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

wrong picture - have to select another one...

now the text is also ok, not as good as the CD but still enjoyable, sorry for the confusion...

Streaming | FLAC rip

Like they were never away. Love it.

Deram original CD ripped to FLAC through NDX:Hugo.  I've always thought this a very well engineered album and I'm confounded by how detailed yet 'non-digital' it sounds now.

Great music of course!

G

Frank Zappa - The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life - 2cd live album.

First Sunday tune: Brendel's Mozart Piano Concerto No.25.

Orchestraion is rather straight and none of the fine finesse or micro dynamics I hear from Serkin/Szell set. Brendel's piano is reasonably spontaneous but not as fun and carefree.

Terrific! I can't wait to get this.  I wonder though what happened to Cedric Tiberghien, her usual partner, it seemed, until now?

Marc-André Hamelin (Piano)

On the overgrown path, Book 1 by Leos Janácek 

Certainly, I would say here that Hamelin has slightly more of an affinity in the Schumann than the Janácek but this is a splendid disc.  I love the set "On the Overgrown Path."  One of my favourites.  In the Schumann, this is Hamelin not often heard (reflective) but some of the best Hamelin I can recall.  Magical.  I like the cover illustration as well.  It is called Mystic and is by Magdolna Ban from 2004.

Dear Kuma,

I have this Piano concerto Number 25 with Brendel on Vox - coupled with 22 in E Flat.

I prefer Edwin Fischer by a long measure in this music. 22 is with the LPO under Lawrence Collingwood [I bet you have never heard of him, but he was a lovely musician, conductor and a senior record producer for EMI]. He was selected by Fischer to conduct, and 25 is with the Philharmonia under Joseph Kripps, whom you will know I am sure.

In both cases the orchestra is every bit as involving as the first class musician soloist, Edwin Fischer. 

The recordings are good 78 mono from 1937 [22], and 1945 [25]. The transfers I have are superb on Apian [APR] Records - CD re-issue. 

I also really like the performances by Carmen Piazzini with the Moscow Soloists. A very nice and musical modern set that is part of an integral concerto cycle with the Piano Sonatas as well!

I cannot quite bring myself to part with the Brendel recordings though. Very straight, and less fussy than he would become in later years, as shown in Philips recordings.

ATB from George

Geroge, 

I agree that Philips years Brendel becomes a bit self possessed and there's some charm in his earlier Vox recordings.

But even listening to Rondo ( K382 ) from the same album, he and the orchestra (Paul Angerer/Vienna Pro Musica) are stiff as ironing board!

My favourite Rondo is this youthful Perahia and fun loving Annie Fischer/Luckas sets. ( I love almost all things Annie so far )

I don't have anything by Edwin Fisher. I have heard of his name but his work is unknown to me. 

As far as Piazzini, that's enitrel new. Never hard of her! Interesting credential. I will try her stuff out. Thanks for the heads up.

Dear Kuma,

Edwin Fischer was a great Mozartian. In my own favourites, Carmen Piazzini, Clara Haskil, and Edwin Fischer can be mentioned in the same sentence without a dissonance!

I also have a fascinating Number 25 from Barenboim, with Klemperer conducting the Philharmonia. This performance is a surprise. Klemperer is firm and masculine [though not wooden] in the orchestra, and Barenboim is the one apt to linger. The very beginning alerts the listener with its martial short sharp rhythms in the orchestra that Klemperer is going to make a rather more intensive reading than is usually normal in Mozart concertos!

ATB from George

Freebie from Alligator Records 

The Hold Steady Live in Concert official recording and the next up will be another official Live recording of Hold Steady.

Later I will be playing a Live concert from Joe Henry another official Live recording.

Porcupine Tree - SIGNIFY -  Expanded remastered double cd.