Discoveries.

[Sir Velo]

Liszt Dante Symphony

Can't decide on a recording ; Barenboim, Conlon, Masur or Lopez-Cobos ... Rather tempted by the Gyorgy Lehel on Hungaroton

Despite my avatar's known antipathy to Liszt, I, myself, am a fan. I would recommend the Barenboim: great sound c/w a magisterial performance of the Sonata apres une lecture du Dante.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Despite my avatar's known antipathy to Liszt, I, myself, am a fan. I would recommend the Barenboim: great sound c/w a magisterial performance of the Sonata apres une lecture du Dante.

I have reservations about a lot of Liszt, but not about the two Symphonies which I regularly listen to. I second Barenboim with the BPO, with Conlon for a different but equally valid and exciting performance.

[Nick Armstrong]

Liszt Dante Symphony

heard a segment of it on the radio in the middle of the night and it's haunting me.

Can't decide on a recording ; Barenboim, Conlon, Masur or Lopez-Cobos ... Rather tempted by the Gyorgy Lehel on Hungaroton

Would be worth considering the marvellous authentic instrument band Les Siècles in their live performance http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/w/3...Symphony-S-109

The French blind-tasting CD review programme considered the piece a few years ago. They listened to 6 versions.

The ones rejected as the programme went on (with comparative extracts from each being listened to) turned out to be Barenboim, Lehel, Noseda and Sinopoli.

The joint top "reference" versions were found to be Lopez-Cobos and Masur

http://sites.radiofrance.fr/francemu...d_id=395000840

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Well, there you go, Madame: recommendations for Barenboim (twice), and Conlon, and Lopez-Cobos and Masur, together with an outright rejection of Barenboim. Glad to be of help!

(You're probably wise to be tempted by the unmentioned Lehel!)

[vinteuil]

Masur I like - but my preferred option wd be Martin Haselböck with the Orchester Wiener Akademie on original instruments/ - either as a single CD coupled with the Evocation à la Chapelle Sixtine, or as part of a marvellous five CD set of the complete symphonic Poems ("The Sound of Weimar - Liszts Orchesterwerke im Originalklang")

[Madame Suggia]

This is Fantastic!!

Thanks for all your suggestions guys

[LeMartinPecheur]

I recently bought the Deutsche Symphonie of Hanns Eisler (1898-1962) 'blind', on the strength of an enthusiastic review at the River (Taxdodger) People: this recording http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eisler-Germa...ords=Eisler+50

Had been previously much taken with his cabaret songs, a bit less so with his Lieder (Hollywood Songbook etc) and orchestral suites (RCA CD under H K Gruber).

The Symphonie is a 12-tone work but wears it lightly: might not have guessed if I hadn't read the CD booklet It's in 12 separate sections/ mov'ts, most of them vocal, written 1935-58 (sic!) and is a summation of the composer's difficult relationship with his German heritage as an anti-fascist and communist. I am very impressed with both work and recording!

Any other Eisler enthusiasts hereabouts? Any suggestions of more works and discs to explore?

[verismissimo]

Any other Eisler enthusiasts hereabouts?

He's always been on my "to explore" list and never got further, LMP. So I'm interested in any responses you get to your question.

Roehre would be your man, I would think. Still of this parish?

[Tapiola]

Liszt Dante Symphony

heard a segment of it on the radio in the middle of the night and it's haunting me.

Can't decide on a recording ; Barenboim, Conlon, Masur or Lopez-Cobos ... Rather tempted by the Gyorgy Lehel on Hungaroton

Madame,

FWIW, I would recommend this. A blaring and lurid first movement with brass well upfront, followed by a Purgatory of ethereal and haunting beauty.

[EdgeleyRob]

The music of Miaskovsky has been a major discovery for me over the last 12 months or so.
I have had the 6th symphony (DG) in my collection for a number of years but had rarely listened to it.
Prompted by Suffolkcoastal's symphonic journey I gave it another go and crikey it really knocked me for six,how does a piece suddenly click like that ?.
This led to me buying the complete 27 symphony box (Svetlanov),where has this music been all my life ?.
Now completely obsessed with rarely heard Russian symphonies,I blame sc.

[jayne lee wilson]

Would be worth considering the marvellous authentic instrument band Les Siècles in their live performance http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/w/3...Symphony-S-109

The French blind-tasting CD review programme considered the piece a few years ago. They listened to 6 versions.

The ones rejected as the programme went on (with comparative extracts from each being listened to) turned out to be Barenboim, Lehel, Noseda and Sinopoli.

The joint top "reference" versions were found to be Lopez-Cobos and Masur

http://sites.radiofrance.fr/francemu...d_id=395000840

I bought the Xavier-Roth/Siecles CD last year and it's a stunner, in the vast-sounding apocalyptic acoustic of the Cathedrale de Laon - you can almost hear the devilish gargoyles screaming into the void.... (strongly preferred it to the po-faced documentarian Hasbelbock, which I sent back...)

THis performance stands in relation to the Dante Symphony as the 1979 Ottobeuren Basilica/Wand Bruckner 9 does to that piece. Uniquely terrifying.

[Bryn]

I bought the Xavier-Roth/Siecles CD last year and it's a stunner, in the vast-sounding apocalyptic acoustic of the Cathedrale de Laon - you can almost hear the devilish gargoyles screaming into the void.... (strongly preferred it to the po-faced documentarian Hasbelbock, which I sent back...)

THis performance stands in relation to the Dante Symphony as the 1979 Ottobeuren Basilica/Wand Bruckner 9 does to that piece. Uniquely terrifying.

http://www.sainsburysentertainment.co.uk/en/Music/CD/Franz-Liszt/Dante-Symphonie-Orpheus-Roth-Les-Siecles/product.html?product=E11124290

[vinteuil]

... it's a stunner, in the vast-sounding apocalyptic acoustic of the Cathedrale de Laon - you can almost hear the devilish gargoyles screaming into the void.... (strongly preferred it to the po-faced documentarian Hasbelbock... ).

... ah well, some of us like the music; some like devilish gargoyles screaming into the void of a vast-sounding apocalyptic acoustic...

[jayne lee wilson]

... ah well, some of us like the music; some like devilish gargoyles screaming into the void of a vast-sounding apocalyptic acoustic...

...all because... "the most important part of the music is not in the notes..." (Gustav Mahler - "much possessed by death and saw the skull beneath the skin". And no doubt saw the gargoyles too).

[teamsaint]

The music of Miaskovsky has been a major discovery for me over the last 12 months or so.
I have had the 6th symphony (DG) in my collection for a number of years but had rarely listened to it.
Prompted by Suffolkcoastal's symphonic journey I gave it another go and crikey it really knocked me for six,how does a piece suddenly click like that ?.
This led to me buying the complete 27 symphony box (Svetlanov),where has this music been all my life ?.
Now completely obsessed with rarely heard Russian symphonies,I blame sc.

Yes, he is to blame. No doubt at all.