What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Karl Henning]

Elgar
The Spirit of England, Op.80
Susan Gritton, soprano
Iain Farrington, organ
BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
David Lloyd-Jones

F.S. Kelly
Elegy for Strings, In memoriam Rupert Brooke
BBC Symphony Orchestra
David Lloyd-Jones

[asin]B000JLPNO8[/asin]

[Brian]

There I was, thinking maybe this Brian character knows what he's talking about on the Arensky, only to read you like Boult. Ugh.   According to Sarge, I am one out of just 712 billion who dislike Boult/Planets, but I dislike it intensely, so perhaps that makes up for it.

I don't really know whether the Arensky is the double cello or not (I am not currently where the booklet is to check either). Maybe the one you have is better, but this is good in any case. I'm not against getting another version, especially if it is different. Then I can have fun comparing. In any case, I am loving the piano quintet most of all, so all is good.

Good, disregard my advice then  - I mean, I love comparing recordings and all that, but the REALLY important thing is, what great music that CD contains! Those works are fantastic and everyone ought to have them.

Also, it appears that I was confused - I meant Boult's Enigma Variations. "Huh?" you ask. Well, I also originally wrote Monteux, then realized that Monteux didn't do the Planets, he did the Enigma Variations on a Decca CD that also contained Karajan's Planets. Ever since I got that CD, I've been confusing the two pieces irrationally. Made worse by the fact that Boult's Planets ARE permanently impressed in my memory - as That Recording With The Upskirt Jetsons Photo.

[Karl Henning]

F.S. Kelly
Elegy for Strings, In memoriam Rupert Brooke
BBC Symphony Orchestra
David Lloyd-Jones

[asin]B000JLPNO8[/asin]

This one, of course, suits First-Listen Friday!

Nice to note that the strings include harp.  I shall note that for a scene near the end of White Nights.

[mc ukrneal]

Elgar
The Spirit of England, Op.80
Susan Gritton, soprano
Iain Farrington, organ
BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
David Lloyd-Jones

F.S. Kelly
Elegy for Strings, In memoriam Rupert Brooke
BBC Symphony Orchestra
David Lloyd-Jones

[asin]B000JLPNO8[/asin]

This is my favorite Spirit of England, though I am still listening to the one Elgarian recommends on Chandos. One of these days, I'll report there how I think they compare.

[Karl Henning]

Always good:

Elgar
Violin Sonata in e minor, Op.82
Yehudi & Hephzibah Menuhin

[Karl Henning]

This is my favorite Spirit of England, though I am still listening to the one Elgarian recommends on Chandos. One of these days, I'll report there how I think they compare.

That will be of interest, thanks!

[Mirror Image]

Thread duty:

Gustav Holst
The Planets

[asin]B000001GJW[/asin]

Have you heard Bernstein's Planets. Blows Karajan out of the water.

[Karl Henning]

A tip of the cap to Alan:

Elgar
Violin Sonata in e minor, Op.82
Hugh Bean & David Parkhouse

[Lisztianwagner]

Have you heard Bernstein's Planets. Blows Karajan out of the water.

I have; in the Bernstein recording I particularly admire the slowest movements: Venus is splendid and and harmonc, with a very beautiful violin solo; Saturn is incredibly thrilling, whereas the atmosphere created in Neptune is dark, mysterious and higly evocative. Also Uranus is remarkable though.
What I've found rather singular is the choices of tempo in Jupiter; I think it slows down a bit too much in some sections (for example the brass at the beginning), although the performance is brilliant and intense overall.

Personally, I prefer Karajan and Solti.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Also Uranus is remarkable though.

That's what she said.

[Karl Henning]

Respighi
Ancient Airs & Dances, three suites full
LA Chamber Orchestra
Sir Neville Marriner

[Lisztianwagner]

That's what she said.

What's the matter?

[classicalgeek]

After my foray into Tippett and Günter Wand's Schubert, back to my regularly-scheduled playlists for a bit:

Vagn Holmboe
Symphony no. 2, op. 15
Owain Hughes; Aarhus SO


Powerful stuff!  I need to listen to Holmboe more often...

On deck:

Richard Strauss
Eine Alpensinfonie
Karl Böhm; Staatskapelle Dresden
[asin]B00002DF9N[/asin]

[Opus106]

What's the matter?

It's a joke. Here, the 'she' is not specifically you; just some girl who supposedly complimented Alberich.

Thread Duty: Schubert. D. 784. Endres.

[Karl Henning]

RVW
English Folk Song Suite (orch. Gordon Jacob)
Royal Liverpool Phil
Vernon Handley

[asin]B00006J3LP[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

RVW
A Pastoral Symphony
Royal Liverpool Phil
Alison Barlow, soprano
Vernon Handley

[asin]B00006J3LP[/asin]

[Todd]

Another young pianist with seemingly limitless technical ability playing some snazzy works.  A good disc.  Better versions of everything can be had, but I am interested in hearing where Abduraimov goes from here.

[bhodges]

Doing a little homework in advance of a Sunday afternoon recital by cellist Chris Gross (of the Talea Ensemble):

B. A. Zimmermann: Sonate für Violoncello (Thomas Demenga, cello, on YouTube) - Fantastic piece, and first time hearing it.

--Bruce

[listener]

ELGAR  Symphony no.2 in E^b 
London Philharmonic Orch. / Solti
------ English Light Music  - The Pro Arte Orchestra
RAWSTHORNE "Street Corner" Overture, "Madam Chrystheme" Ballet Suite  cond. Rawsthorne
ARNELL  "The Great Detective" ballet suite  cond. Arnell
COATES  "Cinderella" Fantasy       cond. Stanford Rovbinson
ADDISON "Carte Blanche"  suite  cond. Addison
then away from what seems to be a British theme  for today
POULENC Organ Concerto   BARBER  Toccata Festiva
The Philadelphia Orch., / Ormandy
R. STRAUSS   Festival Prelude  op. 61
NY Philharmonic / Bernstein
E. Power Biggs, organ

[bhodges]

R. STRAUSS   Festival Prelude  op. 61
NY Philharmonic / Bernstein
E. Power Biggs, organ

How's the Strauss? I love that piece, but don't think I've heard this recording.

--Bruce