What are you listening 2 now?

[Tsaraslondon]

That's quite a challenge for any performer - is it clear whether both playing and singing were done at the same time or did she record the accompaniment first...?

As far as I'm aware, they were done at the same time. She is performing self-accompanied concerts at the moment.

https://www.rachelfenlon.com/about

[Mandryka]

A terrific recording debut from soprano and pianist Rachel Fenlon.

My review on Musicweb International and on my blog

I know this is a pretty unsophisticated thing to say, but I just didn't like her voice.

[AnotherSpin]

I hear you 

I didn't say anything out loud; I wrote silently.

[Mandryka]

That's quite a challenge for any performer - is it clear whether both playing and singing were done at the same time or did she record the accompaniment first...?

This is how Schubert played it for his friends I think. The Cambridge Companion to Schubert's 'Winterreise" has a paper about the performance history where I vaguely remember it goes in to this -- I don't have the book any more unfortunately.

[Tsaraslondon]

This is how Schubert played it for his friends I think. The Cambridge Companion to Schubert's 'Winterreise" has a paper about the performance history where I vaguely remember it goes in to this -- I don't have the book any more unfortunately.

Indeed he did, as he did most of his songs. It's unlikely, though, that anyone else followed suit- until now that is - and certainly not for public performance.

[Tsaraslondon]

I know this is a pretty unsophisticated thing to say, but I just didn't like her voice.

That's ok. I didn't either to begin with, and I'm not sure I'd say I liked it even now, but the performance drew me in and I forgot about my reactions to her voice and just listened to what she was doing with the songs.

[Madiel]

Sarah Kirkland Snider: Penelope



Amazon helpfully tells me it's coming up to the 10th anniversary of buying this work from them. Zero regrets. Ever.

[Harry]

STEVE ELCOCK.
Orchestral Music.
Volume Two,
See back cover for details.
Siberian Symphony Orchestra, Dmitry Vasiliev.
Recorded on 8–12 July 2019 in the Philharmonic Hall, Omsk, Siberia.

On the back cover you can read a pretty complete assessment of what this music is about. For me he is one of the composers that I discovered and immediately liked. This music opens a whole new fiesta, of creative composing, and reinvents the familiar in a new and exciting perspective. Better as this I cannot express his worth to me. A direct and loud SOTA recording, so be careful with the volume. Let your ears be captured by new sounds.

[ChamberNut]

The works for Lute by Johann Sebastian Bach. (Complete)
Evangelina Mascardi, Luths.
13-course baroque lutes built by Cezar Mateus (New Jersey, 1999 and 2010).
14-course baroque lute built by Cezar Mateus (New Jersey, 2020).

Recording dates: 29 February 2020 (BWV 998), 08 June 2020 (BWV 999, 1000), 30-31
January 2021 (BWV 995, 997), 29 May 2021 (BWV 996), 15 September 2021 (BWV 1006a)
Recording venue: Montis Regalis Academy, Mondovì (Cuneo), Italy – except for BWV
1006a, recorded in the Bishop's Palace of Orte (Viterbo), Italy.

Impressive, and revealing, Evangelina Mascardi gives a whole new dimension to these works. A concentrated effort to catch the time and the circumstances of composition. There is a magical element in what she does, as if she is caressing the snares of the Luth and incites them to put a additional spiritual impression to the music. She is not missing a single detail, and so with creates authenticity.
A beautiful recording, near and warm, as if she were playing close by. Marvelous creativity.

Thank you, I'll add it to my growing queue. 

[Traverso]

Bach

Due to the fact that this recording was not included in the last published complete vocal works I ordered it and it arrived yesterday and now I want to listen to this impressive work.
In the last decades I mainly listened to the beautiful recording that Leonhardt made of it, it is a sober, mindful performance of the theme of suffering.
I am curious about this recording. The last recording that I purchased under the direction of Pichon did not appeal to me.
Fortunately, this performance is not cast with an anorexic choir (opp), but with a balanced choir that can do justice to the necessary impact that is required.

[Cato]

I mentioned this yesterday under the Organ topic and re-listened today: the Kyrie is just fantastic!

[foxandpeng]

I didn't say anything out loud; I wrote silently.

I have good ears.

[Harry]

Robert Simpson.
Orchestral works.
Symphony No 1 1951, & Symphony No 8 1981.
RPO, Vernon Handley.
Recorded on 16, 17 April, 9 July 1996.

It seems to me that enough is written about Simpsons music. I return to them after a long time of neglect. Magnificent comes to mind, vivid symphonic imagination, huge climaxes, cast in molten intensity. SOTA sound, and as beautiful as ever.

[Roasted Swan]

As far as I'm aware, they were done at the same time. She is performing self-accompanied concerts at the moment.

https://www.rachelfenlon.com/about

Good for her - I wonder how she apporaches the eternal "words or music" debate.....

[AnotherSpin]

I have good ears.

I'm not sure ears can hear the soundless. Perhaps the heart can?...

[foxandpeng]

I'm not sure ears can hear the soundless. Perhaps the heart can?...

Sounds like a better explanation than mine 

[Harry]

Giovanni Zamboni (fl. early 18th century)
L'ultimo Romano.
Sonate d'intavolatura di Leuto Opera Prima (Lucca 1718).

Simone Vallerotonda, Archlute,  Andreas Von Holst, Monaco 2013 (da Matteo Sellas, Venezia 1638).
Recorded at Palazzo dei Papi, Viterbo (Italy), 19-22 January 2016.

I am going through recordings by this Lutenist and so far he did not disappoint me at all. Zamboni, not a composer often recorded, gets a sublime performance here. I must admit that I hardly knew anything of this composer but with this recording he piqued my interest to a considerable level. I found 15 recordings of Zamboni's music, which is not bad at all, so I will dive in what is available. SOTA recording and interpretation.

[Spotted Horses]

I recalled that I had been derailed from my plan of listening through Annie Fischer's Beethoven Sonata cycle. I am up to No 6, Op 10, No 2.



Having been listening to Haydn, I feel I have more insight as to why these works are a big break from what came before. The first movement is aggressive but jaunty, the second movement, Allegretto, is a miracle of elegance and expressiveness. The finale, Presto, has a fugal texture. A wonderful work, and Annie Fischer makes everything seem just right. I'm wondering what Pollini, Arrau, Kempff, would do with the Allegretto movement.

[Harry]

William Lawes
The Passion of Musicke.
Consorts for the harp, bass viol, violin and theorbo.
Lessons for the Lyra Viol.
Sophie Gent, Giovanna Pessi, Eduardo Egüez, Philippe Pierlot.
Recorded: 2006, Bra sur Lienne, France.



Lawes' 30 compositions for the Harp, Bass Viol, Violin and Theorbo contain some of his finest instrumental writing, that's a fact. These pieces are satisfying and interesting, and it is hard to imagine them better served than by the glowingly transparent and thoughtful performances they receive here. Early music fans on GMG can rest assured, that this is playing of the highest order, and a amazingly detailed and captivating sound. It is uniformly brilliant and well worth the investment.

[pianococo90]

Roberto Gerhard
Leo