What are you listening 2 now?

[(poco) Sforzando]

As with a meteorologist, there may be the odd instance of his chancing to be right.

Au contraire, mon ami, just as with a meteorologist, Hurwitz's recommendations for recordings at least of standard repertoire are often spot on. My doubts about him stem (in part, but not exclusively) from his recommendations of so-called "neglected" work, where in my experience the neglect has frequently been well-deserved. And while a meteorologist will admit that the occasional forecast has been wrong, I have yet to hear Hurwitz admit that any of his judgments might be wrong. Hence his complete lack of tolerance for dissenting opinions.

[JBS]

Most of Bernstein's music for solo piano, but not all of it. The most important work not included seems to be Bridal Suite, which is actually for two pianists on a single piano.


CD 7 of

[AnotherSpin]

Of course, no force, internal or external, can truly sweep away the debris that accumulates in the mind. And what would be the point anyway? Even if one were to catch a fleeting glimpse of that serene emptiness, that rare and radiant clarity, it would only serve to remind us how swiftly it fills again with the same old clutter. Still, there is music, music that doesn't promise to cleanse but quietly sustains the hope, music that helps us endure, if only for a moment longer.

[Wanderer]

[steve ridgway]

Scelsi - Natura Renovatur

[Irons]

Rubbra: Violin Sonatas No's 1,2 & 3

Listening to three chamber works comprising same instruments back to back I would find a daunting prospect. Not in this case, forty three years separate 1 and 3 and Rubbra has evolved over this passage of time. Evolved rather then progressed, I think, as initially I enjoyed the first sonata  most, a wistful piece. The second is soulful with not for the first time - even more so in String Quartet No1 - an amazing Cossack-like rhythmic dancing finale. The third sonata although not difficult, I found enigmatic and will look forward to spending time with.
Rubbra is not everyone's cup of tea with some critique claiming his music being grey and uneventful. Quite the opposite, as I find all Rubbra to be original and intriguing.

   

[Wanderer]

[Harry]

Rubbra: Violin Sonatas No's 1,2 & 3

Listening to three chamber works comprising same instruments back to back I would find a daunting prospect. Not in this case, forty three years separate 1 and 3 and Rubbra has evolved over this passage of time. Evolved rather then progressed, I think, as initially I enjoyed the first sonata  most, a wistful piece. The second is soulful with not for the first time - even more so in String Quartet No1 - an amazing Cossack-like rhythmic dancing finale. The third sonata although not difficult, I found enigmatic and will look forward to spending time with.
Rubbra is not everyone's cup of tea with some critique claiming his music being grey and uneventful. Quite the opposite, as I find all Rubbra to be original and intriguing.

 

That's also my opinion, if someone dares to sum up the composer Rubbra, "Grey and uneventful", he probably had cauliflowers in his ears. Pooh!

[Que]

Jacob Regnart was a contemporary of Lassus and composer at the Imperial courts in Vienna and Prague. His music is in a bit more conservative style than Lassus, but quite pretty in these beautiful performances by Cinquecento.

[Florestan]

   

Wouldn't it have been easier and more eye pleasant to just write "Complete Violin Sonatas" or even "The Violin Sonatas"? 

[Que]

That is a remarkable recording! 

[vandermolen]

Arthur Bliss: Meditations on a Theme by John Blow
This is the best performance since Hugo Rignold's old recording with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (the dedicatees of the original score) and Andrew Davis's recording is much more recent. I find it to be a moving and uplifting listening experience and so much more than the 'amiable but rambling' score as always described in the Penguin CD guide. Those kind of reviews did Bliss no favours:

[Harry]

I have this set on repeat, and played the set already 6 times in a row, and must say that I am mightily impressed by these performances, and SOTA sound. Malcolm Arnold is one of my favourite composers.

[Traverso]

Mozart

Symhonies 20- 23

 

 

 

What strikes me most in these performances is the undertone of persistent melancholy.

[Christo]

I remain ambivalent re. Respighi, but did find Metamorphoseon really interesting when I first listened to it not too long ago.

Good evening to you, Johan.

Good morning Rafael! Your ambivalence certainly has to do with the many masks Respighi wore; many of his compositions are completely different. I can definitely see a dozen "masterpieces", but his early work in particular usually leaves me cold. However, I am addicted to his typically lyrical work, from the Lauda per la Natività del Signore (1930) to the Concerto gregoriano (1924) and Trittico botticelliano (1928), while you are probably most attracted to neoclassical works such as the Concerto a cinque (1933) and this Metamorphoseon (1930), which, as mentioned, is in reality a concerto for orchestra that depends on a formidable orchestra — not all recordings convince me. So here's a tip: try the Concerto a cinque, his "concerto grosso"  :

[Karl Henning]

Au contraire, mon ami, just as with a meteorologist, Hurwitz's recommendations for recordings at least of standard repertoire are often spot on. My doubts about him stem (in part, but not exclusively) from his recommendations of so-called "neglected" work, where in my experience the neglect has frequently been well-deserved.

Well, but nobody, not even Hurwitz, is wrong all the time. 

[prémont]

Well, but nobody, not even Hurwitz, is wrong all the time.

This is about statistics, I suppose. 

[Karl Henning]

Scelsi - Natura Renovatur

One of my very favorites!

[Karl Henning]

This is about statistics, I suppose. 

The music I've heard by Sam Adler is very good, I'd like to find that he wrote a top-notch Viola Concerto. 

[Iota]

Brahms: Alto Rhapsody, Op.53
Alice Coote (alto), Bamberger Symphoniker, Ticciati

Lovely recording!