What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[toledobass]

Started in on some Michaelangeli in Mozart Chamber music but I couldn't deal with the sound through the headphones so I put on Grimaud playing the Rach 2 concerto. 

Allan

[Lilas Pastia]

Some more pianoforte sonatas by Clementi. I can't believe Mozart dismissed him as a mere mechanicus. Professional jealousy, probably, and a general dislike of Italians in general (I'm not making that up, WAM wrote it in his letters!). I hear more subtlety and real emotion in many of these sonatas than in most of Mozart's. Haydn and Beethoven held Clementi in very high esteem.

[Bogey]

Beethoven Symphony No. 3 Hogwood/AAM (L'oiseau Lyre)

Good morning all.

[toledobass]

Beethoven Symphony No. 3 Hogwood/AAM (L'oiseau Lyre)

Good morning all.

Howdy Billy!!!

Allan

[Harry]

Beethoven Symphony No. 3 Hogwood/AAM (L'oiseau Lyre)

Good morning all.

Good day to you Bill, and all!

[Harry]

Vagn Holmboe.

The complete Symphonies.

No. 1 for Chamber Orchestra opus 4/M.85

Aarhus SO/Qwain Arwel Hughes.

What a glorious piece of music this is my friends. A springy first movement, beautiful orchestrated and played.
And then the hauntingly fleeting "Andante" full with mysterious pointers towards the world of Tolkien.
I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
State of the art recording.

[George]

Which one do you prefer? Who's done the best Hen, for instance?

Purdue. 

[Florestan]

[Drasko]

[Harry]

Vagn Holmboe.

Symphony No. 2, opus 15/M 107.

Aarhus SO/ Owain Arwel Hughes.

What a impressive first movement, with smashing dynamics, and so well orchestrated. It is a real adventure for me to discover Holmboe, and what a fine one it is. I am still digesting his soundworld, and know full well that I have to return many a time to find what the core of his music has to say. The enormous effort he makes to keep a perfect balance in the second movement, and how concentrated the musicians are in bringing it off. And the boisterous third movement which recalls Nielsen many a time, the Aladdin suite infact is what I hear. And I like very much what I hear.
State of the art recording.

[Hector]

Tannhauser.

Is this the silliest opera plot ever?

Think about it: singing knight leaves Venus in the Venusberg (that disappears after he has gone) to sing in singing contest.
                    Meets old flame and falls in love with her.
                    Wins singing contest in true Hollywood fashion.
                    Told he must receive absolution from the Pope and sods off to Rome.
                    Get this, Pope refuses absolution!
                   
                    When given the chance of renewing his aquaintance-ahem-with Venus he is held back by his friend(some friend), old flame dies and he dies.

That's about the gist of it but the music either makes or breaks it

All this over 190minutes of music.

Fortunately, this old EMI recording from the sixties uses the Dresden version and has DF-D, Frick, Grummer and Wunderlich, no less, in the cast and Konwitschny in the pit of the Berlin Staatsoper but a crude Hopf as the 'Hero' and Schech, an acquired taste, as Venus.

Personally, I think they deserve each other.

Love it. Just the thing for a hot day, thanks to Climate Change, in April!

I have been witness to some of the worse productions ever perpetrated for this work!

[George]

Brahms

Piano Concerto 1

Barenboim/Barbirolli

EMI

[Robert]

Vagn Holmboe.

The complete Symphonies.

No. 1 for Chamber Orchestra opus 4/M.85

Aarhus SO/Qwain Arwel Hughes.

What a glorious piece of music this is my friends. A springy first movement, beautiful orchestrated and played.
And then the hauntingly fleeting "Andante" full with mysterious pointers towards the world of Tolkien.
I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
State of the art recording.

Wonderful Harry, love him especially 7-8-10 you will find gems all along the road......

[Harry]

Wonderful Harry, love him especially 7-8-10 you will find gems all along the road......

Well I am convinced of that, already played his second symphony, and that did impress me quite a bit.
I am very grateful with so much people on the board that pointed the way to this unknow group of composers to me, including you.

[Harry]

Ahmed Adnan Saygun.

Complete String Quartets.

No. 2 opus 35.

Quatuor Danel

And again a composer that is close to my heart, and comes closer every time I play his music. This second string quartet is something of a effort to bring of in a recording. It is extremely difficult to play, and to keep the lines flowing, and judge the tempi in a very balanced way. But this ensemble does the trick helped by a very good recording. Saygun keeps you firmly in its grasp, and you on the edge of your seat. Marvelous, really....................

[Don]

Ahmed Adnan Saygun.

Complete String Quartets.

No. 2 opus 35.

Quatuor Danel

And again a composer that is close to my heart, and comes closer every time I play his music. This second string quartet is something of a effort to bring of in a recording. It is extremely difficult to play, and to keep the lines flowing, and judge the tempi in a very balanced way. But this ensemble does the trick helped by a very good recording. Saygun keeps you firmly in its grasp, and you on the edge of your seat. Marvelous, really....................

I also have this set and find the music very compelling.

[Harry]

Joseph Haydn.

Complete String Quartets, Volume IV.

Opus 74. 1/2/3. "Apponyi II."

Buchberger String Quartet.

Excellent readings overall, which will give newcomer and experienced listener a lot of feedback. This enthusiastic playing gives energy, and infuses the music with all kind of details you barely hear on some recordings. They are lively and keep the textures lucid, and uphold good cheer throughout.

[karlhenning]

Good morning, all!

Beethoven
Symphony No. 3, Sinfonia eroica, Opus 55
Orchestra of St Luke's
MTT

[Harry]

I also have this set and find the music very compelling.

Excellent!

[Harry]

Good morning, all!

Beethoven
Symphony No. 3, Sinfonia eroica, Opus 55
Orchestra of St Luke's
MTT

Good morning Karl, I rather missed you this weekend!