What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Oboe Concerto right now. The slow movement is so beautiful and a nice contrast to the two outer movements, which are quite rhythmically challenging for the soloist I imagine.

[Keemun]

I've heard mixed feelings regarding Haitink's Brahms on LSO. What do you enjoy about his Brahms cycle with the LSO?

I've also read some of the criticisms of his Brahms cycle, but this is the only recording of Brahms' 2nd Symphony that I have, so I have nothing to compare it to.  I guess the saying "ignorance is bliss" applies. 

[greg]

Now:



Listening to Symphony No. 2 right now. What an outstanding symphony. Sid and Conor71 should be very proud to have such a great composer amongst them.

Ummm.... that looks like someone decided to take a picture of dog poop in the snow. Why would someone have that as an album cover? 

[Sid]

Yes, MI, Liszt's Faust Symphony is a great work. I especially like how he twists that theme senseless in the final movement. I have the Philadelphia/Muti recording on EMI, & would love to see it done live. I will also get something from Vine at some stage down the track. I would be interested in hearing his solo piano music, especially played by him, as he's a brilliant pianist. As he's only in his 50's I'd imagine that he'll probably write more symphonies, thus expanding what's in that boxed set.

First listens:

Widor - Organ Symphonies 1 & 2
Joseph Nolan, organ of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
ASV

This is the first time that I have heard any of Widor's solo organ symphonies in full, up until now I'd only heard extracted movements. These are quite modern in the way that the organist (literally?) doesn't pull out all the stops until the final movements. They both start off with slow movements, but the 1st is slightly more vigorous and the 2nd is very lyrical. Highlights are the famous March Pontificale (5th movt.) of the 1st symphony, which conjures up images of a church procession, and the finale (Allegro) of the 2nd symphony, which reminds me of J.S. Bach. This recording has a lovely acoustic, even if you turn the music down pretty low, you can still hear all of the details.

Virgil Thomson - Suites from The Plow that Broke the Plains, Louisiana Story & Power Among Men
New London Orchestra/Ronald Corp
Hyperion Helios

I particularly enjoyed the first suite from Louisiana Story. It is quite evocative and atmospheric, but not overladen with obvious imagery, Thomson lets the music speak for itself. The first few movements are quite tranquil and calm (idyllic but not idealised), and I especially like the fugal ending, and how Thomson uses the brass in particular reminds me of how Vaughan Williams did a similar thing in the conclusion of his 4th symphony. There is a long drum-roll at the end which is really dramatic.

[Bulldog]

Ummm.... that looks like someone decided to take a picture of dog poop in the snow. Why would someone have that as an album cover? 

Nah, it's a partially cooked beef filet.

[Mirror Image]

I will also get something from Vine at some stage down the track. I would be interested in hearing his solo piano music, especially played by him, as he's a brilliant pianist. As he's only in his 50's I'd imagine that he'll probably write more symphonies, thus expanding what's in that boxed set.

Well he's already composed his Symphony No. 7 titled Scenes From Daily Life. I'm sure there will be many more to come. He also recently composed his Cello Concerto which would interesting to hear. Hopefully, ABC Classics will record these works soon.

[Bulldog]

Miaskovsky and Weinberg Violin Concertos on Naxos - incisive performances and a great coupling.

[Mirror Image]

I've also read some of the criticisms of his Brahms cycle, but this is the only recording of Brahms' 2nd Symphony that I have, so I have nothing to compare it to.  I guess the saying "ignorance is bliss" applies. 

Well he has two Brahms cycles one with the Royal Concertgebouw and the LSO cycle. I went ahead and bought the 4-CD set of the LSO Live for a cheap price (about $16), so if you don't own the whole cycle, I'll let you know my impressions of the rest of this cycle after I hear it.

[Dana]

Beethoven
Symphony No.  3
Karajan
BPO
1963

This is my favorite recording of this work (of those I have heard), in part because I find the Funeral March (2nd mvt.) to be very cathartic.

What's the competition?

[Dana]

I've heard mixed feelings regarding Haitink's Brahms on LSO. What do you enjoy about his Brahms cycle with the LSO?

    What criticisms are you referring to? I haven't heard his LSO stuff, but his 1st Symphony with the Concertgebouw is one of my favorite Brahms recordings, end of story. I love his tempos.

[Keemun]

Well he has two Brahms cycles one with the Royal Concertgebouw and the LSO cycle. I went ahead and bought the 4-CD set of the LSO Live for a cheap price (about $16), so if you don't own the whole cycle, I'll let you know my impressions of the rest of this cycle after I hear it.

Thanks, I only have Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3 by Haitink/LSO.

What's the competition?

Vanska/Minnesota Orchestra
Frans Brüggen/Orchestra of the XVIIIth Century (Live: December 1, 2006 - Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris)

I am pretty sure these aren't the only recordings I've heard, but I cannot find any other recordings right now, and I cannot remember what they were.

[Dana]

Listening on the way home tonight -

Shostakovich Violin Concerto, by Hilary Hahn. Why don't more people compare the first movement of this concerto to the Berg concerto? It's atmospheric, shady music, and some of the woodwind soli sound like they were lifted straight from the Berg. Also, Hilary Hahn's cadenza is one of my favorites. I remember a debate here where people criticized her for not having that "blood on the fingernails" sound that you've got in someone like Oistrakh. I get that in the Passacaglia, but her Cadenza is really top notch.

Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra - Lutoslawski seriously needs a better publicist. His music is great! It's got character, scope, imagination, and it's very showy without coming off as being tuney.

[Mirror Image]

    What criticisms are you referring to? I haven't heard his LSO stuff, but his 1st Symphony with the Concertgebouw is one of my favorite Brahms recordings, end of story. I love his tempos.

I haven't heard any professional criticism of Haitink's LSO cycle, but only a few Amazon reviewers who didn't like it. But we all have opinions right?

I generally like Haitink, so I'm sure these are fine recordings. I would like to get the earlier Concertgebouw cycle, but it's out-of-print and way too expensive right now on the used market.

[Brian]

Symphony No 3, at the urging of a certain enthusiastic GMGer!

[Mirror Image]

Symphony No 3, at the urging of a certain enthusiastic GMGer!

Lol... Let me know what you think when you've absorbed the work.

[Sid]

Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra - Lutoslawski seriously needs a better publicist. His music is great! It's got character, scope, imagination, and it's very showy without coming off as being tuney.

I haven't heard that particular work, but really like Lutoslawski generally. I think he is still very much underrated. His Cello Concerto is probably one of the best in the repertoire. The Preludes and Fugues for 13 solo strings is definitely one of the best works for string orchestra of the C20th. & his 4 symphonies are hard to beat. Don't get me started on Lutoslawski, I can go on for ages!...

[Bogey]

[Brian]

Mirror Image - maybe tomorrow; I'm not sure one listen is what it takes to absorb this (very attractive) music!



A brand-new Naxos release featuring - gasp - a brand-new cover design!! (Yes, that is the booklet, not the slipcover.) Part of my continued experiment to see if it really is true that chamber/solo music at bedtime helps me sleep better than orchestral bombast.

[Mirror Image]

Mirror Image - maybe tomorrow; I'm not sure one listen is what it takes to absorb this (very attractive) music

Vine has to be listened to several times. The surface of his music as I stated in the Carl Vine thread is very beautiful, but there is much depth there to explore.

I've been very impressed so far with all of the music I've heard from Vine. I'm still exploring Australian composers though and Ross Edwards, Nigel Westlake, Brett Dean, Richard Meale, Glanville-Hicks, and Brenton Broadbent are next on my list.

[Scarpia]

The three instrumental concerti from this release:



I didn't realize how old these recordings are, from 1962, but they sound very good.   If I count correctly, Colin Davis was a young man when these recordings were made, and he sounds perhaps less secure than his mature self.  The Dumbarton Oaks concerto strikes me as less solidly constructed than Boulez' recording on DG, I have no other comparison.  The Dances Concertante and Concerto for String Orchestra have a similar feel, lacking a bit of tightness of ensemble, but with a refreshing clarity of texture.