What are you listening to now?

[Brian]

Mirror Image is a good influence. Or a bad influence, if this cycle stinks. I'm starting with No. 1 and moving on from there.

Shockingly sloppy orchestral playing in the first movement. It wasn't enough for me to turn it off, and the slow movement's better, but that was definitely at the "how did they allow this to reach CD?" level.

Oh. Scherzo just started and the timpanist bungled his rhythm. Again, how did they not re-record these sections?!

The main plus to this recording is the very good transparency - lots of inner voices to be heard.

[Christo]

I've been listening to this, off and on, in the car the last few days. I need to sit down with Madetoja and give him a proper listen.

Sarge

Confessing here that I like Madetoja's symphonies even more than those by Sibelius, will only further harm my reputation. Yet I do. 

[Karl Henning]

Not having heard Madetoja's, I don't have an opinion prejudicial to your esteemed self.

But . . . your opinion may possibly disincline me to bother with Madetoja 

[Christo]

Not having heard Madetoja's, I don't have an opinion prejudicial to your esteemed self.

But . . . your opinion may possibly disincline me to bother with Madetoja 

That's what I suggested. 

[Karl Henning]

None dare call it obsession:

Liszt
Sonata in b minor, S.178 (1852-53)
Argerich

[asin]B001BWQVSG[/asin]

[San Antone]

None dare call it obsession:

Liszt
Sonata in b minor, S.178 (1852-53)
Argerich

[asin]B001BWQVSG[/asin]

Hear, hear!

I plan on listening to at least parts to as many recordings I can find through a combination of Spotify, YouTube, other streaming sources, my own collection and a number of new purchases.  Although Clara Schumann never played the work (and was quite dismissive of it, despite it being dedicated to her husband, but delivered after he was committed) - just about every other pianist has.

Now in the batter's box

[Todd]

[San Antone]

Wanderer Fantasie

[Sergeant Rock]

Haydn String Quartet B flat op.71/1 played by the Auryn Quartet




Sarge

[Karl Henning]

None dare call it obsession:

Liszt
Sonata in b minor, S.178 (1852-53)
Argerich

[asin]B001BWQVSG[/asin]

There is a fiery intensity Argerich brings to the piece which is exhilarating.  Very different from Hamelin, who is also fabulously convincing in the piece.  Both marvelously good performances, and providing yet another illustration of why Music is not a horse race.

[Mirror Image]

Mirror Image is a good influence. Or a bad influence, if this cycle stinks. I'm starting with No. 1 and moving on from there.

The cycle gets better as it progresses but it's still not a clear favorite like Vanska/Lahti or Segerstam/Helsinki. Since these are live recordings, there is noise from the audience (i. e. coughing, sneezing), so this doesn't really help this particular cycle's case that much, but it's still quite good despite this hinderance.

[Mirror Image]

I've been listening to this, off and on, in the car the last few days. I need to sit down with Madetoja and give him a proper listen.



Sarge

I like Madetoja's symphonies a good bit. I wouldn't say I'm completely enthralled by them (like I am Sibelius' or Nielsen's), but they're quite enjoyable. Symphony No. 2, in particular, has a very moving slow movement.

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

Monkey's Uncle!  Add me to the Liszt :

[asin] B0000040Y5[/asin]

[Christo]

Symphony No. 2, in particular, has a very moving slow movement.

Indeed. A rare and pure 'solitude' in the true sense of the word, referring to the pastoral music of the lonely herdboy Madetoja himself once was. 

[Mirror Image]

Indeed. A rare and pure 'solitude' in the true sense of the word, referring to the pastoral music of the lonely herdboy Madetoja himself once was. 

Yes, well the 2nd is a 'war symphony' as it was written around the time of the Finnish Civil War. There must be some kind of longing in that particular movement.

Now:



Listening to Swanwhite Suite, Op. 54. Great stuff.

[North Star]

There is a fiery intensity Argerich brings to the piece which is exhilarating.  Very different from Hamelin, who is also fabulously convincing in the piece.  Both marvelously good performances, and providing yet another illustration of why Music is not a horse race.

This is something I might have written. Actually, I should go back and see that you didn't plagiarize me.  0:)

[Karl Henning]

And, why not?:

Liszt
Sonata in b minor, S.178 (1852-53)
Володя (Владимир Самойлович [ Vladimir Samoylovich (Horowitz) ])

[Karl Henning]

This is something I might have written. Actually, I should go back and see that you didn't plagiarize me.  0:)

If I did plagiarize you . . . at least I had committed your remarks to memory 

[San Antone]

And, why not?:

Liszt
Sonata in b minor, S.178 (1852-53)
Володя (Владимир Самойлович [ Vladimir Samoylovich (Horowitz) ])

Is that Horowitz the 1932 performance that everyone thinks is great(est), or the much later one (1977?) that everyone thought was strange?

[Brian]

Since these are live recordings, there is noise from the audience (i. e. coughing, sneezing),

Ahhhh, that explains all the sloppy playing. Not bad for what they are, then, I guess, but there are just too many other options.