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

Posted by: Richard Dane on 31 December 2013

Posted on: 02 March 2014 by Haim Ronen

Posted on: 02 March 2014 by ewemon

Originally Posted by MDS:

Got into Wishbone Ash through Pilgrimage but this album trumps it.

Their best, nothing before or after it matched it. I once had a little disagreement with the band on a tour bus.

Posted on: 02 March 2014 by Florestan

Originally Posted by Haim Ronen:

Musically - a very fine weekend currently with Katharine Durran with the Bach Toccatas thanks to and following Haim.

Posted on: 02 March 2014 by Florestan

Edvard Grieg: Ivana Gavric (Piano)

Ballade for Piano in G minor, Op. 24

Lyric Pieces:

Butterfly Op. 43: no 1

Waltz Op. 38: no 7

Little Bird Op. 43: no 4

Notturno Op. 54: no 4

Peasant Song Op. 68: no 5

Wedding day at Troldhaugen Op. 65: no 6

Slåtter Op. 72 (Norwegian Peasant Dances):

Tussebrurefæra på Vossevangen (The Goblins' Bridal Procession at Vossevangen), No. 14

Haugelat halling (Halling from the hills), No. 4

Kivlemoyerne Gangar (The Maidens from Kivledal), No. 17

Jon Væstafæs Springdans (Jon Væstafæ's Spring Dance), No. 2

Sonata for Piano in E minor, Op. 7

Contemplation, for piano ("Lyric Piece in homage to Grieg") by Cheryl Frances-Hoad

I've been in a Grieg mood lately so this recording makes me very happy.

Posted on: 02 March 2014 by bishopla

Bridge of Sighs

Robin Trower | Format: Vinyl

Posted on: 02 March 2014 by Florestan

Igor Stravinsky: Jenny Lin (Piano)

Sonata for Piano

Four Etudes, Op. 7

Rag-time for 11 instruments

Polka from Trois pieces faciles for piano 4-hands (1915), arr, by Soulima Stravinsky

Tango

Valse from Trois pieces faciles for piano 4-hands (1915), arr, by Soulima Stravinsky

Piano-rag-music

"Na kogo tï nas pokidayesh" from the Prologue to Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov for Piano

Serenade in A major

Circus Polka

Two Sketches of a Sonata

Firebird Suite (arr. Guido Agosti):

Danse infernale

Berceuse

Finale

To keep things interesting and to challenge myself so I don't just remain in my own rut - some Stravinsky. Jenny Lin is an interesting player who seems very comfortable on the fringes with interesting recordings of much very uncommon piano music.

Posted on: 02 March 2014 by Florestan

Franz Schubert: Bertrand Chamayou (Piano)

Auf dem Wasser zu singen, D 774/Op. 72 (transcription Franz Liszt)

Fantasy for Piano in C major, D 760/Op. 15 "Wanderer"

Litanei auf das Fest Aller Seelen, D 343 (transcription Franz Liszt)

Die schöne Müllerin, D 795/Op. 25: no 19, Der Müller und der Bach (transcription Franz Liszt)

German Dances for Piano, D 790/Op. 171

Allegretto for Piano in C minor, D 915

Ländler for Piano, D 366: no 12 in E flat minor

Three Pieces for Piano, D 946

Waltz for Piano in G flat major, D Anh 1 no 13 "Kupelwieser-Walzer" (arrangement R. Strauss)

Ah, back in the land of comfort food for my soul. A wonderful recital that had many highlights for me.

Posted on: 02 March 2014 by Quad 33

Sunday evening jazz - Vinyl

Posted on: 02 March 2014 by Jeff Anderson

Steely Dan "A Decade of ..........." ( iTunes download )

Posted on: 02 March 2014 by Paper Plane

EMI Classic vinyl

steve

Posted on: 02 March 2014 by Florestan

Ludwig van Beethoven: Emil Gilels

Piano Sonatas Nos. 30 & 31

180g virgin vinyl cut at Emil Berliner Studios

Pressed at Pallas in Germany

Audiophile Lacquer Discs cut by Maarten de Boer

This recording is said to be from Gilels last recordings at the Jesus-Christus Kirche August / September 1985. New release on the Analogphonic series. While I am not excited about the quality of this vinyl (not exactly quiet and some sections I would say are a result of the recording source) it is not the worst I have - still pretty good.

What is outstanding is the playing and this allows one mostly to overlook any other flaws (annoying as they are). This is the type of playing that is not deserved for mass marketing as this is missed anyway. I continually say how important (for me, anyway) is the sense that the performer is not rushing, rather, that he/ she is making music. Many today say how they feel Beethoven must be played a certain way etc. and usually this means fast and loud with lots of banging to show a certain temperament.

On the other-hand, this is contemplative playing, not rushed and the result is a certain gravity or sense that this is important music - sit down, listen, and shut up with your stereo typed formulas.

For me anyway, this is very special playing and a very special record. This is just a man and his instrument. No fireworks, not bravura, just a very spiritual connection.

Posted on: 02 March 2014 by Florestan

Claude Debussy: Nino Gvetadze (piano)

Deux Arabesques

Préludes (Book 1)

Estampes

Suite bergamasque

Another very nice recording from a young pianist who has unbelievable clarity and control. Each and every note and phrase is well thought out and the effect is one of beauty. I very much enjoyed this disc and am great full we have so many wonderful pianists to choose from in this day and age.

Posted on: 02 March 2014 by Florestan

Viktoria Mullova: Works for Solo Violin

B. Bartok: Violin Sonata

J.S. Bach: Partita BWV, 1002

N. Paganin: Introduction and Variations

180g virgin vinyl cut at Emil Berliner Studios

Pressed at Pallas in Germany

Another new release on the Analogphonic series through Decca now. Recorded in Utrecht, The Netherlands in June 1987 I find this album to be of impeccable quality - both the playing and the vinyl playback. I'm very pleased with this one.