What are you listening to now?

[Moonfish]

Elgar: Symphony No 2          London PO/Boult

I couldn't resist......   0:)

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[Mirror Image]

Now:



A new acquisition. This is my first-listen to this work. I've heard the suite for this ballet before, but this is the only recording of the complete ballet. Sounds nice so far.

[André]

Yes, I have yet to get a feel for Maazel's recordings overall. He seems to have a reputation for being uneven. I am curious about his early recordings on DG. Have you heard any of those recordings? Sibelius: If I recall correctly the Pittsburgh cycle is a bit glacial for me, but some listeners argue that it brings out new aspects in the music. Perhaps Maazel's Pittsburgh cycle is the Celibidache version of Sibelius?  At this point I prefer the Wiener Philharmoniker cycle out of the two.  In terms of Sibelius cycles - way too many at about 15/16, but few compared to your 25 cycles (or is it 26 now?  ).  In my mind Lahti/Vänskä rules although I would like to hear the Minnesota recordings (1/4 & 2/5).      Still, it is hard to choose among so many great cycles (as I am sure you are well aware).

On a different note: did you ever listen to Vänskä's Beethoven with the Minnesota Orchestra?

IMHO the young Maazel is akin to the young Mehta or the young Abbado: much better than their mature, career-successful selves, let alone their tired, conservative old, non-innovative last years. Granted, Abbado actually accelerated his tempi somewhat, but his music making became dessicated, bordering on the quasi-suffocated. I do give high marks to his late Mahler recordings, though. On the opposite, Maazel's became more expansive, but that did not induce warmer, rounder, more blended tones. There is an emphysematic, almost dyspeptic quality to his last recordings. No golden sunset, alas.

Mehta is not much active in the recording studios any more, but his concert schedule is quite full. Strangely, no Sibelius from him.

Barenboim is of the same generation and training, but has of late pursued an active operatic career. No Sibelius symphonies from him either and strangely, very little Mahler.

[André]

Some Bartoque under Pierre Boulez (the DG box). All the concertos (violin, piano, alto), Rhapsodies for violin. Whoever plays, this is Pierre's show. Excellent execution, but no dirt or other form of soil, let alone sweat and tears is to be found here. I'm afraid an undiscerning newcomer will get a wrong impression of the composer from these spic&span readings.

[Wakefield]

His symphony on Naxos, I think 3, is dull.

I don't care because symphonies, excepting Classical period, aren't part of my musical habits. My bad. 

I thought the cello sonatas were excellent, although not extraordinarily varied.

The performers are really excellent and should be carefully observed. 

[kishnevi]

Barenboim is of the same generation and training, but has of late pursued an active operatic career. No Sibelius symphonies from him either and strangely, very little Mahler.

But that Mahler is in general high quality...the only exception being his Fifth with the CSO. Two especially to be remarked on

Anyone heard his new M9 released in April?
TD

CD 4
Concerti di Camera performed by Camerata Koln

[André]

Mozart: Requiem. soloists include Irmgard Seefried and Kim Borg. Wiener Symphoniker, under Eugen Jochum. The WS has famously recorded a Requiem under Karl Böhm (Philips label) in the bicentennial year (1956, the year I was born!).

The Böhm is a studio recording, whereas the Jochum was part of a liturgical celebration of the Mass for the Dead, meaning there was a celebrant and the whole thing was a liturgical, not merely musical occasion. Therefore each musical section was followed by a section of the Mass. Nevertheless, when this was eventually reissued by DGG as a recording of the Mozart Requiem alone, no real discrepancy between section could be heard. Such was Jochum's musical acumen that the whole regrouped sections sounded much like a studio recording. Except for the odd triangle part, which must have signalled the moment for the Elevation.

[Moonfish]

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos 12 & 18                    Kraus/Boston SO/Monteux 

[Ken B]

IMHO the young Maazel is akin to the young Mehta or the young Abbado: much better than their mature, career-successful selves, let alone their tired, conservative old, non-innovative last years. Granted, Abbado actually accelerated his tempi somewhat, but his music making became dessicated, bordering on the quasi-suffocated. I do give high marks to his late Mahler recordings, though. On the opposite, Maazel's became more expansive, but that did not induce warmer, rounder, more blended tones. There is an emphysematic, almost dyspeptic quality to his last recordings. No golden sunset, alas.

Mehta is not much active in the recording studios any more, but his concert schedule is quite full. Strangely, no Sibelius from him.

Barenboim is of the same generation and training, but has of late pursued an active operatic career. No Sibelius symphonies from him either and strangely, very little Mahler.

No no. I bought the Abbado symphony box, him being a conductor I rately heard, mostly late, and it's really outstanding.

[Todd]

[Artem]

I was able to listen to these two CDs tonight while entertaining my baby daughter, which is not easy when you try to concentrate on music.

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[Ken B]

Sibelius
Symphony 7
CBSO Rattle

Not great. But Scene with Cranes is very beautiful.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



A new acquisition. This is my first-listen to this work. I've heard the suite for this ballet before, but this is the only recording of the complete ballet. Sounds nice so far.

I took a little cat nap and am now returning to this recording.

[Green Destiny]

You're embarking in a wonderful journey, Conor71! As Froh says at the end of the second scene, "Glück auf!"

Out of curiosity, which is the other cycle you ordered?

Cheers,

Sorry for the late reply and thanks for the well wishes
The other cycle I bought is Solti's - I am expecting it to be delivered next week and will try to listen to both cycles for comparision.

[Ken B]

Stravinsky
Symphony in 3 movements
Philharmonia, Constantin Silvestri

This is another conductor who died fairly young, in the late 1960s. A splendid one too.

Update. This is outstanding, very detailed. One of the best performances of this for sure.

Now: Bartok, Divertimento
Philharmonia
Silvestri

Also excellent so far. A good sense of Bartok's distinctive sound world. You can sense Silvestri's control of the orchestra.

[Que]

Back to a Golden Oldie, the Baumont disc that won me over!

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Q

[Moonfish]

Bantock:
A Celtic Symphony
The Witch of Atlas
The Sea Reivers
A Hebridean Symphony

Royal PO/Handley

An enchanting disk! The Witch of Atlas is mesmerizing!

[Mirror Image]

Bantock:
A Celtic Symphony
The Witch of Atlas
The Sea Reivers
A Hebridean Symphony

Royal PO/Handley

An enchanting disk! The Witch of Atlas is mesmerizing!

It certainly is a great recording, Peter. Even though The Sea Reivers is such a short work, it's one of most riveting orchestral miniatures I've heard, especially towards the end with that horn part which signals an orchestral frenzy until finally subsiding. Absolutely glorious!

[North Star]

Bantock:
A Celtic Symphony
The Witch of Atlas
The Sea Reivers
A Hebridean Symphony

Royal PO/Handley

Joining in on this. 

[Mirror Image]

Continuing on with Saraste's Sibelius:



Finishing Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52. Fantastic performance.