What are you listening 2 now?

[Symphonic Addict]

Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 3 (Anatol Ugorski)

This took me by surprise. Interestingly, it doesn't sound particularly "Brahmsian", but rather "Schumannian". It's got a more free development methinks. A little hard to figure out it was written by Brahms.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Elgar: Cello Concerto.

A fine recording in all respects of this great work. Plenty of punch from LPO conducted by Del Mar. I love the iconic du Pre/Barbirolli recording but I think Cohen captures the essence of what Elgar meant to a greater degree. For listeners who find du Pre too Romantically rich Cohen would be an excellent choice.



I must confess didn't know of the existence of Elegy For Strings let alone heard the piece.

I'll see whether or not I can check it out.  When are the recordings from?

PD

[JBS]

Arrived today, so into the CD player it goes.


In my mind I always thought of this as a work of the 1950s or 1960s, but from the liner notes I learn Tippett wrote it during World War II, and the specific impulse was Kristallnacht.

[Bachtoven]

My, what a lovely cover! For the curious, it's performed very well by Susanna Yoko Henkel, Monika Leskovar, and Milana Chernyavska on the The Spot Records label. Excellent sound.

[Daverz]

William Walton...

Symphony No. 1

Cello Concerto

Lovely work.  Seems very influenced by Prokofiev.

[AnotherSpin]

Beethoven, Op. 106

[steve ridgway]

Schnittke: Quintet For Piano, Two Violins, Viola And Cello

[Bachtoven]

Beethoven, Op. 106

You are aware that Beethoven wrote other sonatas, right? 

[Roasted Swan]

I'll see whether or not I can check it out.  When are the recordings from?

PD

original LP release 1980.

[vandermolen]

Agreed, Jeffrey, although my favorite symphony of his may be the imposing choral No. 4! The Louisville Concerto that's coupled to the 2nd Symphony on that disc is quite an intriguing work in a slightly more acerbic style. It's effectively a concerto for orchestra with several significant solos for the principal string players IIRC.

Hi Kyle - I also like the choral 4th Symphony where Rosenberg goes into Old Testament Prophet mode! Yes, I liked all the works on the CD too.

[vandermolen]

I've been listening to this disc too.  Laura van der Heijden is excellent throughout but I must admit I think the Chandos recording is far from their finest - a bit distant and lacking 'bite' - quite an issue in the Walton (solo part as well played as I have ever heard) and the Bridge.  Not sure I felt Wigglesworth has full measure of Oration - I prefer Hickox - both his recordings - and best of all Dickens/RLPO with Wallfisch on Nimbus.  Enjoyed the Frances-Hoad

I didn't think that much of the Frances-Hoad work, which I found rather nondescript. Enjoying the Walton now. Have played Oration several times always with much pleasure.

PS I was amazed to read that the first recording of 'Oration', arguably Bridge's masterpiece, was the Lloyd-Webber Lyrita recording from the late 1970's (a very fine version in my opinion).

[Que]

 

Left is the rather ugly cover of the digital release. The one on the right must the disc.

[AnotherSpin]

You are aware that Beethoven wrote other sonatas, right? 

Thank you for being concerned about what I am aware of, it is very moving. Try looking deeper into op.106 and I might be interested to see what you find there.

[Irons]

That "In the South" famously recorded in a single take!  Excellent disc - and some of my favourite Elgar alongside the two CFP/Handley/LPO Symphonies....

I was not aware of that, thanks. An excellent series of Elgar recordings from CfP with striking artwork of scenes from Manchester by Adolphe Valette.

[Mandryka]

Thank you for being concerned about what I am aware of, it is very moving. Try looking deeper into op.106 and I might be interested to see what you find there.

By the way, a propos of Beethoven, I played this the other day

https://silvestrov.bandcamp.com/album/to-beethoven-2020

[Florestan]

Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 3 (Anatol Ugorski)

This took me by surprise. Interestingly, it doesn't sound particularly "Brahmsian", but rather "Schumannian". It's got a more free development methinks. A little hard to figure out it was written by Brahms.

Well, it's from his "Kreisler Jr." period, which also includes, but it's not limited to, the other two piano sonatas and the original version of the piano trio op. 8. 

[Traverso]

From the Court of Frederick the Great

Lovely music for traverso masterfully played by Barthold Kuijken.

[AnotherSpin]

By the way, a propos of Beethoven, I played this the other day

https://silvestrov.bandcamp.com/album/to-beethoven-2020

Thank you, listening now.

[Iota]

Some conductors do the "Fate knocking on the door" as if Fate is pounding away, trying to get someone on the other end of the house to hear them. Manacorda makes it like Fate is tapping on the window pane so the person just inside the doorway will realize it's there.

Haha, well that's enough to make me want to have a listen.   

Absolutely loved it! Manacorda goes about his business briskly and directly without too much smelling of the roses etc, but in the process gets as close to a baggage-less performance I've ever heard of it.  End result being a thrilling performance of a piece still glistening with fresh paint and beautifully detailed, but still catching all its lyricism and rampant Beethovenian intensity.
Think I'll listen to the Eroica next, am intrigued to hear what these forces will do with it.

[prémont]

Absolutely loved it! Manacorda goes about his business briskly and directly without too much smelling of the roses etc, but in the process gets as close to a baggage-less performance I've ever heard of it.  End result being a thrilling performance of a piece still glistening with fresh paint and beautifully detailed, but still catching all its lyricism and rampant Beethovenian intensity.
Think I'll listen to the Eroica next, am intrigued to hear what these forces will do with it.

Indispensable, the way you describe it.