What Classical Music Are You listening to Now? III

[BBMmk2]

Vaughan Williams
Symphony 4
In the fen country
Symphony 6

BBC Philharmonic
John Wilson

May 2022 BBC Music Magazine cover CD

I have received mine, as well. Not listened to it, yet, though.

Today’s listening

Florentt Schmitt
Psaume XLVIII, Op.38
(Andréa Guiot, soprano, Gaston Litaize, organ,
Chœurs de l’ORTF
Orchestre l’ORTF
Jean Martinon)
La Tragédie de Salomé, Op.50
Maîtrise de l’ORTF
Orchestre de l’ORTF
Jean Martinon)

Bruckner Symphonies, Haas Edition)
Symphony No.4 in Eb major, “Romantic”
Symphony No.5 in Bb major
Symphony Mo.6 in A major
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Daniel Barenboim.

[Bryn]

Still listening, but they strike me as a little superficial, though that's probably being a bit unfair.

I'm not a fan of his interpretations either, and don't understand all the acclaim.

I'm listening to the 4th, now. The word that comes to mind is prosaic. All the right notes, in the right order, but rather shapeless. I don't think this is what RVW meant (nod, nod, wink wink).

[RichardB]

Wagner, Prelude & Liebestod; Bruckner, Symphonies 1 & 5. Gewandhausorchester & Andris Nelsons.

Well up to the standard of Nelsons' Bruckner symphonies (not forgetting the interspersed Wagner items) so far. I wasn't looking forward to no.1 particularly because it's not a work I've seen very much in until now, but this recording has almost changed my mind.

[silvestrione]

I can imagine that being quite impressive.
Which orchestra: BBCSO?

Yes, at a Prom in 2013. He had been down to do it at Snape, possibly with a different orchestra, but was ill and Edward Gardiner stepped in. That, also, was excellent (I was there).

[cloughie]

I'm listening to the 4th, now. The word that comes to mind is prosaic. All the right notes, in the right order, but rather shapeless. I don't think this is what RVW meant (nod, nod, wink wink).

I would say the best relatively new RVW4 I have heard is RLPO Manze, though I’m not sure a tenor voice fits the coupled Pastoral!

[Bryn]

I would say the best relatively new RVW4 I have heard is RLPO Manze, though I’m not sure a tenor voice fits the coupled Pastoral!

Yes, Manze has a real feel for RVW's work. Are there any recordings that substitute a clarinet for the voice in the Pastoral?

[pastoralguy]

Beethoven. Symphony No.9

Herbert Von Karajan conducting Die Berliner Philharmoniker. 1980’s recording.

I’d forgotten how convincing this performance is. I have the re-mastered 1980’s box set and the sound is excellent.

[Mario]

VIEUXTEMPS H

VC No 4 in D min Op 31 (1935)
VC No 5 in A min Op 37 (1947)

LPO – Heifetz J – Barbirolli Sir J

Mario

[Bryn]

Beethoven. Symphony No.9

Herbert Von Karajan conducting Die Berliner Philharmoniker. 1980’s recording.

I’d forgotten how convincing this performance is. I have the re-mastered 1980’s box set and the sound is excellent.

Interesting. The general view appears to be that the 1980s digital recordings were his weakest.

[Stanfordian]

Brahms
Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 33
Shostakovich
Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57
Olga Kern (piano)
Dalí Quartet
Recorded 2019, Robin Hixon Theatre, Norfolk, VA, USA
Delos new CD

[silvestrione]

Beethoven. Symphony No.9

Herbert Von Karajan conducting Die Berliner Philharmoniker. 1980’s recording.

I’d forgotten how convincing this performance is. I have the re-mastered 1980’s box set and the sound is excellent.

I have that box but have never listened to the 9th, largely for the reasons mentioned by Bryn. But silly, really, because I love the 'Eroica' in that cycle...admired by Richard Osborne.

[pastoralguy]

Interesting. The general view appears to be that the 1980s digital recordings were his weakest.

I thought that too but I started listening and found I became really involved. The playing of the Berlin Philharmonic is absolutely superb!

[richardfinegold]

Beethoven. Symphony No.9

Herbert Von Karajan conducting Die Berliner Philharmoniker. 1980’s recording.

I’d forgotten how convincing this performance is. I have the re-mastered 1980’s box set and the sound is excellent.

it has been emastered a bunch of times, I have the Blu Ray. The whole cycle just sounds so right

[visualnickmos]

Interesting. The general view appears to be that the 1980s digital recordings were his weakest.

I too, love that cycle; the sound is technically stunning.... and the playing equally so. I really don't know how the rumour about it being the 'weakest' came about - if indeed, it exists at all.

[Bryn]

I too, love that cycle; the sound is technically stunning.... and the playing equally so. I really don't know how the rumour about it being the 'weakest' came about - if indeed, it exists at all.

I note that while the 1960s and 1970s sets have been remastered to Blu-ray, the 1980s set has not. Perhaps this is because the sample rate and quantization used in those early digital recordings would not benefit much from remastering at a higher resolution? The lack may also reflect the view that the recordings were not up to the standard of the '60s and '70s sets. I will have to unload the stacks of CDs from the top of the big DG/Decca Karajan box on its lazy Susan and give the digital Ninth a spin.