What are you listening 2 now?

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Armenian Chamber Instrumental Music.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Jacques Ibert - Bostoniana, etc.

[JBS]

Wow, it is!

Le Dieu Bleu was premiered by the Ballets Russes in 1912, right between Petrushka and Daphnis. It was completely overshadowed by those two masterpieces and has not been heard since, not until the September 2023 live performance captured on this disc. (There is some coughing and creaking floor/chair sounds.)

The music is completely delicious from first note to last. There is a lot of "eastern" exoticism, lush atmosphere, and although the booklet has zero information about the ballet's original plot, the tracklist gives clues with titles like "Monstres et Demons" and "Danse des Yoghis." "Clair de lune" sounds especially Hollywoody, like something that would be written for a murder mystery TV show in 1912...which shows how little Hollywood's musical language has evolved in 100 years and how far ahead of his time Hahn could be!

As always with Hahn, the music is unfailingly gorgeous, colorfully scored, interesting, and adjacent to other French writers (like Roussel in the love music or Debussy in the "exotic" episodes) but wholly original.

My only problem is with the transition from track 11 to track 12. On Qobuz, it sounds like there is some music missing as track 11 ends quietly and track 12 begins in the middle of a loud note.

The immediate frontrunner for 2025 Recording of the Year!

It seems neither Diaghilev nor the author of the Wikipedia article liked Hahn and his music.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Dieu_bleu

[JBS]

Now playing Debussy Pour le piano

That must be a new iteration of the DG set. Fortunately for my budget I have the Blechacz and the Cho is in transit to me.

[Symphonic Addict]

Honegger: Horace victorieux and Skating Rink (Marc Andreae, Orchestre de la Radio-Télévision Suisse Italienne)

His other symphonies, namely symphonie mimée and symphonie choréographique, respectively. The former doesn't receive a performance as powerful as on the DG recording, but it's good. The latter depicts a roller skating scene, something that apparently Honegger was passionate about and it's rather cool.

Having revisited this cycle, the impression that remains is that of full admiration and fondness. Sensational stuff.

My order of preference would be: 3, 4, 1, 5, Horace victorieux, 2, Skating Rink.

[JBS]

I still have a problem with liking his music, and do not really have a valid reason for it. Maybe I do not listen to the pieces that would ease my way in, so to say.

Some composers may just not write in a way that catches one's ears. The only Lutoslawski recording that has worked for me is Argerich/Friere in the Paganini Variations.

I have found with a number of 20th century composers that chamber works are a useful way to get into a composer's musical language, while avoiding or delaying their orchestral works. The smaller number of instruments seems to clarify the music.

[JBS]

TD


Works mostly from 1843-44
Nocturne in c sharp minor Op 27/1 [dated 1833-36]
Moderato in E Major. WN 56
3 Mazurkas Op 56
2 Nocturnes Op 55
Sonata in b minor Op 58
Berceuse in D Flat Op 57

[Brian]

It seems neither Diaghilev nor the author of the Wikipedia article liked Hahn and his music.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Dieu_bleu

Hmm, some of the parts I considered as "Hollywood" could well be heard as "sweet and insipid." It never annoyed me, but I was aware of it.

I also wonder if Hahn was just not very much appreciated in his day?

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

That must be a new iteration of the DG set. Fortunately for my budget I have the Blechacz and the Cho is in transit to me.

Yes, this was the set that was released during the composer's anniversary year of 2012. There were two large Debussy sets released this year: this DG one and the one on Warner, which many other members here on GMG own as well.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Hahn Le dieu bleu



Sounds absolutely enchanting so far. This is the world premiere recording of this ballet. A shame it took this long for someone to finally record it. Hahn is a composer of an unmistakable lyricism, eloquence and charm.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

It seems neither Diaghilev nor the author of the Wikipedia article liked Hahn and his music.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Dieu_bleu

Fortunately, for the few of us here on GMG, this isn't the case at all. A lot of works were "failures" at their premieres but have gone on to capture the hearts of many listeners.

One such example is Debussy's Jeux. This incredible work received one of the most lukewarm receptions from a major composer in Ballets Russes history. Although, it certainly didn't help that Stravinsky's Le sacre was premiered several months later, which, as we all know, completely revolutionized music and stole what little thunder Jeux had garnered. Sometimes the stars just aren't aligned for some works and I think Hahn's Le dieu bleu is one of those works.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

My only problem is with the transition from track 11 to track 12. On Qobuz, it sounds like there is some music missing as track 11 ends quietly and track 12 begins in the middle of a loud note.

This happened to me as well. I wonder if this issue is prominent amongst all digital formats? @ritter, I have two questions: do you own this on CD? If yes, then do you have the same issue that @Brian and myself have with the transition from track 11 to 12? If the CD has no issue, then I may contact Presto Classical for a refund.

Edit 1: I just found another error the transition from 14 to 15. The end of 14 just cuts off and then goes right into 15 which kind of just blasts through. Did you have this error, too, @Brian and  @ritter?

Edit 2: I just sent an email to Presto for a full refund. I simply can't have playback issues when listening to any music.

[JBS]

Yes, this was the set that was released during the composer's anniversary year of 2012. There were two large Debussy sets released this year: this DG one and the one on Warner, which many other members here on GMG own as well.

I went digging. What you have is the 2018 set. I have the 2012 set (for his 150th birthday), called Debussy Edition. (See below.)Yours has 4 more CDs (apparently all historical recordings) and a DVD of Pelleas et Melisande.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

I went digging. What you have is the 2018 set. I have the 2012 set (for his 150th birthday), called Debussy Edition. (See below.)Yours has 4 more CDs (apparently all historical recordings) and a DVD of Pelleas et Melisande.

Ah yes, you're correct. I meant 2018 not 2012...duh! My mistake. Yeah, the 2018 set has some extra stuff that the older set didn't have. Both are difficult to find nowadays.

[Number Six]

Dvořák: Violin Concerto
Akiko Suwanai
Iván Fischer, Budepest Festival Orchestra

[Symphonic Addict]

This happened to me as well. I wonder if this issue is prominent amongst all digital formats?

On Naxos Music Library, YouTube and Tidal is the same. The booklet notes don't have a list of tracks either to check the real duration of La Déesse paraît, the problematic track.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

On Naxos Music Library, YouTube and Tidal is the same. The booklet notes don't have a list of tracks either to check the real duration of La Déesse paraît, the problematic track.

Thanks, Cesar. This is truly disappointing. Hopefully, this will get resolved, because I loved the work.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Roussel Le Festin de l'araignée, Op. 17

[AnotherSpin]

seems to sum up the big picture I'm interested in, whatever the nature of the parts this unity might appear be divided into .

Though the realm of sense and opinion appears replete with motion, division, and becoming — wherein manifold forms seem to arise and pass away — this is but the shadow-play upon the wall of the cave. The true and intelligible is neither moved nor altered, but ever is:  One - unchanging, and eternal. What is taken as change in the visible is but the reflection of that which, in truth, does not change

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Adams Must the Devil Have All the Good Tunes?