What are you listening 2 now?

[Karl Henning]

Finally started my Leif Segerstam in memoriam listening, with one of his most celebrated albums.

I do love that disc.

TD:
I should think our @Florestan would like this, very pre-scary Schoenberg:

[foxandpeng]

Finally started my Leif Segerstam in memoriam listening, with one of his most celebrated albums.

Up next:



EDIT: Wow, the review on Qobuz is so harsh on Rautavaara! Check this out:
"Einojuhani Rautavaara is arguably Finland's most popular modern composer because of his approachable, neo-Romantic orchestral music; yet his works' consistently somber tone, gray orchestration, and fairly static pacing make them predictable and tedious. ...Rautavaara is most recognizable for his slow harmonic rhythms and overcast colors, and his monochromatic music is barely disturbed by exciting ideas or startling innovations.... Cantus Arcticus (1972) is a tedious slog through Rautavaara's austere Scandinavian scenes. Even the Clarinet Concerto (2001), which should be a dynamic showpiece, is dominated by too many stretches of brooding melancholy."

I like the Rautavaara. I don't recognise it from the Qobuz review...

[Hitch]

Liszt - At the Grave of Richard Wagner, S.135
Kronos Quartet, Aki Takahashi (piano), Marcella DeCray (harp)

So short, so sweet.

[Ian]

Some Joseph Jongen to accompany the first log fire of the season.
Orchestre National de Belgique conducted by Roman Kofman.

[NumberSix]

Joshua Bell was one of those wunderkind stars, wasn't he?

Nice to see he's still going.

Steven has great hair.

[SonicMan46]

Weber, Carl Maria von (1786-1826) - Piano Works - solo KB with Ohlsson on a modern piano and Vermuelen on fortepiano; and KB concertos w/ Brautigam on a Paul McNulty fortepiano (2007) after Conrad Graf, c. 1819 + Michael Willens and the Kölner Akademie.  Dave

P.S. for those curious about the 'von' in Weber's name - quote from Wiki "The "von" was an affectation of his father's, who was not an aristocrat and who claimed descent from a south German noble family which was already extinct at the time.

   

[Kalevala]

I agree, this is my first choice by the way.



There are so many recordings that I have not heard, this one however is so good to my taste that I do not look any further.
The recording with Viola de Hoog is by the way the last recording that I bought of the cello suites.

The second image is the first recording I think.  There's aso a third unpublished cycle, from concerts in Leiden in 1998, which I can let you have.

I have the second(?) one [am thinking that he recorded it four times, but I could be wrong].  In any event, I really enjoy it!

K

[Kalevala]

Liszt - At the Grave of Richard Wagner, S.135
Kronos Quartet, Aki Takahashi (piano), Marcella DeCray (harp)

So short, so sweet.

I've really enjoyed what I've heard from the Kronos Quartet.  Always fascinating and helping me to listen to either new artists or works that I have not heard before.

K

[Lisztianwagner]

Granville Bantock
Celtic Symphony

Vernon Handley & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

[Kalevala]

Granville Bantock
Celtic Symphony

Vernon Handley & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

I've struggled with Bantock--and also with Bax--I should revisit.

Speaking of which, what did you think of that CD?  Favorites?  Would pass on again (if any)?

K

[Kalevala]

I like the Rautavaara. I don't recognise it from the Qobuz review...

I'm envious of your listening capabilities!   

K

[Lisztianwagner]

I've struggled with Bantock--and also with Bax--I should revisit.

Speaking of which, what did you think of that CD?  Favorites?  Would pass on again (if any)?

K

That's excellent, it contains the most beautiful, compelling recording of the Celtic Symphony I've ever listened; the other performances are ravishing too, very evocatively played, but I've got only Handley/RPO to compare.

[Kalevala]

That's excellent, it contains the most beautiful, compelling recording of the Celtic Symphony I've ever listened; the other performances are ravishing too, very evocatively played, but I've got only Handley/RPO to compare.

I'll have to double-check which recording I have of Bantock...though I'm pretty sure that they are with Handley.

K

[DavidW]

I like the Rautavaara. I don't recognise it from the Qobuz review...

That critic then turned his attention to Pettersson and was never heard from again...

[Karl Henning]

I've struggled with Bantock--and also with Bax--I should revisit.

For me, the entrée to Bax was the Elegiac Trio:

[Karl Henning]

TD:

[Symphonic Addict]

Schnittke: Symphony No. 2 'St. Florian'

A mixture between symphony and mass, with soloists and chorus. There must be other examples of works like that, but I think Schnittke nails it in a completely unique way. In traditional masses, the Gloria and Sanctus, mostly, convey a sense of exultation, grandeur, warmth, but Schnittke doesn't do that in his symphony. Overall, what we obtain is poignancy, harrowing feelings, coldness, resignation, etc., running from the beginning to its closing pages. I was very impressed (once again) by his first symphony, but this one made a more profound impact on me on this occasion. I don't doubt to call this amazing work a masterpiece.




Taneyev: String Quartets 7 (1) and 8 (2)

These quartets correspond to his two actual first ones. The music on them is suffused by classical gestures a la Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. Two fine early works with enormous merit. There's an important difference in both recordings, being the 7th quartet played less well and with a so-so acoustics.

[Ian]

Not bad but it's not my favourite version of the Symphonie Fantastique.

[JBS]

Finally started my Leif Segerstam in memoriam listening, with one of his most celebrated albums.

Up next:



EDIT: Wow, the review on Qobuz is so harsh on Rautavaara! Check this out:
"Einojuhani Rautavaara is arguably Finland's most popular modern composer because of his approachable, neo-Romantic orchestral music; yet his works' consistently somber tone, gray orchestration, and fairly static pacing make them predictable and tedious. ...Rautavaara is most recognizable for his slow harmonic rhythms and overcast colors, and his monochromatic music is barely disturbed by exciting ideas or startling innovations.... Cantus Arcticus (1972) is a tedious slog through Rautavaara's austere Scandinavian scenes. Even the Clarinet Concerto (2001), which should be a dynamic showpiece, is dominated by too many stretches of brooding melancholy."

Rautavaara's symphonies didn't appeal to me, but I wouldn't call them monochromatic or tedious.

TD

Bruckner
Symphony no 5 in B Flat major
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
 Ilan Volkov conductor

Aka BBC Music Magazine Vol 32 No 13 October 2024 edition

[Harry]

I like the Rautavaara. I don't recognise it from the Qobuz review...

The Qobuz reviews are often written by idiots, Just my two cents anyways.