What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Renfield]

Disc.1.

But what's in it?





Disc 1.

(Scriabin)

[Moldyoldie]

Sibelius: Symphony No. 2; The Oceanides; Finlandia
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Paavo Berglund, cond.
EMI
From Berglund's '80s cycle, this is as straightforward, no-muss no-fuss a rendition of the popular Sibelius Symphony No. 2 as I've ever heard -- quite refreshing, actually!   I'm sure a little emotional taffy-pull here and there wouldn't be out of line and the big tune in the finale could be writ larger, but the performance is as committed as any with the orchestra sounding full-blooded, if not as heavyweight as the likes of Berlin or Vienna.  The recording is exemplary with plenty of presence across the spectrum.

The Oceanides is very atmospheric and pictorial (nice harp and winds!), if perhaps a bit terse in its expression.  Finlandia is also afforded a full-bore forward rendition that comes in at under seven-and-a-half minutes -- alacritously heroic.

[bhodges]

Pianist Yuja Wang at the Verbier Festival, playing Ligeti, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Rimsky-Korsakov, Scriabin and Ravel, via Medici TV.  (Taped July 29, 2008.)

--Bruce

[Solitary Wanderer]

But what's in it?

Symphony #1 which is quite decent with some Beethovian touches [and some weak spots].

The Scherzo from the Octet scored for orchestra which, apparantly, was used to replace the Scherzo in Sym #1 on occasion.

And 3 Overtures; Midsummer Nights Dream, Hebrides & Calm Sea.

[Renfield]

Scriabin proved a little too much, and I've switched to an apparently-unreleased Horowitz Kreisleriana, courtesy of YouTube.

I've long had a fondness for Horowitz's way with it. 0:)

[orbital]

The unfortunate thing is whenever a pianist plays Chopin on a period instrument, the performance leaves a lot to desire for. Not here. The sound of the Pleyel is gorgeous, and Boegner's playing is right there with the best of them. Tempi is generally on the brisker side, which is understandable since the short resonance of the piano would not be able to sing the melody lines otherwise.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Scriabin proved a little too much

He can be quite a handful (as many pianists will confess).

[Renfield]

He can be quite a handful (as many pianists will confess).

This listener can certainly confess that Sudbin's recent Scriabin disc was the only time I've gone through an all-Scriabin "recital" without interruption. But I am certainly working on improving my record.


Listening to:

[M forever]

I liked the original releases of the Berglund cycle with the nice pictures all by, I believe, Sibelius' friend Gallen-Kallela. My favorite was the album of the 4th and 7th symphony with the pic of the boy with the horn. I couldn't find a good picture though:

[PaulR]

Shostakovich: Violin Concerto #2 in C# Minor Venegrov/Rostropovich/LSO

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Kaljo Raid, Symphony No.1 (Järvi/Chandos)

If you like Tubin (Fourth), Bax, Braga Santos, Moeran... you can't go wrong. A very appealing combination of ingredients I like - colourful orchestration, lyricism, passion. And Järvi is in good form.

[Harry]

Good morning everyone and all!

Good music for the morning, and already disc 5 again, of which I wrote in detail on 11-7-2008, if you are interested.
Purcell's Theater Music is something to be marveled at, for it harbors so many fine tunes, and lets so much out of the genius of this composer, that it is a virtual fundgrube!

[The new erato]

Surprisingly strong music in superb - and I really mean it - sound! A stunning disc based on my first playthrough.

[Harry]

Surprisingly strong music in superb - and I really mean it - sound! A stunning disc based on my first playthrough.

Duly noted, and put on my order list.
Thanks

[FideLeo]

The chamber group's first "full-fledged HIP" recording, recorded on period instruments. 

[Christo]

Kaljo Raid, Symphony No.1 (Järvi/Chandos)

If you like Tubin (Fourth), Bax, Braga Santos, Moeran... you can't go wrong. A very appealing combination of ingredients I like - colourful orchestration, lyricism, passion. And Järvi is in good form.

Great that you discovered this one, too! I had the happy opportunity to present my compliments and all best wishes to the composer, living in Canada, via a friend of him i accidentally met in Estonia, back in the summer of 1993.

There's a KOCH recording of his Second `Stockholm Symphony' too, but none exist of his later Third and Fourth. The First is quite a visionary achievement for a composer of just 22, imo.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Welcome back, Johan! I hope you didn't disturb the peace of King Minos too much...

Re Raid: yes, geat piece! And only 22?! An Estonian Braga Santos!

[wintersway]

Good morning/day to all!

[Renfield]

Welcome back, Johan! I hope you didn't disturb the peace of King Minos too much...

I take it he was visiting my birthplace?

(Crete.)

[Harry]

Disc 6 from this disc, reviewed on 12-7-2008 if interested.