What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Bogey]

Many thanks Que!

[rubio]

A lot of Shostakovich today. Now symphony no. 1 and 15 by Jansons/BPO and Jansons/LPO. For the 1st Barshai is still my favourite. It has better sound and Barshai manages to bring out more details. I think this versions of the 15th is really nice.

[Harry]

Don't worry, dear Harry: no screaming, bloodthirsty, self-centered or otherwise lusty sopranos to be heard within miles. Just a meditative, contemplative voice, responding to the chorus and joining them afterwards. It's all rather impressive -more than I expected. It you start digging your local CD selling plaggenhut - the paper case looks like this:
                       

I have bought it this afternoon!

[beclemund]

Interesting artwork on that CD. Does it list the artist's name?

Unfortunately, Joan, I purchased this one as a download, so no liner notes (another strike against downloads in my book). However, Maciek unravels the mystery a few posts down.

[Harry]

Henry Purcell

Ode for the birthday of Queen Mary.

Music for the funeral of Queen Mary

Felicity Lott, Soprano.
Charles Brett & John Williams, Counters.
Thomas Allen, Bass.
Monteverdi Choir/Orchestra/John Eliot Gardiner.

Absolutely ravishing, t'was a very good investment.

[Harry]

Adviced by my Dutch compatriot Christo, I bought this one today, and he was absolutely right, right up my alley, so thank you my good friend.

[Christo]

Adviced by my Dutch compatriot Christo, I bought this one today, and he was absolutely right, right up my alley, so thank you my good friend.

Huh? Did they really have it on file, in your local music store? Anyhow, I'm happy it doesn't disappoint you - I'm actually playing it, right at this moment. Btw: there's another recording of it, but I never heard it. Did anybody?

[Harry]

Huh? Did they really have it on file, in your local music store? Anyhow, I'm happy it doesn't disappoint you - I'm actually playing it, right at this moment. Btw: there's another recording of it, but I never heard it. Did anybody?

Yes there is a small shop with books and Naxos cd's, the biggest collection of it in the north, called Kunst en Vliegwerk, they always provide me with the Naxos releases. Last year I was named the customer of the century, and made me a sort of official scroll of paper stating exactly that.
Customer of the century, because I bought more cd's as other customers together.
I am also playing it right now.

[Bogey]

Yes there is a small shop with books and Naxos cd's, the biggest collection of it in the north, called Kunst en Vliegwerk, they always provide me with the Naxos releases. Last year I was named the customer of the century, and made me a sort of official scroll of paper stating exactly that.
Customer of the century, because I bought more cd's as other customers together.
I am also playing it right now.

I know some may shake their heads in dismay at this Harry, but FWIW I think that is awesome!

[Harry]

I know some may shake their heads in dismay at this Harry, but FWIW I think that is awesome!

Thank you Bill, you are kind to me.
I wanted to sustain their business, for they are small, and started with selling Naxos cd's because I told them so.
It did them good, but it was a risk.

[bhodges]

Corigliano: Snapshot: Circa 1909 (2003), A Black November Turkey (1972), String Quartet (1995) (Corigliano Quartet) - The first work is a nostalgic gem, the second an almost Ives-like romp.  When the String Quartet begins it is strikingly different from the first two: somber, even funereal, and intense.  The second movement, a scherzo, is pretty dazzling.  Excellent work from the Corigliano players. 

Jefferson Friedman: String Quartet No. 2 (1998, same group) - I was introduced to Friedman's music a few weeks ago, and loved it: a quintet from 2006 called 78.  He was a student of Corigliano, and there are some similarities in the way he uses "extended techniques" for the instruments.  This quartet won the BMI Student Composers Prize in 2000, and it's quite exciting.

--Bruce

[Que]

Preparing for a post in the Legendary Historical Singers thread. 



Q

[Maciek]

Interesting artwork on that CD. Does it list the artist's name?

That's Polonia by Stanisław Wyspiański (Stanislaw Wyspianski), a very good painter (who'd also done some breathtaking stained glass) but actually more of a literary genius (one of the greatest Polish playwrights). I've posted a few more of his paintings here.

[beclemund]

Hillier's group sounds much like what I would imagine angels to sound. There was a question some time ago on this forum about whether music supplanted religion for some--if music became religion. I do not know if I ever answered on that thread, but music can be another vehicle for worship. We communicate our faith in a great many of ways; music is but one. So no, music does not replace religion for me, but if He can inspire such devout and faithful works of depth, beauty and glory, it can only reinvigorate my faith in Him.

[bhodges]

Walton: Improvisations on an Impromptu of Benjamin Britten (1969) (Krips/Concertgebouw, live recording Jan. 27, 1972) - New to me, and another Walton winner in my book.  The theme is derived from the middle movement of Britten's Piano Concerto (which I've heard but don't know very well).  Walton's piece is about 15 minutes long, in three sections, and except for the more lyrical "moderato" second movement, filled with energy.  The orchestra gives it an appropriately flowing, fiery performance.

Frank Martin: Piano Concerto No. 2 (1968-1969) (Paul Badura-Skoda/Krips/Concertgebouw, live recording Jan. 27, 1972) - This was apparently taken from the same concert as the Walton above.  (I wonder what the balance of the program was?)  Maybe it's the prominent part for saxophone, but the piece seems slightly jazz inflected.  Badura-Skoda is strong in the angular piano writing, and again, the orchestra sounds marvelous.

--Bruce

[Valentino]

Beethoven: Symphony no. 5 in C minor op. 67. Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Carlos Kleiber.

This is it!

Good evening!

[Valentino]

More Beethoven and more Carlos Kleiber. This time a live recording of the fourth symphony with the Bavarian State Orch. from may 3rd. 1982, released on Orfeo.

Pure magic.

[beclemund]

Another favorite. My dog woke me up early this morning so I got all of my to dos done early in the day, now I can just relax and absorb any record I want for the rest of the day. I may even go outside.

[Christo]

Another favorite. My dog woke me up early this morning so I got all of my to dos done early in the day, now I can just relax and absorb any record I want for the rest of the day. I may even go outside.

Outside? At Midnight? You better play another Pärt, e.g. his Te Deum (one of my favourites) 

[Drasko]