What Classical Music Are You listening to Now? III

[Bryn]

Now playing here: Brahms, Deutsches Requiem, the live 2008 recording conducted by JEG. Not much difference in interpretation between this and his earlier recording, although the liveness of it is certainly a plus, as are the two Schütz motets that open the programme. I would have liked the orchestra to be a bit more forward in the mix, but otherwise this is very fine indeed. I think I might just still prefer Herreweghe, but for some reason Qobuz misses out some of its tracks.

The QOBUZ omissions seem very strange. Have you raised the issue with them?

[BBMmk2]

Beethoven
Fidelio.
With
Nina Stemme Leonore
Jonas Kaufman Florestan
Christoph Fischhesser Rocco
Rachel Harnesch Marzeline
Christoph Strehl Jaquine
Peter Mattel Don Fernando
Arnold Schoenberg Chor
Mahler Chamber Orchestra
Lucerne Festival Orchestra
Claudio Abbado

Vaughan Williams
Serenade to Music
Oboe Concerto
Flos Campi
Piano Concerto
Sarah Jeffrey (oboe)
Teng Li (Viola)
Louis Lortie (piano)
Elmer Eisler Singers
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Peter Ouindjian

Dona Nobis Pacem
Five Mystical Songs
Edith Wiens (soprano)
Bryan Rayner Cook (baritone)
LPO Choir
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Bryden Thomson

[Pulcinella]

Martinu

Overture for orchestra
Rhapsody for large orchestra
Sinfonia concertante for two orchestras
Concerto grosso for chamber orchestra
The Parables for large orchestra

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Jiri Belohlavek

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Overtures-Orchestra-Czech-PO/dp/B00008UEFB/ref=sr_1_11?crid=1TM89MYKGXBL6&keywords=martinu+belohlavek&qid=1659451327&s=music&sprefix=Martinu+belo%2Cpopular%2C62&sr=1-11

[Joseph K]

edit: Found the Prelude a l'apres too quick for my liking, although it wasn't bad in other respects. Will listen to the other pieces later...

[teamsaint]

Let us know what you think.

I thought it seemed, in the main, quite considered and held - back, though I need to re- listen to the final movement.

A very interesting listen in any case.

[Joseph K]

I thought it seemed, in the main, quite considered and held - back, though I need to re- listen to the final movement.

A very interesting listen in any case.

Yes, I could probably do with listening to the final movement again, too.

I just now finished listening to the above Debussy/Boulez disk, which I really enjoyed. I'd forgotten how beautiful the third and final movement of Images - 'Rondes de printemps' is and I'm not sure I'd ever heard Printemps before, a lovely thing indeed.

[Mandryka]

The first 11 klavierstücke from Benjamin Kobler - listening to 9 now, it is excellent. I know Kobler from his Rihm and his Natürliche Dauern - both wonderful, I have no doubt this is an important release.

[Bryn]

Beethoven String Quartet Op. 130, with original final movement (Quartetto di Cremona)

Despite some fine playing, this 8-SACD is a right pain to access. They decided to record the revised version of Op 130 in November 2015. It's on disc 6 (tracks 5 to 10). However, they recorded the Grosse Fuge some 17 months earlier. That is track 5 of disc 3! One, therefore, has to halt disc 6 at the end of track 9, eject it and insert disc 3, then skip to track 5 and stop it before track 6. No wonder the SACD set was deleted from the catalogue after only a very few years. Downloads in various levels of quality in both stereo and 5.0 surround are, thankfully, available from Audite, though having purchased the SACDs I am not about to stump up for such. For those happy to make do with the poorly compiled SACD set, a couple of new copies can still be found on amazon.co.uk.

[richardfinegold]

Beethoven String Quartet Op. 130, with original final movement (Quartetto di Cremona)

Despite some fine playing, this 8-SACD is a right pain to access. They decided to record the revised version of Op 130 in November 2015. It's on disc 6 (tracks 5 to 10). However, they recorded the Grosse Fuge some 17 months earlier. That is track 5 of disc 3! One, therefore, has to halt disc 6 at the end of track 9, eject it and insert disc 3, then skip to track 5 and stop it before track 6. No wonder the SACD set was deleted from the catalogue after only a very few years. Downloads in various levels of quality in both stereo and 5.0 surround are, thankfully, available from Audite, though having purchased the SACDs I am not about to stump up for such. For those happy to make do with the poorly compiled SACD set, a couple of new copies can still be found on amazon.co.uk.

Or one can record the stereo layer to a hard drive and then making a playlist in any order they see fit

[Bryn]

Or one can record the stereo layer to a hard drive and then making a playlist in any order they see fit

That was a consideration but I wanted to get the best I could out of the surround-sound aspect.

[Joseph K]

This arrived today and is currently spinning:

[Mandryka]

Bruno Maderna conducting Quadrivium in 1971.

Ive decided to explore Maderna’s recordings of his own music if I can find them. I have Grande Aulodia, Quadrivium and the Serenata 2. Does anyone know where I can find more?

[Stanfordian]

E.J. Moeran
Serenade in G,
In the Mountain Country, Symphonic impression
First Rhapsody for orchestra
Second Rhapsody for orchestra
Nocturne for baritone, chorus and orchestra
Hugh Mackey (baritone),
The Renaissance Singers,
Ulster Orchestra / Vernon Handley
Recorded 1988-89, Ulster Hall, Belfast
Chandos, CD

E.J. Moeran
String Quartet No. 1 in A minor
Fantasy Quartet for Oboe and Strings in one movement,
Sonata for Violin and Piano in E minor
Donald Scotts (violin), John Talbot (piano), Sarah Francis (oboe)
English String Quartet,
Melbourne String Quartet,
Recorded 1984 St. George the Martyr, London (Fantasy Quartet).
Other works recorded by the Australian Broadcasting Commission
Chandos, CD

[Bryn]

Schubert: D. 960 (Tobias Koch)




A real ear-opener. The expressive way Koch exploits the timbres the Graf has to offer is stunningly beautiful, to my ears.

[pastoralguy]

Sibelius. Symphony No.1

Robert Kajanus conducting The London Symphony Orchestra in May 1930. Koch Label. Disc to tape transfer by Robert Obert-Thorn. Very good sound considering it 92 years old! (99p charity shop find).