What are you listening 2 now?

[brewski]

In a few minutes, Berg's Wozzeck, live from the Verbier Festival, with Bo Skovhus in the title role, and the Verbier Festival Orchestra conducted by Lahav Shani. (Free to watch with registration.)

https://www.medici.tv/en/concerts/verbier-festival-2023-berg-wozzeck-lahav-shani-bo-skovhus-camilla-nylund-adele-charvet-vfo

-Bruce

Have to say, this was fantastic. Bo Skovhus apparently stepped in at the last minute to replace Matthias Goerne. I like both singers, and Goerne would have likely been marvelous, but Skovhus—who has also done the role many times—can still sing it beautifully, adding a bit of world-weariness to the existing despair. The rest of the cast were excellent, including Camilla Nyland as Marie. Lahav Shani conducted the young Verbier Festival Orchestra with passion and precision—as one announcer noted, likely none of them (ages 18-28) had ever played the score before.

To seal the deal were expressionist video images created by K-WER-K (video art) and Aline Foriel-Destezet (concept), on a panoramic backdrop above the musicians onstage.

Medici.tv usually archives these for a few months after the streams. For anyone who loves Berg (and perhaps for some who don't), highly recommended.

-Bruce

[Cato]

Karl Amadeus Hartmann
Symphony No.6

Rafael Kubelik & Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

That entire set RAWKS!   

But the Sixth is Hartmann on steroids!

[Symphonic Addict]

Matthews: Symphony No. 9

Brilliant! There's some propulsive music here. The slow movement is simply ravishing and has some interesting orchestral effects. This is one of the best English symphonies of modern times I know along with MacMillan's 4th and 5th.

[Cato]

Thanks to local Classical Music Radio:

This album cover image of Schubert reminded me of someone:





Anybody recognize this picture? 


Well, Ken Russell movies have always been something of a niche market:






Robert Powell as Gustav Mahler.

[vers la flamme]

Thanks to local Classical Music Radio:

This album cover image of Schubert reminded me of someone:





Anybody recognize this picture? 


Well, Ken Russell movies have always been something of a niche market:






Robert Powell as Gustav Mahler.

What did you think of that movie? I have been wanting to watch it, but last I checked it was hard to find.

[kyjo]

Riisager: Symphony No. 3

I remember being delighted by this piece years ago. Today it left me somewhat disappointed. No doubts tastes change over the time.




Peterson-Berger: Symphony No. 5

The best movement by far was the 4th where I felt more impetus and the orchestration was particularly effective there. Otherwise, this is a pretty inane work with one or two nice moments.

I don't know Riisager's 3rd Symphony, but recently I was delighted by his 4th Sinfonia gaia, which, as the title implies, is a predominantly jovial, light-hearted work in a neoclassical vein.

I understand your reservations regarding the Peterson-Berger 5th. However, I must say that his gift for melody and glittering orchestration always wins me over so much that I mostly forget about the general lack of thematic development and dramatic contrast in his symphonies.

[kyjo]

Matthews: Symphony No. 9

Brilliant! There's some propulsive music here. The slow movement is simply ravishing and has some interesting orchestral effects. This is one of the best English symphonies of modern times I know along with MacMillan's 4th and 5th.

Yes, I have very positive memories of this work. Time for a revisit!

[vers la flamme]

A Schubert SQ sounds like a great idea, so:



Franz Schubert: String Quartet No.14 in D minor, D 810, "Death & the Maiden". Pavel Haas Quartet

Man this is a great recording. I should really hear more from the PHQ.

[kyjo]

A Schubert SQ sounds like a great idea, so:



Franz Schubert: String Quartet No.14 in D minor, D 810, "Death & the Maiden". Pavel Haas Quartet

Man this is a great recording. I should really hear more from the PHQ.

Yes, you should! They're one of my absolute favorite chamber ensembles for their razor-sharp precision and gutsy passion. All their recordings are outstanding, particularly those of Prokofiev's SQ no. 2 and Brahms' String Quintet no. 2.

[Symphonic Addict]

I understand your reservations regarding the Peterson-Berger 5th. However, I must say that his gift for melody and glittering orchestration always wins me over so much that I mostly forget about the general lack of thematic development and dramatic contrast in his symphonies.

The glittering orchestration, yes, the melodic gift, let's say yes too (to some extent), I agree. The only works I really like by him are the Symphony No. 2, the Violin Concerto and one of the two violin sonatas. Among the Swedish composers, I rank Rangström, Rosenberg, Alfvén and Atterberg over him.

[Mandryka]

I can't stream the Esfahani

Are you sure? It's here on Spotify.  Seems OK in the B minor sonata - tamer than Van Asperen possibly. 

[vandermolen]

Very nice!

Glad you liked it Karl!

[vandermolen]

I don't know Riisager's 3rd Symphony, but recently I was delighted by his 4th Sinfonia gaia, which, as the title implies, is a predominantly jovial, light-hearted work in a neoclassical vein.

I understand your reservations regarding the Peterson-Berger 5th. However, I must say that his gift for melody and glittering orchestration always wins me over so much that I mostly forget about the general lack of thematic development and dramatic contrast in his symphonies.

I like Peterson-Berger's 5th Symphony, along with nos, 2,3 and the VC.

[AnotherSpin]

What did you think of that movie? I have been wanting to watch it, but last I checked it was hard to find.

This film seems to have influenced the way Mahler has been and continues to be performed for years. Something so mentally unstable and heroic at the same time.

[Que]

Are you sure? It's here on Spotify.  Seems OK in the B minor sonata - tamer than Van Asperen possibly. 

You're right, thnx! 

Since it is on Hyperion, I just assumed it wouldn't be there... But I guess that changed recently? Definitely going to give a listen.

[vandermolen]

After an enjoyable holiday in Wales (Anglesey) time for some Welsh music.
Daniel Jones: Symphony No.4 'In Memory of Dylan Thomas' - arguably the most deeply felt of Jones's symphonies.
RPO conducted by Sir Charles Groves (whom I think was a fine conductor):

[Que]

Morning listening. I decided is was not too early for a rerun.

[Harry]

JOHANNES TINCTORIS. c.1435-1511.
SECRET CONSOLATIONS.

LE MIROIR DE MUSIQUE.
Sabine Lutzenberger: soprano.
Dina König: mezzo-soprano.
Bernd Oliver Fröhlich: tenor.
Tim Scott Whiteley: bass.
Elizabeth Rumsey: viola d'arco.
Claire Piganiol: harp.
Marc Lewon: lute.
Baptiste Romain: vielle, rebec, baritone & direction.
Recording Beuggen, Schloßkirche, June 2016.
Cover,  Rogier van der Weyden (1399/1400-1464), Mary Magdalene reading.


Another fine recording of this ensemble, well measured and constant as to the voices. Tinctoris is primarily know for his treatises on music, but little survived on what he composed himself. However small the fruits of his dis are, at least its quality pur sang.  He made it to the court of King Ferrante I of Aragon, where he worked as a musician and teacher for many years of his life.

[Que]

Always happy to discover good harpsichord repertoire. Johann Krieger (1651-1735) was the younger of the Krieger brothers. His carreer was closely connected to that of his older brother, Johann Philipp Krieger. Händel was an admirer of Krieger's music, which says something about the quality.

[Irons]

Yes, I have very positive memories of this work. Time for a revisit!

Me too.