What are you listening 2 now?

[nico1616]

Pigmalion is one-act acte de ballet, of which Rameau composed several. This recording in the Versailles series is perfect in every way and gives us another great role for tenor Mathias Vidal. Although smaller in scale, this one joins Platée, Dardanus, Castor et Pollux, ... among my favorite Rameau operas.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

According to the backcover is a painting by Johann Christian Clausen Dahl. It doesn't mention the name of the painting, but it is a view of historical Dresden by the looks of it. (Before it was bombed flat for no military objective whatsoever).

Thanks a lot! I found it.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Concierto de Lieja · Leo Brouwer.

[Spotted Horses]

After listening to Beethoven's Piano Sonata No 9 (Op 14, No 1) in the Annie Fischer recording I listened to some alternates (over two days). Badura-Skoda, Pollini, Arrau (analog Philips).





The Badura-Skoda was interesting mainly due to the unique sound of the fortepiano, but I am becoming less enthusiastic with his Beethoven (compared with the Schubert on fortepiano). There the momentum of the music seems to eb at points, perhaps due to a less secure technique on the instrument.

Pollini was not what I was expecting. I expect DG piano sound to be dry, but this was very reverberant and unfocused. Pollini's style more impressionistic, less mercurial than I would expect, except for the middle allegretto, which was very quick. Interesting.

Arrau was aristocratic, as expected.

Fischer, in retrospect, was "just right."

I think I have to cut down on the comparisons, it leads to fatigue with the music.

[Spotted Horses]

There is a certain surplus that makes you more involved and that is more than just executing everything with flying colors.

Agreed. Having the entire thing in a compact CD set is great, but I remember fondly when I had a few volumes of the Das Alte Werk cantata series on LP, which included (if I remember right) the full score of the works.

[T. D.]

And dipping into

[Traverso]

Bach

[Traverso]

Agreed. Having the entire thing in a compact CD set is great, but I remember fondly when I had a few volumes of the Das Alte Werk cantata series on LP, which included (if I remember right) the full score of the works.

That's right...

[SonicMan46]

Bach, JS - Flute Sonatas - own 3 versions but different instruments - Wentz on a Baroque flute, Pahud on a modern instrument, and Petri on recorder - Dave

   

[Symphonic Addict]

Messiaen: Éclairs sur l'Au-Delà

Composers with a strong distinctive voice don't always warrant you enjoyment or awe. I've tried to like Messiaen by listening several of his works, among them this orchestral piece, but the result is almost the same: complete indifference. This music lacks motion, flow, it feels rigid and too solemn to my taste. All in all, it left me cold.

[VonStupp]

Benjamin Britten
Curlew River

Philip Langridge as The Madwoman
Thomas Allen as The Ferryman
Simon Keenlyside as The Traveler

London Voices
ASMitF - Neville Marriner

My Holy Week listening has been dedicated to Britten's Curlew River. The tragic church parable in Noh style is certainly apt.

I hadn't heard Marriner's recording before, but I enjoy Philip Langridge's tenor in general, so I had to give it a run. It is Keenlyside, though, who made the biggest impression on me amongst the soloists.
VS

[71 dB]

Herbert Howells - Hymnus Paradisi

Heather Harper, soprano
Robert Tear, tenor
Bach Choir - Choir of King's College, Cambridge
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Sir David Willcocks

[Traverso]

Messiaen

Poèmes pour Mi

Françoise Pollet Soprano

The Cleveland Orchestra Boulez

[Linz]

Johann Sebastian Bach Easter Oratorio Sampson, Davies, Gilchrist, Harvey
Retrospect Ensemble, Matthew Halls

[Lisztianwagner]

Johann Sebastian Bach
Ascension Oratorio

Ralf Popken, David Wilson-Johnson, Monika Frimmer, Christoph Prégardien
Gustav Leonhardt & Orchestra And Choir Of The Age Of Enlightenment



Charles Ives
String Quartets No. 1 & 2

Leipziger Streichquartett

[Symphonic Addict]

Wagner: Overture and Venusberg from Tannhäuser

This terrific music encourages me to listen to some Wagner opera in the near future.

[Lisztianwagner]

Wagner: Overture and Venusberg from Tannhäuser

This terrific music encourages me to listen to some Wagner opera in the near future.

Wonderful, Cesar! Great choice for the recording too.

[Symphonic Addict]

Wonderful, Cesar! Great choice for the recording too.

Thanks, Ilaria. Karajan was in his element on Wagner. I really like his recordings.

[foxandpeng]

Philip Glass
Koyaanisqatsi
Michael Riesman
Philip Glass Ensemble
Orange Mountain Music

Feeling the Glass vibe at the moment. Almost a hypnotic minimalism.

[Symphonic Addict]

Ruders: Handel Variations

Ninety (!) variations on the first eight bars of the Bourrée from Handel's Water Music Suite No. 1. Really complex to determine each variation as the theme gets wildly transformed and distorted almost as soon as it begins. This is music that requires many listens to grasp it better.