What are you listening 2 now?

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Bruckner Symphony No. 7 in E major

[Karl Henning]

Now playing Vaughan Williams Five Tudor Portraits



This is another work from RVW that I haven't listened to in quite some time. I own two performances of it: this one with David Willcocks and the other with Hickox. Both are excellent, but I might give Willcocks the slight edge since I seemed to have imprinted on this performance first. You really can't go wrong with either performance, though.

It's a while since I've listened, but I feel the it's included in the Previn/LSO set.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

It's a while since I've listened, but I feel the it's included in the Previn/LSO set.

Ah, you must be thinking of Three Portraits From "The England Of Elizabeth". As far as I know, Previn has never recorded Five Tudor Portraits. It would've been great if he had!

[Karl Henning]

Ah, you must be thinking of Three Portraits From "The England Of Elizabeth". As far as I know, Previn has never recorded Five Tudor Portraits. It would've been great if he had!

You must be right.

[Symphonic Addict]

I eagerly was expecting this brand new release from CPO and I couldn't resist anymore. The four works sound very typical from the 20th-century, neither too modern, nor too facile. Given that the first impressions are not totally reliable, the overall idiom is something like a more foggy Dutilleux (?).

Very well performed and recorded, but I don't know. The music sounds with purpose, although one is left with a feeling that something was missing to truly grasp. Mind you, the four works can grow on the listener I reckon.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Last work for the night --- Bridge There Is a Willow Grows aslant a Brook

[vandermolen]

Last work for the night --- Bridge There Is a Willow Grows aslant a Brook

Great work!

[vandermolen]

My brother had the Ormandy Shostakovich Symphony No.10 LP - it's how I got to first hear the work. It is indeed a fine/intense performance.

[Roasted Swan]

Now playing Vaughan Williams Five Tudor Portraits



This is another work from RVW that I haven't listened to in quite some time. I own two performances of it: this one with David Willcocks and the other with Hickox. Both are excellent, but I might give Willcocks the slight edge since I seemed to have imprinted on this performance first. You really can't go wrong with either performance, though.

One of the few major RVW works (particularly of the choral ones) that I just do not enjoy (can't really put my finger on why either)

[Harry]

A Consort's Monument.
Fantaisies, Ayres & Dances.
See back cover for details.
L'Acheron.
Recording: église Notre-Dame de Centeilles, October 2019.
Cover illustration: Anthonis van Dyck (1599–1641), Family portrait of Frans Snyders or Jan Wildens,
ca 1618/19.

As a start in the morning this recording works wonderfully well. It makes a soothing noise like a bubbling brook somewhere in the middle of a wood dense with trees, protected and intimate. That's what this music is about. The music is varied, and covers a wide range of tastes. Superb recording and performance which is to be expected from the likes of L'Acheron.

[Harry]

New Release

Elsa Barraine.
Orchestral works.
See back cover for details.
Alberto Carnevale Ricci (Piano).
WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Elena Schwarz.
Recorded 2024. Since there is no PDF file I do not know where.

Elsa Barraine was certainly a important composer, no doubt about it. Unknown and neglected too, which of course is undeserving in my view. These works are milestones in the discography of modern symphonic music, period! There is nothing to complain about, one can only acknowledge her talent. Her music can be defined, but not only, in abstract, and atonal language, full of contrasts and dissonances but that is actually the fun and genius in it. The melody flows, the harmony is clear, and one can comprehend. It is certainly interesting music  and a important addition to the repertoire. As a bonus you get crystal clear sound and a well measured performance.

[AnotherSpin]

[Que]

A return to this:

Let me put it like this, the countertenor is making listening to it difficult, because he tops over all the other voices almost constantly. Furthermore the tempi are fast, too fast for me. I miss the spiritual element, the balance in the choir that is wholly absent, there is no moment of rest or contemplation. I saw that @Que had a go at it too, I don't know what he is making of it, but my take in it is, no, thank you. With a side remark, that some of the volumes meet my wishes, but this one definitely not. This constant modus of attack and loud singing is unnerving me.

I do enjoy this new volume in the Willaert series, I have less issue with the countertenor (though I do get Harry's point about his overall prominence) and no issue with the tempi. But the choir does sound less consistent en integrated in comparison to what we have been used to. A bit messy even at times... The overall result is not as striking in consistency and clarity, and not as engaging, as I'm used to.

The personnel of the ensemble is according to their site flexible and they do have "guest" singers. My assumption is that the singers here were less in tune with each other than usual. But still enjoy it.

[Harry]

Mephisto & Co.
See for details back cover.
Minnesota Orchestra, Eiji Oue.
Recorded in 1997, at the Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis.

An explosive orchestral tour de force!

This is by all means a reference recording, and a fantastic workout for your HIFI, if it can cope with it. By all means I think this must one of the best SOTA sounds I ever heard. Listen and be convinced. It blew me literally out of my socks. Just try track 5, "Baba Yaga" by Lyadov, that will make you a convert. Truly amazing.

[Iota]

Stravinsky: Ode
LPO, Jurowski

Never heard this before, clearly my loss as it's delightful and shot through with Stravinsky's impeccable sensibilities. A commission from Koussevitzky for an orchestral work in memory of his wife, Natalia, it's also very touching.

[Traverso]

Bach

Vol.2 CD 2

[Harry]

Fourth rerun.

Still marvelous!

[Madiel]

Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.

Watching on OperaVision. One Act so far, and that's all I can handle for this evening at least.

Honestly, what a miserable bunch of characters. Possibly not helped by the staging. Occasionally there's a slight issue in the subtitles, too, but I really don't think that's a large factor in me wondering why I should want to spend time with these people.

The music itself is generally fine, except... look, I'm not sure exactly how you're supposed to score this sort of sex scene because you don't get them in many works, but it was rather literal and crass.

[AnotherSpin]

It's rare for a set of recorded music to evoke anything approaching outright revulsion in me. Years spent delving into the far reaches of avant-garde, experimental, and various musical traditions across virtually every genre imaginable, alongside a long-standing tolerance for the abysmal quality of Melodiya's releases during my youth, all this have imbued me with a rather robust sense of forbearance.

And yet, Jean-Christophe Renault's today release seems to have pierced even that well-seasoned armour. Schubert's themes are rendered in a sort of cheap clatter on a piano, seemingly tuned to evoke the spirit of a sleazy salon; a cover adorned with artwork by the ever-provocative Willehad Eilers, also known as Wayne Horse — what could possibly complement Schubert more charmingly?

I confess, I'm quite at a loss. I wouldn't dream of recommending it, but neither could I quite bring myself to walk past without remarking on it.

[Traverso]

John Adams

Violin Concerto
Leila Josefowicz