What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Harry]

From this box CD II.

From Holberg's Time, opus 40.
Two Elegiac Melodies, opus 34.
Two Melodies, opus 53.
Two Nordic Melodies, opus 63. (Oboe Solo, Marten Larsson)
Two Lyric Pieces, opus 68.
Lyric Suite, opus 54.

Well recorded and performed.

[Que]

Q

[Christo]

The 1938 recording of the Serenade To Music (1938) with the original cast: the 16 solo voices for whom the piece was written. Quite a document indeed. Thanks to Ursula Vaughan Williams' revelations of a few years ago, we know now something more about the personal background of RVW's elevated state of mind in those times:

               

[springrite]

Harriet Cohen playing selections from Bach's Well Tempered Klavier

[Harry]

From this box Symphony No.2.

What a wonderful movement the third is, In Ruhig fliessender bewegung, so well captured by Inbal, and then the following Urlicht
State of the art recording.

[mn dave]

More of this.

[Keemun]

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7 (Kleiber/VPO)

[Kullervo]

Fauré - Piano Quartets (Samson François, piano/Jean-Claude Bernède, violin/Guy Chêne, viola/Paul Boufil, cello)

[mn dave]

This again.

[Moldyoldie]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 5
Munich Philharmonic
Christian Thielemann, cond.
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON
A reviewer on Amazon.com wrote of this performance:
"Thielemann here frankly disjoints and loses continuity in too many places in the fabric of this work: at times the thread of Bruckner's argument is all but lost: the web and woof are at points virtually dissipated, irrevocably deconstructed."

I was so flabbergasted to read this after hearing this wonderful recording that I had to issue a rejoinder. Conductor Thielemann and the Munich Philharmonic give us an incredible performance of Bruckner's Fifth, so much so that I was held absolutely rapt and spellbound throughout. All elements of Bruckner's often problematic invention are melded thoughtfully and coherently in an interpretation where every last nuance in stress, pause, build, and release works to marvelous effect -- but more importantly, in telling a compelling musical story over an 80+ minute span. These ears noticed absolutely no "deconstruction" or "disjointedness" in Bruckner's argument -- in fact, I've rarely heard it put forth more convincingly!

What probably impresses me even more is that Thielemann's singular conception of the work and its marvelous execution here sound as organic and inevitable as in any performance of the Fifth I've ever heard -- not one single note or inflection sounds inordinately willful nor out of place when considered in toto. That this was recorded in live performance is certainly a testament to the orchestra's virtuosity and commitment, to say nothing of the awe that the audience must have collectively experienced! Perhaps Munich concert-goers are used to the Celibidachean "slower is always better" manner, though as a listener I certainly don't always adhere to that notion. (For what it's worth, I've yet to hear any of Celibidache's performances of the Fifth.) Absolute tempo in itself is hardly the be-all and end-all of an effective and memorable Bruckner performance, interpretation and execution are -- it's what makes this performance uniquely special! Further kudos are in order for the recording and engineering team who convey an incredibly natural and translucent soundstage.

I've read good and bad reviews of this release. After hearing and loving it twice, I'm ready to proclaim it as a modern exemplar of the viability of ultra-expansive Brucknerian performance. I do wonder, however, how a novice listener will take to it.

For those who may be curious as to how the 82'34" single disc was "handled" by my CD players -- one a Bose Wave radio/CD player, another a Kenwood 5-CD carousel deck -- there were no problems with either.

[Harry]

Martucci.

Symphony No. 2 in F major, opus 81.
Andante, opus 69, No. 2. (George Ives, Cello)
Colore Orientale, opus 44, No. 3.
Recorded in 1989.

From this inexpensive box comes this wonderful second Symphony with a remarkable first movement, and a ravishing third movement that makes your eyes almost wet with emotion.
This thickly scored work, is adequately performed, and the recording makes the most of all the tiny details that trickle out of my speakers. Wish I had the score with me, that would certainly help to untangle this thickly woven web of notes. It is well scored for Brass and Strings.

[Harry]

Traditional Music from the Balkan.
Nikola et ses Amis.
Arrangements by Nikola Parov.
Harmonia Mundi 1994.

Absolute lovely music with compositions like Karsilama, Tsifteteli, Rebetiko, Danse Trace, Pravo sareshko, beautifully performed by this ensemble.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Henning, Magnificat (Nana Tchikhinashvili/Moderato Cantabile)

A beautiful piece, beautifully sung (and it's not an easy piece!)

[Any chance of Moderato Cantabile taking up Karl's Passion, Harry? I'd pay Groningen a visit, my first ever, to hear it live!]

[Harry]

Henning, Magnificat (Nana Tchikhinashvili/Moderato Cantabile)

A beautiful piece, beautifully sung (and it's not easy piece!)

[Any chance of Moderato Cantabile taking up Karl's Passion, Harry? I'd pay Groningen a visit, my first ever, to hear it live!]

I have given her the score, and will try to persuade Nana.

[mn dave]

Adolph Busch playing various...

[bhodges]

Last night at Lincoln Center:

György Kurtág: Kafka Fragments (1985-87) performed by Dawn Upshaw and Geoff Nuttall.  Great piece, I adore Upshaw, and Nuttall was wonderful on violin.  But Peter Sellars's over-busy, odd staging, with Upshaw doing housework (e.g., washing dishes, ironing clothes) left me completely cold.  Upshaw sounded great, though, and I much admire her willingness to immerse herself in a theatrical piece like this without many inhibitions.

--Bruce 

[The new erato]

Wirens string quartets. Wonderfully cleartextured, lucid and warm neoclassic works:



Review here:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2005/may05/wiren_quartets_DAPHNE1021.htm

[Harry]

Traditional Music from the Balkans.
Nikola et ses Amis.
Harmonia Mund, Musique d'Aboard 1991-1994.

Every time a delight to listen too.
The Greek dance Rebetiko, is the favorite by far, and is played to perfection.

[mn dave]

[Christo]

I have given her the score, and will try to persuade Nana.

Please do! The piece is magnificent, I'll travel to the North for the occasion as well!