What are you listening 2 now?

[Florestan]

Thank you!

You're welcome!

[Harry]

Adrian Sutton (b. 1967).
Violin Concerto and other Orchestral Works.
Fenella Humphreys Violin.
BBC Philharmonic Michael Seal.
Recording venue MediaCityUK, Salford, Manchester; 14 and 15 January 2024.

Really a surprise! I love the Violin concerto, a tonal work of great beauty and insight. But also the other works communicate a room with a fantastic views. Talented and a creative wizard, two things which are lacking in most modern composers. The music is giving instead of taking undue energy, it all flows easily and leaves one satisfied on a emotional level. Fenella Humphreys is an unknown Violinist to me, but on the basis of her performance I say, she is very good in portraying the vision of Sutton, and an exceptional fine musician.  A clear recording, detailed and atmospheric at the same time. Recommendable.

[Florestan]

Ernest Bour conducts the SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden

[ritter]

Crumb: Unto The Hills



I feel these folk songs with eerie, exotic percussion and amplified piano could have been a big hit if marketed outside the classical pigeonhole. The approach reminds me somewhat of Nico albums. Maybe a bit will get used on TV one day.

That is a wonderful series of music by a fascinating composer. But the cover art is unbelievably... I don't know, I can't find word to describe it.     

[ritter]

Ernest Bour conducts the SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden

Ah, yes, that set where they repeat the same text 10 times on the cover!  . I should seek it out, thugh, as I very much admire Ernest Bour.

Good day, Andrei.

[steve ridgway]

That is a wonderful series of music by a fascinating composer. But the cover art is unbelievably... I don't know, I can't find word to describe it.     

Folksy?

[Florestan]

Ah, yes, that set where they repeat the same text 10 times on the cover!  . I should seek it out, thugh, as I very much admire Ernest Bour.

Good day, Andrei.

Started at the beginning with No. 25 and it's excellent.

Good day to you, Rafael.

[AnotherSpin]

[Harry]

Emil Tabakov.
Orchestral Works.
Volume I.
See back cover for details.
Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Emil Tabakov.
Recorded: 2010 & 2014, Bulgarian National Radio Studio, Sofia.

Well to start with a very positive note, I like the Five Bulgarian Dances. They are riveting, full of energy, and frankly, sublimely scored. Five amazing pieces, well performed and recorded. As to the 8th Symphony I was expecting the best or the worse. The first two movements are in the "Largo"mode, and the music is positively eerie, and doom laden as well. With high woodwinds hovering over the notes of the lower string instruments, enhanced by timpani creating even more expectation of doom. Not unpleasant but the culmination can be overpowering at times. There is little hope and consolation to be found. Just try to understand what his argument is. Not easy music to digest, and @foxandpeng has to be admired for calling all of Tabakov"s music his desert island choice. The second "Largo"is more in balance, but still a hard task to digest. The third movement "Presto" is bursting out of its seams. The energy that is released is too much for me. And that means most of his music too. As said I like the Bulgarian Dances, for in it I recognize a pattern of normality, or understanding if you will.

[Harry]

FERDINAND RIES (1784–1838).

Symphony No.1 in D major, Op.23 (1809).
Symphony No.2 in C minor, Op.80 (1814).
TAPIOLA SINFONIETTA, JANNE NISONEN.
Recordings: January 9–11, 2024 Tapiola Hall (Tapiolasali), Espoo, Finland.

I have since the CPO recordings a thing for this composer, and his originality in expression. The accusation at his address, as a apostle of Beethoven, has in reality no basis, even if his music has many similarities. Every composer leans on the basis of composers before him, and it is therefore only natural to hear pointers towards any of his peers around him. I am therefore not touched by  the recognition of similarities. This said, the recording reveals a remarkable and talented early 19th century symphonist with a voice all his own. There is plenty of novelties to be found in Ries his Symphonies, and the performances hold a strong argument for this. A new fresh approach inspires my appetite. Very well recorded and argumented adequately. 

[Madiel]

Vine: Piano Sonata No.2



The only other recording of the 2nd sonata that I've heard is the one with bad sound (though there's at least one additional recording out there). This was a far more rewarding experience.

[Harry]

Igor Stravinsky, (1882–1971)
See back cover for details.
Tapiola Sinfonietta, Masaaki Suzuki.
Recording: April 2015 at the Tapiola Concert Hall, Finland.

Suzuki versus Stravinsky is quite a leap from the Baroque environment. But a very successful one! Much played works, but through the hands of Suzuki it gets just that little bit of extra, that sets it apart. One of the first strengths is the recording, one of the best SOTA recordings I ever heard. Extraordinary depth and clarity! And secondly you get a vibrant highly detailed interpretations of these works. A most gently vibrating tone with elegant phrasing on top of it.

[Iota]

Kurtág: Grabstein für Stephan, Op. 15c
Asko/Schönberg (chamber orchestra)
Reinbert de Leeuw

Another haunting piece from Kurtág.

[Madiel]

Another one of my eBay purchases.

Elgar: Cello Concerto



I finally reacquired this as a CD, after having it on cassette so many years ago. I do actually have another recording of the concerto which I haven't listened to in forever... maybe I should... but I did also want the other couple of works.

But it's the concerto recording I absolutely wanted. Not only is this the version that made me fall for this piece, this recording persuaded me I could genuinely like a concerto. ANY concerto. For whatever reason, my early encounters with concerti left me feeling that it was a form that sacrificed the music in favour of giving the soloist a flashy showpiece. And there are still some concerti that make me feel that way, but plenty that I do enjoy. The Elgar cello concerto was the first.

[Todd]

[Traverso]

Louis Couperin


Christopher Hogwood has made a fine recording with these Suites by Louis Couperin.

( location Conservatoire de Musique. Brussels ,october/november 1982)

The harpsichord sounds excellent.

[Harry]

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Suites.
CD I.
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Antal Dorati.
Recorded: August 1966.

For me one of the best interpretations. Superb sound too.

[Madiel]

I carried on with the rest of the Elgar album. I need to spend some time grasping In the South a little better.

[Todd]

[Irons]

Thread duty:

Gorgeous slow movement.