Pieces that have blown you away recently

[Roasted Swan]

More of a disc rather than a piece that has blown me away.  A very recent acquisition and in the light of the 80th D-Day commemorations this is a gorgeous and very moving programme;



Objectively a beautifully executed and very well planned programmed but overall its the emotional impact - of remembrance and reflection that register most.  The disc starts with a haunting and dignified performance of the Last Post followed by Douglas Guests' simple but moving setting of "They shall not grow old".  Wonderful.

[Elgarian Redux]

My preference for Moffo might well be a case of "first love" - the version I first bought/got to know.  Its not just Moffo but the sound of all the singers is so idiomatic - even the piano that accompanies Magda is suitably (for me) salony and clangy.  And the whistling is proper whistling - not stuck on the piccolo like it is in some versions (the AWFUL version on Naxos for instance).  This Moffo version does NOT include the extra tenor aria - but for me that is a bonus not a requirement.

Yes I do know the Arteta/Washington DVD and yes I agree completely it is wonderful - even though they use a piccolo too!!  But the singing AND the acting and the staging are all top drawer.

I'll come back to this when my Moffo set arrives and I've had the chance to listen to it. But before I ordered the set I did listen to a couple of extracts, and I did think she sang exquisitely well.

I also sampled the Kiri Te Kanawa set knowing its reputation, but her smooth, creamy, almost matronly singing, although very beautiful, didn't seem to fit my idea of what Magda should be like.

[ritter]

There's also a very idiomatic 1981 recording under Gianluigi Gelmetti with a very young Cecilia Gasdia, which made a very good impression on me when I got it earlier this year.

[Elgarian Redux]

There's also a very idiomatic 1981 recording under Gianluigi Gelmetti with a very young Cecilia Gasdia, which made a very good impression on me when I got it earlier this year.

Many thanks. I'll look out for a copy - there are a couple for sale on eBay at the moment, but rather expensive.

[kyjo]

Ben-Haim: Clarinet Quintet

From the very beginning it shows a perfumed exotic nature, something that always draws my attention. And the subsequent music features quirky and spicy writing that grabs you with ease. Even though the first two movements have the more vital music, it is the third one that bewitched me with its ravishing theme and variations, where the latter alternate between lyrical and roguish. For that movement alone I consider it one of the most alluring clarinet quintets I know.

Indeed, in fact that whole Chandos disc is fantastic. The earlier Piano Quartet is also a really strong work filled with muscular energy and no lack of "exotic" touches. I don't know a single work by Ben-Haim which manages to be less than good.

[Symphonic Addict]

Indeed, in fact that whole Chandos disc is fantastic. The earlier Piano Quartet is also a really strong work filled with muscular energy and no lack of "exotic" touches. I don't know a single work by Ben-Haim which manages to be less than good.

I have yet to hear the rest of works of that CD. Thanks for the heads up!

[Roasted Swan]

I'll come back to this when my Moffo set arrives and I've had the chance to listen to it. But before I ordered the set I did listen to a couple of extracts, and I did think she sang exquisitely well.

I also sampled the Kiri Te Kanawa set knowing its reputation, but her smooth, creamy, almost matronly singing, although very beautiful, didn't seem to fit my idea of what Magda should be like.

to the bolded - exactly so

[Roasted Swan]

There's also a very idiomatic 1981 recording under Gianluigi Gelmetti with a very young Cecilia Gasdia, which made a very good impression on me when I got it earlier this year.

I'd been keeping an eye on this set for some time and literally yesterday while we were discussing the Moffo I spotted a cheap set and snapped it up.  Looking forward to hearing it very much.  I did listen to all of the Moffo yeserday and my love for that version is undimmed.  Some of the big orchestral/vocal climaxes get rather harsh but the style and the feel is wonderful.

[Elgarian Redux]

I did listen to all of the Moffo yeserday and my love for that version is undimmed.  Some of the big orchestral/vocal climaxes get rather harsh but the style and the feel is wonderful.

You've whetted my appetite very nicely! Greatly looking forward to this.

[Uhor]

[Elgarian Redux]

+1 for Rondine although I prefer the Moffo recording.

I've listened to some of Act 1 for the first time, but had to keep going back to listen to Doretta's song. I agree wholehartedly with you. Anna Moffo is fabulous in this. She has just the right balance of controlled power and vulnerability to break your heart. This will become my 'goto' set from now on, despite the somewhat aged character of the recording (which, as I think you observed, mostly seems to affect the orchestral sound).

[Roasted Swan]

I've listened to some of Act 1 for the first time, but had to keep going back to listen to Doretta's song. I agree wholehartedly with you. Anna Moffo is fabulous in this. She has just the right balance of controlled power and vulnerability to break your heart. This will become my 'goto' set from now on, despite the somewhat aged character of the recording (which, as I think you observed, mostly seems to affect the orchestral sound).

So glad you enjoyed this!

[Elgarian Redux]

So glad you enjoyed this!

Today my wife and I had a longish car journey, and we took Anna Moffo's La Rondine with us and listened to Acts 1 and 2. My goodness. There were times when we weren't safe on the road! The quartet is magnificent beyond words, instilling a longing so painful.

Lisette is a bit shrill (thin?) for my taste, but I'm not grumbling. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and the whole is marvellous beyond words. Thanks for your encouragement towards this.

[Le Buisson Ardent]

I have to say that my revisitation of Pettersson's Symphony No. 13 blew me away. I never have given Pettersson's symphonies after the 8th much of a chance to grow on me and this has proven to be a mistake (or, at least, so far).

The recording I revisited was this one with Alun Francis on CPO:

[Maestro267]

I 100% agree on variety over repetition. I'd much rather spend my money on a piece I don't own yet over another recording of something I've already got.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

More of a disc rather than a piece that has blown me away.  A very recent acquisition and in the light of the 80th D-Day commemorations this is a gorgeous and very moving programme;



Objectively a beautifully executed and very well planned programmed but overall its the emotional impact - of remembrance and reflection that register most.  The disc starts with a haunting and dignified performance of the Last Post followed by Douglas Guests' simple but moving setting of "They shall not grow old".  Wonderful.

It sounds like an interesting program.

I remember (some years ago) of being interested in hearing this CD:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_for_a_Time_of_War

PD

[Atriod]

Leibowitz's Violin Conerto. Every time I hear this I think it should be in the mainstream repertoire. Fortunately the sole recording I know of has an incredibly inspired performance from Ivry Gitlis. The whole Leibowitz collection leaves me more impressed than not.

[Symphonic Addict]

These three fantastic works:

Roussel: Évocations, for soloists, chorus and orchestra

It's strange to me that I listened to this work for the first time being a fan of this composer. Most likely I did hear it long ago, but frankly I don't remember anything about it, so it counts as a very fresh listen at least, and oh boy, what an exceptional composition it is! This is Roussel at his exotic facet, influenced by the impressions of his trip to Indochina, and the music is permeated with magical impressionism to die for, which is helped by some exquisite and precise orchestration too. From the very opening I was feeling this was going to be special and it was big time. My only surprise was the ending with the chorus which I thought it was going to be ecstatic and imposing, but it finished quietly, yet without losing that mystic magic. This recording also had to do with the strong impression it gave, it's simply marvelous all around.




Lutoslawski: Piano Sonata

In my exploration of piano sonatas, I've stumbled upon some remarkable exemplars so far. I don't intend to be exaggerated on this work, but this early sonata is so unbelievably gorgeous that words can't even describe how divine it is. This is not the gnarly Lutoslawski that most of people are aware of. Instead, what we have here is music suffused with subdued touches of impressionism (once again) that is reminiscent of Ravel to some extent. I confess I was totally taken by its beauty, one of the most lovely sonatas I know.




Françaix: Piano Sonata

This short sonata which is 9:28 min. long encapsulates all what this composer excelled in: displaying good humour, wit aplenty, soulful lyricism beneath the smiles and some unpredictable turns. A completely delightful work I have to put in here as well.

[kyjo]

These three fantastic works:

Roussel: Évocations, for soloists, chorus and orchestra

It's strange to me that I listened to this work for the first time being a fan of this composer. Most likely I did hear it long ago, but frankly I don't remember anything about it, so it counts as a very fresh listen at least, and oh boy, what an exceptional composition it is! This is Roussel at his exotic facet, influenced by the impressions of his trip to Indochina, and the music is permeated with magical impressionism to die for, which is helped by some exquisite and precise orchestration too. From the very opening I was feeling this was going to be special and it was big time. My only surprise was the ending with the chorus which I thought it was going to be ecstatic and imposing, but it finished quietly, yet without losing that mystic magic. This recording also had to do with the strong impression it gave, it's simply marvelous all around.




Lutoslawski: Piano Sonata

In my exploration of piano sonatas, I've stumbled upon some remarkable exemplaries so far. I don't intend to be exaggerated on this work, but this early sonata is so unbelievably gorgeous that words can't even describe how divine it is. This is not the gnarly Lutoslawski that most of people are aware of. Instead, what we have here is music suffused with subdued touches of impressionism (once again) that is reminiscent of Ravel to some extent. I confess I was totally taken by its beauty, one of the most lovely sonatas I know.

A hearty +1 to these two works! The Roussel is one of his orchestral masterpieces alongside the 2nd and 3rd symphonies and Bacchus et Ariane - a dazzling display of Impressionistic exotica. And yes, the Lutoslawski sonata is a really beautiful early work that's almost like the piano sonata Ravel never wrote!

[Symphonic Addict]

A hearty +1 to these two works! The Roussel is one of his orchestral masterpieces alongside the 2nd and 3rd symphonies and Bacchus et Ariane - a dazzling display of Impressionistic exotica. And yes, the Lutoslawski sonata is a really beautiful early work that's almost like the piano sonata Ravel never wrote!

I agree about those pieces by Roussel being his superlative works with orchestra, although his opera Padmâvatî must be interesting as well. Regarding Ravel, at least he did write a Sonatine for piano, and quite substantial it is.