What are you listening 2 now?

[JBS]

Rubbra is not completely missing from my collection--I have the String Quartets, the Piano Concerto, and the Lyrita Del Mar recording of the Fourth Symphony--but this is my first encounter with his symphonies as a whole.


BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Richard Hickox conductor

Tonight the First and Second Symphonies.

The set's cover image is Samuel Palmer's A Rustic Scene, dating from 1825, and colorized by the set's designer Cass Cassidy.

[Symphonic Addict]

Hovhaness: Piano Concerto 'Lousadzak'

[JBS]

Many moons ago (late 1960's ?) Michael Ponti performed one of the Scharwenka piano concertos and other works on a VOX record.

I recall it was a BIG concerto, and Michael Ponti was the pianist for the job!

I found this on YouTube: it says 1971.  So I must be thinking of some other recording from the late 1960's.

Earl Wild did the First Piano Concerto with Leinsdorf and the BSO in 1969. Raymond Lewenthal did the final movement only of the Second Concerto in 1970.


And Liberace included the Polish Dance in an album that dates to 1952

[Bachtoven]

Tilman Hoppstock is an amazing player--tons of technique and very expressive.

[JBS]

The real main attraction of this CD, both in length and musical interest, is the Klose.

[steve ridgway]

Takemitsu: Rain Spell



I like the combination of Flute, Clarinet, Harp, Piano And Vibraphone in this atmospheric piece.

[steve ridgway]

Ives: Symphony 1

[steve ridgway]

Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra

[steve ridgway]

Webern: Vier Lieder

[steve ridgway]

Webern: Five Pieces For Orchestra

[steve ridgway]

Penderecki: Sonata For Cello And Orchestra

[Madiel]

Dvorak: Piano Trio no.2, op.26 (Guarneri Trio Prague)

[Wanderer]

Many moons ago (late 1960's ?) Michael Ponti performed one of the Scharwenka piano concertos and other works on a VOX record.

I recall it was a BIG concerto, and Michael Ponti was the pianist for the job!

I found this on YouTube: it says 1971.  So I must be thinking of some other recording from the late 1960's.

I think this is the only Scharwenka concerto that Ponti recorded for the Vox series. On CD (possibly also on LP?) it is paired with the Moszkowski, which was recorded in 1968; maybe that's why you remember late '60s?

The Medtner 3 from that series of Ponti recordings is quite special.

[steve ridgway]

Messiaen: La Fauvette Des Jardins

[Harry]

Il Concerto Caccini.
Scherzi Musicali, Nicolas Achten.
See back cover for details.
Recording: 12-15 August 2023 & 14-17 September 2023 Studio Dada (Schaerbeek, Bruxelles).
2 CD'S, 127 minutes.
Cover illustration: Gerrit van Honthorst (1590-1656), A Musical Party (ca 1616-1618).
PD always wanted to know about the cover art, hopes she reads it!

With this ensemble it's either a hit or miss. I am glad to say this is a hit, and a resounding one at that. Soloists and choir are top notch, as are the instrumental contributions. As a performance this can hardly be bettered. Sure, there are a few small pain points, but in total it amounts to nothing in the context. Its a good way to start the morning with. YAY.

[Florestan]

This listening session is dedicated to @ritter . May you see the light one day, Rafael! 

[Madiel]

This listening session is dedicated to @ritter . May you see the light one day, Rafael! 

Look, I love Chopin, and I don't love the piano concertos. I actually prefer the shorter orchestral pieces.

[Florestan]

Look, I love Chopin, and I don't love the piano concertos. I actually prefer the shorter orchestral pieces.

Okay, but the problem with @ritter is that he doesn't like Chopin at all. 

TD



I feel a Chopin-athon coming today. 

[Harry]

Franz von Suppe.
Die schöne Galathee (Complete Recording)
Andrea Bogner, Hans-Jürg Rickenbacher, Juliane Heyn, Michael Kupfer, Chor des Theaters der Stadt Koblenz, Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie, Thomas Eitler.
See for further details back cover.

For me this is the best Operetta in my collection, and this recording is to die for. Superb singing, and a conductor who understand the soul of Suppe. I could listen the whole day to this. Andrea Bogner has a voice one can dream of, but you will encounter this not that often. The recording is excellent, as is the performance of all involved.

Klassik heute 7/2001: "Outstanding is the beautiful soprano voice of Soprano voice of Andrea Bogner as Galathee." Classical Music On The Web: "This has all the exhilaration and charm indispensable to success." American Record Guide 9/2001: "Chock full of delicious tunes." Fanfare 9/2001: "If you love Offenbach and Strauss, you will have fun with this one."

[ritter]

Monique Haas plays Debussy's Études (plus sundry single piano pieces)...

CD 4 of this set:



Mme. Haas' set is the one I keep at the offce for this music, but I must confess I seldom listen to it. I find her phrasing awkawrd (clumsy even), and too delibarte and therefore unnatural. Her managemnt if dynamics is also a bit extreme. Not evreything is bad, of course: e-g-, the quieter paassages of Pour les quartes and Pour les sixtes are beautifully rendered and quite poetic. But, all-in-all, this is far from the Debussy playing I most enjoy.