What Classical Music Are You listening to Now? III

[richardfinegold]

Over the last few days, several recordings of

Bartok: String quartet 5 (in preparation for the forthcoming BaL)

Calidore Quartet (BBC MM CD)
Heath Quartet
Arcadia Quartet
The Fine Arts Quartet
Tokyo String Quartet
Emerson String Quartet
Belcea Quartet
Alban Berg Quartett

What a wonderful work this is, and there are some quite different interpretations on offer.
I didn't follow the score, which I probably should have done, to see who obeys Bartok's instructions best.
I'll be interested to find out the criteria that Kate Molleson decides to use to discriminate between performances in her choices.

I’ve played my Emerson recording twice since the Barton SQ thread was announced and agree—what a work! How did the ABQ fare in your survey?

[makropulos]

This evening's listening:
Bach: Erschallet ihr Lieder (Cantata 172), St Thomas's Leipzig, Hans-Joachim Rotzsch.
Brahms: Clarinet Quintet, Boskovsky/Vienna Octet (mono version).
Astrud Gilberto/Gil Evans: Look to the Rainbow.

[Pulcinella]

I’ve played my Emerson recording twice since the Barton SQ thread was announced and agree—what a work! How did the ABQ fare in your survey?

I wasn't really taking notes, but I think I found its middle movement sounding like too much of a scramble, and not well enough articulated. But perhaps I'll listen again (with the score this time!) and report back if necessary. I haven't dug out my 1963 Juilliard set yet.

PS: Movement 3 comparison with Juilliard 1963 confirms that the latter sounds more coherent, so gets my vote. I doubt that this version will feature (more likely their later digital set, which I might get round to streaming before the programme), despite the acclaim it received. I'm looking forward even more to the BaL survey now.

PPS: Lovely typo in the Sony Juilliard 1963 set: the first performance of number 5 took place in Whashignton, apparently!

[BBMmk2]

Yesterday’s listening.

Ernst von Dohnanyi Orchestral Works
CD1
Ruralia Hungariica, Op.32b
Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, Op.21
CD 2
Symphony No.1 in D minor, Op.9
American Rhapsody, Op.47
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Matthias Bamert

[Stanfordian]

Anna Netrebko - ‘Opera Arias’
Arias from Mozart, Berlioz, Massenet, Donizetti, Bellini, Dvorak, Gounod, Puccini
Anna Netrebko (soprano)
Wiener Staatsopernchor,
Wiener Philharmoniker /Gianandrea Noseda
Recorded 2003, Grosser Saal, Musikverein, Wien
Deutsche Grammophon

Magnard - ‘Complete Chamber Music - Centenary Edition’
Violin Sonata in G major, Op. 13
Cello Sonata in A major, Op. 20
Piano Trio, Op. 18
Quintet for piano and winds, Op. 8
String Quartet in E minor, Op. 16
Laurent Wagschal (piano) (Opp. 8, 13, 18, 20);
Solenne Païdassi (violin) (Opp. 13, 18);
Recorded 2014 Cœur de ville, Vincennes, France
Timpani

[Quarky]

Haydn Symphony 42 (prompted by 2nd movement broadcast on Winter Warmer last night - although it seemed out of place there)

Symphony no. 6 Le Matin - always a great pleasure Herr Haydn....

[cloughie]

Corigliano-Dylan

https://youtu.be/J-6vS8gRREI

[gradus]

Haydn sym 104 conducted delightfully by Beecham with the LPO in the thirties; a menuetto as it should be and playing on point in that sprightly finale. Easy to forget just how good this combination of conductor and orchestra was - to take another example, their electrifying account of Lemminkainens Return.

[cloughie]

[QUOTE=gradus;831709]Haydn sym 104 conducted delightfully by Beecham with the LPO in the thirties; a menuetto as it should be and playing on point in that sprightly finale. Easy to forget just how good this combination of conductor and orchestra was - to take another example, their electrifying account of Lemminkainens Return.[/QUOTE]

Possibly a slight exaggeration to say it has never been bettered but it has always been an absolute belter and mastering in the Warner Sibelius Historical Recordings and Rarities 1928 -1948 is excellent.

[gradus]

Beecham's way with the incidental music to Sibelius's Pelleas, this time with the New York Phil was a discovery this afternoon, the pieces are short but really movingly lovely and this, perhaps unexpected partnership, works extraordinarily well.

[makropulos]

Schoenberg: Pelleas und Melisande from the big Barbirolli box.
Schmidt: Quintet in G major, Fleisher et al on Sony (the original piano left-hand version).
Tchaikovsky: Symph 4 and Nutcracker Suite, Anima Eterna/Van Immerseel (on period instruments).

[DublinJimbo]

Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge
Bridge: Lament
Berkeley: Serenade for Strings
Bliss: Music for Strings

Sinfonia of London / John Wilson

Magnificent. Exceptional.

The quality of recordings released by the Sinfonia of London under John Wilson has been remarkable, but this one exceeds even those elevated standards. Back in 'the good old days', EMI came up with their series Great Recordings of the Century. One of the truly greatest of these was a collection of English music for strings, with Barbirolli conducting the Sinfonia of London and the New Philharmonia Orchestra in works by Elgar and Vaughan Williams. If there's ever a series celebrating Great Recordings of the 21st Century, this latest from John Wilson and the Sinfonia will definitely be on the list.

I woke ridiculously early from fitful sleep, turned to Qobuz for something to listen to and realised that it was Friday and some new releases were available. As soon as I spotted a new recording from John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London I turned to that first. I knew it would be good, but nothing prepared me for just how good. Everything is wonderful — the playing, the interpretations, the recording. Beg. Steal. Borrow. Hear this! There will be awards: guaranteed.

[Stanfordian]

Natalie Dessay - ‘Airs d'operas francais’
From Massenet, Offenbach, Thomas, Gounod, Boïeldieu, Offenbach, Rossini, Donizetti
Natalie Dessay (soprano)
Choeur ‘Les Eléments’
Orchestre National Capitole de Toulouse / Michel Plasson
Recorded 2003 Halle-aux-Grains, Toulouse
Virgin Classics

Reynaldo Hahn - ‘Chamber Music’
String Quartet No. 1 in A minor (1939)
String Quartet No. 2 in F major (1943)
Quintet for piano and strings in F sharp minor (1917-22)
Romance in A major for violin and piano (1901)
Variations chantantes sur un air ancien for cello and piano(1905)
Two Improvisations on Irish Airs for cello and piano (éd. 1911)
a) The Little Red-Lark
b) The Willow-Tree
Dania Tchalik (piano)
Quatuor Tchalik
Recorded 2019, La Seine Musicale, Île Seguin, Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris
Alkonost Classic - New release

[gradus]

Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge
Bridge: Lament
Berkeley: Serenade for Strings
Bliss: Music for Strings

Sinfonia of London / John Wilson

Magnificent. Exceptional.

The quality of recordings released by the Sinfonia of London under John Wilson has been remarkable, but this one exceeds even those elevated standards. Back in 'the good old days', EMI came up with their series Great Recordings of the Century. One of the truly greatest of these was a collection of English music for strings, with Barbirolli conducting the Sinfonia of London and the New Philharmonia Orchestra in works by Elgar and Vaughan Williams. If there's ever a series celebrating Great Recordings of the 21st Century, this latest from John Wilson and the Sinfonia will definitely be on the list.

I woke ridiculously early from fitful sleep, turned to Qobuz for something to listen to and realised that it was Friday and some new releases were available. As soon as I spotted a new recording from John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London I turned to that first. I knew it would be good, but nothing prepared me for just how good. Everything is wonderful — the playing, the interpretations, the recording. Beg. Steal. Borrow. Hear this! There will be awards: guaranteed.

Will certainly give this a go.

[Pulcinella]

Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge
Bridge: Lament
Berkeley: Serenade for Strings
Bliss: Music for Strings

Sinfonia of London / John Wilson

Magnificent. Exceptional.

The quality of recordings released by the Sinfonia of London under John Wilson has been remarkable, but this one exceeds even those elevated standards. Back in 'the good old days', EMI came up with their series Great Recordings of the Century. One of the truly greatest of these was a collection of English music for strings, with Barbirolli conducting the Sinfonia of London and the New Philharmonia Orchestra in works by Elgar and Vaughan Williams. If there's ever a series celebrating Great Recordings of the 21st Century, this latest from John Wilson and the Sinfonia will definitely be on the list.

I woke ridiculously early from fitful sleep, turned to Qobuz for something to listen to and realised that it was Friday and some new releases were available. As soon as I spotted a new recording from John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London I turned to that first. I knew it would be good, but nothing prepared me for just how good. Everything is wonderful — the playing, the interpretations, the recording. Beg. Steal. Borrow. Hear this! There will be awards: guaranteed.

Gramophone (Feb 2021) certainly liked it (Editor's Choice).
And hurrah: it's now appeared on Deezer (wasn't there yesterday), so no prizes for guessing what I'll be listening to later.