What are YOU listening to today?

Jared · Post by **Jared** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 11:18 am

^^^ really enjoyed Kempe's dynamic (and even chaotic!) orchestration in Ein Heldenleben, esp in the War fanfares, which seems to be rather more exhilarating than Karajan's very smooth production..

bombasticDarren · Post by **bombasticDarren** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 11:36 am

Brahms - Symphonies No.1-3 (Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, EMI)

Shostakovich - Symphony No.9 (Vasily Petrenko, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Naxos)

R. Strauss - 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' (Georg Solti, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Decca) below

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:01 pm

Jared wrote:R. Strauss: R Kempe
Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche
Don Juan
Ein Heldenleben

My January listening programme has commenced..

Couldn't wait, eh?

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:03 pm

bombasticDarren wrote:Brahms - Symphonies No.1-3 (Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, EMI)

How did you get on with that Darren?

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:04 pm

A brisk walk by the seafront this afternoon with the following on the MP3:

johnQpublic · Post by **johnQpublic** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:05 pm

Berlioz - Le Corsaire Overture (Davis/RCA)
Meyerbeer - Incidental Music for "Streunsee" (Jurowski/cpo)

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:10 pm

bombasticDarren wrote: R. Strauss - 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' (Georg Solti, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Decca) below

I admire a lot of what Solti does but I have nothing of him conducting Strauss....how was that one Darren?

bombasticDarren · Post by **bombasticDarren** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 1:57 pm

Fergus,
Am now finishing listening to Brahms No.4 by Rattle/BPO.
Overall the set is pretty good, but not a front runner; I can certainly think of 5 more worthy purchases of the same repertoire

I am glad to have it though, but I am disappointed that the 4 symphonies are spread across 3 largely empty discs (would the 'Haydn Variations' and overtures not have added more colour and value?

)
Despite this it has been a pleasure to enjoy Brahms' symphonic output once again...these works really are very great

Performance ratings:-

1 = 2/5 (bit of an underpowered dud)
2 = 5/5 (very fine indeed)
3 = 4/5 (4th movement in particular)
4 = 4/5 (2nd movement is very appealingly played, and the 3rd wonderfully bold)

As to Solti's Strauss; it's very well recorded and the Chicago brass is very powerful (certainly much more preferable to the underpowered Kempe ASZ

)

Jared · Post by **Jared** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 3:24 pm

Fergus wrote:
Couldn't wait, eh?

You can't keep a good box-set down, Fergus..

I wouldn't describe Kempe's ASZ as 'underpowered'.. more melodically majestic than hard hitting... its still a good performance, though..

bombasticDarren · Post by **bombasticDarren** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 4:30 pm

Brahms - Symphony No.4 (Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, EMI)

Bruckner - '150. Psalm' (Maria Stader/Eugen Jochum, Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin/Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, DG) below

Gershwin - 'Rhapsody in Blue' (Michael Tilson Thomas, New World Symphony, RCA) & 'Piano Concerto in F' (Garrick Ohlsson/Michael Tilson Thomas, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, RCA)

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 5:26 pm

bombasticDarren wrote: Am now finishing listening to Brahms No.4 by Rattle/BPO.
Overall the set is pretty good, but not a front runner; I can certainly think of 5 more worthy purchases of the same repertoire
Performance ratings:-

1 = 2/5 (bit of an underpowered dud)
2 = 5/5 (very fine indeed)
3 = 4/5 (4th movement in particular)
4 = 4/5 (2nd movement is very appealingly played, and the 3rd wonderfully bold)

Thanks for the honest appraisal Darren

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 5:30 pm

bombasticDarren wrote:As to Solti's Strauss; it's very well recorded and the Chicago brass is very powerful (certainly much more preferable to the underpowered Kempe ASZ

I was hoping that you would say that....I feel my Wish List growing again

Brendan · Post by **Brendan** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 5:42 pm

Pergolesi - Stabat Mater, Salve Regina, In Coelestibus Regnis - Robert King, The Kings Consort: Hyperion

Beethoven - Piano Concerto No 3 - Solomon, Sir Adrian Boult, BBC SO: Naxos

Donaldopato · Post by **Donaldopato** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 6:26 pm

Scriabin Symphony # 3 "The Divine Poem"

Philadelphia Orchestra Muti Brilliant Classics Set 92744

Much discussed here as one of the best things Muti did in Philadelphia.

Then at 6PM Central, Lance's show! (you still up Sèan??)

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 7:10 pm

bombasticDarren wrote: Am now finishing listening to Brahms No.4 by Rattle/BPO.
Overall the set is pretty good, but not a front runner; I can certainly think of 5 more worthy purchases of the same repertoire

Let's look at it differently, can anybody list five Complete Sets that are worse than Le rat's..

ContrapunctusIX · Post by **ContrapunctusIX** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 7:24 pm

Schoenberg: Verklarte Nacht, Chamber Symphonies 1 & 2
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra - DGG

Sibelius: Symphonies 5 - 7
Berglund/Helsinki PO - EMI

Bruckner: Symphony No. 7
Eugen Jochum/Dresden Staatskapelle - EMI

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 7:57 pm

Donaldopato wrote:Scriabin Symphony # 3 "The Divine Poem"

Philadelphia Orchestra Muti Brilliant Classics Set 92744

Much discussed here as one of the best things Muti did in Philadelphia.

It's a lovely set.

Then at 6PM Central, Lance's show! (you still up Sèan??)

Yes I am.

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 4:31 am

Chalkperson wrote:Let's look at it differently, can anybody list five Complete Sets that are worse than Le rat's..

LOL

You don't miss an opportunity

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 4:33 am

Today is the Third Day of Christmas and also the First Sunday after Christmas and for each of those two occasions JSB wrote individual Cantatas as the two dates do not, obviously, coincide very often. To the best of my knowledge, when this situation occurs the liturgical text for the First Sunday takes precedence so I started this morning with the beautiful Cantata BWV152 from JEG’s Vol. 16....

....I then followed that (for completion’s sake) with the Suzuki version of Cantata BWV64 [from box set no. 2] for the Third day of Christmas....

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 4:45 am

Fergus wrote:Today is the Third Day of Christmas and also the First Sunday after Christmas and for each of those two occasions JSB wrote individual Cantatas as the two dates do not, obviously, coincide very often. To the best of my knowledge, when this situation occurs the liturgical text for the First Sunday takes precedence so I started this morning with the beautiful Cantata BWV152 from JEG’s Vol. 16....

....I then followed that (for completion’s sake) with the Suzuki version of Cantata BWV64 [from box set no. 2] for the Third day of Christmas....

and then the Christmas Orotario?

Jared · Post by **Jared** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 7:51 am

Don Quixote
Dance Suite after Francois Couperin

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 9:05 am

Seán wrote:and then the Christmas Orotario?

Predictable....but appropriate

Jeg's version of Part 3 of the Christmas Oratorio:

James · Post by **James** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 9:19 am

Harvey was a professional cellist for a brief time and the cello is the instrument with which he has made some of his most personal utterances. He regards it as the most human of instruments, "...it speaks with every aspect of the human voice, masculine, feminine, powerful, tender, poetic, exclamatory, dreamy". The 1990 Cello Concerto was inspired by Hindu text and it unfolds as a journey - in this case the individual's journey towards a state of bliss. The soloist is, for the most part, surrounded by a web of bright percussive sounds (vibraphone, celeste, glockenspiel) which suggests an aura of protective light carrying it across the more earthbound sounds of the rest of the orchestra. The concerto was created in collaberation with its first performer, Frances-Marie Uitti, with whom Harvey has developed several subsequent pieces. This disc generates a remarkable sensation of spaciousness and grandeur with the soloist, at times, an extremely vulnerable presence. Frances Marie Uitti seems able to respond with ease to all the technical difficulties Harvey throws at her and the result is an aural experience quite unlike any other.

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 10:01 am

Bartók: The String Quartets
Emerson String Quartet
DGG

1988, with stunning rhythmic accuracy.

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 10:46 am

Johann Sebastian Bach
Weihnachtsoratorium BWV 248,
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Harnoncourt/Concentus musicus Wien:

Jared · Post by **Jared** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 11:09 am

^^ you know the saying about 'if everyone in China were to jump up and down on the spot at the same time'?

I wonder what would happen if every inhabitant of Dublin were to simultaneously play Bach's 'Christmas Oratorio'?

meanwhile, rural Norfolk strains to the sounds of:

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 5:27 pm

Jared wrote:I wonder what would happen if every inhabitant of Dublin were to simultaneously play Bach's 'Christmas Oratorio'?

Not likely to happen Jared as, unfortunately, it is rarely heard over here....except in my house at Christmas....and, now, apparently in Seán's as well

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 5:28 pm

Some late evening listening with Charpentier's Noels & Christmas Motets:

Donaldopato · Post by **Donaldopato** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 8:54 pm

Dug out an old one; fascinating works:

Nono

Como Una Ola De Fuerza Y Luz
Contrappuncto dialettico alla mente
Sofferte Onde Serene

Maurizio Pollini Claudio Abbado

DGG 423248

Wallingford · Post by **Wallingford** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 12:05 am

Holst's The Planets (Holst 2)

YEP, you saw it right: the composer himself recorded it twice, starting in '23 with the LSO; then the Columbia folks wooed him back to the studio three years later to remake it for the electrical recording era.

Never mind what the hi-fi/sci-fi guys may tell you: glitzy sound reproduction ISN'T what matters most in this score! Holst, like all the classic Brit pros (Boult, Sargent, THOSE guys...), uncovers musical meat no one else ever managed, and it's astonishing how the latest digital refurbishing shows the logic & color of the composer's interpretation (I got this one off the Rhapsody site).

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 1:09 am

James wrote:Harvey was a professional cellist for a brief time

Interesting, I dd not know that...

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 1:10 am

Ken wrote:Bartók: The String Quartets
Emerson String Quartet
DGG

1988, with stunning rhythmic accuracy.

Stunning accuracy yet no real Soul...

val · Post by **val** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:11 am

CAVALLI: L'ORMINDO / Soloists, Les Paladins, Jerome Correas

The opera has beautiful moments, but the libretto is too conventionel. We are very far from the life of La Calisto.

The interpreters are decent, in special Crook and Visse.

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 6:14 am

Castelnuovo-Tedesco – Guitar Concerto No. 1 played by J Williams, The English Chamber Orchestra/Groves:

Jared · Post by **Jared** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 6:41 am

R Strauss: ASZ
Kempe/ EMI

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:13 am

Prompted by a Jared recommendation on another thread I listened to one of my versions of Brahms' Alto Rhapsody from this Klemperer set:

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:39 am

Sibelius
Kullervo, Op.7
Lilli Paasikivi (mezzo); Raimo Laukka (baritone)
Helsinki University Chorus
Lahti Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:46 am

Fergus wrote:
Jared wrote:I wonder what would happen if every inhabitant of Dublin were to simultaneously play Bach's 'Christmas Oratorio'?
Not likely to happen Jared as, unfortunately, it is rarely heard over here....except in my house at Christmas....and, now, apparently in Seán's as well

Yes, my home resonates to the sound of Bach (and much more besides

)this Christmas. The rest of Dublin? Nah, no chance! The Oratario doesn't have a constant beat, it lasts longer that 3 minutes and is not instantly recognisable on second hearing.

Jared · Post by **Jared** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:56 am

Seán wrote:Sibelius
Kullervo, Op.7
Lilli Paasikivi (mezzo); Raimo Laukka (baritone)
Helsinki University Chorus
Lahti Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä

along with Fergus' Brahms, Dublin has enjoyed some positively exquisite listening experiences this morning, gentlemen..

for myself:

R Strauss:
Dance of the Seven Veils
Le Bourgoise Gentlilhomme
Waltz from Schlagobers
Josephslegende

Kempe/ EMI

The Journey continues..

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 11:00 am

Jared wrote:
Seán wrote:Sibelius
Kullervo, Op.7
Lilli Paasikivi (mezzo); Raimo Laukka (baritone)
Helsinki University Chorus
Lahti Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä
along with Fergus' Brahms, Dublin has enjoyed some positively exquisite listening experiences this morning, gentlemen..

Indeed it has Jared. This time with Beethoven's Seventh performed by the COE under the directon of the wonderful Harnoncourt:

for myself:

R Strauss:
Dance of the Seven Veils
Le Bourgoise Gentlilhomme
Waltz from Schlagobers
Josephslegende

Kempe/ EMI

The Journey continues..

You obviously enjoy listening to Strauss.

johnQpublic · Post by **johnQpublic** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 12:10 pm

Dvorak - Overture to "Dimitrij" (Stankovsky/Marco Polo)
Brahms - Violin Sonata #3 (Pasquier/Harmonia Mundi)
Hindemith - Noblissima Visione (de Priest/Delos)

James · Post by **James** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 12:10 pm

REVIEWS
“Each of these pieces for trombone and orchestra subtly subverts the concept of the concerto in its composer's idiosyncratic way. Lindberg performs them with astonishing technical assurance, exemplary intelligence and considerable sparkle.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2007

Trombone virtuoso Christian Lindberg has had over 80 concertos written for him. Lindberg admits that there are parts, sometimes large parts, of the three concertos recorded here that are virtually unplayable, but he has mastered them and offers no indication of stressful exertion; he and the Oslo Philharmonic, conducted by Peter Rundel, play with style and apparent ease. Berio's Solo for trombone and orchestra is the most traditionally modernist piece, with a spiky harmonic language and angular melodic contours. The Xenakis concerto Troorkh is the most striking piece on the CD. It demonstrates the composer's remarkable skills as an orchestrator, which allow him to draw such otherworldly sonorities from the orchestra that they sound like they could only have been produced electronically. The concerto keeps the trombone at the upper extreme of its register for mercilessly long stretches, set against massive, granitic blocks of orchestral sound, to a genuinely dramatic and awe-inspiring effect. Turnage's concerto Yet Another Set To is occasionally reminiscent of Bernstein, and it offers the audience the most hooks; its repetitions make certain gestures memorable, and the incorporation of skewed jazz licks gives listeners a sense of familiar territory. The sound quality of the SACD is excellent — clean and spacious, with good balance between the soloist and orchestra. - Stephen Eddins

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 12:56 pm

Chalkperson wrote:
Ken wrote:Bartók: The String Quartets
Emerson String Quartet
DGG

1988, with stunning rhythmic accuracy.
Stunning accuracy yet no real Soul...

They aren't Hungarian; we can't expect them to overdramatize the Hungarian aspects of the music.

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 4:52 pm

Seán wrote:
Fergus wrote:
Jared wrote:I wonder what would happen if every inhabitant of Dublin were to simultaneously play Bach's 'Christmas Oratorio'?
Not likely to happen Jared as, unfortunately, it is rarely heard over here....except in my house at Christmas....and, now, apparently in Seán's as well
Yes, my home resonates to the sound of Bach (and much more besides )this Christmas. The rest of Dublin? Nah, no chance! The Oratario doesn't have a constant beat, it lasts longer that 3 minutes and is not instantly recognisable on second hearing.

Seán, I am aghast at your cynicism

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 4:54 pm

Seán wrote:You obviously enjoy listening to Strauss.

Jared is obviously developing impeccable taste Seán

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 4:55 pm

Fergus wrote:
Seán wrote:
Fergus wrote:
Jared wrote:I wonder what would happen if every inhabitant of Dublin were to simultaneously play Bach's 'Christmas Oratorio'?
Not likely to happen Jared as, unfortunately, it is rarely heard over here....except in my house at Christmas....and, now, apparently in Seán's as well
Yes, my home resonates to the sound of Bach (and much more besides )this Christmas. The rest of Dublin? Nah, no chance! The Oratario doesn't have a constant beat, it lasts longer that 3 minutes and is not instantly recognisable on second hearing.
Seán, I am aghast at your cynicism

No yer not!

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 4:56 pm

This evening; Caldara – Christmas Cantata performed by Aradia Baroque Ensemble/Mallon:

This is wonderful music and could easily be listened to at any time of the year and it would not seem "out of season".

Donaldopato · Post by **Donaldopato** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:03 pm

Bach Cello Suite # 6 in D

Janos Starker Mercury 432756

Seán · Post by **Seán** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:06 pm

I bought this double CD set a few weeks ago. I have listened to the First Symphony a few times now, it is gorgeous music and is performed beautifully by the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Thomas Dausgaard:

Fergus · Post by **Fergus** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 6:11 pm

Prompted by a discussion in another thread I sought out this box set....

....and played disc 1 which contains the Nocturnes. I am one of those who like the music of Fauré and this particular disc alone is worth the price of the box set for me.

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