What are you listening to? (Vol VII)

Nice to see you back Adrian - even if you're playing all the CDs I want but can't afford to buy just now!

Cheers,

EJ

If you have any interest in Mendelssohn piano music at all I would definitely recommend this album.

Extremely well played and the recorded sound ranks in the highest order.  A beautiful Hamburg Steinway.  I will definitely look for other recordings of Sebastian Knauer and will start though with the Schubert disc he has as well as look for other discs with the Producers Bernd Kussin, Helmut Burk and engineer Mike Hatch.

Again, highly recommended!

Having carefully listened to the whole work, this one must count as one of the most moving interpretations I've heard. Tempos slow down halfway, and then again near the end of the work, and the performance works up to the beautiful climax of  'Wir setzen uns miet Tränen nieder".

Cheers,

EJ

On vinyl:-

Volume 8 of Schumann's songs, mostly lesser-known works this time but some jewels among them. Interestingly, while Schumann is mostly known for his early work, it is the late songs that keep resonating in the mind long after the performance.

Slight irritation: As Graham Johnson's (EXCELLENT) notes keep growing, his discs have since long seized to fit in regular jewel cases. After dabbling with odd cardboard-bound cases, Hyperion now use Playstation cases. They seem prone to breaking even more than regular cases, and replacements are hard to come by. 

EJ

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Concerto in G major K. 216

Concerto in D major K. 218

Concerto in A major K. 219

Andrew Manze violin and direction

(violin: Joseph Gagliano, Naples 1783)

The English Concert (pitch: A = 415)

[DDD] Recorded in March 2005

Air Studios, Lyndhurst Hall, London

harmonia mundi 5 x CD box-set © 2009

Playing CD no.5

The solo violin play is not as crisp and clean as i hear Joseph Suk in my Prague Chamber Orchestra version of 1972, however the English Concert often gives to feel marvellously lightweight until rising to those occasions when more enthusiasm is needed.

Andrew Manze has an easy on the ear character of play, his violin has a slightly flat viola quality which i like very much, it's never shrill and doesn't fatigue. Suk maybe more masterful with his pinpoint accuracy but this newer Manze version of Mozart's violin concertos is in many ways more enjoyable to hear with it's leisurely charm.

Debs

Cheers,

EJ

Jean-Féry Rebel (1666 –1747)

Violin Sonatas

huitième in D minor

cinquième in D major

sixième in B minor

première in A major

troisième in A minor

neuvième in F major

septième in G minor

quatrième in E minor

Recorded at Stichting Kerkje Valkkoog, Holland

 Janurary 1998

harmonia mundi 5 cd box-set © 2009

~<>~

Andrew Manze violin joseph gagliano, naples, 1782. bow: gerhard landwehr, heemstede, 1986

Richard Egarr harpsichord Joel Katzman, Amsterdam, 1991, after Ruckers, Antwerp, 1638

Pitch A = 392Hz / Temperament: French ordinaire

Jaap ter Linden viola da gamba Ossenbrunner, Breman, 1976. Bow: Gerhard Landwehr, Heemstede, 1986

~<>~

Contained in a no-nonsense cardboard package ( no plastic jewel case rubish here) this set is a fantastic bargain at £3.49 from Amazon (other sellers)

Playing CD no.4 of 5 CD box-set...

Music to bubble-bath to... another glass of red wine and i am in heaven : )

Debs

EJ,

Your assessment parallels my first exposure to The Netherlands Bach Society recording of The Christmas Oratorio of only 3 weeks ago.  I will be looking for this St. Matthew Passion as well as maybe the St. John.

Thanks for the heads up on this one.

Doug

Cheers

Flettster

It does seem excellent value and the red wine is going down very well in Dublin too.

I'm hoping this won't be one of the Bacchus derived purchases that I regret!

SJB

Cheers

Flettster

"Children by the millions sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round...."

And on to the Gaslight Anthem.

Clash tributes and Springsteen posturing aside, the Gaslight Anthem obviously draw hugely upon the Replacements.

Cheers

Flettster

Cheers

Flettster