What are you listening 2 now?

[Harry]

So what are you planning to do? Shielding, grounding, power filtering, or something else?

Not much really, power filtering is already in place, done by the excellent Nordost Thor, grounding is also done. I have two separate power cables for the amplifier and the rest of the equipment, (the amplifier does not go through the Nordost, it draws too much power) so I additionally install two audio groups for these cables to get the signal as clean as possible. The Eidolons are already so silent, that when an instrument drops in PPPP you hear it perfectly. I want to get that effect even better. I am going to test several audio groups and compare which suits best.

[Harry]

JACOB PRAETORIUS.
VON ALLEN MENSCHEN ABGEWANDT.
Britta Schwarz – mezzo-soprano.
Léon Berben plays on the Scherer organ in Tangermünde.
Pitch: a' = 486 Hz
Temperament: mean-tone after Michael Praetorius (1619).
Compass: Manual: C D E F G A B H - c''' (short octave)
Pedal: C D E F G A B H - d' (short octave)
Recorded in August 2003 at the St. Stephanskirche, Tangermünde, Germany.

In Praetorius' organ works, contrapuntal rigor is paired with virtuosic joy in playing, and that's what I experience, great joy in the playing, the fantastic organ, and the compositions. I am non to pleased about the contribution of the Mezzo, but at least her voice is acceptable, and all is well recorded.

[Florestan]

[Harry]

Béla Bartók (1881 – 1945).
Violin Concerto No.1, BB 48a 20:45 Dedicated to Steffi Geyer.
Violin Concerto No.2, BB 117 36:01 To my dear friend Zoltán Szekèly.
Viola Concerto, Sz 120, BB 128.
James Ehnes violin and viola.
BBC Philharmonic, Gianandrea Noseda.
Recording venue: Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester on 8 November 2009 (Violin Concerto
No. 2), 1 November 2010 (Violin Concerto No. 1) and 27 February 2011 (Viola Concerto).

A truly magnificent recording and performance. Ehnes proves his worth again, as in most of his recordings. I like all three concertos on this disc, and compare the interpretation as belonging to the best there is. Well, at least for me. It's also a sonic lustre!

[Que]

Rerun:



Not just songs (chansons): This recording by the Ferrara Ensemble features nine of Agricola's extraordinary instrumental fantasies, played chiefly on lutes, harp, cittern, and violas da gamba, plus eight vocal chansons, some of them also involving instruments.

Review by Amazon's Gio


Quirky, but that makes it interesting.

[Florestan]

Here's an oddity (how many recordings of Tamas Vasary as a conductor have you heard?) but a very good one.

[Harry]

Igor Stravinsky.(1882–1971)
Orchestral works.
L'Oiseau de feu (The Firebird)1910 Ballet Score ('Fairy-tale ballet in two tableaux for orchestra.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–93), arr. Igor Stravinsky Pas-De-Deux (L'Oiseau bleu – Bluebird) (Schott)  from the ballet 'The Sleeping Beauty'.

Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), arr. Igor Stravinsky Canzonetta, Op. 62a (Breitkopf & Härtel) for two clarinets, four horns, harp, and double bass.

Fryderyk Chopin (1810–49), orch. Igor Stravinsky. Nocturne in A flat major, Op.32 No.1. Grande Valse Brillante, opus 18.

Igor Stravinsky
Greeting Prelude,  For the 80th birthday of Pierre Monteux.

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Litton.
Recorded: 2009 (Tchaikovsky; Chopin Valse) and 2010 (all other works) at Grieghallen, Bergen, Norway

Still a very impressive recording and ditto performance. My speakers certainly get a good workout, so much is sure.

[Traverso]

Froberger

[Florestan]

Bassoon, Oboe, Clarinet

[Lisztianwagner]

Igor Stravinsky
Agon

Alban Berg
Chamber Concerto

David Atherton & London Sinfonietta

[Traverso]

Propaganda lures people to a new "Promised Land" that does not exist.



Awakening the Mind
Many perceive music as mere melody and rhythm, offering a comforting backdrop to daily life. However, Xenakis challenged this notion, integrating complex mathematical concepts into his compositions. His immersive soundscapes evoke not only emotion but also intellectual curiosity. Imagine standing before a captivating canvas of sound intricately painted with formulas and designs, guiding listeners on an unprecedented auditory journey. For example, his iconic works, 'Metastasis', with its transformative glissandi, and 'Pithoprakta', which juxtaposes noise and silence, compel listeners to explore surreal sonic landscapes.


Xenakis

CD 1

[Harry]

Franz von Suppé (1819–1895)
Overtures and Marches.
See back cover for details.
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Järvi.
Recording venue: Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 2012.
Front cover 'Imperial Guard, Vienna, Austria', nineteenth-century watercolour.

A bag full of Goodies. A cheer me up as no other. Järvi turns this music in the extravaganza it is. But showpieces that bear the seal of quality. I always liked his music excessively, probably because I like the music of the Strauss family too. Suppe fits perfectly in that entourage. Sota recording and performance.

[Christo]

I always liked his music excessively, probably because I like the music of the Strauss family too. Suppe fits perfectly in that entourage. Sota recording and performance.

Both families were also typical of the "multi-ethnic" background of the Habsburg empire: the Strauss family's Jewish background had to be hidden in 1938, because they were too popular to be declared "entartet", and "Franz von Suppé", born Francesco Ezechiele Ermenegildo Suppé-Demelli in Split (then Spalato), nowadays Croatia, and with multi-ethnic roots (his mother's name was Jandowsky, his father's background is disputed).

[Harry]

Both families were also typical of the "multi-ethnic" background of the Habsburg empire: the Strauss family's Jewish background had to be hidden in 1938, because they were to popular to be declared "entartet", and "Franz von Suppé", born Francesco Ezechiele Ermenegildo Suppé-Demelli in Split (then Spalato), nowadays Croatia, and with multi-ethnic roots (his mother's name was Jandowsky, his father's background is disputed).

Thank you Christo for this info, love reading this.

[Madiel]

Ravel: Introduction and Allegro



One of the more significant Ravel works that still isn't in my collection. This happened to be the most popular version on Idagio.

EDIT: Also the orchestral version of Une Barque sur l'océan, which Ravel himself was not satisfied with.

[Mookalafalas]

just played both disks of this inexpensive set. If there had been a third, I happily would have played that as well.

[AnotherSpin]

Propaganda lures people to a new "Promised Land" that does not exist.



Awakening the Mind
Many perceive music as mere melody and rhythm, offering a comforting backdrop to daily life. However, Xenakis challenged this notion, integrating complex mathematical concepts into his compositions. His immersive soundscapes evoke not only emotion but also intellectual curiosity. Imagine standing before a captivating canvas of sound intricately painted with formulas and designs, guiding listeners on an unprecedented auditory journey. For example, his iconic works, 'Metastasis', with its transformative glissandi, and 'Pithoprakta', which juxtaposes noise and silence, compel listeners to explore surreal sonic landscapes.

[..]

So, if I understood correctly — Xenakis wanted to use his music to awaken the mind? That's an interesting take.

For me, one of the most powerful things about music is how it can calm a restless mind. It can give you a real break from thinking and just let you be.

[Madiel]

Nielsen: An Imaginary Journey to the Faroe Islands

[AnotherSpin]

If there are any albums that really show off the true beauty of opera, there can't be many — and this is one of them. It's got everything: the power, the emotion, the sheer brilliance of it all. You can't help but be swept away by it.

[Harry]

If there are any albums that really show off the true beauty of opera, there can't be many — and this is one of them. It's got everything: the power, the emotion, the sheer brilliance of it all. You can't help but be swept away by it.

I can help it, be sure of that. If something is not getting in my player or streamer it's her voice.