What are you listening to now?

[Que]

Well here it goes:

[asin]B00004VXDK[/asin]

On the left the cover of my copy, that judging from an old sticker came from the left over stock of the now defunct last classical music store in my home town.
On the right the reissue that is currently in circulation.

Dig it, man!  Nice scores. 

Ever since Florestan recommended the group Alla Francesca, I have been quite curious about them. 

Looking forward to reading your impressions, Que.

I was coincidental that I bumped into this and decided to give it a chance because this group came up.
Even though this disc focuses on early repertoire I 'm less comfortable with: Medieval songs with instrumental accompaniment.

Found some information on the ensemble:
Alla Francesca was founded in 1989, by members of Ensemble Gilles Binchois. The central members of Alla Francesca are Brigitte Lesne (voice, harp), Emmanuel Bonnardot (voice, fiddle) and Pierre Hamon (winds), and each of the three continues to perform with Ensemble Gilles Binchois as well as their own projects. Lesne directs the female vocal ensemble Discantus, Bonnardot directs the vocal ensemble Obsidienne, while Hamon works as a recorder soloist in a broad range of repertory. As of 2002, Alla Francesca is directed by Hamon alone.

A discography HERE

Q

[Autumn Leaves]

Tonight's listening - Part 1:



Piano Trio #5, "Ghost"



Random Violin Sonatas - this recording does it for me.

[Que]

I was inclined to listen to Glen Wilson's WTC2 because his Froberger has been released on Naxos today, though I'll wait till it comes to spotify unless someone tells me it's interesting enough to buy.

This WTC is astonishingly original for its ethos of tough love, or maybe the ethos of the Spanish Inquisition, it makes me think of clichés like "force of nature." I have reservations about his style, he sometimes seems to pound out chords to accentuate the pulse and I don't like that, though it's not ubiquitous. And he's not much of a colourist, or a creator of varied textures. But I don't want to quibble because this is a visionary performance.

It is one of my favourite recordings of these pieces. No quibbles...

Though love? Leonhardt's puritan approach, now that's though love.....

Q

PS For those interested:

[asin]B00004WIJC[/asin]

[asin]B00004WIJB[/asin]

[Florestan]

followed by



Mysterious and impressionistic poetry and then ethereal beauty and serenity. Perfect pairing.

[Wanderer]

Streaming:

[asin]B01J1Y6AP4[/asin]

Released today. Very idiosyncratic - and slower than average -  playing from Mustonen (which doesn't always seem justified by the results); however, his approach does seem to work well in the final pages of the Third Concerto.

[jlaurson]

#morninglistening to #Bach's #GoldbergVariations w/Christine Schornsheim then & now. On @S... http://ift.tt/2cpNt7r

[Que]

Straight onto another recent purchase:



Vols. 1 & 2  Menno van Delft

I'd love to have another harpsichord version (for which I think the music was intended) next to Robert Hill's awesome interpretation (Hänssler Bach Edition).

Q

[Harry]

New acquisition. First listen. Some fine organ music, and hopefully all details about the organ correctly, otherwise Premont will correct it

http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2016/09/renaissance-baroque-organs-from.html?spref=tw

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Schumann's original scoring, of course. Chailly has done a good job with Mahler's reorchestrations, if you're interested in that kind of meddling.

Different conductors do different things with an orchestration that I think is perfectly good. Unfortuantely it is rather difficult to find 'original orchestration' Schumann symphonies which are texturally clear. Zinman, Nezet-Seguin and Bernstein are my favourites for Schumann and i am probably more picky about my Schumann preferences than anything else in the orchestral repertoire! (I am against the meddling)

[Monsieur Croche]

Streaming:

[asin]B01J1Y6AP4[/asin]

Released today. Very idiosyncratic - and slower than average -  playing from Mustonen (which doesn't always seem justified by the results); however, his approach does seem to work well in the final pages of the Third Concerto.

The 1st and 3rd can be had on one disc, Gary Graffman, George Szell, Cleveland Orchestra.  Both are extraordinarily fine, and that rare thing, the ensemble and soloist are all completely on top of things.  The 3rd there is not the fastest, nor the slowest, but has the proper weight and momentum giving it more drive than many a faster recorded version.  When it comes to this recording, imo, "there are none better ~ just different" :-)

[Autumn Leaves]

Tonight's listening - Part 2:



Now listening to random Preludes & Fugues from this box-set.

[North Star]

Different conductors do different things with an orchestration that I think is perfectly good. Unfortuantely it is rather difficult to find 'original orchestration' Schumann symphonies which are texturally clear. Zinman, Nezet-Seguin and Bernstein are my favourites for Schumann and i am probably more picky about my Schumann preferences than anything else in the orchestral repertoire! (I am against the meddling)

I strongly recommend checking out Gardiner.

https://www.youtube.com/v/pVXt9pO0cpo

[asin]B00H5DNC32[/asin]

[Autumn Leaves]

I NEED to get that,it's a MUST for me!!!

Ahh, its one of my favourite boxes (it's very good)
The Organist for this set released a new integral a few years back too which you might also be interested in (its an all-digital recording):



I want to get this one too at some stage!

[Harry]

A third rerun of a very fine disc. After this hearing it goes into my storage for a indefinite time! 

http://walboi.blogspot.nl/2016/09/new-acquisition-pleyel-ignace-joseph.html?spref=tw

[Visions_fugitives]

Tonight's listening were Fauré's last three Barcarolles.
Very interesting, if maybe not overwhelming, listen.

n.12 in particular: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADZE9ItZP2o

[Autumn Leaves]

Bach's organ music is his best (to me), apart from A Musical Offering and the Mass in B minor.
Art of Fugue to this day, still takes me to a place that only Messiaen and Scriabin can, it's majestic.
All his many other, smaller fugues are also fantastic. I really NEED that, it's been on my wish-list way too long 

In full agreement about Bach's Organ Music - its my favourite part of his output too.
You definitely wont regret it if you get a full set - Ive listened to all the box and every work is fantastic!

[Karl Henning]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing this with the group!

Thank you!

[Karl Henning]

Fun to be back.

Good to see you!

[Karl Henning]

Schoenberg's Op.47 Phantasy for violin and piano. Phantastic.

[asin]B0000012WL[/asin]

Glad you're enjoying it!

[Karl Henning]

Stravinsky : Le Baiser de la Fée (complete)
https://www.youtube.com/v/sB8bPV0a9FQ

... some of the best Tchaikovsky I've yet heard ;-)

Seriously, a lovely score.

Aye, one of my favorite Igor Fyodorovich scores truly.

(And, all right:  I have a long list of favorite Igor Fyodorovich scores.  I see that  0:) )