What are you listening 2 now?

[Harry]

Lamentations from the Renaissance.
See back cover for details.
Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel.
Recorded in 1997, at  l'Abbaye aux Dames de Saintes.

As for the Lamentations it is mostly a Cappella singing with 8 voices, and a treat of much melancholy, a gloomy affair, which makes it hugely attractive to me. Sacred polyphony at its best. Gorgeous examples of a long tradition of lamentations, plus some pieces that are rarely recorded or performed. Low range singing, tis very much to my liking. Performance & sound are superb, as can be expected from the Huelgas Ensemble. I totally forgot this 1997 recording......

[Traverso]

Try this, the performance is superb and the sound is splendid.



One of the best recordings of anything by anyone.

Thanks for the advice,I will look it up.Klemperer is also surprisingly fine.

[Traverso]

Mozart

Serenade No.13  Eine Kleine Nachtmusik



 

[Irons]

I can answer that for you... it is nearly everything. That is why I thought it was funny when MI would unnecessarily say "from an OOP CD" because 99.9% of the time, I could just stream it. Even though there are titles that you can't purchase as a download or stream, in general, digital distribution is far superior. For classical music, the CD model never really worked well. It resulted in limited runs excepting the significant titles from the major labels. It is frustrating for both the record label and people wanting to make purchases.

Not to forget the second-hand CD market. I have ordered through eBay an OOP CD of a work/composer that I'm currently interested in for less then then beer at my local pub.

[Harry]

Charles-Valentin Alkan.
Cello Sonata in E major, Op 47.

Frederic Chopin.
Cello Sonata in G minor, Op 65.

Alban Gerhardt, Cello.
Steven Osborne, Piano.
Recorded in Henry Wood Hall, London, on 17–19 December 2007.

Superb performances, and well recorded.

[VonStupp]

Heitor Villa-Lobos
Ciranda das Sete Notas
     Sergio Azzolini, bassoon
     Potsdam CA - Maurice Bourgue
Fantasia for Saxophone
     Eugene Rousseau, saxophone
     Paul Kuentz CO - Paul Kuentz
Harp Concerto
     Catherine Michel, harp
     Monte Carlo NOO - Antonio de Almeida
Momo Precoce
     Marco Antonio de Almeida, piano
     David Montgomery - Jena PO

Had a chance to listen to some Villa-Lobos concertante works this past week. Of them, I think I am falling in love with Villa-Lobos' Bassoon Concerto

Having also heard V-L's piano, cello, guitar, and harmonica concertos recently, I wonder what the key of C Major meant to the composer, for he sets it in all of those works.
VS

[DavidW]

It's 10:30pm, so I am a little late for a Saturday Symphony. But I am just in time. . .

They're already tuning up so you better find your seat!

[Leo K.]

Haydn: The Complete Piano Sonatas - Wan Sook Hur. Wow, a great set,  beautiful performances and excellent sonics.

[brewski]

Whether you'd think it's the best performance or not, I can't say. But I'm pretty sure this is the clearest, most transparent, SOTA recording of LvB 6 ever made  

I don't know what magic happens at Reference Recordings — among dozens of labels making SOTA recordings — but they do have perhaps the most impressive, consistent track record of all. When conductor Eiji Oue was doing recordings with the Minnesota Orchestra, also on Reference, I could hardly believe the clarity and presence on display.

Anyway, though I'm not often craving the Beethoven 6, I'd definitely like to hear this.

-Bruce

[Florestan]

Haydn: The Complete Piano Sonatas - Wan Sook Hur. Wow, a great set,  beautiful performances and excellent sonics.

So you recommend it?

[Harry]

Ernest Chausson.
Chamber music.
See back and front cover for details.

A sensualistic palette of scented harmonies and timbres. That's what this music is. It traverses the gamut of emotions, it's simply bristling with energy, lyricism and conviction. Unavoidably difficult not to be impressed by this refined and voluptuous melancholy that permeates the music, and the richness and complexity that can engulf the senses, which it does repeatedly. I never had such an experience with the chamber music composed by Chausson, but this performance did the trick. Excellent sound, and performances that will keep you alert until the last note.

[brewski]

Still replaying moments from this concert on Friday afternoon. The Bartók is a fave, the Martinů might become one after a few more hearings, and who can resist the splendor of the "Organ" Symphony? Actually thought about snagging a cheap ticket to go again, but lo and behold, the second concert (this afternoon) is close to sold out.

The Philadelphia Orchestra
Roderick Cox, conductor
Choong-Jin Chang, viola
Raphael Attila Vogl, organ

Bartók: Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin
Martinů: Rhapsody-Concerto, for viola and orchestra
Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 ("Organ")

-Bruce

[ritter]

Music for chamber ensemble by Gerardo Gombau...



Gombau (1906-1971) was one of the key figures in introducing musical modernity (Stravinsky, Bartók, the Second Viennese School) and later the Darmstadt avant-garde to Spain.

[Kalevala]

It's a very original and impressive performance of the Chopin sonata - all through, not just in the first and third movements. Coherent. It may just end up on the toppyest tier.

@Kalevala    It is here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWHhm-7ycCk

Thanks!  I'll check it out.

K

[Karl Henning]

Whether you'd think it's the best performance or not, I can't say. But I'm pretty sure this is the clearest, most transparent, SOTA recording of LvB 6 ever made  

Did you try the Stucky?

TD:

[JBS]

Heitor Villa-Lobos
Ciranda das Sete Notas
    Sergei Azzolini, bassoon
    Potsdam CA - Maurice Bourgue
Fantasia for Saxophone
    Eugene Rousseau, saxophone
    Paul Kuentz CO - Paul Kuentz
Harp Concerto
    Catherine Michel, harp
    Monte Carlo NOO - Antonio de Almeida
Momo Precoce
    Marco Antonio de Almeida, piano
    David Montgomery - Jena PO

Had a chance to listen to some Villa-Lobos concertante works this past week. Of them, I think I am falling in love with Villa-Lobos' Bassoon Concerto

Having also heard V-L's piano, cello, guitar, and harmonica concertos recently, I wonder what the key of C Major meant to the composer, for he sets it in all of those works.
VS

Azzolini playing something not from the 18th century! Well in his hands one can expect good results.

[Karl Henning]

Mahler 6th (Gielen)

Probably not all of it.

Since my stroke, it is rare that I dedicate the time to a full Mahler symphony, Not exactly sure why.

[Hitch]

Grieg - Violin Sonata No.2 in G major, Op.13
Yehudi Menuhin, Robert Levin

I first met this enlivening piece many years ago when playing a so-so but atmospheric computer game, Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Silver Earring. The soundtrack had original music therein but also incorporated some movements from Grieg, Schumann, Dvořák and Tchaikovsky chamber pieces. Scouring (sometimes allegro animato as in the sonata's finale) beautifully detailed Victorian rooms in the company of such composers engendered the appropriate salon atmosphere.

[Traverso]

Since my stroke, it is rare that I dedicate the time to a full Mahlersymphony, Not exactly sure why.

Progress sometimes takes strange paths.

I once spoke to a butcher who had had brain surgery. The tumor had been removed, he said. "Before the surgery I would have dissecting  a dead person without a problem, now after the surgery my eyes get moist when I watch the Sound of Music.

[Karl Henning]

Progress sometimes takes strange paths.

To borrow a phrase from the swordwright in Kill Bill ... it's not a straight line, it's a forest.