What are you listening 2 now?

[Roasted Swan]

This is a brutal work to do live - it really messes with your brain - genuinely.  I tried to do it once and just couldn't manage it at all!

[atardecer]

Malcolm Arnold - Fantasy for guitar op. 107
Shani Inbar guitar

Another piece by Arnold I'm impressed with, this is a very imaginative composition. I'm not sure I've come across another guitar work where the two low strings are combined to create the percussive effect as is done here. Another thing is often I find tremolo parts on classical guitar don't sound that great to me, yet I find the tremolo sections here quite unique (again with this I think he is more percussive in his approach) and tastefully written.

[Mandryka]

Beghin was too complicated for me, probably I need to try him again one day. What do you think about Hamelin's Haydn?

I don't know it well enough to comment.

[vandermolen]

Castelnuovo-Tedesco
Cello Concerto:

[Wanderer]

[vandermolen]

Bernard Herrmann: Symphony No.1
Phoenix SO, James Sedares:

[Tsaraslondon]

A nostalgia disc for me. Gorgeous music and wonderful music making.

[Madiel]

Well, just finishing up the Haydn op.20.



What a fabulous accompaniment to the day. I listened to a couple of them twice, where I wasn't totally paying attention the first time (household chores, IKEA construction etc.)

I think my favourites this time around were probably the E flat major and D major quartets. But my goodness, they're all such fantastic works, in performances as good as this. I'm kind of seeing why opp.9 and 17, as enjoyable as they are, tended to get eclipsed by this set.

[JBS]

Early morning energy

CD 31 of 33 in the Blomstedt Deccca Complete Recordings box.

[Traverso]

Muffat

Listening to "the Parley of Instruments" is always a real pleasure. Their musical argument is often very infectious and sensitive and everything in the clear light of the Hyperion recording. It is an uplifting experience.

[Wanderer]

[Todd]

Starting in on this set.  Through loudspeakers, it has that Nimbus house sound - the piano seems to be placed in a tile covered bathroom at the other end of a long hangar - but it's listenable through headphones.  The Images oubliees, Suite Bergamesque, and some one-offs start things off.  The playing is perfectly serviceable.

[Florestan]

An Englishman, a Frenchman, a German, a Spaniard and an Italian (individualized as such by talk, accent and pronunciation) shipwreck on a beautiful island. Upon learning it's the island of the sorceress Alcina, they collectively vow not to let themselves succumb to her charms, but no sooner do they see her than the vows are forgotten (though constantly invoked by each and every one of them as a reminder to the others: Amici, il giuramento!) and they take turns in declaring their love. And this is just the beginning.

One can only dream about what Rossini or Offenbach would have made of such a libretto so we have to make do with Gazzaniga. 

[Harry]

Johann Sebastian Bach.
Complete Organ works.
Volume VII, CD I.
Schübler Choräle.
BWV: 645-650/564/579/1027a/131a/735/592/549.
Pieter van Dijk plays on the Hagerbeer/Schnitger Organ, Alkmaar.

[ritter]

Revisiting Erich Leinsdorf's classic, star-studded recording of Così fan tutte:

[Harry]

Louise Farrenc. (1804–1875).
Complete Piano Works.
Volume I. CD I.
30 Etudes Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs Et Mineurs op. 26.

Maria Stratigou, Piano. (Piano: Steinway & Sons, Model D)
Recording Venue: Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK, 2017-2020.

Apart from a few intonation problems with the Steinway, this CD recorded by the Pianist herself portrays the music clear and bright and with a steady Rhythm. It misses some warmth and emotion, but that is partly due to the rather hard sound of this recording. The brilliance is all there of course, but I miss the connection. I love Farrenc's music, this this debut CD is not for me. So I will discontinue listening to it. A pity though.

[DavidW]

The sixth symphony!

I'm considering listening to the MTT/SFSO M6 which was recorded 22 years ago.  It seems appropriate for the day.

[Harry]

Mel Bonis. (1858-1937)
Piano Music.
Melisande; Desdemona; Ophelie; Le songe de Cleopatre für Klavier 4-händig; Prelude; Il pleut; Marionnettes; Barcarolle; Barcarolle etude; La Cathedrale Blessee; Echo; Narcisse; Etude de concert; Ballade; Dolorosa; Eglogue; Gai printemps.

Veerle Peeters, Piano.
Recorded in 2010 at Willebringen, Belgium


A woman after my heart, reading her biography, and knowing her music for quite a while it found a way to my heart too, especially by the interpretation of Veerle Peeters who's sound poetry is often remarkably concrete, always melodic and clearly structured. A warm compassionate portrayal of this remarkable woman and composer Melanie Bonis. The recording is excellent. On this picture she is 50 years of age, and still remarkably beautiful, but then she always had stunning looks.

[Spotted Horses]

@Spotted Horses and @AnotherSpin

I just thought I'd listen to Ben Pienaar in my favourite sonata, 19 (D major)

I don't have a real problem with the interpretation in the first movement or the rhythm, the rubato. The second movement seems much less successful to me .

The big problem throughout is his touch - it's boots on the keyboard! Same touch, same colours, same timbres all the time, always rough hewn.  I know it's deliberate, and I know he can't afford the best pianos. But it's a serious bummer as far as I'm concerned.

This stuff was written for beautiful old instruments, full of nuance and delicacy and colours. If that's eliminated from the music, what's left doesn't do much for me.

I think his piano's fine. Much is made in the notes of the ascetic recording technique, with two omnidirectional microphones a big empty room. Doesn't give a vivid audio image, to my ears. A bit pale and over reverberant.

I listened to Sonata 39 (the same as the first sonata in the Bavouzet set) by Buchbinder (Teldec 1974 recording, now on Warner) and I think Buchbinder has become my favorite Haydn Pianist.



That audio is very satisfying.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Malcolm Arnold - Fantasy for guitar op. 107
Shani Inbar guitar

Another piece by Arnold I'm impressed with, this is a very imaginative composition. I'm not sure I've come across another guitar work where the two low strings are combined to create the percussive effect as is done here. Another thing is often I find tremolo parts on classical guitar don't sound that great to me, yet I find the tremolo sections here quite unique (again with this I think he is more percussive in his approach) and tastefully written.

Nice music while I like the recording by Dejan Ivanovic. As for the low strings playing bass notes, they are common in latin music tradition. As for the tremolo, it may sound effective possibly because it is used for suspended chords (7-11th), or chords with similar effect.