What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[The new erato]

Tha Gallus disc (no 13) from this set. Exquisite singing and recording.

[PaulR]

Symphony #7 "Leningrad"

First movement is.....for the lack of a better term, breathtaking.  (or amazing)

[The new erato]

First movement is.....for the lack of a better term, breathtaking.  (or amazing)

or plain scary?

[PaulR]

or plain scary?

Perhaps a mixture of all three.

[Drasko]

Not to be missed! Zoltan Kocsis playing Schubert, spectacularly!

http://sites.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/em/concert-soir/emission.php?e_id=80000056&d_id=395000773&arch=1
(click on headphones icon for start)

Zoltan Kocsis : Schubert et Campo
Concert donné le 4 juillet 2009 en l’ Eglise Notre Dame d’Auvers-sur-Oise dans le cadre du Festival d’Auvers-sur-Oise

Franz Schubert
Impromptu en Ut mineur Op.90 N°1 D.899 N°1
Impromptu en Mi bémol majeur Op.90 N°2 D.899 N°2
Impromptu en Sol bémol majeur Op.90 N°3 D.899 N°3
Impromptu en La bémol majeur Op.90 N°4 D.899 N°4
Impromptu en Mi bémol mineur D.946 N°1
Impromptu en Mi bémol majeur D.946 N°2
Impromptu en Ut majeur D.946 N°3

Régis Campo (1968..)
Hommage à Georges Cziffra
Création mondiale

Franz Schubert
Sonate en Si bémol majeur Op.Post. D.960

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I'm grateful for that Bakels - the orchestra plays very well and the microphone balance is spot-on. If only all obscure symphonies could have such well-presented recordings... As much as I wish to enjoy the Mengelberg recording, the sound quality is quite poor, plus I prefer the "straight" way which Bakels plays it - It feels as if Mengelberg is forever tweaking things...

The technical term for that is rubato, Sarah. 

[Lethevich]

Hehe, like Shakespearian actors who move the ending of each line a few words into the next - wrong... deliciously wrong

[Conor71]

Glazunov: Violin Concerto - Heifetz/Hendl/RCAVSO

[SonicMan46]

Fischer, Johann (1656-1746) - Keyboard Suites on harpsichord w/ Olga Martynova; purchased based on an excellent recommendation in the American Record Guide (Sept/Oct 2009 issue); many of these works are standard Baroque keyboard compositions based on 'dance' movements.  Fischer is considered one of the premier keyboard composer/performer of his era (and JS Bach owned his works).  Martynova performs beautifully on this instrument and the recording is warm and really 'up front' in the listening room - those who may not enjoy this instrument would likely fine pleasure in this recording. The harpsichord used was after a French model built by William Dowd, USA in the 1970s (bio HERE) - the sound is indeed wonderful! 

Chopin, Fryderyk (1810-1849) - Piano Concertos w/ Vassily Primakov & Paul Mann + Odense SO - coming up next!  I purchased this pianist's performances of Chopin Mazurkas and was impressed; this disc received superlative reviews, so looking forward to the listening experience!   


 

[Coopmv]

Mendelssohn, Felix - now up to his 16-17th years in the bio I'm reading; so this morning, Overture to AMSNDream & the Octet from the recordings below:

Dave,   How do you like the Mendelssohn's set?  I bought the recording a number of months ago ...

[Coopmv]

Bach (J.S): The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book I [Disc 2] - Bernard Roberts

I have read some good reviews on this set.  But I already have over 10 versions of WTC, mostly on piano but a few sets on harpsichord as well.

[Coopmv]

Now playing this SACD, which just arrived today from an Amazon MP vendor ...

[SonicMan46]

Dave,   How do you like the Mendelssohn's set?  I bought the recording a number of months ago ...

Hello Stuart - the Hausmusik London 2-CD set remains an excellent bargain w/ fine performance of the Octet - I've owned this for many years, but am now acquiring a lot of 'overlapping' recordings, so may have to do some 'culling out'?  However, if one wanted the Octet along w/ some other chamber works by Felix, I'd have little hesitation in suggesting this excellent value - Dave 

[Antoine Marchand]

Not to worry, it's Bach after all -- his music sounds good in any instrument (yes, even in a fartsichord transcription, Brian. ). The High Priests will cut you some slack, I'm sure.

I would like to agree with you on this, Opus; but I can't.

I am considering these recordings just because of the exceptional performer.

I know that sometimes a masterwork can defeat even dreadful circumstances or wrong choices of the performer; but if I can choose I prefer a recording on the instruments that the composer had in his head when he composed a particular work. That's the reason because I wouldn't be inclined, for instance, to listen to Chopin on harpsichord.   

My preferred piano (S.Richter) version actually, but I have to admit, that I have not heard more than about 10 piano versions all in all. 0:)

Oh yes, I recalled your favorable opinion on this recording. BTW, I just have one version on piano by Glenn Gould (certainly not your favorite pianist).

[Lilas Pastia]

Not to be missed! Zoltan Kocsis playing Schubert, spectacularly!

http://sites.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/em/concert-soir/emission.php?e_id=80000056&d_id=395000773&arch=1
(click on headphones icon for start)

Zoltan Kocsis : Schubert et Campo
Concert donné le 4 juillet 2009 en l' Eglise Notre Dame d'Auvers-sur-Oise dans le cadre du Festival d'Auvers-sur-Oise

Franz Schubert
Impromptu en Ut mineur Op.90 N°1 D.899 N°1
Impromptu en Mi bémol majeur Op.90 N°2 D.899 N°2
Impromptu en Sol bémol majeur Op.90 N°3 D.899 N°3
Impromptu en La bémol majeur Op.90 N°4 D.899 N°4
Impromptu en Mi bémol mineur D.946 N°1
Impromptu en Mi bémol majeur D.946 N°2
Impromptu en Ut majeur D.946 N°3

Régis Campo (1968..)
Hommage à Georges Cziffra
Création mondiale

Franz Schubert
Sonate en Si bémol majeur Op.Post. D.960

Glorious, you're the best! What a recital 

[Opus106]

I would like to agree with you on this, Opus; but I can't.

I am considering these recordings just because of the exceptional performer.

I know that sometimes a masterwork can defeat even dreadful circumstances or wrong choices of the performer; but if I can choose I prefer a recording on the instruments that the composer had in his head when he composed a particular work. That's the reason because I wouldn't be inclined, for instance, to listen to Chopin on harpsichord.    

[emphasis mine]

I suppose that's why (most, all?) HIPsters are HIPsters. In any case, that was why I became interested in period instrument performances. But with Bach, I find most of his music (and especially so with the solo keyboard works) quite good on the ears even when transcribed. (But that doesn't mean I would be the first in line to get the latest saxophone quartet version of the AotF. )

Glorious, you're the best! What a recital  

I thought the link would have expired by the time I saw it. Looks like its available for some more time. I'll certainly listen to that.

[Bogey]

Mendelssohn, Felix - now up to his 16-17th years in the bio I'm reading; so this morning, Overture to AMSNDream & the Octet from the recordings below:

Wonderful disc there, Dave!

[Coopmv]

Wonderful disc there, Dave!

I think the HIP crowd has much disdain for Marriner, though I beg to differ.

[karlhenning]

... but I don't like their Shostakovich at all.
Mmmh... beginning to wonder what part of the cliche actually sticks. 

Maybe it's just that you don't care for the music when it's played right? 

[drogulus]

     Bax

     Spring Fire Symphony

     Vernon Handley - Royal Philharmonic O.

     This is closer to Tintagel or The Garden of Fand than it is to the numbered symphonies that came years later.

     I found this on Amazon:

     Bax wrote this symphony during the same period that Vaughan Williams composed the first version of his London Symphony (splendidly recorded on Chandos). By 1913 each had found his individual compositional voice, was flush with attractive melodic invention, and had the maturity to explore in a most satisfying way the blending of symphonic form with the tone poem's narrative strategies. That the London Symphony has become so much better known than Spring Fire is due, first, to accident and, second, to the waning of interest in an aesthetic that sought profundity in Celtic mystery.