What are you listening to now?

[Mirror Image]

Charles Ives
Piano Trio

https://www.youtube.com/v/BUAFfhEl9co

First, Schuman's 3rd and now Ives' Piano Trio, when will you be listening to Barber? That's the question.

[TheGSMoeller]

Johannes Brahms: String Quartet in B flat major, Op. 67 and String Quartet in C minor, Op. 51 no. 1
Takács Quartet

Hi, andolink. 
How do you like this disc? I was just discussing Takacs earlier as they are releasing the Brahms string quintets on Hyperion.

[Sadko]

Rimsky-Korsakov

Sadko

Golovanov 1950

[asin]B000BL99J6[/asin]
The cast (I'm too lazy to translate):

Sadko - Georgij Nelepp (Tenor)
Ljubava - Vera Davidova (Mezzosopran)
Volkhova - Elisaveta Shumskaja (Sopran)
Meereszar - Sergej Krasovskij (Bass)
Duda - Sergej Koltypin (Bass)
Sopel - Aleksandr Peregudov (Tenor)
Nazarich - Tjomkin Chernjakov (tenor)
Zinovich - Sergej Nikolau (Bass)
Warägischer Kaufmann - Mark Reizen (Bass)
Indischer Kaufmann - Ivan Kozlovskij (Tenor)
Venezianischer Kaufmann - Pavel Lisitsian (Bariton)
Erscheinung - Ilja Boddanov (Bariton)
Chor und Orchester des Bolschoi-Theaters, Moskau
Nikolaj Semjonovich Golovanov

[andolink]

Hi, andolink. 
How do you like this disc? I was just discussing Takacs earlier as they are releasing the Brahms string quintets on Hyperion.

It's gorgeous!  The Takacs are right in their element with Brahms and make every musical point without exaggeration.  Beautiful string tone very well captured by the recording team.  Don't hesitate--buy it!

[TheGSMoeller]

It's gorgeous!  The Takacs are right in their element with Brahms and make every musical point without exaggeration.  Beautiful string tone very well captured by the recording team.  Don't hesitate--buy it!

I didn't hesitate!   
I should have mentioned I do have the Takacs/Brahms, and I totally agree with your accurate assessments. I'm looking forward to hearing their quintet recordings.

[Todd]

[Wakefield]

Debussy: Suite bergamasque - Children's Corner - Pour le piano - Masques - L'isle joyeuse - Deux Arabesques
Angela Hewitt, piano

[asin]B008R3JM3S[/asin]

Hewitt has been a pleasant surprise here. Her usual sunny temperament and beautiful touch are capable of revealing the dark corners of this music.

There is a sort of delectation in exploring the different sonic possibilities of the piano.

Detailed liner notes written by herself.

Highly recommended. 

[Brian]

Trying this recent Canadian release...



"Dreamscapes" seems apt: the music is like walking through a landscape painting, all about moment-by-moment novelties of sound and texture and instrumental dialogue. Often very beautiful.

[pi2000]

Celibidache Michelangeli
Beethoven-Schumann
[asin] B006MBXYIG[/asin]

[Brian]

Surprised to learn that the conductor of this recording, Mary Terey-Smith, studied composition with Zoltan Kodaly!

[EigenUser]

This   0:) :
[asin]B00005NCYE[/asin]

I love George Antheil's 1st serenade for strings (the infamous "Ballet Mecanique" I find so-so, so far). I've yet to hear the symphonies (partly -- err -- mostly because I know I'll be very disappointed, based on what GMG'ers have said), but I think that this serenade sounds uniquely American. In fact, it has many qualities that I like in it, including being compact and tightly-knit. I might even write about this piece sometime in my little guide. The 1st and 3rd movements are fun to listen to and the 2nd movement is emotionally powerful (for me) without being downright depressing. A great little diversion. Nowhere near the quality of writing of something like Bartok's Divertimento for Strings (or really even comparable), but highly enjoyable nonetheless.

[EigenUser]

More American music for strings. Now, David Diamond's Rounds. Played this in my high school's orchestra five years ago -- great fun!
[asin]B000009HUU[/asin]

[Brian]

After Fung and Fasch, gonna try to make it all day listening to composers from the letter F!

Now, Jean Francaix's "Promenade for an Eclectic Musicologist," the hilarious program of which I am attaching.

[listener]

BEETHOVEN   Symphony no. 9
Berlin Philharmonic / Karajan
transfer from the 1963 LP recording
Now I can shelve it this tiresome hour for another decade or two.

[Karl Henning]

"Papa"
Symphony № 98 in B^b (H.I/98)
Symphony № 103 in E^b « Drumroll » (H.I/103)
Royal Concertgebouworkest
Sir Colin Davis

[asin]B0000041AQ[/asin]

[Bogey]

"Papa"
Symphony № 98 in B^b (H.I/98)
Symphony № 103 in E^b « Drumroll » (H.I/103)
Royal Concertgebouworkest
Sir Colin Davis

[asin]B0000041AQ[/asin]

Had this one in last week, Karl.



Good stuff.

[Karl Henning]

Cheers, Bill!

[Lisztianwagner]

First, Schuman's 3rd and now Ives' Piano Trio, when will you be listening to Barber? That's the question.

Without counting Copland's Lincoln Portrait I listened to yesterday evening. Ah, you and your precious Barber!

Samuel Barber
Adagio for strings

https://www.youtube.com/v/BGMwNe9WWmE

[Brian]

Continuing my attempt to listen to nothing but letter-F composers today!



First listens to these apparent GMG favorites.

[TheGSMoeller]

Continuing my attempt to listen to nothing but letter-F composers today!

Great idea, Brian!
Thread duty...

Ferlioz: Symphonie fantastique
Immerseel - Anima Eterna

Was surprised to see Gramophone rec this as their top choice for fantastique recordings. It's one that had a terrible first impression on me but has now become one of my absolute favorites.

[asin]B002XG8LCI[/asin]