What are YOU listening to today?

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 8:10 pm

Bartok's Viola Concerto (Koch/Springer)

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 8:30 pm

Avner Dorman's Concerto For Percussion: Spices, Perfumes, Toxins! (Kinzie, Hearn, Pintscher, Colorado Symphony)

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 11:09 pm

Mozart's 35th (Kahane)

Dimma · Post by **Dimma** » Sat Oct 12, 2013 3:28 pm

Verdi: Arias, Callas/Rescigno/Philharmonia O [EMI}

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Sat Oct 12, 2013 5:33 pm

Mozart's 40th (Gruner-Hegge)

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Sun Oct 13, 2013 6:01 pm

Rachmaninoff's Isle Of The Dead (Reiner)
Brahms' Third (Ormandy)

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:41 pm

Saint-Saens' film score music to L'Assassinat du Duc de Guise,Op. 128 (Ensemble Musique Oblique)

josé echenique · Post by **josé echenique** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 11:50 am

Another fascinating recording by Guy van Waas and his orchestra Le Agrémens. Gossec is better known for his instrumental output than for his vocal works, and it is a good thing that now we have a first rate recording of one of his most famous operas.
Gossec like Grétry had to work in the difficult times around the French Revolution, but both serve as a bridge between late Rameau and French Glück and Cherubini and Sacchini in early XIX Century French opera.
Recorded live and very well performed. Comes with a most beautiful libretto.

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 4:54 pm

William Hill's Symphony #3 (Rachleff)

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 5:02 pm

Rachmaninoff's Third (Ormandy 1)

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 9:51 pm

Enescu's Piano Sonata #3 (Lipatti)
Revueltas' Sensemaya (MTT)

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 10:29 pm

Villa-Lobos' Ciranda das sete notas
Liszt's Tasso

MTT.....live w/SFSO

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 10:31 pm

Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances (Comissiona)
Borodin's Second (Tovey)

...both w/Vancouver Symphony

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:26 pm

Mendelssohn's Fifth--the "Reformation" (Zinman)

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:28 pm

Debussy's La Mer (Pintscher....live w/Colorado Sym.)
Mussorgsky-Ravel Pictures (Akiyama)

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:22 pm

Turnage's Frieze (World Premiere) (Gilbert....live w/NYP)
Dvorak's Czech Suite (Dorati)

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:50 pm

Spending a little time with some classic pianists:

Brahms' Hungarian Dance #6 (Backhaus)
Chopin's Waltz in c-sharp (Paderewski)
Albeniz' Tango in D (Novaes)
Rachmaninoff's Prelude in g (Lhevinne)
Chopin's Waltz in G-flat (Levant)
Brahms' Rhapsody in E-flat (Moiseiwitsch)

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 8:29 pm

Sibelius' Scenes historiques (Beecham)
Mozart's Coronation Mass (Zinman)

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Sun Nov 10, 2013 5:15 pm

Sibelius' Sixth (Schneevoigt)

scififan · Post by **scififan** » Mon Nov 11, 2013 2:28 pm

I've been listening to lots of Wanda Landowska from the recordings available on Internet Archive {which I've mentioned in another thread). There's a collection of Scarlatti sonatas there.
Now I know that P.I. people {with some justification} object to her use of a Pleyel Harpsichord. But Landowska does get some very interesting effects. The Pleyel has had some other important players, such as George Malcolm so perhaps there is a place for it. If anyone would like to read a defense of the Playel from the British Harpsichord Society, this link will take you to an interesting pdf article:

http://www.harpsichord.org.uk/EH/Vol2/No5/pleyel.pdf

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 7:21 am

Saw Eötvös's Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in concert here in Düsseldorf on Sunday. There doesn't appear to be an extant recording of the work, but one can assume that it'll only be a matter of time. Incredible piece, lots of tantalizing parallels to Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra, but very much Eötvösian in its drama.

premont · Post by **premont** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 1:15 pm

scififan wrote:I've been listening to lots of Wanda Landowska from the recordings available on Internet Archive {which I've mentioned in another thread). There's a collection of Scarlatti sonatas there.
Now I know that P.I. people {with some justification} object to her use of a Pleyel Harpsichord. But Landowska does get some very interesting effects. The Pleyel has had some other important players, such as George Malcolm so perhaps there is a place for it. If anyone would like to read a defense of the Playel from the British Harpsichord Society, this link will take you to an interesting pdf article:

http://www.harpsichord.org.uk/EH/Vol2/No5/pleyel.pdf

I think George Malcolm generally preferred harpsichords from the English builder Thomas Goff, an instrument which however had the metal frame and 16´stop in common with the great Pleyel instruments.

http://www.baroquemusic.org/goff.html

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Thu Nov 28, 2013 11:16 pm

Brahms' Third (Masur...live w/SFSO)
Schumann's Third (Remoortel)

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:08 pm

Varese's Ameriques (Morlot....live w/SSO)
Rubinstein's Piano Concerto #4 (Levant/Mitropoulos)

scififan · Post by **scififan** » Sun Dec 08, 2013 9:46 am

I listened to Haydn;s Symphony no 13 in D from my Dorati collection. No unlucky number here!

The outer movements are burnished and vigorous, there is a stunning Cello solo in the slow movement, and a minuet which makes significant use of the tympani while the contrasting trio has a delightful flute part.
This is a beautiful and engaging work!

arglebargle · Post by **arglebargle** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 12:17 am

Sorabji - Clavicembalisticum - yup, all 5 Ogden CD's in a row. You reach a point where you wish it will never end, then you're afraid it won't, then unfortunately it does.

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 2:55 pm

Haydn's 101st & Schubert's 5th

(Ansermet & Janowski, respectively, w/Suisse Romande)

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 2:57 pm

Tchaikovsky's Symphony #3 ("Polish")
Creston's Symphony #2

(Kindler & Mitchell, respectively....w/Nat'l Sym. of Wash., DC)

arglebargle · Post by **arglebargle** » Sat Dec 14, 2013 1:03 am

Bach - WTC - Angela Hewitt

scififan · Post by **scififan** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:28 am

I'm listening to
Shostakovich's 5th symphony--Mravinsky and the Leningrad Philharmonic.

ContrapunctusIX · Post by **ContrapunctusIX** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 11:37 am

Beethoven: Sonatas 28-32
Claude Frank
Music & Arts

Beethoven: Late Quartets
Fine Arts Quartet
Everest

a note on the FAQ set - for a 1965 recording, the sound on these discs is absolutely phenomenal (to say nothing of the fine interpretations). It's hard to believe this set is roughly contemporary to the 1960s Juilliard cycle, which sounds downright lousy by comparison.

RebLem · Post by **RebLem** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 1:02 am

Purcell: Music performed at the funeral of Queen Mary (1695)--Robert King, cond. The King's Consort and Choir and soloists--on CD 7 of an 11 CD set of the Complete Sacred Music of Henry Purcell.

Bartok: Deux Elegies, Op. 8b; Scriabin: Piano Sonata 3, Op. 23; Prokofiev: Piano Sonata 7, Op.83--Samson Francois.

RebLem · Post by **RebLem** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:34 am

On NYD, I only listened to two works:
Prokofiev: Piano Concerti 3 & 5--Samson Francois with Witold Rowicki cond.

RebLem · Post by **RebLem** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 1:19 am

Brahms: Symphonies 3 & 4--Jaap van Zweden.

I have read high praise for the van Zweden set, as if the performances were revelatory and new. They sound to me like excellent retro performances, more stylistically reminiscent of Mengelberg and his approach than anyone else.

josé echenique · Post by **josé echenique** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:34 am

RebLem wrote:Brahms: Symphonies 3 & 4--Jaap van Zweden.

I have read high praise for the van Zweden set, as if the performances were revelatory and new. They sound to me like excellent retro performances, more stylistically reminiscent of Mengelberg and his approach than anyone else.

I like his Parsifal.

RebLem · Post by **RebLem** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 2:03 am

On January 3, I listened to

A NAXOS CD of the Shostakovich and Schnittke Piano Quintets performed by Boris Berman and the Vermeer Quartet.

I have never heard the Schnittke before, so I have no way of judging the performance, but the performance of the Shostakovich is one of the best ones I have ever heard.

Disc 8 of an 11 CD set of the Complete Sacred Music of Henry Purcell on Brilliant. 10 anthems performed by The Kings Consort and Choir cond by Robert King, with 8 soloists in various of the anthems.

CD 31 of the 36 CD set of the complete EMI output of pianist Samson Francois. This CD consists entirely of solo piano music of Chopin, Ravel, Saint-Saens, Debussy, and Schumann, including Schumann's Papillons, and one of Francois's own works, Magies noires 2 and 3.

Mookalafalas · Post by **Mookalafalas** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 8:09 am

Got this big box of Giulini yesterday and am loving it. Too much to list (Mozart 39th symphony just now).

RebLem · Post by **RebLem** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 4:58 am

On Sunday, January 5, 2014, I listened to

Brahms: Symphony 1in C Minor, Op. 68--Giulini, Vienna Phil.

A NAXOS CD--

Shostakovich:Cello Sonata, Op. 40 (1)
Violin Sonata, Op. 134 (2)
Romance for Cello and Orchestra from The Gadfly (3)
Nocturne for Cello and Orchestra from The Gadfly (3)
_______________________________________________
Dmitry Yablonsky, cello (1, 3), conductor (3)
Maxim Fedotov, violin (2)
Ekaterina Saranceva, piano (1)
Galina Petrova, piano (2)
Russian Philharmonic Orch. (3)

All of these are excellent performances. I was prepared to enjoy the Giulini because I heard and saw him conduct it at a live concert with the Chicago Symphony in the 1970's, and it was an excellent MOR performance. One could do a lot worse than pick this as one's go-to recording of the Brahms 1.

ContrapunctusIX · Post by **ContrapunctusIX** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 2:57 pm

Beethoven: String Quartets No. 12 & 13

Budapest Quartet - United Archives

The United Archives label (now defunct) turned out some true gems in their short existence, and this set is no different. This set catches the Budapest in the early 1950s, and while Alexander Schneider (i.e., "the best second fiddle in the world") had not yet returned as second violinist when these recordings were made, hearing Josef Roisman on first violin in decent sound before his intonation started to falter (their late 1950s stereo set for Columbia is sadly marred by this) more than makes up for it. The sound is fairly good mono, and the performances are impeccable. You can hear much of their influence in the many excellent Beethoven cycles that have come since.

RebLem · Post by **RebLem** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:25 am

On Monday, 6 DEC 2014, I listened to the following:

Disc 9 of an 11 CD Brilliant set of the Compete Sacred Music of Henry Purcell: 10 anthems--Robert King, cond. The King's Consort and Choir and 12 soloists in various of the anthems.

CD 32 of the 36 CD set of the complete EMI recordings of Samson Francois:
Schumann: Piano Concerto, Op. 54--Charles Munch, cond. Orchestre National de la RTF rec 17 SEP 1957.
Liszt: Reminiscences de Don Juan and 5 other solo piano works, mostly excerpts or numbers from larger works.

RebLem · Post by **RebLem** » Wed Jan 08, 2014 3:14 am

On Tuesday, January 8, 2014, I listened to

Brahms: Sym 2--Giulini, VPO

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Wed Jan 08, 2014 10:56 pm

These concert preformances by the National Sym.of D.C.--

Schubert's Ninth (Eschenbach)
R. Strauss' Death & Transfiguration (Janowski)

ayevey · Post by **ayevey** » Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:14 pm

ContrapunctusIX wrote:Beethoven: String Quartets No. 12 & 13

Budapest Quartet - United Archives

The United Archives label (now defunct) turned out some true gems in their short existence, and this set is no different. This set catches the Budapest in the early 1950s, and while Alexander Schneider (i.e., "the best second fiddle in the world") had not yet returned as second violinist when these recordings were made, hearing Josef Roisman on first violin in decent sound before his intonation started to falter (their late 1950s stereo set for Columbia is sadly marred by this) more than makes up for it. The sound is fairly good mono, and the performances are impeccable. You can hear much of their influence in the many excellent Beethoven cycles that have come since.

I picked this set up while visiting a friend in Berlin. I found it at Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus, one of the most extensively stocked record stores I've ever been privileged to experience. I absolutely love these recordings, and am glad you do too. Such beautiful ensemble! And such committed soul-searching interpretation! You have prompted me to give a listen tomorrow. I think I will go for the Große Fuge.

RebLem · Post by **RebLem** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 1:25 am

On Thursday, Jan 9, 2014, I listened to

Beethoven: Piano Trio in E Flat Major, Op.1/1
Piano Trio in B Flat Major, Op. 97 "Archduke"

The Macquarie Trio
Kathryn Selby, piano
Charmian Gadd, violin
Michael Goldschlager, cello

ContrapunctusIX · Post by **ContrapunctusIX** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 3:14 pm

ayevey wrote:
ContrapunctusIX wrote:Beethoven: String Quartets No. 12 & 13

Budapest Quartet - United Archives

The United Archives label (now defunct) turned out some true gems in their short existence, and this set is no different. This set catches the Budapest in the early 1950s, and while Alexander Schneider (i.e., "the best second fiddle in the world") had not yet returned as second violinist when these recordings were made, hearing Josef Roisman on first violin in decent sound before his intonation started to falter (their late 1950s stereo set for Columbia is sadly marred by this) more than makes up for it. The sound is fairly good mono, and the performances are impeccable. You can hear much of their influence in the many excellent Beethoven cycles that have come since.
I picked this set up while visiting a friend in Berlin. I found it at Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus, one of the most extensively stocked record stores I've ever been privileged to experience. I absolutely love these recordings, and am glad you do too. Such beautiful ensemble! And such committed soul-searching interpretation! You have prompted me to give a listen tomorrow. I think I will go for the Große Fuge.

I agree, the ensemble and blending of voices was incredibly refined for its time, or any time for that matter. Many of the celebrated old quartets just weren't up to our demanding modern standards from a technical standpoint (though interpretively, many of those old world quartets went much deeper than the surface veneer many modern ensembles seem content to skim atop.) In comparison with other recommendable sets from that era (the old mono Hungarian cycle, the 1st Vegh cycle, the Hollywood Quartet in the Late quartets) the phrasing and intonation seem more secure, and furthermore the overall collective conception of each individual work seems more coherent in their hands. Among historical sets, I'd count this set #2, behind only the legendary Busch recordings from the 1930s - but in much, much better sound.

RebLem · Post by **RebLem** » Sun Jan 12, 2014 2:02 am

On Saturday, Jan 11, 2014, I listened to

Purcell: CD 10 of the 11 CD set of the complete sacred music--has 11 anthems--Robert King, cond., the King's Consort and Chor + 13 soloists.

CD 33 of the 36 CD set of the complete EMI recordings of Samson Francois.
Bartok: Piano Concerto 3--David Zinman, cond. Orchestre National de l'ORTF.
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto 5--Lorin Maazel, cond. Orchestre National de la RTF.
Franck: Variations Symphoniques--Andre Cluytens, cond. Orchestre National de la RTF

ContrapunctusIX · Post by **ContrapunctusIX** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:03 pm

More Budapest Quartet, this time from the 1940's:

Beethoven: Quartets 12, 14, 15 & 16
Budapest Quartet
Columbia

The Budapest at their apex. Even better than their 1950s set, but the sound (predictably) isn't great.

ContrapunctusIX · Post by **ContrapunctusIX** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:07 pm

Beethoven: Sonatas 28 - 32
Claudio Arrau, piano
Decca

Yes, it's slow (particularly the Hammerklavier's opening Allegro), but this is magisterial Beethoven seemingly carved from stone. Arrau makes the tempi sound right. The remastered sound on this Decca reissue sounds much, much better than the previous incarnation of this set on Philips, which to my ears often sounded muddy and undefined, and exhibited a number of noticeable sonic artifacts.

sans maitre · Post by **sans maitre** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 10:52 pm

Notations and various solo piano works

RebLem · Post by **RebLem** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 2:09 am

On January 15, 2014, I listened to

Brahms: Sym 3 in F Major, Op. 90
Variations on a theme by Haydn, Op. 56a
Carlo Maria Giulini, cond. Vienna Phil

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