, but she was at one time married to the Swedish baritone, Håkan Hagegård, and she is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. These songs by Grieg, Sibelius, Stenhammar, Alfvén and Sjöberg create a wonderfulf programme, with many treasures amongst them. Bonney's voice has retained its vernal freshness, but there is also strength and richness down below and the emotional range is actually quite wide. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys song with piano.
 

[aligreto]

Along with the rest of Vasks' music, the SQs are simply excellent. I'm glad that the beauty he so clearly conveys, is apparent in your personal reflections. He is constantly redemptive and singularly optimistic in his writing - something to which I feel endlessly drawn.

Cheers for that. Yes, his musical language made it very apparent to me what he was endeavouring to convey simply because he was so effective in doing so.

Some years ago I saw the Navarra Quartet performing that very String Quartet, No. 2, here in Dublin. It was a wonderful experience. As soon as I got home after the recital I ordered this CD so it is a particularly favoured CD in my collection.

[aligreto]

Bach


Trauer Music  (reconstruction)


One of the most attractive recordings I have of Bach. It's like a glowing fire, clear and soulful, superbly sung and beautifully recorded, a real gem. 😍

Wonderful and emotionally engaging music and performance. I can see why you love it, Jan.