What I listened to today

[Rach3]

A 5 minute good quality video of pianist Florent Boffard playing the first mov. of Boulez' 1st Piano Sonata, a challenge for the page turner, too.
https://www.francemusique.fr/concerts ( Scroll down to Florent Boffard )

Actually , at page 3 , link at opening page bottom.

[Rach3]

Amazing pianism:

Jorge Bolet plays Schlozer's Etude # 2 live at Carnegie,1974 :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XTCtXEo3yY (Schlozer, audio only)

Bolet plays Chopin/Godowsky Six Waltzes, Decca studio recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnNhOamrjjI (Chopin/Godowsky Waltzes, audio with score)

One David Stanhope plays Chopin and Chopin/Godowsky Op.25,# 12, both versions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKFqvm6Bs5w ( Chopin/Godowsky, Op.25 video )

[Rach3]

Amazing pianism:
One David Stanhope plays Chopin and Chopin/Godowsky Op.25,# 12, both versions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKFqvm6Bs5w ( Chopin/Godowsky, Op.25 video )

Stanhope plays both versions of Chopin’s Op.25,# 11 , with tips for your practicing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5TDEQqg7yI ( Video )

Here he plays the Chopin/Godowsky left-hand alone “Revolutionary “ Etude, audio only, but with score for your use ( about 56 mins in ):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka2lrfp5C-g

Strauss-Tausig,”Man lebt nur Einmal “ , but no practice tips :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLJUw5fm7t0 (Video)

[maestrob]

Leonid Kogan plays Barber's Violin Concerto on youtube, with his son Pavel in one of his first conducting engagements. Leonid Kogan was married to violinist Elizabeth Gilels, sister to Emil Gilels.

This comes from a live concert in Russia in 1966. Sound is a bit harsh, but the performance is electrifying!

If you have access to amazon prime in the U.S., you can stream the entire concert at the amazon link provided below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTaHc1rIK-A



https://www.amazon.com/s?k=leonid+kogan ... _sb_noss_2

[maestrob]

Renee Fleming sings "Gluck das mir verblieb..." from Korngold's rarely performed (until recently) opera, "Die tote Stadt." Conducted by Alan Gilbert (uncredited in the live video) from 2009, this may be the most beautiful singing you will ever hear in your lifetime.

Originally a duet for soprano & tenor in the complete opera, Korngold allowed the soprano to sing both parts as a stand-alone aria after the premiere in 1920, which took place both in Hamburg and Cologne (the latter conducted by a young Otto Klemperer).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErdxbjzOFp4

[Rach3]

A delightful program I decided to hear as all works ,except the Beethoven and Dvorak, new for me ; my fav LvB Violin Sonata ( along with “Spring” # 5 ) ; the pianist Bengt Forsberg another pianist I try to follow ; and the violinist new to me.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000s325

Violinist Cecilia Zilliacus and pianist Bengt Forsberg in a recital from Stockholm.BBC gives timings so you can pick and choose if you wish. I dont believe the date of the recital was given.

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Suite italienne, for violin and piano

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)
Four Romantic Pieces, op. 75

Johan Helmich Roman (1694-1758)
Assaggio No. 2 in G minor, for violin

Elsa Barraine (1910-1999)
Prelude, for piano

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Four Pieces for Violin and Piano, op. 115

Ika Peyron (1845-1922)
Two Character Pieces, for violin and piano

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, op. 96

Algot Haquinius (1886-1966)
Andante espressivo

[maestrob]

A delightful program I decided to hear as all works ,except the Beethoven and Dvorak, new for me ; my fav LvB Violin Sonata ( along with “Spring” # 5 ) ; the pianist Bengt Forsberg another pianist I try to follow ; and the violinist new to me.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000s325

Violinist Cecilia Zilliacus and pianist Bengt Forsberg in a recital from Stockholm.BBC gives timings so you can pick and choose if you wish. I dont believe the date of the recital was given.

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Suite italienne, for violin and piano

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)
Four Romantic Pieces, op. 75

Johan Helmich Roman (1694-1758)
Assaggio No. 2 in G minor, for violin

Elsa Barraine (1910-1999)
Prelude, for piano

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Four Pieces for Violin and Piano, op. 115

Ika Peyron (1845-1922)
Two Character Pieces, for violin and piano

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, op. 96

Algot Haquinius (1886-1966)
Andante espressivo

Most enjoyable, Rach3! I, too, skipped the Beethoven as I have many other, better versions available, but much of their program was new to my ears, and I was also curious about the arrangement Stravinsky made of the excerpts from Pulcinella, a fun work that I've sung three times and prepared for performance once. I have Stravinsky's own mono recording, and several others.

[Wallingford]

Debussy's La mer & Ravel's Mother Goose Suite (Ansermet 1)
Balakirev's Thamar & Liadov's Kikimora and Baba Yaga (Ansermet)

I love hearing pre-stereo Suisse Romande recordings with head oboe player Roger Reversy....the most sour-sweet tone I've ever heard in an oboe!

[Rach3]

Renee Fleming sings "Gluck das mir verblieb..." from Korngold's rarely performed (until recently) opera, "Die tote Stadt." Conducted by Alan Gilbert (uncredited in the live video) from 2009, this may be the most beautiful singing you will ever hear in your lifetime.

Thanks for this. Any recommendation for a recording of the complete Korngold opera ? TIA.

[maestrob]

Renee Fleming sings "Gluck das mir verblieb..." from Korngold's rarely performed (until recently) opera, "Die tote Stadt." Conducted by Alan Gilbert (uncredited in the live video) from 2009, this may be the most beautiful singing you will ever hear in your lifetime.

Thanks for this. Any recommendation for a recording of the complete Korngold opera ? TIA.

Most Certainly!

Erich Leinsdorf's world premiere recording of the complete Die Tote Stadt made for RCA in 1975 with Carol Neblitt (what a piece of work she was!), Rene Kollo and the great Hermann Prey is still the best on the market, IMHO. Leinsdorf, who was a strict disciplinarian, worked with Prey extensively to get the subtle tempo shifts exactly right in his aria that opens the second CD. It's a glorious 2 discs of Korngold's best opera. Imagine, he was only 23 years old at its premiere in 1920, a true wunderkind, whose music was as sophisticated as anything Richard Strauss would ever write. Here's the cover of the latest incarnation from Sony, released in 2009. It is available for streaming on amazon, if you're inclined to check it out before buying:

[Wallingford]

To commemorate Black History Month last evening I heard:

Dean Dixon conducting Sven-Erik Johanson's Sym. #3, written in 1956
Paul Freeman conducting Hale Smith's Ritual and Incantations
James dePreist conducting Debussy's Iberia

Dean Dixon--a maestro well worthy of having his own cult--was head of Sweden's Gothenburg Symphony when he did the Johansen. Also last week I heard his performance with Wiener Symphoniker of Gershwin's American in Paris; this performance (mid-50s on Vox) has the minus of zero taxi horns, but Dixon has his Viennese charges playing the hell out of it.

[Rach3]

Amazing pianism:

Jorge Bolet plays Schlozer's Etude # 2 live at Carnegie,1974 :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XTCtXEo3yY (Schlozer, audio only)

Bolet plays Chopin/Godowsky Six Waltzes, Decca studio recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnNhOamrjjI (Chopin/Godowsky Waltzes, audio with score)

One David Stanhope plays Chopin and Chopin/Godowsky Op.25,# 12, both versions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKFqvm6Bs5w ( Chopin/Godowsky, Op.25 video )

And today heard more amazing:

Jorge Bolet plays Liszt’s “Rigoletto “ Paraphrase, live, 1970 at Hunter College,NYC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8CYH-2zhqw (Audio only )

Emil Gilels plays Prokofieff’s 3rd Piano Sonata live in London,1959:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnJjUbWelAs (Video)

Yeol Eum Son plays Paart’s “Fur Alina”, live in Sweden,2017:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3mEatvq-aQ ( Video )

[Rach3]

Most Certainly!
Erich Leinsdorf's world premiere recording of the complete Die Tote Stadt made for RCA in 1975 with Carol Neblitt (what a piece of work she was!), Rene Kollo and the great Hermann Prey is still the best on the market, IMHO.

I decided to cheap out a bit, and ordered a used copy of the Naxos Opera series2-cd set with Swedish forces I acquired at Amazon US for $5.99, which included shipping ( and helped a non-profit seller ) .The Naxos also got good reviews :

https://www.naxos.com/reviews/reviewsli ... guageid=EN

Thanks again for your help.Your enthusiasm got me off my fence.

[maestrob]

Most Certainly!
Erich Leinsdorf's world premiere recording of the complete Die Tote Stadt made for RCA in 1975 with Carol Neblitt (what a piece of work she was!), Rene Kollo and the great Hermann Prey is still the best on the market, IMHO.

I decided to cheap out a bit, and ordered a used copy of the Naxos Opera series2-cd set with Swedish forces I acquired at Amazon US for $5.99, which included shipping ( and helped a non-profit seller ) .The Naxos also got good reviews :

https://www.naxos.com/reviews/reviewsli ... guageid=EN

Thanks again for your help.Your enthusiasm got me off my fence.

Oh my! Steve, I wish you had asked me. I don't recommend that recording, I'm sorry to say. I was quite disappointed with it when it came out, in spite of the good reviews. Do try to stream the Leinsdorf, at least.

[Wallingford]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EhxB_TGRsM&t=7s

I was astounded at how Dean Dixon breathed new life into a battered old warhorse like The Moldau.

[Wallingford]

...another pre-stereo Grieg Concerto, done by two Scandinavians who know the score:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tc0ljAFMCU&t=39s

[Rach3]

The Chausson Op.21 Concert again, love the work. From BBC Radio 3:

" The Calidore String Quartet conclude their Radio 3 Big Chamber Weekend series of recitals at St Marys', Tetbury, with a work by the Pulitzer Prize winning American, Caroline Shaw. They're then joined by two more former Radio 3 New Generation Artists, pianist Zee Zee and violinist Jennifer Pike, in a performance of Ernest Chausson's Concert for Piano, Violin and String Quartet. The concert was held in association with Tetbury Music Festival and first broadcast in 2019."


Caroline Shaw: First Essay "Nimrod"

Ernest Chausson: Concert for piano, violin and string quartet, Op.21

"The Calidore String Quartet present the first panel of a triptych by the young American composer Caroline Shaw. Written especially for the "wonderfully thoughtful" quartet, the genesis of Shaw's First Essay, "Nimrod" comes from the story of the biblical figure who constructed the giant tower of Babel, a tower tall enough to reach heaven, but which resulted in a chaos of languages. That's followed by a work from one of the late nineteenth century's great romantics, Ernest Chausson. His demanding and unusually scored Concert for Piano, Violin and String Quartet, is perhaps best known through its second movement, a Sicilienne, which was aptly described by a contemporary as being like “the gardens where bloom the charming fancies of a Gabriel Fauré.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00048d6

[Wallingford]

Shostakovich's Eighth Quartet (Fitzwilliam Qrt., on RCA)
Bach's Goldberg Variations (Gould 1)

.../also, by contrast, Offenbach's Les Nuits Parisiennes, conducted by Leibowitz...it's a suite cloning the Rosenthal arrangement, scored by Leibowitz with the help of another guy, what's-his-face. Released in Reader's Digest's early-60s set, Everyone's Pops Concert Favorites.

[Wallingford]

Beethoven's Piano Concerto #4 (Gulda, '53, live w/Wiener Symphoniker)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni6BrUS4vrM&t=1275s

[Rach3]

Valentina Lisitsa plays Liszt's "Don Juan " Fantasy , live video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE9g8pW6vGM

[maestrob]

Young violin prodigy Valeriy Sokolov (no apparent relation to Grigory Sokolov) lives in Germany now, but has made few recordings since this debut with David Zinman and his Tonhalle Orchester Zurich on Naxos in 2011. This is a fine interpretation of both the Tchaikovsky and Bartok concertos, so I'm not quite sure why there have not been more CDs from him. Zinman, as is usual, opens the repetitive passages in the first movement of the Tchaikovsky that Reiner cut in his electrifying stereo LP with Jascha Heifetz, written ostensibly to give the soloist a brief break in a live performance. Zinman also relaxes a bit here and there from Reiner's more driven approach to tempo in order to bring out a bit more lyricism here and there, but still the momentum of the music is never sacrificed. Zinman also makes a sensitive partner to Sokolov's simple beauty in the Bartok. Both performances were quite satisfying and elegantly recorded. Recommended listening.

[maestrob]

There's not much by Andreas Romberg (1767-1821) on CD yet, but what there is sounds wonderful. This new CD by young HIP artists unknown to me filled my ears with quite impressive HIP sounds today, and I plan on adding it to my library. Romberg spent his years as a violin virtuoso and composer in Germany, after being taught the violin by his father, also a violinist, and making his debut at age six. While his career never approached that of other gifted prodigies of his day, his music is very enjoyable and sometimes demanding, as the soloist here (Chouchane Siranossian), ably supported by the Capriccio Barockorchester, demonstrates much to my surprise and satisfaction. Playing in a very authentic style, she floats some difficult and beautiful high notes that sound quite effortless. Romberg composed at least a dozen violin concertos for his own use, and chamber works for clarinet and strings, among others now being unearthed by today's talented specialists in this repertoire. The above disc is lovingly recorded with clear, rich sonorities and warm bass. Highly recommended!

[Wallingford]

More Grieg Piano Concerto recordings of the prestereo era--tonight it's been Levant/Kurtz.

Levant is his eccentric old self in the first movement;you should hear what all he does in the cadenza! The two final movements have him as much more civilized, so I can't say this is an 'ideal' Levant performance.

I favor his abnormally extroverted approach to the slow movement; a welcome contrast to everyone else's more inward treatment.

[Rach3]

An interesting BBC program, I thought might be of interest. I prefer my Wagner in small doses so these selections were ideal,especially since my first hearing of Ms.Stimme. The Violin Concerto of Icelander Daniel Bjarnason was very interesting, would hear again, the main reason I decided to hear the broadcast. I heard only the Wagner and VC here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000spn8

Richard Wagner: Excerpts from 'Gotterdammerung':
Siegfried's Rhine Journey
Funeral March
Immolation Scene
(Nina Stemme, Soprano)
(Swedish Radio Symphony conducted by Daniel Harding)

Carlo Gesualdo: Responseries for Holy Saturday 1-3
“Sicut ovis ad occisionem”
“Jerusalem, surge”
“Plange quasi virgo”
(Swedish Radio Choir conducted by Peter Dijkstra)

Jimmy Lopez: Peru Negro

Daniel Bjarnason: Violin Concerto (About 1:20:00 into the broadcast )
(Pekka Kuusisto, violin and whistling )

Igor Stravinsky: Petrushka (1947 version)
(Swedish Radio Symphony conducted by Klaus Makela)

From BBC Music Magazine,March,2021,reviewing a Dec.,2020 Dorian Sono Luminus cd of the VC:

“[Bjarnason's] Violin Concerto opens the album with a spectacular performance by soloist Pekka Kuusisto. Intensely virtuosic, the violin is nonetheless always part of a greater whole: from folky, whistled tunes to roaring and growling on the detuned bottom string, storms of colour are unleashed for the orchestra to absorb and rework in surging textures.”

[maestrob]

This interesting CD popped up on my recommendations from Amazon today. It contains a 2013 recording of Christopher Rouse's Flute Concerto, a work I had not heard, and Ibert's, which I had, along with a few other short works. While I have the others in my library, the Rouse was new to my ears, so I clicked and heard this impressive and unique work for the first time. While I won't be adding such an expensive CD to my library just for the Rouse, I can heartily recommend Katherine Bryan's playing on this well-recorded CD, as well as the very individual yet tonal writing of Rouse's Concerto. The Ibert was quite bubbly as it should be, and Debussy's Syrinx was sculpted quite nicely, as was Frank Martin's rarely done Ballade. Recommended.

[Rach3]

While I won't be adding such an expensive CD to my library just for the Rouse, I can heartily recommend Katherine Bryan's playing on this well-recorded CD, as well as the very individual yet tonal writing of Rouse's Concerto.

I also enjoy the Rouse Flute Concerto.Mine is a $4 320kpbs mp3 from Presto here:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/p ... pher-rouse

[maestrob]

While I won't be adding such an expensive CD to my library just for the Rouse, I can heartily recommend Katherine Bryan's playing on this well-recorded CD, as well as the very individual yet tonal writing of Rouse's Concerto.

I also enjoy the Rouse Flute Concerto.Mine is a $4 320kpbs mp3 from Presto here:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/p ... pher-rouse

Great suggestion, thanks! Found it on amazon, and will hear the whole CD soon.

[maestrob]

Johannes Brahms also arranged his two late Clarinet Sonatas for viola and piano. In the CD above, violist Rachel Roberts and pianist Lars Vogt plumb the depths of these arrangements, not often recorded, with more sensitivity than, say Yuri Bashet's recording, revealing a gentle and delicate side to these intimate works. Included on the disc are four rarely played works for the same pair of instruments written by Robert Schumann in 1851, just before he became institutionalized, his "Marchenbuilder." There are several excellent reviews on Amazon that give more details of these works as well. Recommended.

[Wallingford]

Hanson's Symphony #2,the 'Romantic' (Gerhardt)
Hindemith's Symphony in E-flat (Janssen)
R.Strauss himself conducting Death & Transfiguration (w/VPO)
Sawallisch doing Meistersinger excerpts, w/Wiener Symphoniker

[maestrob]

Hanson's Symphony #2,the 'Romantic' (Gerhardt)
Hindemith's Symphony in E-flat (Janssen)
R.Strauss himself conducting Death & Transfiguration (w/VPO)
Sawallisch doing Meistersinger excerpts, w/Wiener Symphoniker

I haven't heard any of the recordings you posted here, but of course I've been well-rewarded by Bernstein's recording of the Hindemith (Sir Adrian also recorded it on a very short LP for Everest) and Howard Hanson's own recording of his Second Symphony for Mercury ever since they were first issued.

As for the Strauss, his tempos throughout seem a bit fast compared to more modern recordings, yet Toscanini emulates the composer in the now-available Philadelphia Orchestra box. Sawallisch leading Vienna in Meistersinger sounds ideal, but I have only his Tannhauser from Bayreuth on LP. Sawallisch was unfairly overshadowed by other more famous conductors of his generation, but I find him quite fine in the recordings I've heard.

[Rach3]

The music here , frankly , was not very interesting for me, but you may differ. I was drawn to the program as was my first hearings of all the works. The 24-year old pianist I had heard in a duo recital with her younger brother , cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason of that very musical family, but I had not heard her in a solo recital.

Live from Wigmore Hall, London,March 8 , 2021.

Clara Schumann: Notturno, Op. 6 No. 2
Clara Schumann: Scherzo No. 2 in C minor, Op. 14
Natalie Klouda: Nightscapes 2020 (commissioned by BBC Radio 3, first performance)
Sofia Gubaidulina: Chaconne
Clara Schumann: Piano Sonata in G minor

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000sxzk

[Rach3]

Dmitri Bashkirov's extraordinary recording of the Ravel Left-Hand PC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j58gf4NwLj4

Bashkirov died March 7, 2021.

[maestrob]

Dmitri Bashkirov started recording back in the 1950's, and there is a two CD set of his solo playing that can be streamed on amazon in the U. S. with the following works:





I plan on hearing it soon. Thanks, Rach3!

[Rach3]

Dvorak’s Cello Concerto with original solo part , but a “scaled-down” orchestral part by one George Morton ( although why scaled -down not explained by the BBC presenter, except I suspect to accommodate live performance social distancing ? ), BBC SSO under Martyn Brabbins with the young cello phenom Sheku Kanneh-Mason , live in Glasgow earlier this month :

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000sytt

Been a LONG time since I listened to this Concerto, but it seems to " age" better for me than many of the other " warhorse" concerti.

[maestrob]

Dvorak’s Cello Concerto with original solo part , but a “scaled-down” orchestral part by one George Morton ( although why scaled -down not explained by the BBC presenter, except I suspect to accommodate live performance social distancing ? ), BBC SSO under Martyn Brabbins with the young cello phenom Sheku Kanneh-Mason , live in Glasgow earlier this month :

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000sytt

Been a LONG time since I listened to this Concerto, but it seems to " age" better for me than many of the other " warhorse" concerti.

FWIW, I have three favorite recordings of the Dvorak: Szell/Fournier on DGG and the recent Weilerstein with Barenboim, the latter the first time Barenboim had invited anyone to record the work with him since his young wife died. Both are very moving. Of course I have and recommend the recording he made with DuPre in Chicago.

For historical recordings, I would recommend the one with Emmanuel Feuermann, recently restored quite wonderfully.

[Rach3]

Dmitri Bashkirov's extraordinary recording of the Ravel Left-Hand PC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j58gf4NwLj4

Bashkirov died March 7, 2021.

Bashkirov’s very individual Schumann Op.17 Fantasy, 1962 studio :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8f0iAcSaSE


He also taught a number of pianists, eg. per Wiki: Dmitri Alexeev,Arcadi Volodos,Nikolai Demidenko,Boris Bloch , Jonathan Gilad, Kirill Gerstein,Stanislav Ioudenitch,Denis Kozhukhin,Eldar Nebolsin,Luis Fernando Pérez,Dang Thai Son, Vestards Šimkus,David Kadouch,Jong Hwa Park,Claudio Martinez Mehner,Bruno Vlahek and Plamena Mangova.

Although not Evgenyi Kissin's teacher,Bashkirov also apparently played a major role in arranging Kissin's Moscow performance, at age 12 , of the 2 Chopin concerti, an event that " launched" Kissin.I believe Kissin consulted with him later in Kissin's career.

[Wallingford]

Liszt's Totentanz--

Last night, by Watts/Leinsdorf
The night before, Mayer/Vasary

....both w/LSO

[Rach3]

Liszt's Totentanz--

Last night, by Watts/Leinsdorf
The night before, Mayer/Vasary

....both w/LSO

You may be interested in Raymond Lewenthal's 1969 "Totentanz" recording with Charles Mackerras,LSO, originally a Columbia lp I have, paired with the Henselt PC.Lewenthal added some of his own additions to the Liszt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCfK_BBfgtU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrAvIeWmKD8

[Seán]

Maurice Ravel
Introduction and Allegro for flute, clarinet, harp and string quartet
Melos Ensemble

This gorgeous recording received a recommendation on BBC Radio3's Building a Library programme on last Saturday morning. Jeremy Sams did not declare it the overall winner, he rejected it because the recording is more than 50 years old. I love it.

For the record the results are:

Building a Library – Jeremy Sams on Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro, M.46


Recommended Recording:
Emannuel Pahud (flute)
Wenzel Fuchs (clarinet)
Marie-Pierre Langlamet (harp)
Christophe Horak (violin)
Simon Roturier (violin)
Ignacy Miecznikowski (viola)
Bruno Delepaire (violoncello)

Indésens INDE139

https://indesensdigital.fr/boutique/le-jardin-feerique/

Also recommended:
James Galway (flute)
Richard Stoltzman (clarinet)
Heidi Lehwalder (harp)
Tokyo String Quartet
RCA RCA62552


Melos EnsembleDecca 4602472

[maestrob]

Maurice Ravel
Introduction and Allegro for flute, clarinet, harp and string quartet
Melos Ensemble

This gorgeous recording received a recommendation on BBC Radio3's Building a Library programme on last Saturday morning. Jeremy Sams did not declare it the overall winner, he rejected it because the recording is more than 50 years old. I love it.

For the record the results are:

Building a Library – Jeremy Sams on Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro, M.46


Recommended Recording:
Emannuel Pahud (flute)
Wenzel Fuchs (clarinet)
Marie-Pierre Langlamet (harp)
Christophe Horak (violin)
Simon Roturier (violin)
Ignacy Miecznikowski (viola)
Bruno Delepaire (violoncello)

Indésens INDE139

https://indesensdigital.fr/boutique/le-jardin-feerique/

Also recommended:
James Galway (flute)
Richard Stoltzman (clarinet)
Heidi Lehwalder (harp)
Tokyo String Quartet
RCA RCA62552


Melos EnsembleDecca 4602472

I love that work too, Sean, and I posted it with a list of my personal favorites in another thread that Barney started about "The Greatest Chamber Work."

I'm glad to see the Melos Ensemble now has an Icon box!

[Seán]

I'm glad to see the Melos Ensemble now has an Icon box!

Oh Brian, I bought the Melos box set about ten years ago. It is very good.

[Seán]

Franz Berwald
Symphony No. 3
Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Dausgaard - conducting

Yesterday was Saint Patrick's Day so I decided to take a nice long weekend off work and will return on Monday. I have a few years to go to retirement. After doing some work in the garden I decided to relax and enjoy some Berwald. I love his Third Symphony, it's my favourite of his four symphonies and this is a very fine performance too.

[maestrob]

When Ivo Pogorelich suddenly disappeared from public view and also ceased recording amid rumors of bizarre interpretations during his live appearances, I mourned the loss of one of the greatest pianists of his generation from the music scene. His many CDs recorded for DGG have remained in print and were recently reissued in a budget box, hopefully to keep his name in the public's eye and ears. Now, after his roughly 15 year absence, he has recorded the above release of Beethoven's Opp. 54 & 78, along with the perennial virtuoso favorite of Rachmaninoff's Second Sonata.

While Pogorelich's return is most welcome, Sony has chosen a terribly harsh piano sound to welcome this great artist to its ranks in this 2019 release, and, in spite of many positive reviews on Amazon, I cannot recommend it for that reason. The Rachmaninoff is better recorded than the two Beethoven Sonatas, but still is hard on the ears. My recommendation to our listeners would be to stick with his earlier DGG recordings until Sony can replace their amazingly tin-eared engineering staff.

[Rach3]

Believe it or not (?), I do not post everything to which I listen, but here are piano recitals I felt worth bringing to your attention for the playing and some not oft heard works.If you hear only one, hear the extraordinary recital of Llyr Williams, but all are very fine, Kadouch uncluttered lyrical Chopin,Romaniuk fascinating, although I had many reservations about Kantorow’s emotionally very dark , sui generis Brahms.

Live at Cardiff, March 18,2021, Llyr Williams:

Scriabin: Étude in E, Op 8 No 5
Scriabin: Étude in C# minor, Op 2 No 1
Scriabin: Étude in B, Op 8 No 4
Scriabin: Étude in F minor, Op 42 No 7
Scriabin: Étude in Eb, Op 42 No 8

Schumann: Sonata No 1 in F# minor, Op 11

Chopin: Nocturne in Bb minor, Op 9 No 1
Chopin: Nocturne in Eb, Op 9 No 2
Chopin: Mazurka in B minor, Op 30 No 2
Chopin: Mazurka in Eb, Op 30 No 3
Chopin: Mazurka in F minor, Op 7 No 3
Chopin: Mazurka in A minor, Op. 17 No 4
Chopin: Waltz in E minor, Op posth
Chopin: Ballade No 1 in G minor, Op 23
Chopin: Scherzo No 1 in B minor, Op 20

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000t6dm

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2 Concerts enregistrés le 26/02/2021 à Flagey Studio 4, Bruxelles:

Fanny Mendelssohn - L' Année, 12 pièces de caractère : Mai, H.385

Frédéric Chopin - Trois Nocturnes op. 9
I. Nocturne en si bémol mineur
II. Nocturne en mi bémol majeur
III. Nocturne en si majeur

Fanny Mendelssohn - L' Année, 12 pièces de caractère : Septembre, H.385

Clara Schumann - Variations sur un thème de Robert Schumann, op. 20

Fanny Mendelssohn - L' Année, 12 pièces de caractère : Juin, H.385

Franz Liszt - Réminiscences de Lucia di Lammermoor, S. 397

Fanny Mendelssohn - L' Année, 12 pièces de caractère : Mars, H.385
- Notturno, op. 337

David Kadouch, piano

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Johannes Brahms - Extraits des 4 Ballades, op. 10 :
I. Ballade in d: Andante
II. Ballade in D: Andante
- Sonate pour piano n° 3 en fa mineur, op. 5

Alexandre Kantorow, piano

https://www.rtbf.be/auvio/detail_concert?id=2748728 (Both above )

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2 Concerts enregistrés le 26/02/2021 à Flagey Studio 4, Bruxelles. I did not hear Kozhukhin ( not ready for the Schumann or Ravel again, have heard him play the Shor ) :

Au piano :
1. improvisation
2. Béla Bartók, de Mikrokosmos, Sz. 107: Vol. V/138. Musique de cornemuse
3. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Adagio en si mineur, KV 540
4. Ludwig van Beethoven, des Bagatelles, op. 126: IV. Presto

Au clavecin :
1. William Byrd, The Bells, T. 442
2. Johann Sebastian Bach, de Suite anglaise en la mineur, BWV 807: VI. Bourrée
3. Anthony Romaniuk, Kora (improvisation)

Au Fender Rhodes ( electric piano ) :
1. Chick Corea, Children's Song n° 1
2. Johann Sebastian Bach, de Suite anglaise en la mineur, BWV 807: I. Prélude
3. Anonyme, de Het Gruuthuse-Handschrift II: CVIII. Orlof Vrauwe, Ende Ic Moet Gaen

Au piano:
4. Johann Sebastian Bach, de Suite anglaise en la mineur, BWV 807: I. Prélude
5. Federico Mompou, Musica Callada Livre 1, nr 5 : Legato metallico
6. improvisation
7. György Ligeti, Musica Ricercata : VII. Cantabile, molto legato
8. George Crumb, de Makrokosmos : Vol. II/4. Twin Suns
9. Dmitri Shostakovich, des 24 Préludes et fugues: I. Fugue en do majeur (avec prélude improvisé)

Anthony Romaniuk piano, clavecin, Fender Rhodes.
His similar Alpha Classics cd “Bells” : https://www.linnrecords.com/recording-bells

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Alexey Shor - Childhood Memories

Robert Schumann - Scènes d'enfant, op. 15

Maurice Ravel - Sonatine, M.40

Denis Kozhukhin piano

https://www.rtbf.be/auvio/detail_concert?id=2748860 (Both above)

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Encores:

Busoni,Toccata,BV 287, Umberto Laureti,pianist, 10 minutes ( wow !) :

https://www.francemusique.fr/concerts?p=3 ( video)


Recordings of brief Romantic piano works of two Haitian composers ; delightful :

Justin Elie ( 1883-1931), each about 3 minutes:

”Chant de la Montagne # 3 “ , Micheline Laudin Denis, pianist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdxBf2fx6QU

”Chant de la Montagne # 1 “ , Celimene Daudet,pianist :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf_LZKlcLl8 (video)

Ludovic Lamothe ( 1882 - 1953 ), 22 minutes:

5 piano pieces,Charles Phillips,pianist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzZqY2f1JGQ

[maestrob]

Just heard the recital by Llyr Williams. Am delighted that he is beginning to immerse himself in Chopin, particularly given the high quality of what I heard today. Thanks for this, Steve.

I do wish he were better known.

[Rach3]

Schubert for our times.Wanted to share, especially given the artists, but confess to hearing only the Walton ( especially fine first and final mov.).I have recordings of Walton’s violin, viola, and cello concertos, all of which are jewels ( for me ).

Franz Schubert : Winterreise D. 911
Mark Padmore, ténor , et Mitsuko Uchida, piano
Londres - Wigmore Hall - 26 juin 2020

William Walton : Concerto pour alto
Nils Mönkemeyer, L'Orchestre de la Suisse Italienne et Markus Poschner
Lugano - 1er octobre 2020

https://www.rtbf.be/auvio/detail_concert?id=2749716

[Rach3]

zaterdag 20 maart 2021, Concertgebouw,Amsterdam

Gustav Mahler, “Kindertotenlieder”

Magdalena Kozena (mezzosopraan)

Radio Filharmonisch Orkest,Markus Stenz

https://www.nporadio4.nl/concerten/9673 ... otenlieder

[maestrob]

zaterdag 20 maart 2021, Concertgebouw,Amsterdam

Gustav Mahler, “Kindertotenlieder”

Magdalena Kozena (mezzosopraan)

Radio Filharmonisch Orkest,Markus Stenz

https://www.nporadio4.nl/concerten/9673 ... otenlieder

The Kozena/Mahler was quite good, thanks. Schmidt IV is a guilty pleasure of mine, but I've got the new CDs from Berlin with Petrenko coming from Presto, so I heard that one in HD on their website, as it's better-recorded.

I'm amazed that live concerts are beginning again in Europe, even with the slow rollout of the vaccine. I think that our caution here in NY is preferable, even though we are nearing 1/3 of our population with one shot or more by now.

You've brought me much listening pleasure today, Steve. Thanks, as always!

[Rach3]

I'm amazed that live concerts are beginning again in Europe, even with the slow rollout of the vaccine. I think that our caution here in NY is preferable, even though we are nearing 1/3 of our population with one shot or more by now.

You've brought me much listening pleasure today, Steve. Thanks, as always!

You are welcome ; it's a 2 -way street.

Agreed about the vaccine.Wife and I have had our 2, but are proceeding as if not. Variants are a huge unknown, and far too many are behaving as if " all over ".

[Rach3]

A chance to hear all 3 of Brahms’ great Violin Sonatas , been too long since I had taken the time to hear them again:

Enregistré le 26/02/2021 à la Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth à Waterloo

Johannes Brahms
- Sonate No 3 en ré mineur pour violon et piano, op. 108
- Sonate No 2 en La Majeur pour violon et piano, op. 100
- Sonate No 1 en Sol Majeur pour violon et piano, op. 78

Julia Pusker, violon
Christia Hudziy, piano

https://www.rtbf.be/auvio/detail_concert?id=2750907

Bio: https://queenelisabethcompetition.be/en ... sker/4804/