What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol.IX)

Johannes Brahms:  Works for Solo Piano Vol. 2, Barry Douglas (Steinway Model D Piano)

Ballade, Op. 10, No. 2 in D major

Ballade, Op. 118, No. 3 in G minor

Intermezzo, Op. 117, No. 2 in B flat minor

Rhapsody, Op. 119, No. 4 in E flat major

Intermezzo, Op. 116, No. 2 in A minor

Intermezzo, Op. 116, No. 6 in E major

Ballade, Op. 10, No. 3 in B minor

Sonata No. 3, Op. 5

Officially in a Brahms mood, I guess.  More of the same.  Is it the music or the player?  Definitely a combination of both but the music always wins, no matter what.

Brandi Carlile "The Story"

Doug,

The guys looks like he just walked out of a spaghetti western (works of a solo Sheriff?). Joing you with Brahms:

Me too....beautiful record. G

an early christmas present arrived today

Damien Jurado "Maraqopa"

Ellis Paul "Stories"

A good Norma that is somewhat let down by a rather average tenor. This is my go-to version if I'm not in the mood for Callas' intense recordings with Serafin.

Cheers,

EJ

XTC "Nonsuch"

Birthday present from Mrs Plane. Very pleasant indeed.

(Mine doesn't say "AutoRip", what ever that is)

steve

..a bit in a keith jarrett mood this afternoon, so hear you go..

..lovely ending number of the CD..

Elbow "Build A Rocket Boys"

a favorite of the past couple years

This is superb and really catches the spirit of the original:

steve

One for the fans. I find her Chopin #2 is OKish but mostly either loud or subdued. She sounds lost in the Rachmaninov sonata. The Berceuse and Barcarolle are really fine.

EJ

I thought that I had lost this record and was thinking about resourcing it. Now I have to find Songs from the Big Chair - it must in there somewhere!!

Paul Simon "Live In New York City"

First spin of the CD.  Didn't realize it was a live recording.  Not bad for live.

EJ,

I agree with you on her Chopin and Rach.

You were quite generous with praise.

I found her Barcarolle extremely annoying to listen to. Her keyed up strong touch with a cool tone isn't quite appropriate for this mellow pensive tune. Lack of ambiguity is appreciated but she's a bit relentless with forced in your face phrasing throughout. Needs more variations and feeling in pianissimo. Compared both to say, Richter or even Rubinstein above, it's obvious she's out of depth in phrasing and subtle inflections. Does not show the same maturity of Martha, either.

Her Berceuse is also the same long the line. Sounds like a kid banging on a piano. A female version of Lang-Lang. :/

I am trying really hard to like her stuff tho.

Glad you're enjoying it Tony.

Listening to 'Careful' & 'Amazing Pudding', inspired by the kruder mix...