What are you listening 2 now?

[Karl Henning]

[Symphonic Addict]

Lyapunov: Violin Concerto in D minor
Daugherty: Harp of Ages, for harp and orchestra

The Lyapunov receives a very competent rendition, but alas, the music is too generic and faceless I'm afraid.

I'm not familiar with Daugherty's output. Dipping my toes into this concerto, and wow, this piece abounds in imagination, cool rhythms and dazzling orchestration. Its seven movements evoke genres and figures associated with that instrument. A remarkable discovery.

[Symphonic Addict]

I have lots of Koppel in my collection, a composer I intensely admire, but his Moses should never have come down from Mount Horeb... Dour and overly serious, as you say.

Indeed. I've found more interesting stuff in his concertante and chamber works, for instance.

[JBS]

Sins Of Old Age was published in 14 volumes, not necessarily arranged in any systemic manner. Volume 8 is solely solo piano, but Volume 9 is for varying combinations of violin, cello, horn, piano and harmonium. The Naxos set therefore supplements the 12 pieces of Volume 8 (which are too much for only 1 CD) with the 5 pieces from Volume 9 which are for solo piano.

[Symphonic Addict]

Pfitzner: Cello Concerto in A minor, op. posth.
Hakola: Clarinet Concerto

A quite satisfying concerto whose writing has much purpose and fine ideas. Not properly a top-tier composer, but quite often I've felt inspiration through many of his numerous pieces, being his Violin Concerto, particularly, a work of outstanding quality.

The Hakola is an absolute hoot! A new composer to me and I'm hooked (he was born in Finland in 1958). This concerto oozes spark galore, it's just so much fun to listen to. Even though it's not a profound work, the slow movement manages to be quite lyrical and memorable. For a clarinet concerto, its length is quite considerable (38 min in all); the player must have quite the stamina to perform it. Recommended for those into approachable and quirky contemporary music. Neat cover art, btw.

[steve ridgway]

Schuller: Triplum

[steve ridgway]

Ligeti: Chamber Concerto

[Daverz]

I'm not familiar with Daugherty's output.

Daugherty is most famous for the Metropolis Symphony, which is a blast.

[steve ridgway]

Messiaen: Trois Petites Liturgies De La Présence Divine

[Madiel]

Paul Tortelier and Éric Heidsieck play Fauré...



CD 27 of the big Heidsieck box:

I have the same recordings in the big Tortelier box. Not entirely a fan to be honest.

[Florestan]

I have lots of Koppel in my collection, a composer I intensely admire, but his Moses should never have come down from Mount Horeb... Dour and overly serious, as you say.

I'm puzzled. With respect to Tabakov, the mix of anger and devastating pessimism is amazing, something to revel in. With respect to Koppel, though, dour and overly serious is bad. What am I missing? 

[Madiel]

Mozart: Violin sonatas 9 and 10



No.9 has a quite remarkable passage in the final movement, I don't know whether performers do it the way that Tiberghien does, but the liner notes make a good case for it.

[Madiel]

I'm puzzled. With respect to Tabakov, the mix of anger and devastating pessimism is amazing, something to revel in. With respect to Koppel, though, dour and overly serious is bad. What am I missing? 

Only some composers are naturally grumpy.

[vandermolen]

Bernstein: Jeremiah Symphony
St Louis SO/Bernstein

[Florestan]

[Harry]

Sieur de Sainte-Colombe Le Fils.
Pieces de Viole.
François Joubert-Caillet, bass viol.
L'Achéron.
Sarah Van Oudenhove, bass viol.
Yoann Moulin, harpsichord.
Recording: Petit Auditorium du Conservatoire & Orchestre de Caen, October 2023.

Very well done, as can be expected from the likes of Caillet. Pleasant and relaxing.

The Sainte-Colombe family remains a mystery to this day: The first name and origins of the father, who taught Marin Marais and composed numerous pieces for one or two viols, are shrouded in the darkness of history. The same obscurity prevails about his son or sons: records show some traces of him in London and Edinburgh around 1700, although all that is really known about him comes from the Pièces de viole recorded here; these five dance suites in the French style, including a "Tombeau pour Mr de Sainte-Colombe le père", are preserved in a non-authentic manuscript. The version presented here breaks with the usual interpretations of these pièces de viole, as it contains a reconstruction of a basso continuo part, as was customary in works by composers of the son's generation. The surviving non-autograph source gives the general impression that something is missing in the harmonic structure, a deficiency which is filled here by this new basso continuo part. Reconstructed in the musical language and style of the time, the music of Sainte-Colombe's son seems to come back to life here; these pieces have not only regained their full meaning, but also reveal a sublime music

[Harry]

THE PASTOR FIDO OF BATTISTA GUARINI AND LUCA MARENZIO.
See back cover for details.
LA PEDRINA.
Maria Dalia Albertini, Soprano
Francesca Cassinari, Soprano
Gabriel Jublin, Altus
Paolo Borgonovo, Tenor
Matthias Deger, Tenor
Akinobu Ôno, Tenor
Davide Benetti, Bass
Juan Sebastián Lima, Liuto
Chiara Granata, Arpa
Amélie Chemin, Teodoro Baù, Viola da gamba
Francesco Saverio Pedrini, Cembalo

Recorded in Reformierte Kirche Zürich-Oberstrass, June 2017/January 2018.

A fine surprise. Performance and sound are excellent. A little pearl.

[Karl Henning]

[Florestan]

Symphony No. 1

Not quite as uncompromisingly bleak and gloomy as I expected. He probably hadn't find his true voice. 

[AnotherSpin]