What are YOU listening to today?

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 6:20 am

Pretty soon I will start preparing for lunch and later, dinner, and I will do so to the strains of Part 1 of the JSB Christmas Oratorio with JE Gardiner....

JEG and the gang are all very welcome to join me if they are free and in the area

josé echenique · Post by **josé echenique** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 10:27 am

This year I´m going to play René Jacobs, joyful, rousing Christmas Oratorio. It has one of the most gorgeous quartets ever, with Dorothea Röschmann, Andreas Scholl, Werner Güra and Klaus Häger. Probably only Karl Richter has an even finer quartet.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

maestrob · Post by **maestrob** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 10:54 am

In honor of John Aldiss....

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:19 pm

An afternoon dominated by JSB (won't Fergus be pleased).

Johann Sebastian Bach
Christmas Oratorio Part 1
Bach Collegium Japan
Masaaki Suzuki - conducting

Johann Sebastian Bach
Christmas Oratorio Part 1
Concentus musicus Wien
Nikolas Harnoncourt - conducting

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:26 pm

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 1
NBC Symphony Orchestra
Auturo Toscanini - conducting.

The first symphony is a wonderful start to this box set and if the rest of it is as good as this performance suggests then I'm in for a real treat. This is another good recommendation from Fergus.

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 7:02 pm

Lance's program on Bach's Christmas Oratorio.

Prometheus · Post by **Prometheus** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 7:37 pm

Mahler-Symphony 2 for 2 pianos-Behn and Weber-Musicaphon.

Donaldopato · Post by **Donaldopato** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 9:25 pm

Caught the end of Lance's program and then Brahms Symphony # 4. Chavez Sinfonia India, and Diamond Symphony # 4 Bernstein NYP

Now Mahler Symphony # 3 Levine/CSO

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 3:57 am

Seán wrote:An afternoon dominated by JSB (won't Fergus be pleased).

Yes he will

You could not spend Christmas Day in better musical company Seán....I hope that you enjoy that Suzuki set....it is very fine

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 4:01 am

Seán wrote:

The first symphony is a wonderful start to this box set and if the rest of it is as good as this performance suggests then I'm in for a real treat....

Buckle up Seán and put your helmet on....you are in for quite a bombastic ride through the entire set; it is wonderful and very invogorating cycle and I am sure that you will enjoy the rest of it

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 4:03 am

josé echenique wrote:

I have not heard that set José but it looks very interesting indeed

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 4:04 am

Two Cantatas, BWV40 & Bwv121 for the Second Day of Christmas....

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 6:35 am

Fergus wrote:
Seán wrote:An afternoon dominated by JSB (won't Fergus be pleased).

Yes he will
You could not spend Christmas Day in better musical company Seán....I hope that you enjoy that Suzuki set....it is very fine

I do indeed, I'll listen to Part 2 today (and Part 1 again too, though I shouldn't - it's sinless indulgence on my part

). The music of JSB is truly magnificent.

bombasticDarren · Post by **bombasticDarren** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 6:53 am

J.S. Bach - Cantata BWV 55 'Ich armer Mensch, ich Sundenknecht' (James Gilchrist/John Eliot Gardiner, The Monteverdi Choir/The English Baroque Soloists, Soli Deo Gloria) below

Bartok - Violin Concerto No.1 (Arabella Steinbacher/Marek Janowski, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Pentatone)

Janacek - Violin Sonata (Vadim Repin/Nikolai Lugansky, DG)

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 7:10 am

Wow....lots of JS Bach being played....I hope that you are all enjoying it

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 7:11 am

Christmas Oratorio Part 2....

This version is to honour Lance at this time of the year for all of the sterling work that he does behind the scenes to keep the show on the road

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 9:11 am

Today also being the Sunday after Christmas it is an occasion that also has some specific Cantatas written for it. I have chosen BWV28 to listen to....

josé echenique · Post by **josé echenique** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 9:23 am

Fergus wrote:
josé echenique wrote:

I have not heard that set José but it looks very interesting indeed

I think it´s one of the better recordings of this work Fergus. It´s already some 10 years old, but that means that Dorothea Röschmann and Andreas Scholl are in great voice, singing much better than of late. The Akademie für Alte Musik is in excellent form too, with some admirable timpani playing in the first chorus. I also like very much the Gardiner recording and his soloists, especially the sweet-voiced tenor Hans Peter Blochwitz who is one of my favorite tenors for Bach and Mozart. Anne Sofie von Otter and Olaf Bär are glorious too (needless to say), but Jacobs scores with the young Dorothea Röschmann, who at the time had a heavenly voice.

josé echenique · Post by **josé echenique** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 9:30 am

Fergus wrote:Christmas Oratorio Part 2....

This version is to honour Lance at this time of the year for all of the sterling work that he does behind the scenes to keep the show on the road

That´s the second recording I bought of the Christmas Oratorio after the Karl Richter. Jochum conducts a more cozy and joyful performance than Richter, even though Richter has the most formidable quartet ever: Janowitz, Ludwig, Wunderlich and Crass (who can top that?). But Jochum´s quartet is pretty good too, especially Elly Ameling and Hermann Prey. And the marvelous Bavarian orchestra and chorus deserve especial praise, they were barely 20 years old when the recording was made, and they sound marvelous.

bombasticDarren · Post by **bombasticDarren** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 10:08 am

J.S. Bach - 'Christmas Oratorio' Parts 1-3 (Monika Frimmer/Yoshikazu Mera/Gerd Turk/Peter Kooij/Masaaki Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, BIS)

Grieg - Violin Sonata No.2 (Vadim Repin/Nikolai Lugansky, DG)

Mozart - Symphony No.40 (John Eliot Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists, Philips) below

Donaldopato · Post by **Donaldopato** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 10:21 am

Daniel Jones Symponies 4 7 and 8

Sir Charles Groves RPO 4 and 7
Bryden Thomson BBC Welsh SO 8

Lyrita 329

I enjoy the music of this colorful and adventurous composer.

Chung · Post by **Chung** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 1:29 pm

Symphonies Nos. 4 & 6: This is a thoroughly better effort from Masur than his go-round from the '70s on Brilliant Classics' box of Beethoven's complete works. The woodwinds and timpani here aren't recessed into near-nothingness as in that earlier cycle, and the use of the edition by C.F. Peters seems to inspire Masur more, even if Peters' edition is nowhere near as radical as the one by Bährenreiter.

Introduction and Allegro appassionato: A nice alternative from Barenboim accompanied by Fischer-Dieskau and the Phiharmonia Orch. my copy from Naxos with Wit and the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra accompanying Biret.

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 2:42 pm

Time for some Mahler.

Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 2
Sinfonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Heather Harper soprano
Janet Baker mezzo-soprano
Otto Klemperer - conducting

On the TT:

Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 2
Emilia Cundrai soprano
Maureen Forrester mezzo-soprano
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Bruno Walter - conducting.

Today, I listened to two different and really powerful interpretations of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony. I first listened to Klemperer's recording from January 1965, this is a lovely performance and is perhaps even preferable to his earlier recording with the Philharmonia Orchestra. The second one is Walter's 1957/58 recording from Carnegie Hall. Both are tremendous and it is lovely to compare and contrast the totally different approaches by these two Mahlerian giants.

In 1907 Mahler gave Otto Klemperer a reference of recommendation and Klemperer carried it with him to the day he died, as well he might, Mahler wrote:

"Gustav Mahler recommends Herr Klemperer as an outstanding musician, who despite his youth is already very experienced and is predestined for a conductor's career. He vouches for the successful outcome of any probationary appointment and will provide further information personally"
Klemperer later recalled, 'It opened every door to me', he said, 'Mahler was, in effect, my "Creator Spiritus".'

bombasticDarren · Post by **bombasticDarren** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 2:47 pm

Borodin - 'In the Steppes of Central Asia' &

Rimsky-Korsakov - 'Scheherazade' (Valery Gergiev, Kirov Orchestra, Decca)

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 2:51 pm

Prometheus wrote:Mahler-Symphony 2 for 2 pianos-Behn and Weber-Musicaphon.

I must get a copy of that recording.

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 2:53 pm

Johann Sebastian Bach
Christmas Oratorio Part 1 and Part 2
Bach Collegium Japan
Masaaki Suzuki - conducting

This is wonderfully uplifting music.

bombasticDarren · Post by **bombasticDarren** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 2:56 pm

Seán wrote:
Johann Sebastian Bach
Christmas Oratorio Part 1 and Part 2
Bach Collegium Japan
Masaaki Suzuki - conducting

This is wonderfully uplifting music.

I am glad to see you have that set Sean. I trust you will plan to collect the cantatas by the same forces too

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 3:02 pm

bombasticDarren wrote:
Seán wrote: Johann Sebastian Bach
Christmas Oratorio Part 1 and Part 2
Bach Collegium Japan
Masaaki Suzuki - conducting

This is wonderfully uplifting music.
I am glad to see you have that set Sean. I trust you will plan to collect the cantatas by the same forces too

Thus far, I have deliberately avoided getting sucked in to Bach's music, there is so much of it out there. The Suzuki sets are tempting indeed, I'll wait and see. Perhaps the new Gardiner cycle will be released in a massive box set, now that would be worth getting.

Donaldopato · Post by **Donaldopato** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 3:33 pm

Some Roussel: Symphony # 1 and 3 Orchestre National de France Dutoit

johnQpublic · Post by **johnQpublic** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 5:17 pm

LPs

Arne - Overture #2 from"Eight Overtures in 8 Parts" (Hogwood/L'Oiseau -Lyre)
Draghi - Ground: "Scocca pur" (Tilney/Argo)
Susato - Four Flemish Dances (American Brass Qnt/Folkways)
J.S. Bach - Cello Suite #2 (Starker/Mercury)
Molter - Clarinet Concerto in G (Stadlmair/Archiv)

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 5:40 pm

Seán wrote: Today, I listened to two different and really powerful interpretations of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony.

Wow Seán, that was a marathon listening session even if it was enjoyable....but I suppose time flies when one is enjoying oneself

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 5:42 pm

josé echenique wrote:I think it´s one of the better recordings of this work Fergus. It´s already some 10 years old, but that means that Dorothea Röschmann and Andreas Scholl are in great voice, singing much better than of late. The Akademie für Alte Musik is in excellent form too, with some admirable timpani playing in the first chorus. I also like very much the Gardiner recording and his soloists, especially the sweet-voiced tenor Hans Peter Blochwitz who is one of my favorite tenors for Bach and Mozart. Anne Sofie von Otter and Olaf Bär are glorious too (needless to say), but Jacobs scores with the young Dorothea Röschmann, who at the time had a heavenly voice.

With the three highlighted names above José your case becomes even more compelling. I wonder if I will be listening to this recording next Christmas....

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 5:45 pm

Seán wrote:Thus far, I have deliberately avoided getting sucked in to Bach's music, there is so much of it out there. The Suzuki sets are tempting indeed, I'll wait and see. Perhaps the new Gardiner cycle will be released in a massive box set, now that would be worth getting.

They are an excellent place to start Seán

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 5:49 pm

This is lovely music that is beautifully sung.

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 6:04 pm

Fergus wrote:
Seán wrote:Thus far, I have deliberately avoided getting sucked in to Bach's music, there is so much of it out there. The Suzuki sets are tempting indeed, I'll wait and see. Perhaps the new Gardiner cycle will be released in a massive box set, now that would be worth getting.
They are an excellent place to start Seán

and they were available on amazon at a very reasonable price, oh dear

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 6:07 pm

Fergus wrote:
Seán wrote: Today, I listened to two different and really powerful interpretations of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony.
Wow Seán, that was a marathon listening session even if it was enjoyable....but I suppose time flies when one is enjoying oneself

It's not unusal Fergus, I will, at times, spend hours listening to and comparing different pieces of music, the difficulty is in finding the time to do so.

Prometheus · Post by **Prometheus** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:34 am

Seán wrote:
Prometheus wrote:Mahler-Symphony 2 for 2 pianos-Behn and Weber-Musicaphon.

I must get a copy of that recording.

It's a good alternate perspective of the work. I have heard that Bruno Walter made a transcription as well, but I do not think it has been recorded.

Prometheus · Post by **Prometheus** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:36 am

Tallis-Complete Works-Dixon-Brilliant.

Some selections from this box set today.

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 3:29 am

Seán wrote:and they were available on amazon at a very reasonable price, oh dear

If you can get them at a reasonable price Seán I would do so as, firstly, they will be worth every penny and secondly, they will stand the test of time no matter what direction your taste in this music will ultimately take you in.

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 3:30 am

Seán wrote:It's not unusal Fergus, I will, at times, spend hours listening to and comparing different pieces of music, the difficulty is in finding the time to do so.

Ah, Life, the thief of Time

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 3:31 am

Prometheus wrote: I have heard that Bruno Walter made a transcription as well, but I do not think it has been recorded.

That certainly would be an interesting listening proposition.

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 3:32 am

Two beautiful Cantatas, BWV64 & BWV151 for the Third Day of Christmas....

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 4:24 am

Fergus wrote:
Seán wrote:It's not unusal Fergus, I will, at times, spend hours listening to and comparing different pieces of music, the difficulty is in finding the time to do so.
Ah, Life, the thief of Time

Well said.

val · Post by **val** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 5:12 am

SCHNITTKE: Concerto grosso n. 2 ; Cantata "Faust" / Oleg Kagan, Rozhdestvenski

The Concerto offers the usual composite language of Schnittke, but it is agreable and the second movement, a Passacaglia, is very touching. Regarding the Cantata, the CD doesn't include the text and a translation and, since I don't know Russian it is impossible to me to have an idea of what the soloists and Choir are singing.

Very good interpretations.

bombasticDarren · Post by **bombasticDarren** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 6:53 am

J.S. Bach - 'Christmas Oratorio' Parts 4-6 (Monika Frimmer/Yoshikazu Mera/Gerd Turk/Peter Kooij/Masaaki Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, BIS)

Brahms - Symphony No.4 (Charles Munch, Boston Symphony Orchestra, RCA) below

Franck - Violin Sonata (Vadim Repin/Nikolai Lugansky, DG)

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 6:57 am

I decided to start the day as I finished yesterday: with LvB

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 6
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
André Cluytens - conducting

To my mind this is a perfect performance. We are indebted to Walter Legge for commissioning these recordings by Cluytens and the BPO.

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 7
NBC Symphony Orchestra
Arturo Toscanini - conducting

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:24 am

bombasticDarren wrote:

How did you find that particular recording Darren?

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:28 am

Seán wrote:Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 6
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
André Cluytens - conducting

No. 6 is probably my overall favourite Beethoven symphony but it is not high up there for many people I fear. I have loved it from the moment that I first heard it back in the mists of time....

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:28 am

JS Bach – Christmas Oratorio Part 3 [Harnoncourt]....

josé echenique · Post by **josé echenique** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 10:03 am

So far I have heard the Lohengrin and Les Troyens, obviously the bonbons of the box

Both are excellent. It is heartbreaking to hear how good Deborah Voigt sounded not that long ago, after seeing her voiceless Minnie on December 10th at the MET. Ben Heppner too is in finest voice both as Aeneas and Lohengrin. But the reason to buy the box is the exquisite Didon of the much lamented Lorraine Hunt. What a loss to us all

The sound is very acceptable, as you hear it in he MET broadcasts, but the German engineers of the Bavarian Radio and the Austrians of the ORF manage a more natural sound with greater depth and range.

I will hear the Lulu next.

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