What are you listening 2 now?

[Traverso]

+ 1.

Have a safe journey !

[Henk]

A wonderful group of works!

Do you know this somehat recently discovered work by Protopopov?

One movement is lost, otherwise...wonderful work!

Thanks for sharing. Will listen.

[Traverso]

Bizet

Les pêcheurs de perles

Bizet

Les pêcheurs de perles

 Still fond on this oldie (1953)

[Traverso]

Bizet

Hi Andrei, I always like to listen to "Sois La Bienvenue" The swinging elegance...

[Florestan]

Bizet

Hi Andrei, I always like to listen to "Sois La Bienvenue" The swinging elegance...

Bizet has been a favorite composer ever since in my early teens I watched Michelangelo Rossi's Carmen. 

[Linz]

Schubert  Symphonies Nos. 3, 4 & 5, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard

[AnotherSpin]

[Irons]

Reger: String Trio Op.77b

String Trio Bell'Arte, which includes the superb violinist Susanne Lautenbacher.



Eric Blom wrote in Grove's"Reger's work on the whole is oppressively deficient in light and air". Pity old Eric didn't listen to String Trio Op.77b! A work with great warmth and tunefulness in the style (and quality) of Dvorak.

[ritter]

This landed today at my office...



I've never enjoyed the ultraromantic-OTT Pierné Piano Concerto (except for the short, sprightly scherzando second movement). It's one of the few concertos in repertoire that starts with an unaccompanied passage for the piano, and that introduction is pleasant enough, but when the orchestra appears, we're transported into the world of, well, the "ultraromantic-OTT piano concerto", and I am not attuned to that at all. The composer was only 23 when he composed this concotion in 1886, so he probably did not yet have a distinctive, personal voice.

The Fantaisie-Ballet for piano and orchestra is from one year earlier than the concerto, but it is more concise and lively. No masterpiece, but rather more attractive to me than the PC.

In both concertante pieces, Alain Raës (whom I knew form his interesting CD of solo piano music by Florent Schmitt) plays splendidly.

The reason I got this CD is the suite form the ballet Bouton d'or (AFAIK, there's no other recording). It's something in the mold of Lalo's Namouna, but also has what I can ony describe as "music hall reminiscences". It's far removed from the neo-baroque of the much later Cydalise. I'm sure @Florestan would love it.

The best music in the CD is the popular Ramuntcho (here we get Suite No. 1, with its superb Overture on Basque Themes). Really delightful.

The orchestral performances are rough, particularly the brass (it's a student orchestra), but have their charm.

[Madiel]

Being awake at stupid o'clock, I decided to try the new Bach cello suites recording by Queyras.

Which is currently blowing my mind because it seems so unlike my MEMORY of his 1st recording. I feel like pulling it out straight away to see if my memory is playing tricks on me.

I also don't know how I feel about the ornamentation in the dances.

Edit: Switching between the 2 versions on Idagio, they might not be quite as different as I imagined, but after sampling a couple of movements it does feel as if the new version has some additional fiddling about that I could do without. I love the first recording for being so dance-like.

[Maestro267]

Simpson: Symphony No. 8
Royal PO/Handley

[Traverso]

Martinů

Symphony No 1 & 5

[Madiel]

Rhapsody in Blue.

This is what I get for being the rehearsal pianist in a Gershwin musical. I decided to listen to some people who can actually play it.

[SonicMan46]

Spohr, Louis (1784-1859) - during the first part of the 19th century, Spohr was a virtuoso violinist (considered the 'Paganini of Germany') and a popular composer writing a wide variety of works (see below and HERE), including 38 String Quartets!

I have about 3 dozen recordings of his works in my collection - in the last few days, I've delved into the performances below - String Quartets/Quintets, Symphonies, and some Violin Concertos up next selectively.    Dave

Louis Spohr was a German composer, violinist, conductor, and teacher. Highly regarded during his lifetime, Spohr composed ten symphonies, ten operas, eighteen violin concerti, four clarinet concerti, four oratorios, and various works for small ensemble, chamber music, and art songs. Spohr invented the violin chinrest and the orchestral rehearsal mark. His output spans the transition between Classical and Romantic music, but fell into obscurity following his death, when his music was rarely heard. The late twentieth century saw a modest revival of interest in his oeuvre primarily in Europe, but his reputation has never been restored to that of his lifetime. (Source)

   

   

[Cato]

A many-faceted and expressive work:

[Brian]

Figuring the mature reaction to the new $150 Dohnanyi Cleveland box is to stream the real rarities inside with the streaming subscription I already paid for, rather than spending all that money.

[Lisztianwagner]

Franz Liszt
Piano Sonata in B minor

Pianist: Sviatoslav Richter

[foxandpeng]

Bryars: Cello Concerto 'Farewell to Philosophy'

My first encounter with this composer, and what an inaugural listen this was. Several epithets come to mind on listening to it: profound, thought-provoking, intimate, reflective, human. Music completely devoid of fireworks and showy gestures; rather focused with a contemplative aura. I'm quite moved by this piece I must say. Just so good. Thanks @foxandpeng for originally mentioning it. That was excellent.

I feel the same! Bryars is great 👏🎊💪

Really glad you enjoyed 😉

[DavidW]

Franz Liszt
Piano Sonata in B minor

Pianist: Sviatoslav Richter

That was my introduction to Liszt!

[brewski]

Michael Torke: December (1995, The Philharmonia / Michael Torke, conductor). First hearing, for an article I'm writing. Quite liking it: about 12 minutes, for string orchestra, and as Gramophone wrote, a bit like Tippett.

-Bruce