What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Harry]

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 8 in F major, opus 93.
Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, David Zinman.

First movement starts off wonderfully fast, what is in total 8:14. Decisive and rhythmically rattling my windows, this breath taking start took me by surprise. Zinman has a keen ear for the inner structure of this movement that many will find to difficult to follow. That needs a lot of concentration and above all very good musicians. Both are present in abundance. Its like a battle group in Roman formation with shields up, and that, exerts a enormous power and strenght. Finally I feel, that all is right with the "Allegro vivace e con brio", with the vivace bit thrillingly exciting. The last measures are so captivating.....
The dance like rhythm in the second movement is almost Wienerisch. The Scherzando element in full vigor, exerting a lot of humor. Very punctuated playing, with fine sounding winds. Clear as a bell it all sounds, and sharp as a razor. Simon Eadon did a good job recording this.
The third movement "Tempo di Minuetto" runs like a well oiled clock, without a hitch, it sounds the hours without protesting, and lets you hear around 2:00 a wonderful play of strings, and horns, together in great harmony conversing as old acquaintances. Nice steady flow.
But the fourth movement! Wow, that is perfectly paced, with such a blast of energy that it will take you breath by sheer speed, without losing the poetic veil over it. It crowns again this performance which I grade as one of the best I ever heard. It will be hard to find a counterpart. For me this is a top recommendation.

[Harry]

Alexander Gretchaninov.
Piano Trio No. 2 in G major, opus 128.
Moscow Rachmaninov Trio.
Hyperion recording 2000.

I wrote extensively about this recording, so let me just say, that I think this necessary material to have.

[Harry]

Max Reger.
Serenade for Flute, Violin and Viola, opus 141a.
Mannheimer Streichquartett.
MDG recording 1995.

A wonderful composition so full of colors....

[Harry]

Hugo Alfven.

A legend of the Skerries, opus 20.
Symphony No 4 in C minor, opus 39. (From The outermost Skerries)

Christina Hogman, Soprano.
Claes Hakan Ahnsjo, Tenor.
Royal Stockholm PO, <Neeme Jarvi>
BIS recording, October 1990.

Enough said about this set. Its quality is beyond doubt, as many have experienced. I would know no better set.

[mozartsneighbor]

[karlhenning]

Fell asleep to Debussy last night.

(No, really.)

[Harry]

Hindemith.

Complete Sonatas for Solo instruments and piano, volume VII.

Sonata for Cello, and Piano. 1948.
Small Sonata for Cello. 1942.
A Frog he went a courting, for Cello and Piano. 1941.
Sonata for Double Bass and Piano. 1949.
Sonata for Tuba and Piano.1955.
Sonata for Trombone and Piano.1941.
Ensemble Villa Musica.
MDG recording 1996.

The last in the complete survey of Hindemith's  Chamber Works. And a fine journey it was, both in performances and recordings.
He is a composer I admire, without a doubt.

[Keemun]

Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5 (Haitink/LPO)

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

As for Alfven, the second symphony is my favourite work of his. An out and out neglected masterpiece!

'Masterpiece', eh? I should listen to it again...

[Hector]

Fell asleep to Debussy last night.

(No, really.)

It wasn't that opera thingy was it?

Beethovens 12th String Quartet the opus number of which I've forgotten.

Busch Qt on EMI's latest remastering.

Could not possibly fall asleep to this.

For that I put the TV on. Never fails!

[mozartsneighbor]

[Bulldog]

Rachmaninoff Preludes:

[Keemun]

[karlhenning]

Again!

Sergei Sergeyevich
Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Opus 25 Classical
Czech Philharmonic
Karel Ančerl

It wasn't that opera thingy was it?

[Harry]

From this set the <Fifth symphony in A minor, opus 54>, plus <The Mountain King suite, opus 37> and the <Elegy from Gustav II Adolf, opus 49>.
A worthy close by all means.

[Harry]

Again I play this disc, that has grown on me. Wonderful music from this unknown composer.

[Keemun]

Brahms: Violin Concerto (Isaac Stern, violin; Eugene Ormandy; Philadelphia Orchestra)



Neither of these covers looks like the CD I have, but it is the same recording.

[ragman1970]

[karlhenning]

Conlon Nancarrow
Two Canons for Ursula
Ursula Oppens

[Opus106]

Stern playing with his left hand. hehe.