What are you listening 2 now?

[Harry]

Carl Philipp Stamitz (1745–1801)
Six Trios, Op. 14.
Six trios à une flute ou deux violons et violoncello obligé', London, c. 1780".
Ensemble L'Apotheose.
Recorded at the National Centre for Early Music, York, UK, 2022.

This is quite well done. The music is melodious and inventive. A good CD to play in the morning. The Linn recording is superb.

[Mandryka]

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.

Yes, Orlando Consort's Machaut is there too.

[Florestan]

I don't really buy conductor-focused boxes (I have twice, ended up selling both of them) but this looks great, and affordable. I've been wanting to hear more of Sanderling's work.

Now:



Ludwig van Beethoven: Choral Fantasy in C minor, op.80. Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Arnold Schoenberg Chor

I don't know this work very well at all; I think I've only heard it once. Very odd piece, no? But I am enjoying it at this time.

I prefer it to the 9th. 

[Mandryka]

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.

Yes agreed, this is interesting music (though I expect as a Ross fan boy you'll hate her Scarlatti. I love it obvs.)

If you're in the mood for this sort of suite, you may like to try Lydia Maria Blank's Göttweig partitas

[Florestan]

OMG, it's both! Although the Debussy is a symphonic suite arranged by Nott, rather than the opera.

He should have added Sibelius's suite, too. 

[Cato]

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

From what I recall, do not expect a straight-forward "biopic."  The movie is a sort of hallucination of Mahler's return to Vienna after his sojourn in New York City.

Expect instead a good dose of Dalinian Surrealism, premonitions of Nazism confused with Christian mysticism, the appearance of a Hans-Rott character, symbols of Death (e.g. Ninth Symphonies), references to Mozart, flashbacks to earlier days, how his music after meeting Alma Schindler is all about her, etc.

Ken Russell's movies - especially from the 1970's, are not particularly mainstream!  But if you are open to wild - even outrageous - symbolism and striking images dominating straight-forward narrative, Ken Russell is your man! 

[Cato]

Concerning Pelleas and Melisande...

He should have added Sibelius's suite, too. 

Some years ago, Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic recorded a Schoenberg-Faure'-Sibelius CD of their music for Pelleas and Melisande.

Highly recommended!

[Florestan]

I prefer the 45-minute Keck version of the Cello Concerto to the 25-minute Clément.

Are yoy familiar with this recording?



The Gulda is a crackerjack as well.

[Florestan]

I've been enjoying this 24/96 download this afternoon. It would be hard to imagine more beautiful playing, and the sound is superb. The booklet notes are a rather wrenching read: the sessions took place before Lars Vogt's cancer diagnosis, and he was often hit with "catastrophic stomach pains." It was one of his last recordings.

This is an artistic testament on a par with Lipatti's final recital. Two exceptional pianists and human beings who died all too young.

[Florestan]

Fuchs: String Quartets opp. 58 and 62

Yet another composer I need to explore more. The op. 58 has a mellifluous character, but it lacks contrast in the first three movements (e.g. the 1st mov. is marked Allegro passionato, but it doesn't sound like that by any means), only in the 4th mov. it gets more agitation. A more robust performance would do more justice to the piece I reckon.

My thoughts exactly. Minguet's performance is sedate and sedative, about as passionato as a snail sleeping in kits shell.

[Florestan]

This album cover image of Schubert reminded me of someone:

That is most certainly not a portrait of Schubert.

http://figures-of-speech.com/2019/05/portrait.htm

[Florestan]

[Harry]

Franz Schubert.
Piano Trio in B flat major, D 898, opus 99.
Notturno D 897, opus 148.
Rondo D 895. for Violin and Piano.
CHRISTIAN TETZLAFF, Violin.
TANJA TETZLAFF, Cello.
LARS VOGT, Piano.
Recording: Sendesaal Bremen, 2021.

An exceptional recording and performance! A @Bachtoven recommendation.

"Vogt wrote to his trio partners about the recording: "If not for much longer, this is a worthy farewell. You two are insane. (...) Such expression. Such fragility, such love".

[Lisztianwagner]

That entire set RAWKS! 

But the Sixth is Hartmann on steroids!

Why on steroids? 

Anyway, I agree that Hartmann Symphony Cycle by different conductors is absolutely ravishing! The 6th is so striking and powerfully haunting, such a captivating piece, it remotely reminds me of Schönberg; Kubelik performers it marvelously.

[Florestan]

I dare say that Volkmann's cycle of SQs is just as good as Mendelssohn's and Schumann's. As for the slow movement of the First, it must be one of the quirkiest, most anguished and most modern-sounding in the whole 19th century repertoire. I recommend the whole 3-disc series enthusiastically.

[Harry]

Geoffrey Burgeon.
Viola Concerto 'Ghosts of the Dance' (2008).
Cello Concerto (2007).
Philip Dukes viola.
Josephine Knight cello.
City of London Sinfonia, Rumon Gamba.
Recording venue: Blackheath Halls, London; Recording venue Blackheath Halls, London,2009, (Concertos)

Exactly my kind of modern music. The Viola concerto is a very touching emotional statement that really hits home for me. I love the writing for the Violin, and the scoring for the orchestra is amazing too! So much to discover, also in the Cello concerto, which is a World Premiere recording, and has all the treats as in the Viola concerto, and besides a few thing more that delight me tremendously. Well performed and very good sound. More please Sir, as a famous Character created by Dickens.....said.

[Iota]

Yes that was my first reaction but yesterday felt disappointed by what he made of the B minor sonata. I change my mind all the time about that sort of thing!

Yes, I saw elsewhere you'd written that. I think the B minor sonata is slightly different to the others, wilder/freer in some ways, and may be the one least suited to Jarrett's straight approach. The first movement for example feels almost like an extended kind of recitative, followed by a tender aria in the second movement. The previous sonatas had followed a more classical sort of propriety in their form iirc.
Will check out Markovina, Belder (and van Asperen?) in the B minor. who were the other ones being touted around CPE Bach, if I remember rightly.

[Lisztianwagner]

Karl Amadeus Hartmann
Symphony No.7

Zdenek Macal & Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

[Florestan]

Salon music it might be, but of the highest quality. @Brian, give it a try if you haven't already.

[Harry]

Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek.
String quartets No.6/3/4.
Minguet Quartett.
Ulrich Isfort, 1st. Violin.
Annette Reisinger, 2nd Violin.
Aroa Sorin, Viola.
Matthias Diener, Violoncello.

Recording, 2015-2017. Kammermusiksaal Deutschlandfunk. Köln.

As innovative as his orchestral works, romantic music on the border of a new era, so an interesting mix of both worlds. One has to listen carefully to these works, for they hold well hidden unexpected surprises for the keen listener. The many melody lines crossing each other, need attention and understanding for it to blossom completely open, and fills ones ears with tasteful caressing of the senses.