What are you listening 2 now?

[Madiel]

William Walton - Cello Concerto (played by a viola).

Violas being unknown in Walton's own time. 

[Daverz]

Last night's bedtime listening:

Brahms: Symphony No. 4 - Czech Philharmonic, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

A fantastic recording.  Fi-Di was a fine conductor from the evidence here, but he didn't seem interested in making a second career out it.  The Czech Philharmonic sounds wonderful; their distinctive instrumental choirs pay real dividends in Brahms.  I was never able to find a copy of this in the wild, but now can stream it (from Qobuz at least).

[Symphonic Addict]

Kuhlau: Flute sonatas opp. 83-2, 83-3 and 85

[JBS]

Last night's bedtime listening:

Brahms: Symphony No. 4 - Czech Philharmonic, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

A fantastic recording.  Fi-Di was a fine conductor from the evidence here, but he didn't seem interested in making a second career out it.  The Czech Philharmonic sounds wonderful; their distinctive instrumental choirs pay real dividends in Brahms.  I was never able to find a copy of this in the wild, but now can stream it (from Qobuz at least).

Look for this one. Approximately 90 minutes in length.

[Daverz]

Look for this one. Approximately 90 minutes in length.

I'll check it out. 
,
In heavy rotation recently: CPE Bach Hamburg Concertos - Bob van Asperen, Melante Amsterdam

These have quickly become among my favorite recordings of CPE Bach keyboard concertos on harpsichord.  The sound of the harpsichord and the balance with the orchestra seems ideal. The orchestra sound is more warm and ingratiating than more recent "extra chunky" HIP recordings.

[Karl Henning]

[Karl Henning]

[brewski]

Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, death scene (Boris Christoff, bass). After I watched the entire opera a few weeks ago, a friend sent me this clip from 1956, which is quite touching.

[Symphonic Addict]

Gubaidulina: Alleluia

The music doesn't live up to its title. This is pretty somber, disturbing in mood. Sounds more like the music from purgatory or something liket that.

[JBS]

Part of the order that landed today.



Ordered on a sort of whim to go with the other two recordings of Ysaye that were in the cart.

The liner notes give no information on Mr. Yim, although he has also recorded the Paganini Caprices for Dux. The only thing I could find on the Web about him dates back 29 years

https://eso.org.uk/events/1996-young-soloist-competition-winner-violinist-jae-hong-yim/

[Karl Henning]

Part of the order that landed today.



Ordered on a sort of whim to go with the other two recordings of Ysaye that were in the cart.

The liner notes give no information on Mr. Yim, although he has also recorded the Paganini Caprices for Dux. The only thing I could find on the Web about him dates back 29 years

https://eso.org.uk/events/1996-young-soloist-competition-winner-violinist-jae-hong-yim/

Although I don't remember the violinist's name, I heard a performance of one of the Ysaÿe solo sonatas at the Library. Indeed, we might call that performance the inspiration for bringing the Henning Ensemble to the Library.

[JBS]

From the same order


The cover photo may or may not have been intended to point to one of the folk tunes included, a song from the Shetlands entitled Da Full Rigged (or New Rigged) Ship.

[hopefullytrusting]

In a little bit, Gottfried August Homilius's Johannes Passion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H09AW9QZe9o

Came across him looking at Empfindsamkeit, which I found by looking at Gallant, and I selected him because he had the most badadd name.

What a wonderful discovery. Harmonically complex with deep bass resonances (I find his passion more compelling than Bach's, and I love Bach's). According to Wikipedia, he was the leading candidate of the anti-baroque movement, empfindsamkeit - a movement I find much to my liking.

On my docket,

Carlos Seixas's Sonates pour Clavein: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kCBy9kOhIQ
Leonardo Leo's Oratorio di Natale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kun_uFY2L1c
Carl Friedrich Abel's Suite in D for Viola da Gamba Solo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCZxSXVeHHg

[Symphonic Addict]

Puts: Symphony No. 2

Awesome. Inspired by the despicable tragedy of 9/11, it oscillates between states of ineffable beauty (e.g. the very opening conveys a sentiment of sheer purity, in the vein of New Age) and shattering brutality. Practically as impressive as his first symphony. Yet another composer who has been a revelatory surprise to me lately.

[Symphonic Addict]

de Frumerie: Cello Concerto and Violin Concerto

If you thought that Atterberg, Rangström, Nystroem, Rosenberg, Berwald & company were the only interesting Swedish composers, you might also include de Frumerie in that group. Remarkable, very Nordic-sounding pieces.

[AnotherSpin]

To continue my home festival of Der Ring, I chose a magnificent live performance of Siegfried from Bayreuth in 1953. The conductor is Clemens Krauss, with a star-studded cast of soloists from the best time and place for Wagner's cycle. On modest playback set the sound may seem not very good, but with a high-quality audio it reveals itself with incomparable naturalness and power.

[Que]

Two live recordings that are only available streaming by ensemble Dionysos Now! of music by early Franco-Flemish composer Maistre Jhan (c.1485 – 1538):



Missa Inviolata (25 mins)

Maistre Jhan, a French composer, worked from 1512 at the court of Ferrara for the Duke Ercole d'Este (and later for Alfonso d'Este). First as a singer, then as Kapellmeister, and remained there until his death in 1538. The title of the mass 'Inviolata' refers to the model on which the mass is built: the well-known motet by his contemporary Josquin Deprez 'Inviolata, integra et casta es Maria'. Several musical themes from the motet are quoted in the mass, as a tribute to his fellow musician.

https://orcd.co/missa_inviolata

Followed this up with the recording of a series of sacred motets and secular madrigals (38 mins):



https://orcd.co/dionysosnow_live2

[Que]

Vivaldi

Longe mala, umbrae, terrores, RV 629
O qui caeli terraeque serenitas, RV 631



Laura Polverelli (mezzosoprano according to the liner notes, doing what are officially "contralto" works) is not the best singer, but to be honest I knew that going in. Anke Herrmann (soprano) is somewhat better though not totally secure.

So thus far decent, but not really great if I'm honest. For 5 out of 6 motets on this album, I already have recordings from the Hyperion series of sacred music which I should compare at some point.

BUT... the cover is lovely and this second-hand copy is in very fine condition. 

If it's any consolation: this has been the only issue I have encountered in the series that I consider to be a dud...

Apart from the fact that I avoided the cello concertos by Christophe Coin. I'm not a big fan and there are other good alternative recordings around.

[Madiel]

Vivaldi: Bassoon concertos in G major (RV 493) and G minor (495)



A fascinating way to start the bassoon series and to give the lie to the idea that Vivaldi kept writing the same concerto over and over. Because the G major concerto is rather calm and peaceful and the fast movements aren't that fast... and then the start of the G minor concerto comes in like an explosion.

I knew I was coming home to some more Vivaldi volumes... what I hadn't expected was that 2 'different' eBay sellers who sent untracked packages would come in the exact same box. With the multi-volume box sets. So there were a total of 30 CDs waiting for me, translating to 21 different volumes of the series.  Just as well no more can get here over the weekend.

EDIT: Adding the C major concerto RV 477, that'll be enough bassoon for now, then I'll move onto opening another one. Very good so far. I can see myself enjoying the bassoon a lot.

[Madiel]

If it's any consolation: this has been the only issue I have encountered in the series that I consider to be a dud...

Maybe that's one reason it was also cheap.