What are you listening 3 now?

[Harry]

Orbus ille Germanus.
German Lute music of the 15th century.
Conrad Paumann, 1410-1473 Lochamer Liederbuch & Anonymous Buxheimer Orgelbuch & Schedel, Schedelsches Liederbuch.
Esteban La Rotta, Lute. Five-course plectrum lute (Richard Earle, 1985; after the Borgo San Sepolcro Altarpiece by Sassetta, 1437–1444).
Six-course plectrum lute (Michael Schreiner, 2022; after the Sedano Family Triptych by Gerard David, 1490–1495).
Recorded  Église Saint-Augustin, Mirabel, QC, 2024.

A fine and interesting recording, it has a certain silence over it, calmness even, very much introverted and absolutely 15th century Lute music. La Rotta brings the era in front of your ears, and in moments you can feel yourself part of that era. The instruments fit the music too, they sound like the history of the music is unearthed and the 15th century is at your doorstep. There is a certain inevitability in the performance that builds the charm of the notes into a musical architecture without splendour but with a lot of insight. The sound is recorded in a pitch dark background, and the ambiance of the church is surrounding one totally.  Only streaming, no CD.

[foxandpeng]

Sergei Prokofiev
Symphony 3
Dmitri Kitayenko
Gürzenich Orchestra Köln
Capriccio

Following my nose as the mood takes me. I will get back to the Santoro symphonies that I am pretty sure I am enjoying, but not all who wander, are lost...

[Harry]

Ubi Caritas.
Italian Laude in Early Renaissance (ca. 1420-1520).

Anonymus: Con gran fervor, Gesu, ti vo cercando; Convertime o signore; I' sento'l buon Gesu dentro del core; Laudato sia Dio; Nam edunt de micis; O Dio ch'a fatto il ciel con la fortuna; O tempo giocundissimo; Quum autem venissem; Sancta Maria regina caelorum; Se gratia per gratia; Sopr'ogni stella bella; Vergene bella gratiosa e pura; Vidi impium super exaltatum; Johannes de Quadris: Cum autem venissem ad locum; Innocentius Dammonis: Amor Jesu divino; John Bedyngham: Nessun piacere ho sanza te, Gesu; Bartolomeo Brollo: Pulchra, speciosa et decora; Josquin Desprez: O mater dei et hominis.

Le Miroir De Musique, Baptiste Romain.
Recorded;2024, Leymen église Saint-Léger, France.
Cover illustration: Gentille Bellini (1429-1507) Saint Mark preaching in Alexandria (1508) (completed by Giovanni Bellini (ca. 1430-1516) after the death of his brother Gentile).

This recording explores the musical world of the Laudesi brotherhoods that were active in the Venice region around 1500 and their rich repertoire of Italian devotional chants. This is in my book a recording that does everything right and nothing wrong. To start with the sound, could not be better, interpretation ditto, artistic value, ditto, booklet ditto, worth immeasurable. Early renaissance comes alive, thanks to the fine singers and instrumentalists. The Ambiance is fitting and gives everything a warm timbre. The sound oozes Renaissance as I perceive it. The booklet is a necessary read. Very well done!

[foxandpeng]

Sergei Prokofiev
Symphony 4 (Original 1930 version)
Dmitri Kitayenko
Gürzenich Orchestra Köln
Capriccio

Unexpected traversal of Prokofiev symphonies, clearly. I know there are other feted cycles out there, but this one has always been my preference, unless my memory is playing up.

[Harry]

Sergei Prokofiev
Symphony 4 (Original 1930 version)
Dmitri Kitayenko
Gürzenich Orchestra Köln
Capriccio

Unexpected traversal of Prokofiev symphonies, clearly. I know there are other feted cycles out there, but this one has always been my preference, unless my memory is playing up.

Apart from this recording which I have and like, Neeme Järvi is my first call, but Kitayenko follows hard on the heels of Neeme. I like the added vehemence applied by Järvi, very attractive.

[Traverso]

Bach

Vol.5 CD 5

[foxandpeng]

Apart from this recording which I have and like, Neeme Järvi is my first call, but Kitayenko follows hard on the heels of Neeme. I like the added vehemence applied by Järvi, very attractive.

The Jarvi are excellent also, I have to say. Don't get me started on those, though!!

TD:

Sergei Prokofiev
Symphonies 5 and 6
Dmitri Kitayenko
Gürzenich Orchestra Köln
Capriccio

Motoring on while completing Data Protection Impact Assessments (yawn)

[Madiel]

Vivaldi

Violin Concerto in C major, RV 179a (with 2 versions of the slow movement)
Violin Concerto in E flat major, RV 261



This album arguably got better as it went along. Both of these works are interesting music, with the E flat major being particularly appealing.

And I'm all out of Vivaldi violin concertos! I've listened to the 11 volumes released thus far. What now?

One of the interesting features of the E flat major is that a 2nd solo violin joins in during the opening movement. Hmmm....

[steve ridgway]

Stravinsky - Apollo (Apollon Musagète)

[Harry]

RODION SHCHEDRIN (1932–2025)

Orchestral Works.
See back cover for details.
LAWRENCE POWER, Viola.
TURKU PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, OLLI MUSTONEN.
Recordings: 2021, Turku Concert Hall, Finland.

Am in raptures to see works by this composer in a newly recorded interpretation. And it is quite a positive surprise. Compositions are sublime, sound and performance too. You can't go wrong with this music. Shchedrin is always a welcome guest.

[Madiel]

Vivaldi: Concertos for 2 violins, in A minor (RV 523) and C minor (RV 510)



Whoo, this is GOOD. Just as well given what I paid for it, is this why copies are so hard to come by...

Ahem.

Vivaldi definitely takes hold of the opportunity for complexity and spectacle in the fast movements, especially in the A minor concerto. And the playing has a great feel to it. Minasi's volume of the solo concertos was one of my very favourites, and Sinkovsky's was pretty good too, and the same style comes through here. This volume's a winner.

[Cato]

From a wag on the Internet:

I'd been wondering about Mahler's attitude to Schopenhauer. A.I. provided this enlightening response:

'His wife, Alma Mahler, often managed the household, which would have included shopping logistics, but there are no known records or memoirs indicating that Gustav Mahler took a personal interest in shopping hours'. There you have it!

😇

Anyway, during the trip back home after 3 weeks in a Traffic Purgatory called Florida, we crossed back into Ohio and soon found this on Dayton Classical Radio:

Ginastera: Estancia


The Hollywood pitch: "It's like Copland's Rodeo and Billy the Kid, but with gauchos!" 

Well, listen and form your own opinion!

[foxandpeng]

Hans Werner Henze
Henze Collection
Symphony 1 (New Version for Chamber Orchestra)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Henze
DG

More distraction from Santoro. Welcome complexity.

[Harry]

Paul Büttner.
Orchestral Works.
See back cover for all details.
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Christopher Ward.

Yes a lot of Bruckner in his music, but that does not mean that this composer is without merit, and fits perfectly in his time frame. Romantic, melodic, searing gulfs of emotion, etc. Despite the many felicities of this music, it will not remain long in your memory, not because it lacks quality, but nothing really sticks long enough. All the reason to get acquainted with it though. His writing is quite extraordinary fine. The international music scene spoke of a promising composer of the modern era, as a successor to Anton Bruckner and Johannes Brahms. This was helped by the equally successful premiere of his 4th Symphony in 1917. However, in 1933 the regime classified his music as "degenerate" and banned the composer and his works from all public attention.  Sound is excellent.

[Madiel]

Medtner: Four Skazki, op.26



Shorter pieces than some of the sets. Full of character.

[foxandpeng]

Hans Werner Henze
Henze Collection
Symphony 5 (For Large Orchestra)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Henze
DG

It always strikes me how prominent the piano parts are in this symphony. I often find that really off-putting, due to my dislike/lack of appreciation for the instrument, but not here. It then caused me to reflect on the fact that I can listen with attention to his PC 2. I don't have any real conclusions or startling insights, as usual, but it does intrigue me.

Anyway. Henze and his non-Pettersson Petterssen-ness is just what I need this afternoon

[Bachthoven]

[Symphonic Addict]

Tansman: Two movements for cello quartet and Suite-Divertissement for piano quartet

Highly impressed by these formidable works. The Two movements for cello quartet comprise a lament of sorts which reaches moments of heartfelt poignancy and the other one exhibits accented gestures and counterpoint. The Suite-Divertissement is without a doubt a masterpiece, a continuum of brilliant writing and imaginative ideas, one after another. One of his best works I've heard so far.

[SonicMan46]

Weber, Carl Maria von (1786-1826) - Clarinet Concertos & Quintet on period instruments w/ Eric Hoeprich; have some other period performances (Pay and still others). Also for those who like modern clarinets the three at the bottom are quite good, along with plenty of others not in my collection.  Dave

   

   

[Linz]

Anton Bruckner Symphony in D Minor, 1869 Ed. Leopold Nowak
Nationa Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Georg Tintner