What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Karl Henning]

Now:

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Listening to the Piano Concerto.

I have that disc, but I've not listened to it since acquiring, back when.  High time I went back to it . . . .

[Karl Henning]

Bastien und Bastienne

First listening of this work. I am absolutely amazed to hear the main theme of the 1st movement of "Eroica" right at the start!  Who borrowed from whom, I wonder... 

Tee-hee! And IIRC that is very early Mozart.

[Karl Henning]

Absolutely, he especially urges some orchestra's to play faster!

Move it along, or I'll scratch the finish on your soundboard!

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Its not easy to grasp this monumental Symphony called "Odysseus", but after the third listening, I know it is a great work. I finally am grasping the inner core of this work. Its complex writing, with a message, powerful, and overpowering at times, but revealing so many fiestas, that the journey becomes mine to share, and I utterly enjoy every measure and move. Herzogenberg, surpassed himself, is my opinion. The work is in four movements, and lasts almost 48 minutes. The recording is fine, and the Orchestra although unfamiliar with it, certainly in parts of the score, performs well to the given task.

Die Irrfahrten.
Penelope.
Die Garten der Circe.
Das Gastmahl der Freier.



Click on the image to enlarge.

[mahler10th]

Anyone heard Stokowskis Wagner?  This disc, part of a two disc set, is most comforting in a luscious way.  The sound engineers have done an oustanding job on it - to bring it up to having seemingly been recorded only yesterday...

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Wagner
Stokowski
Various

[Florestan]

Tee-hee! And IIRC that is very early Mozart.

KV 46b from 1768 no less. To be able to foresee the rise of Napoleon at that time is indeed genius... 

[Henk]

Mozart - Le Nozze di Figaro / WPO, Harnoncourt, Netrebko (a.o.)

[Antoine Marchand]

First part of the Johannes-Passion (1749 version):



Hermann Max is probably one of the most unfairly underrated Bach's conductors. Every time when I listen to his interpretations of the Mätthaus-Passion, the B Minor Mass and this one, I simply find his approach irreproachable in matter of human sincerity, tempi, dramatic tension and so. 

[Sergeant Rock]

Vaughan Williams Job, Hickox conducting the Bournemouth SO




Sarge

[Karl Henning]

Vaughan Williams Job, Hickox conducting the Bournemouth SO

Me, too, Sarge!

[North Star]

Getting through the unlistened discs from this awesome set.
Respighi
Pini di Roma
Lamberto Gardelli & LSO
[asin]B001DCQJUY[/asin]

[Lisztianwagner]

Now:
Symphony No.6 - I Allegro energico, ma non troppo. Heftig, aber markig
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I'm listening to the rest of the symphony; the 1st movement didn't satisfy me completely: the rythm was too slow and the piece lacked power and strenght; the performance was not thrilling enough, although it was enjoyable. The rythm worked better in the Alma Theme, which was quite passionate and romantic.

[Sergeant Rock]

I'm listening to the rest of the symphony; the 1st movement didn't satisfy me completely: the rythm was too slow and the piece lacked power and strenght; the performance was not thrilling enough, although it was enjoyable. The rythm worked better in the Alma Theme, which was quite passionate and romantic.

I love it but it's an unusual interpretation obviously. Maybe even wrong-headed    Slow like Barbirolli but lacking his passion. Instead, it's grim and stoic. Accept that and it becomes quite a fascinating performance, I thnk. Very different from anyone else.

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Me, too, Sarge!

I noticed your post in the Veranda, Karl. That's what prompted me to listen. I've just finished it. I want to do some comparison listening now but my first impression is favorable although I still have a preference for Boult. This might seem like nonsense but, Hickox makes me feel the "story" more (Satan has more presence, for example) but Boult makes more sense of the music. It flows better under his direction. I'm still trying to sort this out.

Sarge

[Sadko]

Schumann

Symphonische Etüden, Kinderszenen, Kreisleriana

Wilhelm Kempff

[Karl Henning]

I noticed your post in the Veranda, Karl. That's what prompted me to listen. I've just finished it. I want to do some comparison listening now but my first impression is favorable although I still have a preference for Boult. This might seem like nonsense but, Hickox makes me feel the "story" more (Satan has more presence, for example) but Boult makes more sense of the music. It flows better under his direction. I'm still trying to sort this out.

Sarge

I thought you may have seen that post . . . which led to my embarrassed realization that I'd mistaken the conductor.  I've really enjoyed the Hickox . . . makes me yet more curious to revisit the Handley. But I've similarly noticed that, for whatever passel of reasons, I've had a clearer view (in my mind's eye) of the characters in the pantomime. I mean, masque.

[Lisztianwagner]

I love it but it's an unusual interpretation obviously. Maybe even wrong-headed    Slow like Barbirolli but lacking his passion. Instead, it's grim and stoic. Accept that and it becomes quite a fascinating performance, I thnk. Very different from anyone else.

Sarge

Sure, maybe that's why it made me that effect, I've been used to listen to Bernstein, Solti, Karajan or Zinman and they have a very different style in the 6th, more impressive and striking. Grim and stoic is a good description for the Chailly recording, which is brilliant, enjoyable anyway.

[not edward]

Vivier - Greeting Music; Airs pour un opera imaginaire

Great music. Great recording. Viver is one of my favourite modern composers.

[asin]B00006L6VZ[/asin]

A fine disc; Vivier's early death was a huge tragedy as I think he was shaping up to be one of the most important composers of his generation. And now I'm reminded of how remarkable his music was, so I'm going to have to put this outstanding disc on:



Incidentally, my discovery of Vivier was due to an interview with Ligeti where he wanted to talk about just three post-war composers: Nancarrow (which wasn't a surprise), Barraqué (which was a bit of a surprise) and Vivier (who I'd never heard anything about at that time). Thanks, György, for the tip!

[Mirror Image]

I have that disc, but I've not listened to it since acquiring, back when.  High time I went back to it . . . .

It's a great disc, Karl. The Piano Concerto is wonderfully performed.

[Sergeant Rock]

I thought you may have seen that post . . . which led to my embarrassed realization that I'd mistaken the conductor.  I've really enjoyed the Hickox . . . makes me yet more curious to revisit the Handley. But I've similarly noticed that, for whatever passel of reasons, I've had a clearer view (in my mind's eye) of the characters in the pantomime. I mean, masque.

I'll go back to Handley at some point too. I've noticed that once I've found a performance that makes a piece of music work for me, earlier performances that didn't, suddenly do    Or at least they don't seem as uninteresting or boring as I had initially thought.

Sarge