What are you listening 2 now?

[Symphonic Addict]

Schnittke: String Quartet No. 4
Raff: Piano Trio No. 4

[André]

There's half a dozen recordings of this symphony by Böhm with orchestras from Berlin, Vienna, Cologne, Munich and no doubt some others I haven't heard. This one from 1960 boasts the powerful Berliner Philharmoniker in fine mettle. Particularly noteworthy are the first oboist (when does anyone ever notice an oboe solo?) and flutist, both endowed with fruity, slender, cool-as-a-mountain-brook tone. The horn section is excellent as well, except in the exposed solo at the end of the slow movement: it's not nearly as lambent and golden as the same orchestra's under Abbado (probably a different player some 28 years later), Philadelphia's Mason Jones (Ormandy) or the WP (Böhm again). What this performance has that has to be recognized is a kind of juggernaut quality in the finale. Böhm's conducting in Berlin was often faster, punchier, almost brutal in places. The surge, the lift he imparts to the last 5 minutes leave no place for questing and angst: it's pure triumph sweeping all before it. 

[DavidW]

Frankel: Symphonies 1 and 2

If I'm not mistaken, these works have elements of twelve tones, and Frankel uses them in a way that doesn't get too dissonant.

You reminded me how much I used to love Frankel's symphonies and it must have been twenty years now... time for a fresh listen!

[brewski]

Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra (Chailly / Concertgebouw). It's been ages since I've heard this piece and this recording, and was spurred by the big birthday tomorrow. Chailly and the Concertgebouw sound delicious, here in the gorgeous second piece, "Vergangenes" ("Yesteryears").

-Bruce

[steve ridgway]

Scelsi: Elegia Per Ty

[steve ridgway]

Cowell: Piece For Piano With Strings

[JBS]

Contents
7 Little Preludes BWV 924-930*
3 Preludes BWV 931,932,924a
6 Little Preludes BWV 933-938
5 Little Preludes BWV 939-943
Prelude pour le luth BWV 999
15 Two Part Inventions BWV 772-786
15 Three Part Sinfonias BWV 787-801
Applicatio BWV 994*
Fugue BWV 953*
Jesu meine Freude BWV 753*

*from Wilhelm Friedemann Bach's Itty Bitty Keyboard Book

[steve ridgway]

Ligeti: Sonata For Solo Viola

[steve ridgway]

Boulez: Structures Pour Deux Pianos, Livre II

[steve ridgway]

Varèse: Écuatorial

[steve ridgway]

Messiaen: Poemes Pour Mi

[Irons]

Re: Opera @foxandpeng @Irons

Guys, have you ever tried to listen to an opera, any opera, without any concern for the libretto, action or words? I mean, just letting the music flow over you as if the voices were just instruments supplementing those in the orchestra? Not trying to understand anything, nor following any action? It might --- just might --- be an exhilarating experience that could even unlock the whole thing for you. 

It's the very opposite of what @Pohjolas Daughter suggested, I know, but hey, whatever might work for getting someone into opera is worth trying. 

Excellent point, ignoring plot is often plan when listening to music for ballet. Many years ago attended a performance of "The Magic Flute" by the English National Opera. We loved it! An experience vivid in my memory to this day. I have difficulty replicating this sitting in my listening room facing a pair of speakers. Points to a lack of imagination, I guess.    

[Irons]

Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No.3

A recording from 1964. Chamber music recordings by Supraphon from the period are very good indeed, unlike orchestral with some notable exceptions which are not. This is one of the best.

Outstanding roster of Czech string quartet ensembles during 60/70s including Smetana, Prague, Janacek and not least Vlach SQ.

[Harry]

Martin Codax: Cantigas de Amigo, 13th Century.
Music for Alfonso the Wise.
The Dufay Collective.
Recorded: 2004. Venue unknown to me.
See back cover for details.

This is in all respects a remarkable recording, which was at its release praised by critics and public alike. Much is written about the music, and this particular CD, follow this link.

https://www.cdandlp.com/en/alfons-x-martin-codax/music-for-alfonso-the-wise-dufay-collective/cd/r119046611/

There are reviews and info from which you get a good impression of this production.
SOTA sound, and as a performance I'd say it does not get any better. Instrumentalists and vocals are gorgeous. Especially the Soprano Vivien Ellis is marvelous. Heck, even @foxandpeng  would heartily embrace her and the whole CD as a matter of fact. This is really top notch.

[Harry]

SIMPSON, Christopher (c. 1605–69)
20 Ayres for Two Trebles and Two Basses.
World première recording.
Chelys.
Ibrahim Aziz · Alison Kinder · Emily Ashton · Jennifer Bullock viols, with Dan Tidhar chamber organ, harpsichord, James Akers theorbo, baroque guitar.
All the pieces on this disc except for the Divisions are quartets for two trebles and two basses.
Recording: July 2013 at Girton College Chapel, Cambridge, England.

Beautiful. Superb sound and performance.

[Harry]

Mieczysław Weinberg (1919– 1996).

Chamber Symphony No. 3, Op. 151 (1990).
Chamber Symphony No. 4, Op. 153 (1992).

Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Thord Svedlund.
Recording venue Konserthuset, Helsingborg, Sweden; 4– 7 March 2014.

Breathtaking. Of course it is, Weinberg is a master in awesomeness. I dwell in his melancholica, an overwhelming elegiac mood, which is caused by the loss of friends, but also by dwindling public recognition. The people that did not like his music were blockheads. SOTA sound and performance.

[Que]

I don't think this ensemble is a perfect match with Lassus, but it is a dedicated effort which makes up for a good listen.

[foxandpeng]

Martin Codax: Cantigas de Amigo, 13th Century.
Music for Alfonso the Wise.
The Dufay Collective.
Recorded: 2004. Venue unknown to me.
See back cover for details.

This is in all respects a remarkable recording, which was at its release praised by critics and public alike. Much is written about the music, and this particular CD, follow this link.

https://www.cdandlp.com/en/alfons-x-martin-codax/music-for-alfonso-the-wise-dufay-collective/cd/r119046611/

There are reviews and info from which you get a good impression of this production.
SOTA sound, and as a performance I'd say it does not get any better. Instrumentalists and vocals are gorgeous. Especially the Soprano Vivien Ellis is marvelous. Heck, even @foxandpeng  would heartily embrace her and the whole CD as a matter of fact. This is really top notch.

In that case  I'm 'in for a spin' 🙂

[foxandpeng]

Mieczysław Weinberg (1919– 1996).

Chamber Symphony No. 3, Op. 151 (1990).
Chamber Symphony No. 4, Op. 153 (1992).

Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Thord Svedlund.
Recording venue Konserthuset, Helsingborg, Sweden; 4– 7 March 2014.

Breathtaking. Of course it is, Weinberg is a master in awesomeness. I dwell in his melancholica, an overwhelming elegiac mood, which is caused by the loss of friends, but also by dwindling public recognition. The people that did not like his music were blockheads. SOTA sound and performance.

Love it.

[foxandpeng]

Martin Codax: Cantigas de Amigo, 13th Century.
Music for Alfonso the Wise.
The Dufay Collective.
Recorded: 2004. Venue unknown to me.
See back cover for details.

This is in all respects a remarkable recording, which was at its release praised by critics and public alike. Much is written about the music, and this particular CD, follow this link.

https://www.cdandlp.com/en/alfons-x-martin-codax/music-for-alfonso-the-wise-dufay-collective/cd/r119046611/

There are reviews and info from which you get a good impression of this production.
SOTA sound, and as a performance I'd say it does not get any better. Instrumentalists and vocals are gorgeous. Especially the Soprano Vivien Ellis is marvelous. Heck, even @foxandpeng  would heartily embrace her and the whole CD as a matter of fact. This is really top notch.

Hm.

*moves on vewwy, vewwy kwietly*

Thread:

Das Rheingold
Richard Wagner
Sir Georg Solti
Wiener Philharmoniker
Decca

This probably belongs in the WOYLT thread, but because I am replying to Harry, I claim immunity. Also, it bears context with attempting vocal music.

After Die Walküre yesterday, I thought it appropriate to prod Das Rheingold. Max volume.

Shout on, German friends, shout on...

Also? What a great CD cover ... Solti's pose is reminiscent of an early Mayhem or other Black Metal dramatic stance. Angst and existential dread...