What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Florestan]

Barcarolle #13 in C major, Op. 116 (3'16) great piece...
to be followed by fantastic 9 Preludes, Op. 103
& the Theme & Variations in C# minor, Op. 73

Haven't listened to that recording, but the music itself is absolutely superb.

[karlhenning]

Stravinsky
from Disc 11:

Concerto in D for Strings

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[Hector]

This:

That's good. No, it's better than good.

For me, 'Manon' with Gheorghiuous and, equally gorgeous, Alagna with Pappano and an all-star cast (including Sophie Koch!) in Brussels in 1999 for EMI.

In the third act the little aria before the famous gavotte, 'Je marche sur tous les chemins...' 'I go everywhere etc' has an atmospheric wind accompaniment that has never failed to raise hairs on the back of the neck.

Manon, here, of course, dies on the road to Calais not in the desert of Louisiana. I know how she felt.

Followed by Svendsen's Symphonies 1 and 2 under Jansons, again, on EMI. Totally engaging and relentlessly tuneful it is real puzzle why they are not played more often.

[karlhenning]

Now:
Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34 London Philharmonic/Jansons

Good morning.

That makes for a good morning, indeed, Bill!

[karlhenning]

Stravinsky
from Disc 11:

Concerto in E-flat for Chamber Orchestra, 'Dumbarton Oaks'

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[bhodges]

Karl, Dumbarton Oaks is one of my favorites.  How is this version?  (I wouldn't mind acquiring another.)

--Bruce

[Que]

[mp3=200,20,0,left]http://wma1.phononet.de/jpc1619d194f2fe4/jpcmp3/d1/028/768/LZXECYKMEAGCOPRBZKWMXOHELCKM.mp3[/mp3]
[mp3=200,20,0,left]http://wma1.phononet.de/jpc1619d194f2fe4/jpcmp3/d1/028/768/LZXECYKMEAGCOPRBZKWMXOHEYPLA.mp3[/mp3]

Q

[karlhenning]

Karl, Dumbarton Oaks is one of my favorites.  How is this version?  (I wouldn't mind acquiring another.)

Well, if you were hesitating about the Big Cheap Box, and this piece is the fulcrum, nab it, Bruce!    (Oh, and The Rake's Progress! The Rake's Progress!)

It's a spritely, yet warm and amabile reading, sound is terrific.  I went right back to listen to it again.  (Of course, I had done the same with Orpheus earlier just this morning.)  Apart from just two genuinely minor quibbles, this box has been one grand sweet song.

[bhodges]

Well, if you were hesitating about the Big Cheap Box, and this piece is the fulcrum, nab it, Bruce!    (Oh, and The Rake's Progress! The Rake's Progress!)

It's a spritely, yet warm and amabile reading, sound is terrific.  I went right back to listen to it again.  (Of course, I had done the same with Orpheus earlier just this morning.)  Apart from just two genuinely minor quibbles, this box has been one grand sweet song.

All sounds great.  So what are the two minor quibbles? 

--Bruce

[beclemund]

[karlhenning]

Stravinsky
from Disc 12:

Preludium for Jazz Ensemble

Rag-Time for Eleven Instruments

Ebony Concerto for Clarinet Solo and Big Band

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[karlhenning]

All sounds great.  So what are the two minor quibbles? 

As interesting (and, overall, good) as the performance is, there are moments (some a matter of execution, some a matter of balance) when I can't help feeling that I've heard better accounts of Agon.

And the sound of the men's choir at the outset of Zvezdoliki is so ghastly, I haven't been able to bring myself to listen it out -- and of course, we're talking just a five-minute piece (well, 4'15) . . . I'm experiencing pretty severe sonic repulsion, there.

[karlhenning]

some beautiful songs from disc 15 (entitled - 35 songs) ...

Three Japanese Lyrics (2'27)
In Memoriam Dylan Thomas (7'19)
Elegy for J.F.K. (1'50)
& The Owl & The Pussycat (2'32)

Yes, these are all exquisite!

[bhodges]

As interesting (and, overall, good) as the performance is, there are moments (some a matter of execution, some a matter of balance) when I can't help feeling that I've heard better accounts of Agon.

And the sound of the men's choir at the outset of Zvezdoliki is so ghastly, I haven't been able to bring myself to listen it out -- and of course, we're talking just a five-minute piece (well, 4'15) . . . I'm experiencing pretty severe sonic repulsion, there.

Thanks!  Having a number of versions of Agon wouldn't be the worst fate, and as long as the choral piece is short, well...

--Bruce

[karlhenning]

And so far the Well Above-Average Musical Satisfaction Index with this box is at roughly 99.6%, Bruce.

[karlhenning]

Stravinsky
from Disc 9:

Symphony in Three Movements

One of my favorite Stravinsky pieces, since seeing it danced at the Blossom Music Center with the Cleveland Orchestra playing.

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[Que]

It's interesting: FD was very prolific in the studio, but in the end I like these live recordings from the first half of his career best of all: very natural singing in fresh voice. Engaging without the deliberateness and "forced" approach of later years.



CD 2 - Franz Schubert: various lieder
Dem Unendlichen D 291 (1815); Der Kreuzzug D 932 (1827); Wehmut D 772 (1822);  Heimwehe D 842 (1825); An Schwager Kronos op. 19 Nr. 1 D 369 (1816); Meeresstille op. 3 Nr. 2 D 216 (Meeres Stille, 1815); Prometheus D 674 (1819); Über Wildemann D 884 (1826); Der Wanderer an den Mond D 870 (1826);  D 752 (1822); Der Zwerg op. 22 Nr. 1 D 771 (1822/1823); Rastlose Liebe op. 5 Nr. 1 D 138 (1815); Geheimes D 719 (1821);  (1828); Im Frühling op. 101 Nr. 1 D 882 (1826); Abschied (1828 - aus: Schwanengesang D 957); Wandrers Nachtlied II op. 96 Nr. 3 D 768 (Über allen Gipfeln ist Ruh', 1824); Gesang op. 106 Nr. 4 D 891 (Was ist Silvia, saget an, 1826); Im Abendrot D 799 (1824/1825); Das Wandern D 795 Nr. 1 (1823 - aus: Die schöne Müllerin)

Q

[not edward]

Stravinsky
from Disc 9:

Symphony in Three Movements
One of my favorite Stravinsky pieces, since seeing it danced at the Blossom Music Center with the Cleveland Orchestra playing.

One of my very favourite Stravinsky works, too.

Now listening to this absolutely wondrous recital disc:



Though this is my favourite performance of the Prokofiev, it's Richter's piano playing in the Brahms that makes this an unforgettable disc for me. I don't know of another performance that captures Brahms' autumnal melancholy as well.

[karlhenning]

And, inspired by this reminder:

The heart-breakingly beautiful andante espressivo from Saint-Saens' Second Violin Concerto. Graffin/Brabbins/BBC Scottish SO on Hyperion.

. . . a papadam-like palate-clearer before returning to the Stravinsky box:

Saint-Saëns
Violin Concerto No. 2 in C Major, Opus 58
Ruggiero Ricci
Orchestra of Radio Luxembourg
Pierre Cao

(Apparently, actually the first violin concerto he'd written.)

[Daverz]

Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 9, K271, "Jeunehomme" - Leonard Hokanson; Camerata Labacensis, Kurt Redel.  Wonderful performance.  This must be one of the first CDs I ever bought, jeebus, nearly 20 years ago.