What are you listening to now?

[Harry]

Some Bach to sooth my nerves.

http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2014/10/bach-js-complete-organ-works-cd-4.html?spref=tw

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

Sibelius VC.  I was expecting something more outré from the wildman but other than the "zigeuner throb" (Penguin Guide) in the canzonetta movement, this is a faithful, even attractive performance, if a bit cool and distant, but still interesting.  BTW: Hurwitz calls this CD "flat and lifeless" - not hearing it that way myself at least in the Sibelius.

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[Mirror Image]

Berlioz & Minkowski are a pretty solid combination I have to say.

I'd say so, too. Tamestit and Otter certainly add to their magic touches as well.

[Brian]

The other evening I watched Falstaff on Mezzo TV, from the Zurich Opera House and I tell you frankly that, had it not been for the extraordinary facial expressions of Ambrogio Maestri I wouldn't have laughed at all. The music, great as it is, is nothing comic except in very few moments. There is much more fun, musically speaking, in this one-act, less-than-an-hour-long farce of Rossini than in the whole Falstaff. 

Maybe it was the direction and production. I saw Ambrogio Maestri's Falstaff at the Met in New York and it was the most joyous opera I have ever seen. Part of it is that Maestri is 100% pure magic, but part of it no doubt was the more traditional set, the outstanding directing, and the leadership of James Levine.

[Karl Henning]

Sibelius VC.  I was expecting something more outré from the wildman but other than the "zigeuner throb" (Penguin Guide) in the canzonetta movement, this is a faithful, even attractive performance, if a bit cool and distant, but still interesting.  BTW: Hurwitz calls this CD "flat and lifeless" - not hearing it that way myself at least in the Sibelius.

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I've always liked that one better than "the Hurwitzer" was willing to give it credit for.

[Florestan]

Maybe it was the direction and production.

I don't remember the name of the director. Gabriele Ferro conducted.

I saw Ambrogio Maestri's Falstaff at the Met in New York and it was the most joyous opera I have ever seen. Part of it is that Maestri is 100% pure magic, but part of it no doubt was the more traditional set, the outstanding directing, and the leadership of James Levine.

Indeed, Maestri is sensational. He must have been born to be Falstaff. 

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

I've always liked that one better than "the Hurwitzer" was willing to give it credit for.

I think Hurwitz may be getting hung-up on the "punk personality" and not - as Kennedy urges - "just listen[ing]..."   

[North Star]

I've always liked that one better than "the Hurwitzer" was willing to give it credit for.

I've only heard this Nigel & Simon recording once but I liked it very much.

I think Hurwitz may be getting hung-up on the "punk personality" and not - as Kennedy urges - "just listen[ing]..."   

I'd rather listen to Howitzer than Hurwitzer when deciding what not to buy. When deciding what to buy, I can just see if Hurwitzer didn't like it..

[SonicMan46]

Paganini, Nicolo - Guitar Quartets w/ Quartetto Paganini - continuing w/ this 5-disc box this morning - Dave

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

I'd rather listen to Howitzer than Hurwitzer when deciding what not to buy. When deciding what to buy, I can just see if Hurwitzer didn't like it..

[Harry]

Some nice but disturbing music....

http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2014/10/rodrigo-joaquin-1901-1999-jr-edition.html?spref=tw

[Brian]

Saw a rave review of this, decided to give it a try.



Terrific. For all fans of Scarlatti who prefer modern pianism to HIP keyboardism. Mateusz Borowiak is a promising young performer, and the music is a lot of fun. Sonatas range from 2 to 8 minutes long, and there are three "in the Dorian mode".

[Mookalafalas]

Maybe it was the direction and production. I saw Ambrogio Maestri's Falstaff at the Met in New York and it was the most joyous opera I have ever seen. Part of it is that Maestri is 100% pure magic, but part of it no doubt was the more traditional set, the outstanding directing, and the leadership of James Levine.

there is a video of Muti conducting Falstaff at La Scala which has tons of slap-stick shenanigans accompanying the numbers. It's fun and impressive.  That said, I don't think anything beats a good Barber of Seville.

[Harry]

The best cd so far in this box, and I mean business!

http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2014/10/telemann-georg-philipp-1681-1767.html?spref=tw

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Le Pas D'acier before heading into work. Great piece.

[kishnevi]

When it comes to comedy, nobody can hold a candle to Rossini, absolutely nobody. The other evening I watched Falstaff on Mezzo TV, from the Zurich Opera House and I tell you frankly that, had it not been for the extraordinary facial expressions of Ambrogio Maestri I wouldn't have laughed at all. The music, great as it is, is nothing comic except in very few moments. There is much more fun, musically speaking, in this one-act, less-than-an-hour-long farce of Rossini than in the whole Falstaff. 

BTW, Ambrogio Maestri looks almost like the reincarnation of Rossini. 

I've never thought of Falstaff as being a laugh out loud comedy, although there are some slapstick/broad humor moments.  It's more of a two hour benign meditation on human frailty, in which the outright comic moments have more impact because they are spaced out.  That said, one of my favorite moments in comedy is from Act III:  when Falstaff recognizes amid the beating he's being subjected to, Bardolph's nose.  And the musical ensembles, in which characters weave in and out of each other musically and sometimes spatially, are perhaps like nothing else in opera.

Regarding Signor Bruschino, I have the recording on Naxos,  very enjoyable if you are looking for an alternative version.

[Mandryka]

I always laugh out loud when she goes "reverencia!" And the last scene, in Windsor Park, and he doesn't know he's been set up, and then he think's its a bunch of fairies which are attacking him. The whole business of him thinking he's still sexually attractive too - very funny. And it's funny when he's in the laundry basket.

[Moonfish]

Callas....   

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[Drasko]

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[bhodges]

Smetana: Overture to The Bartered Bride
Martinů: Double Concerto for Two String Orchestras, Piano and Timpani

Mariss Jansons / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
(Live recording from the Barbican, 2011, on SymphonyCast)

This is the first half of an excellent concert; the second half is Brahms's Fourth Symphony. The Smetana is fizzy and fun, but the Martinů is sensational - to hear it played by this orchestra is a rare treat.

http://symphonycast.publicradio.org/display/programs/2011/02/07/

--Bruce