What are you listening 2 now?

[Florestan]

No, but that particular poem is about a woman.

Makes sense. 

[SonicMan46]

Prokofiev, Sergei (1891-1953) - Cello Works on the recordings below - starting in on my approximate two dozen discs of this 20th century Russian composer; both keepers, just one duplication (and nice to have two performances of the somewhat controversial Symphony-Concerto Op. 125) - reviews attached if interested.  Dave

 

[Brian]

Dipping into the newly arrived Leif Ove Andsnes box today:

- Bartok violin sonatas with Christian Tetzlaff (my first listen to these gnarly works)
- Mozart concertos 9/18
- Nielsen piano works

I'm also planning to dip back into the complete Dvorak piano trios, inspired by some recent discussion of various recordings (especially by @Mandryka). The complete cycle I have handy is Guarneri Trio Prague. I also just received in the mail the Kelemen-Altstaedt-Lonquich recording on Alpha, which contains the world premiere recording of an alternative early draft for one of the dumky.

[Todd]

Dipping into the newly arrived Leif Ove Andsnes box today:

- Bartok violin sonatas with Christian Tetzlaff (my first listen to these gnarly works)

Seriously?  You are literally starting off with the best available.  Your collection is essentially complete.

[Traverso]

Messiaen

Just ordered this recording.....

It is a very religious work, which develops in eighteen pieces, applying the graces of Christ to each feast of the liturgy. This work could be described as a great symphonic poem carried by the immensity of the organ instrument. As already noted in previous versions, this cycle is at the top. Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet Hakim, familiar with both this author and the organ of the Trinity, immediately embraces the atmospheres, the spheres, the appropriate intentions, to make us enter the depths of this music. Some numbers are striking for the impression of eternity that they evoke (Adoro te), others such as The Resurrection of Christ envelop us completely thanks to all the power of the organ. The feeling that emerges from this version is that we feel that it is resolutely focused on the mystical and interior aspect of the music, in contrast to certain more extrovert and virtuoso visions, which emphasize other qualities of the score.

It also allows us to appreciate, in addition to the qualities of the performer, the inspiring sounds of the Trinity organ, here in better condition than in an earlier period when its out-of-tuneness was very embarrassing, even for contemporary music. The old recordings of Olivier Messiaen himself bear witness to this. The sound recording does full justice to the acoustics of this enormous church and captures the organ with a well-controlled distance. Over the years, Messiaen's music seems more accessible, more human, less cerebral; it is undoubtedly the work of time that brings us closer to this music, better understand it and love it, conceived by the man who is still one of the greatest visionaries of the twentieth century.

Instagram
Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992): The Book of the Holy Sacrament. Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet

[brewski]

Janáček: Suite for Strings (Amsterdam Sinfonietta, recorded October 2021). Don't know this piece that well, but hard to imagine a better reading.

-Bruce

[Karl Henning]

Dmitri Shostakovich
Symphonies
Symphony 2, 'To October'
Rudolf Barshai
WDR Sinfonieorchester

I'll listen, too, since it's been a while.

[Karl Henning]

Prokofiev, Sergei (1891-1953) - Cello Works on the recordings below - starting in on my approximate two dozen discs of this 20th century Russian composer; both keepers, just one duplication (and nice to have two performances of the somewhat controversial Symphony-Concerto Op. 125) - reviews attached if interested.  Dave

 

My review of Ivashkin, which I still recommend, Dave:

[Brian]

Seriously?  You are literally starting off with the best available.  Your collection is essentially complete.

And my only other recording of the solo violin sonata is FPZ on the Martinu disc. Not often I get to be so concise with my collection.

[DavidW]

And my only other recording of the solo violin sonata is FPZ on the Martinu disc. Not often I get to be so concise with my collection.

Well you're now moved on to one of my favorite chamber music recordings of 20th century music! And it was my introduction to Bartok chamber works outside of the SQs.

[SonicMan46]

My review of Ivashkin, which I still recommend, Dave:

Excellent review Karl - thanks for the link - but I'm quite happy with the two recordings that I own of the work (and the reviews are agreeably positive).  Dave

[Mandryka]

Messiaen

Just ordered this recording.....

It is a very religious work, which develops in eighteen pieces, applying the graces of Christ to each feast of the liturgy. This work could be described as a great symphonic poem carried by the immensity of the organ instrument. As already noted in previous versions, this cycle is at the top. Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet Hakim, familiar with both this author and the organ of the Trinity, immediately embraces the atmospheres, the spheres, the appropriate intentions, to make us enter the depths of this music. Some numbers are striking for the impression of eternity that they evoke (Adoro te), others such as The Resurrection of Christ envelop us completely thanks to all the power of the organ. The feeling that emerges from this version is that we feel that it is resolutely focused on the mystical and interior aspect of the music, in contrast to certain more extrovert and virtuoso visions, which emphasize other qualities of the score.

It also allows us to appreciate, in addition to the qualities of the performer, the inspiring sounds of the Trinity organ, here in better condition than in an earlier period when its out-of-tuneness was very embarrassing, even for contemporary music. The old recordings of Olivier Messiaen himself bear witness to this. The sound recording does full justice to the acoustics of this enormous church and captures the organ with a well-controlled distance. Over the years, Messiaen's music seems more accessible, more human, less cerebral; it is undoubtedly the work of time that brings us closer to this music, better understand it and love it, conceived by the man who is still one of the greatest visionaries of the twentieth century.

Instagram
Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992): The Book of the Holy Sacrament. Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet

I was planning to listen to this one at some point too. One unusual thing about the music is that so much of it is so very quiet. To my disappointment I can see I've missed several concert performances of it this year -- hopefully there will be more next.

[Karl Henning]

Excellent review Karl - thanks for the link - but I'm quite happy with the two recordings that I own of the work (and the reviews are agreeably positive).  Dave

Nothing wrong with contentment with what one has got. This review of mine was top of mind simply thanks to the accident of rediscovering that I'd written it. 😉

[foxandpeng]

I'll listen, too, since it's been a while.

Dmitri Shostakovich
Complete 15 Symphonies by Great Russian Conductors
Symphony 2, 'To October'
Valery Gergiev
Marlinsky Orchestra
Alto

Rolling with the mood and spending extended time with DSCH seems like a pleasant enough way to spend a few weeks.

[Traverso]

I was planning to listen to this one at some point too. One unusual thing about the music is that so much of it is so very quiet. To my disappointment I can see I've missed several concert performances of it this year -- hopefully there will be more next.

Her Lebanese husband (composer and organist)

 

[DavidW]

[foxandpeng]

Dmitri Shostakovich
The Complete Symphonies
Symphony 2, 'To October'
Vasily Petrenko
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Naxos

I like this Petrenko cycle very much.

[foxandpeng]

Brilliant.

[Linz]

Bruckner Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major, 1888 Third version, firrst printed edition [published by Albert Gutmann (Vienna 1889)]
Handel Water Music - Suite, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg

[DavidW]

Brilliant.

Funny enough, as soon as I switch off, the 8th comes into my head instead. I think it is the 8th... there is this quiet but energetic clarinet motif that plays in the quiet moments when the orchestra isn't going bananas. It always falls back into my mind at the oddest times.