Pieces that have blown you away recently

[Pohjolas Daughter]

LKB, I think the second movement makes my point valid.

Thanks for posting this.  I enjoyed the movement.

PD

[Irons]

Besides, Lyatoshinsky was a 20th century composer.

Yes, it shows (compared with Tchaikovsky and Borodin).

[LKB]

I do not think mentioning Tchaikovsky or Borodin here has validity. Ukrainian music and Lyatoshinsky in particular is a part of Eastern European cultural tradition, closer to Polish or Czech music, imo.

Besides, Lyatoshinsky was a 20th century composer.

I was referring to Irons' opinion regarding the relative quality of the work. I was not comparing it stylistically, or as a Romantic work as such. 

[AnotherSpin]

I was referring to Irons' opinion regarding the relative quality of the work. I was not comparing it stylistically, or as a Romantic work as such. 

True, it was Irons who put Lyatoshinsky in one line with Tchaikovsky and Borodin. Sorry.

[LKB]

No worries. 

[Symphonic Addict]

A most fascinating disc. Even though Sallinen's style can be a little introspective and introverted at times, he manages to set an interesting narrative on the scores and they sometimes have an attractive psychological nature as in these three pieces. I was especially impressed by the Cello Sonata. Stunning music.




This disc contains music in a quite different fashion, namely late-Romantic, somewhat close to Strauss but not too much. Three absolutely enchanting, delectable, lyrical-to-the-core quartets (played by the Beethoven Quartet) by the Swiss composer-conductor Hermann Suter (1870-1926). The realm of string quartets is flooded by many hidden gems like these three remarkable instances that, whilst not lost masterpieces, do feature some gorgeous music.

[springrite]

A most fascinating disc. Even though Sallinen's style can be a little introspective and introverted at times, he manages to set an interesting narrative on the scores and they sometimes have an attractive psychological nature as in these three pieces. I was especially impressed by the Cello Sonata. Stunning music.




This disc contains music in a quite different fashion, namely late-Romantic, somewhat close to Strauss but not too much. Three absolutely enchanting, delectable, lyrical-to-the-core quartets (played by the Beethoven Quartet) by the Swiss composer-conductor Hermann Suter (1870-1926). The realm of string quartets is flooded by many hidden gems like these three remarkable instances that, whilst not lost masterpieces, do feature some gorgeous music.

Oh I love this disc! Both the cello sonata and the trio are stunning works!


Now: Strauss Alpine Symphony and Der Rosenkavalier Suite (Theilemann)

[Pohjolas Daughter]

A most fascinating disc. Even though Sallinen's style can be a little introspective and introverted at times, he manages to set an interesting narrative on the scores and they sometimes have an attractive psychological nature as in these three pieces. I was especially impressed by the Cello Sonata. Stunning music.

What I've heard of Sallinen's music, I've really enjoyed (chamber works only from what I recall).

PD

[vandermolen]

Harris - a revelation (I like the Adams as well)

[Uhor]

Been a while.

Oustading blend of Schoenberg, Ligeti and Boulez in his own voice.

[Uhor]

Also these two mashups, if you let me.

Extreme Beauty:

Extreme and seamless Darkness to Light journey:

[kyjo]

Freitas Branco: Vathek (Symphonic Poem in the form of variations on an Oriental Theme):



https://youtu.be/0JzXj50yl4E?si=DKPFh8nlhnaNUh2s

Incredibly, I just listened to this piece for the first time a few days ago - not sure why I had put it off for so long since I'd known about it for a while! It's undoubtedly Freitas Branco's masterpiece - nothing else I've heard by him approaches it in originality and striking level of inspiration (though the accompanying 4th Symphony - reminiscent in places of his student Braga Santos - is quite a fine work). Vathek is quite ahead of its time for 1913 - witness the mysterious, murky dissonances of the Introduction and - most remarkably - the creepy microtonal(?) ululations of the strings in Variation III, foreshadowing Ligeti and co. by 50-some years! And immediately following this in Variation IV is some of the most sensuously beautiful, voluptuously romantic music you're likely to hear. Simply a remarkable work full of fascinating contrasts and its neglect is incomprehensible! Interesting how Freitas Branco went on to compose in a much more conservative style starting in the 1920s - his Symphonies nos. 1-3, written in a quite Franckian style, are pretty good works but pale in comparison to the masterpiece that is Vathek.

[Christo]

Freitas Branco: Vathek (Symphonic Poem in the form of variations on an Oriental Theme):



https://youtu.be/0JzXj50yl4E?si=DKPFh8nlhnaNUh2s

Incredibly, I just listened to this piece for the first time a few days ago - not sure why I had put it off for so long since I'd known about it for a while! It's undoubtedly Freitas Branco's masterpiece - nothing else I've heard by him approaches it in originality and striking level of inspiration (though the accompanying 4th Symphony - reminiscent in places of his student Braga Santos - is quite a fine work). Vathek is quite ahead of its time for 1913 - witness the mysterious, murky dissonances of the Introduction and - most remarkably - the creepy microtonal(?) ululations of the strings in Variation III, foreshadowing Ligeti and co. by 50-some years! And immediately following this in Variation IV is some of the most sensuously beautiful, voluptuously romantic music you're likely to hear. Simply a remarkable work full of fascinating contrasts and its neglect is incomprehensible! Interesting how Freitas Branco went on to compose in a much more conservative style starting in the 1920s - his Symphonies nos. 1-3, written in a quite Franckian style, are pretty good works but pale in comparison to the masterpiece that is Vathek.

Happy coincidence: I was listening to this CD today for the first time in years again - and absolutely agree with everything you write. 

[Maestro267]

I listened to Vathek for the first time a few days ago as well, inspired by its appearance among a bunch of other little-known works in the Top Tone Poems thread on this forum.

[Atriod]

Messiaen's Preludes. I listen to Vingt Regards Sur l'enfant Jesus and Catalogue d'oiseaux with some regularity but often forget the Preludes exist.

[DavidW]

Messiaen's Preludes. I listen to Vingt Regards Sur l'enfant Jesus and Catalogue d'oiseaux with some regularity but often forget the Preludes exist.

I've enjoyed his organ music for a long time, but only recently started listening to his piano music.  His preludes are wonderful!

[pjme]

"Die Soldaten" - in Hamburg - just stunning (shocking, moving, dazzling...wonderful).

https://fxroth.com/zimmermann-die-soldaten-on-tour-hamburg-and-paris/

"In »Die Soldaten«, Bernd-Alois Zimmermann processes his personal experiences during the  Second World War and the threats posed to the world by a potential nuclear disaster. His dazzling sound language is clearly inspired by the lucid colours of impressionism, and he created a dystopia that remains timeless and consequential. Despite its vehemence, the opera is an intimate play between human beings, a parable about love and its dark sister, violence, and about the abysses of brutality and self-destruction."

Die Soldaten / play

[springrite]

"Die Soldaten" - in Hamburg - just stunning (shocking, moving, dazzling...wonderful).

https://fxroth.com/zimmermann-die-soldaten-on-tour-hamburg-and-paris/

"In »Die Soldaten«, Bernd-Alois Zimmermann processes his personal experiences during the  Second World War and the threats posed to the world by a potential nuclear disaster. His dazzling sound language is clearly inspired by the lucid colours of impressionism, and he created a dystopia that remains timeless and consequential. Despite its vehemence, the opera is an intimate play between human beings, a parable about love and its dark sister, violence, and about the abysses of brutality and self-destruction."

Die Soldaten / play

What a stunning opera! The music, the multiple stages visible at the same time! Love it!!!

(Though not an opera, his Requiem for a Dead Young Poet is equally stunning!)

[ritter]

"Die Soldaten" - in Hamburg - just stunning (shocking, moving, dazzling...wonderful).

...

Indeed, a stunning opera. I had the opportunity to see it live here in Madrid some years ago, and it is impressive...

[brewski]

"Die Soldaten" - in Hamburg - just stunning (shocking, moving, dazzling...wonderful).

So envious! But delighted that it's available online, and I will be checking it out soon.

I was lucky to see the Ruhrtriennale production in New York, with the audience in seats that moved (!). The whole thing was incredible.

-Bruce