What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Brahmsian]

I couldn't unwrap this fast enough.....my first ever set of Mozart's piano sonatas! 

Disc 1

Piano Sonata in C major, K.46d
Piano Sonata in F major, K.46e
Piano Sonata in C major, K.279
Piano Sonata in F major, K.280
Piano Sonata in B flat major, K.281
Piano Sonata in E flat major, K.282

George, thank you so much for the recommendation.  I've been mesmerized and swept away from the opening note!! 

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[TheGSMoeller]

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Desprez: Stabat Mater dolorosa
La Chapelle Royale - Philippe Herreweghe

[Leon]

'


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Although Couperin is recorded more often and talked about more, Rameau's keyboard music is arguably just as good.  I have enjoyed Christophe Rousset's recording for many happy hours, but this one by Blandine Rannou is beautiful and one I will return to again and again.

[Lilas Pastia]

I think I instinctively understood, but now I distinctly understand, though the difference may originally have been indistinguishable.

In French 'indistinctement' has the dual meaning of 'not making a difference one way or the other' and 'not clearly', or 'confusing'. That's why I "instinctively understood", too

[Lilas Pastia]

Beethoven, symphony no. 9 by André Cluytens and the Berlin Philharmonic.

So far all the other symphonies have given me great pleasure. Cluytens brings a welcome weight and spaciousness to the first five symphonies while displaying a fine sense of forward motion. In the Pastorale he relaxes even more and the mood is superbly sustained throughout. This is rightly regarded as one of the great recordings of the work, even though I personally prefer a bit more thrust and effulgence. This brook does not bubble along as I like it to. But it's very good all the same.

The 7th goes back to the splendor and majesty of 3 and 5, whereas the 8th recaptures the mix of brightness and mellowness that are so winning in 1,2 and 4.

The 9th is something different again. I have known this for decades and have always liked it when in the mood for a ceremonial, regal 9th. The orchestra is excellent and expertly balanced and the sound is reasonably good, if now sounding dated on the edges. Many balances are somewhat unclear and although the dynamic range is wide enough, things do get unclear in the last movement. Soloists are truly excellent. Gre Brouwenstijn, a great Leonore (Fidelio) in her time sings a radiant, secure, immaculate high B - and of course the rest of her part, too.

For a 72 minute 9th I definitely prefer the very dramatic reading of Böhm with the WP. The total timing is identical but this is misleading. Cluytens takes 2 minutes more in the first movement, but 2 less in the Finale. Overall I get more goosebumps per minute with Böhm. And I have to confess that slow 9ths are not what I favour today. Just as musical performance practices evolve with time, so did my own musical thinking.

In sum, this fine 9th makes a fitting culmination to a very beautifully played and recorded set (no sonic reservations for the other symphonies, esp. 1 and 2 which boast demonstration sound).

[Gold Knight]

On Spotify:

Gustav Mahler--Symphony No.4 in G Major and Symphony NO.7 in E Minor, both featuring the New York Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

[Wakefield]

Schumann - The Complete Works for Pianoforte and Violin



I will need to write something more elaborated about this set, but after the first disc I feel I have listened to a wonderful set of performances.

It's incredible I didn't know anything at all about Mrs. Abel, but she is one of the most impressive fiddlers that I have found in the last time (although this recording is quite old).

P.S.: EUR 15 on JPC... just in case.

[Bogey]

Always a privilege to listen to Leonhardt.

[listener]

FRESCOBALDI  music for keyboard (harpsichord here)
3 Toccatas and assorted canzonas and other works
Bob van Asperen, harpsichord by Martin Skrowroneck, Bremen 1964, after an 18th century Italian one.

[Coopmv]

Always a privilege to listen to Leonhardt.

But listening is a right ...   

[TheGSMoeller]

Symphony No. 3 from Norrington and Company...

[Florestan]

[Lisztianwagner]

Thread duty:

Claude Debussy
La Mer

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[North Star]

Rachmaninoff
Symphonies nos. 1 & 2
Jansons & St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra

I hadn't warmed to the these symphonies before, but now I like them very much.
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[Lisztianwagner]

Rachmaninoff
Symphonies nos. 1 & 2

I hadn't warmed to the these symphonies before, but now I like them very much.

Glad to hear that, Karlo, Rachmaninov's symphonies are absolutely beautiful!

[North Star]

Glad to hear that, Karlo, Rachmaninov's symphonies are absolutely beautiful!

Yes, obviously I wasn't in the right mood when I tried these two earlier. I remember liking the 3rd, though, but can't remember it at all. I'll listen to that one after the 2nd finishes.

[Sergeant Rock]

Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition, Celibidache conducting the Munich Phil




Sarge

[Lisztianwagner]

On youtube, now:

Maurice Ravel
Violin Sonata

Violin: Schlomo Mintz
Piano: Yefim Bronfman

[Sergeant Rock]

Strauss Also sprach Zarathustra, Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony




Sarge

[Leon]

Bach : Partitas

Christophe Rousset

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