What are you listening 2 now?

[AnotherSpin]

I actually didn't know that recording, so following your example this morning! 

If you want, write what you think. I am interested in the opinions of more experienced early music listeners.

[Florestan]

Two reminders:
1. Moving a flame war from one thread to another does not trick anybody.
2. Insults are against the rules. This is the case whether the insults are false or true.

That's all, carry on.

My bad, I apologise.

[vandermolen]

Holst: Choral Symphony
LPO Boult

[Mandryka]

Really good! One of the performers on the disc got in touch with me over the weekend saying that she'd like a rip of it, she couldn't find her copy and it is not easy to buy. That prompted me to get it out, and I'm very glad I did.

[Que]

Quite happy with the music (some delectable stuff) and, although there is little to compare with, the performances.

[Iota]

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
Sviatoslav Richter (piano)

I'm not often able to connect positively with Richter's playing, but I find this Beethoven wonderfully expressive playing. All the sonata's subtleties being revealed on an open savannah, rather than obscured by roiling, thunderous clouds of Richter-ness that for me often seem to intervene sadly.

[AnotherSpin]

[AnotherSpin]

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
Sviatoslav Richter (piano)

I'm not often able to connect positively with Richter's playing, but I find this Beethoven wonderfully expressive playing. All the sonata's subtleties being revealed on an open savannah, rather than obscured by roiling, thunderous clouds of Richter-ness that for me often seem to intervene sadly.

The first few words I could have said myself, but from then on our impressions part ways. I tried to find something good in this recording, yet I simply couldn't bring myself to listen to it.

[Mookalafalas]

First listen. Strangely powerful. String arrangements. Slow, intense, mult-voice compositions. Well played, of course (Gunar Letzbor), but not "pretty." LOTS of timbre in the strings. I like it a lot.

[AnotherSpin]

CD2

Am I in music, or is music in me?

[AnotherSpin]

Éliane Radigue

Trilogie De La Mort
Part 1, Kyema (Intermediate States)

This is a recording quite unlistenable on rudimentary audio equipment. I speak from experience, having tried many years ago. Yet when played through a worthy chain of reproduction, it blossoms like a flower, suffusing the space with a magical fragrance.

[Harry]

Symphony of Burn-In
in Five Acts for Ghetto Blaster & Philharmonic

Composer: The Gods of Capacitance & Wire Insulation
Conductor: Me (with occasional Bugs Bunny exits)
Orchestra: The Avalons, forced into obedience

Act I – The Hillbilly Parade
A festive opening, though entirely unmusical. Featuring grainy fiddles, muffled trumpets, and a drummer with a saucepan. Volume wanders off like a drunk relative. Duration: far too long.

Act II – The Phantom Orchestra
A scherzo full of illusions. Soundstage blossoms gloriously... then collapses like a soufflé in a draft. Listeners cheer briefly, then curse.

Act III – The Grumpy Cellist
Adagio of irritation. Warm, sticky mids, bass like porridge, treble with a head cold. The orchestra sulks. The conductor (me) considers whisky.

Act IV – The First Dance
Allegretto of hope. Finally, some air! Strings shimmer, bass remembers its manners, imaging nearly makes sense. Applause is cautiously attempted but cut short when Act I barges back in for a rude encore.

Act V – The Lock-In
Finale of triumph. Everything snaps into place: wide stage, sweet treble, deep bass, coherent voices. The Avalons bow gracefully. The audience (my ears) forgets the suffering and demands an encore of Mahler.

⚠️ Epilogue:
This symphony cannot be shortened, skipped, or bribed. It ends only when the orchestra decides it is good and ready.

[Madiel]

Haydn: Keyboard sonata no.28 in D [reconstruction]



Sonatas 20-27 are all lost, and parts of the 1st movement of no.28 are as well. But there's enough recapitulation left to make a decent exposition, so people did.

It's very nice but seems quite well-behaved - maybe they were being cautious - and so does the 2nd movement menuet until you get to the trio, which is just radically different from the rest. And that's the authentic Haydn. In a lot of these keyboard works especially, you just don't know what he'll come up with.

[Que]

If you want, write what you think. I am interested in the opinions of more experienced early music listeners.

As soon as I put it on, I remembered that I did hear it before... And although the one voice per part approach is attractive, Amazon's Gio rightly points out in his review that the way it is recorded spoils this. Apart from that the performances are technically quite messy...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Missa-Beata-Virgine-Speculum-Ensemble/dp/B000ZJVI70


I switched my listening to the well recorded and impeccably executed performance by the Brabant Ensemble. Though that presents - for me - other challenges, like bigger forces (3VPP) and upward transposition of the score. But this kind of English style angle pleases many others.

[Traverso]

Khachaturian

Piano Concerto

 

[Madiel]

Mozart: Piano Sonata no.15 in F, K.533/494



I slightly resent this set for placing this sonata last, rather than in chronological order. It used to mean I didn't pay it enough attention (and know it less well than most of the other sonatas). That and the dual catalogue number gave the impression it was something cobbled together, which is not remotely true.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Khachaturian

Piano Concerto

 

I listened to the Khachaturian yesterday! Nice album.

[AnotherSpin]

As soon as I put it on, I remembered that I did hear it before... And although the one voice per part approach is attractive, Amazon's Gio rightly points out in his review that the way it is recorded spoils this. Apart from that the performances are technically quite messy...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Missa-Beata-Virgine-Speculum-Ensemble/dp/B000ZJVI70


I switched my listening to the well recorded and impeccably executed performance by the Brabant Ensemble. Though that presents - for me - other challenges, like bigger forces (3VPP) and upward transposition of the score. But this kind of English style angle pleases many others.

I read the review on Amazon that you mentioned. To be honest, I'm puzzled... I had no issues with the recording quality. Maybe we hear things very differently .

The Brabant Ensemble is in my listening queue.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Granados: Goyescas, Op. 11.
Viviana Lasaracina.

[71 dB]

Johann Baptist Vaňhal - Missa Pastoralis in G major, XIX:G4
Aradia Ensemble
Uwe Grodd
Naxos 8.555080