What Classical Music Are You listening to Now? III

[Joseph K]

Only on the first movement of Nocturnes, but finding it superb so far. Vivid and expressive.

[teamsaint]

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.

I am listening to D960.

The opening of the second movement is particularly striking in how it sounds and is presented. Might take a bit of getting used to.
Though” getting used to “isn’t always the end game.
The tempo of the first movement seems generally very leisurely, to say the least.
Great recommendation anyway .

[BBMmk2]

Only on the first movement of Nocturnes, but finding it superb so far. Vivid and expressive.

Wonderful recording!

I’ve been listening to recordings from the record label Da Capo. Some very good recordings to be had!

Carl Nielsen
The Mother, Op.41
(incidental music from the play)
Palle Knudsen (baritone)
Rune Most, Christine Nonboo-Andersen
Rikke Lender, Malene Nordtorp,
(Voices)
Lovise Wennesz (harp)
Rafael Altino (Viola)
Adam Riis, Ole Bartholin Killerich (pianists)
Eugen Tichindelaleano, Jovana Vukšic (violins)
Anna Dorothea Wolff (cello)
Danish National Vocal Ensemble
Odense Symphony Orchestra
Andreas Delfs, Morten Heide

Ludolf Nielsen
Babelstarnet (The Tower of Babel), Op.35
Irene Theorin (soprano)
Jonny van Hal (tenor)
Per Høyer (baritone)
Danish National Radio Choir & Orchestra
Owain Arwell Hughes.

[Stanfordian]

E.J. Moeran
Violin Concerto
Lonely Waters
Whythorne's Shadow
Cello Concerto
Lydia Mordkovitch (violin)
Ulster Orchestra / Vernon Handley
Raphael Wallfisch (cello) Bournemouth Sinfonietta / Norman Del Mar
Recorded 1985 Christchurch Priory, Dorset (Cello Concerto);
1987 & 1989 Ulster Hall, Belfast (other works)
Chandos, CD

York Bowen
Quintet in C major for horn and string quartet,
Rhapsody Trio in A minor for violin, cello and piano,
Trio in Three Movements,
Endymion Ensemble
Recorded 2001 All Saints Church, East Finchley, London
Dutton Epoch, CD

[pastoralguy]

Tchaikovsky. Romeo and Juliet Overture.

I have a box in my sitting room where I keep my absolute favourite 20 CDs. One of them is an EMI STUDIO disc of Sir Adrian Boult conducting Tchaikovsky. The performance of the Third Suite is absolutely marvellous, imho. It was obviously recorded very quickly as there are a few blemishes from the LPO that may have been corrected but it simply adds to the excitement of the performances.

Anyway, I hadn’t realised that Boult and the LPO has also recorded the 1812 and the Romeo and Juliet. It’s on a BBC/EMI ‘Definitive Classical Music Collection’ disc that I picked up for 50p.

What a wonderful performance! Absolutely glorious interpretation with a very full recording with a resounding bass.

[Mario]

One of my all-time favourite pieces!

The ending is absolutely heart-breaking, reminding us of how two young lives were butchered on the altar of silly family squabbles, the scourge of the depths of human folly.

Tchaikovsky is never taken that seriously, is he? I wonder why?

[pastoralguy]

One of my all-time favourite pieces!

The ending is absolutely heart-breaking, reminding us of how two young lives were butchered on the altar of silly family squabbles, the scourge of the depths of human folly.

Tchaikovsky is never taken that seriously, is he? I wonder why?

Well Mario, I looked up the original review in Gramophone from 1968 and the reviewer, E.G., (Edward Greenfield?), who rather decries Boult’s lack of temperament. He then goes on to write ‘the direct, clean cut approach of a Boult emphasises the comparative poverty of the musical material”.
Wow. Tchaikovsky certainly wasn’t taken seriously in those days. Absolutely one of my favourite composers to both listen to and play.

[Mario]

And thank you PG for making me rush to hear it.

Edward Greenfield? He has his followers here, so I’d best leave well alone.

[pastoralguy]

And thank you PG for making me rush to hear it.

Edward Greenfield? He has his followers here, so I’d best leave well alone.

Do you know that Boult Tchaikovsky 3rd Suite disc, Mario?

[cloughie]

Do you know that Boult Tchaikovsky 3rd Suite disc, Mario?

Are you talking PCO or LPO, PG? Should have checked back you mention LPO - the PCO recording is also very good from the vintage years of Decca in Paris!

[pastoralguy]

Are you talking PCO or LPO, PG? Should have checked back you mention LPO - the PCO recording is also very good from the vintage years of Decca in Paris!

I have that PCO disc but it just doesn’t have the frisson the LPO disc has. And the LPO has Rodney Friend playing the solo violin part.

[cloughie]

I have that PCO disc but it just doesn’t have the frisson the LPO disc has. And the LPO has Rodney Friend playing the solo violin part.

Clearly it was a work he loved!

[Mario]

Do you know that Boult Tchaikovsky 3rd Suite disc, Mario?

Sorry PG, I missed your question.

No, I’m afraid I don’t know that performance. In fact, a quick search on my collection, and I’m woefully short of Boult performances – some Beethoven, Elgar, Mozart and Vaughan Williams among others.

I remember a stunning Brahms 4 LP, this one

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BRAHMS-Symphonies-Adrian-Boult-SLS5009/dp/B01BI03HFA/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3G3PX8FBVGCUX&keywords=boult+brahms+4&qid=1659780146&sprefix=boult+brahms+%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-1

I don’t think it has been bettered, with maybe the exception of Carlos Kleiber.

Rodney Friend? Once a leader of the LPO, or was it the LSO? Rode in the lift with him one day in the RFH – didn’t like me sharing the lift with him at all, pompous little so-and-so!

[BBMmk2]

This weekend I am having a session of listening to recordings of Sir Neville Marriner and the AMSF, playing Handel.

[Joseph K]

Only on the first movement of Nocturnes, but finding it superb so far. Vivid and expressive.

The remaining works on this disk - Jeux and La Mer.