What are you listening to now?

[king ubu]

Thanks Harry - I moved this over to the Monteverdi thread for future discussion! Would much appreciate if you can check into it, or if anyone else could provide some more insight over there:
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,1902.0.html

(corrected silly typo - apologies, was just chatting with a Larry on another board ...)

[prémont]

I love his operas and madrigals.

I was quite lucky because my very first contact with his music was through that exceptional Orfeo from the 70s, conducted by Nigel Rogers and Charles Medlam.

After two movements, I was totally caught, especially when Emma Kirkby sings the character of "La Musica."

BTW, I'm under the impression that you would enjoy very much the works recorded by Vartolo on Brilliants Classics and Naxos. They sound like, I think, the operas of that time should sound: a bit rough and brisk and not too much polished. 

Well, I shall give Orfeo another chance. Seems as if Vartolo recorded it twice (Naxos and Brilliant). Which one should be preferred?

[king ubu]

If it needn't be Naxos (don't know those two) ... I'm still for Gardiner - Anthony Rolfe Johnson is the best Orfeo to my ears.

The Venexiana and Alessandrini versions are wonderful too, though - and both come with loads of documentation (I haven't dug into the Venexiana book but read some of the naïve edition of Alessandini's recordings). They may be more "even", and they may be more "correct", I don't know, but neither has an Orfeo on the level of Johnson.

[Wakefield]

Recommend me a selva morale and a St Giovanni Battista Vespers (I already have Leonhardt)

Regarding the Selva, I own all those versions mentioned by King Ubu, and all are good; but, IMO, none of them has overall the level of the excellent disk recorded by Parrott and his ensemble. I wish they had recorded entirely this work. So, my personal recommendation would be that disk, very cheap on AMP.



http://www.amazon.com/Selva-Morale-Spirituale-Claudio-Monteverdi/dp/B000005GHE/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1431430907&sr=1-1&keywords=SELVA+PARROTT

For a complete recording in modern sound: Junghanel and his team, although all the complete set are quite close in quality.

About the Vespers, I don't have a better recommendation than Leonhardt. 

[Madiel]

Oh good, someone's giving me another chance. 

Thread duty: Sonata No.7 this time.

[asin]B000ZB2V42[/asin]

I'm in the relatively rare position for me of comparing this directly with Stern/Istomin as I go along. And really, I'm feeling that I won't be needing that part of my Stern box. In every sonata so far, Cerovsek and Jumppanen are either a match or clear winners, and winners more often. There is such a lovely energy and flow to their performances, and also in exemplary sound.

[Harry]

It even gets better after a second hearing, this brilliant keyboard work disc.

http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2015/05/recent-acquisition-renaissance-keyboard.html?spref=tw

[Wakefield]

Well, I shall give Orfeo another chance. Seems as if Vartolo recorded it twice (Naxos and Brilliant). Which one should be preferred?

I just know the one he recorded on Naxos. I bought separately his sets of operas recorded on Brilliant Classics, but I failed to get on time the Orfeo. Then it was OOP and it was re-released as a part of a set of complete operas, so I needed to purchase the complete set again just to acquire the Orfeo. Just recently it was available again as a single set at some online stores, but I haven't still purchased the BC version.

That being said, I like very much his approach on Naxos, but I have enjoyed more his Brilliant Classics recordings, so I would bet for the Brilliant Classics version (risky, but all the other disks of this series are excellent): http://www.amazon.de/Monteverdi-LOrfeo-Vartolo-Sergio/dp/B000KEHMG6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1431431469&sr=8-3&keywords=monteverdi+vartolo. BTW, the documentation of this series is quite better than usual on BC (at least in this incarnation). 

[Harry]

Not quite what I expected, but that is to be expected from such a versatile composer. You cannot please all.

http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2015/05/new-acquisition-brian-havergal.html?spref=tw

[NJ Joe]

Actually late afternoon and last evening, continuing my RVW binge, Symphonies 6 and 8 from this:

[North Star]

Sibelius
Violin Concerto in d minor, Op. 47
Kavakos
Sinfonia Lahti
Vänskä
[asin]B000027EBD[/asin]

[Harry]

Sibelius
Violin Concerto in d minor, Op. 47
Kavakos
Sinfonia Lahti
Vänskä
[asin]B000027EBD[/asin]

Good luck with it. As I remember it was the only disc in my life, that I broke in several pieces after having heard one version. That was very unusual for me, but I wanted to make sure never to hear this, well both versions ever again.

[North Star]

Good luck with it. As I remember it was the only disc in my life, that I broke in several pieces after having heard one version. That was very usual for me, but I wanted to make sure never to hear this, well both versions ever again.

Hah. I've known the Kavakos a long time. It's a great recording, but perhaps you need more syrup on your pancake.

[amw]

1st listened to the marathon symphony



Long piece, but it pays off >.>

[Karl Henning]

Actually late afternoon and last evening, continuing my RVW binge, Symphonies 6 and 8 from this:

I love that set!

[North Star]

First Listen

Saariaho
Cinq reflets de 'L'Amour de loin'
Pia Freund (s), Gabriel Suovanen (bt)
Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Finnish RSO

[asin]B006O8K3YK[/asin]

[Sergeant Rock]

Valen Symphony No.2 op.40, Ceccato conducting the Bergen Phil




Sarge

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

Heute geh' ich mit meiner Zeitmaschine zum Mittelalter zurück: 

[asin]B003JBYB8O[/asin]

[Harry]

Some Madetoja in the early afternoon.

http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2015/05/recent-acquisition-madetoja-leevi.html?spref=tw

[Sergeant Rock]

Beethoven Symphony No.7, Thielemann conducting the Philharmonia




Sarge

[San Antone]

The First