What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Maciek]

I like the phrase "chiaroscurically speaking".

[karlhenning]

I like the phrase "chiaroscurically speaking".

I wonder if I could figure out how to speak chiaroscurically . . . .

[Maciek]

Like this?

Chiaroscurically speaking...

[bhodges]

Per Nørgård: Spell (Trio Ondine)

Selections from a CD that I haven't heard in a long time, by the California Ear Unit:

Arthur Jarvinen: Egyptian Two Step
Rand Steiger: Quintessence
Stockhausen: Dr.K-Sextet
Andriessen: Hoketus

--Bruce

[Moldyoldie]

Most recently marketed as...
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5
New York Philharmonic
Leonard Bernstein, cond.
SONY (w/Sym. No. 9)
With its thinnish, extremely compressed, but brilliant late-'50s sound, this is the recording and interpretation which brought the Shostakovich Fifth to a new generation.  I'll just say it's diametrically opposite, inversely proportional, and thoroughly antithetical to what Rostropovich brings to it in his incomparable performances.  Do you want to come away with a feeling of unabashed heroism (Bernstein) or as if you've been stretched on a rack...the choice is yours.

[mn dave]

Arrau's Beethoven.

[not edward]

I think this was a bit too heavyweight a coupling....

[mn dave]

Schonberg

Verklarte Nacht

Barenboim/English Chamber Orch

[Maciek]

Selections from a CD that I haven't heard in a long time, by the California Ear Unit:

Arthur Jarvinen: Egyptian Two Step
Rand Steiger: Quintessence
Stockhausen: Dr.K-Sextet
Andriessen: Hoketus

Ah, yes, I have some of that disc (downloads) and love it. Will have to get the rest some day.

[Ric]

Pure Mravinsky and pure Shostakovich. How much force there is in this recording. What great tension.

The sound quality isn't good, although the symphony was recorded in 1967 . It's a pity. But the performance is really impressive.

[scarpia]

I won't nominate these are the greatest works of all time,  but some interesting sounds in there, particularly in the symphonies 4 and 6.

[Ric]

Now, I know why this recording has a poor quality of sound, although the symphony "was recorded in 1967"

It's incredible.

http://www.dschjournal.com/reviews/rvs14sym9.htm

[PaulR]

Prokofiev: Love of 3 oranges Gergiev/St. Petersburg Kirov Chorus and Orchestra

[SonicMan46]

A string quartet and piano quintet by Louis Vierne on MDG.  Stirring music, especially the quintet.

Don - thanks for that recommendation! Now on my 'wish list'!  But, I said to myself that I already own those works on another label - hmmm- checked my database & collection and could not find the music!  Well, I have some lovely chamber music sets, but by Gabriel Pierné - BTW, these are also recommended! 

[SonicMan46]

Koechlin, Charles (1867-1950) - String Quartets, Nos. 1 & 2 w/ Ardeo Quartet - first experience w/ these works (although I've been collecting a 'handful' of this composer's music lately) & also this group of young ladies from the Paris Conservatoire - these works were composed in the early 20th century and are quite relaxing for this time period - need a few more listenings, but like my other discs by Koechlin, I'm drawn to his music!

Onslow, Georges (1784 -1853) - Grand Sextuor & Septuor w/ Nielsen Quintet et al - I really love Onslow & own a lot of his works - he wrote mainly chamber music in that great transitional period between the classical & romantic eras, but seem to be looking backward, so a pleasant appreciation of those times - 


 

[mn dave]

Bach Goldberg Variations

DongHyek Lim

[Lilas Pastia]

Thanks for the news about the Tansman Chandos cycle, Scarpia. He's a composer that needs all the advocacy he can get. I have 4 and 5, and like them both a lot (5 in particular). But the readings and engineering can probably be improved on.

Schumann Kinderszenen and Kreisleriana (Kempff).

[chankaiming]

Saint-saens wrote a lot of music apart from his organ symphony, and he infused every pieces with lovely melody, his violin concerto no.3 was sadly neglect by the violinist of our generation. The slow movement have a sweet melody which can melt the heart of stone.

Grumiaux was born to play this piece of music, his elegance and silvery tone make this piece shine. Sonic quality was fair only, newly re-issued by Australian Eloquence.

Vieuxtemps was a Belgium's Paganini, and his violin concerto was full of exciting passage which can challenge the greatest violinist. Heifetz have a great recording of Vieuxtemps's 5th concerto and I think no one can surpass Grumiaux in the 4th concerto, when he was challenged, Grumiaux can play as exciting as Heifetz.

[Lilas Pastia]

Perlman recorded the Vieuxtemps 4 and 5, but Grumiaux flies high above his bovine head with his mastery of the style, patrician virtuosity and silvery tone.

[mn dave]

Chopin Ballade No. 1

Biret

[Edit: And 2, 3 and 4...]