What are you listening to? (Vol VII)

It's been a while since....

True hero tenors -  the German Heldentenor (e.g. Lauritz Melchior) and Italian Tenore di Forza (Mario del Monaco, Franco Corelli) haven't been around for a long time, but Jonas Kaufmann has shades of both in his voice and it is a pleasure to hear him in this music, where technically all he has to do is float above and through the orchestra and do some epic shouting. A bit similar to Jon Vickers before him, Kaufmann has to work for his high notes but he doesn't cheat and the result sounds thrilling. Pappano is again doing a fantastic job. 

Let's hope the planned recording of a new complete Aida, with Pappano and the Santa Cecilia forces, and Kaufmann as Radames and Gheorghiu as Aida achieves lift off!

PS Almost forgot to mention the final duet of Andrea Chenier, with Eva-Maria Westbroek. Universal should seriously consider recording the complete opera with these two in the leads, based on this show.

Cheers,

EJ

2nd disc

Disc two.

Thanks to this forum I have been introduced to some great bands including these:

Disc 1   First Listen

"Christmas with / Weihnachten mit / Noël avec Placido Domingo" finds a tenor in his absolute prime, a warm silvery glow to his voice, gloriously singing traditional and some new Christmas songs in the midst of the cheesiest arrangements for strings and bells imaginable. One of my fave Christmas albums.

Cheers,

EJ

Cheers,

EJ

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Piano Trio No. 1 in B flat D898 (1828)
Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat D929 (1828)

GUARNERI TRIO PRAGUE

Ivan Klansky piano
Cenek Pavlik violin
Marek Jerie cello

[DDD] recorded in Domovina Studio Prague, 2003

Praga Digitals SACD © 2003

Cheers,

EJ

Is that Dannie or Kylie Dengue on the back?

To shake things loose.

Playing this by THE THIRST.

You can download it from there site for free.

They used to be on Ron Woods Label and played on the last sex pistols tour.

They are nothing like the Pistols though.

They are a Soul/Funk/Blues sounding band from London..

Give it a listen ,You might like it?

I do.

Stu

Murray Perahia - a pianist's pianist.  He is at the height of his maturity now and one of the greatest living pianist today, in my humble opinion.  I really like this recording as it really exudes intelligence and pianism.  Perahia has a golden touch to die for.  All top drawer but my favourite tonight was the A-flat major,Op. 26.  I shouldn't say this but I have rather fallen away from Pollini over the last couple of years and I would take Perahia hands down instead.  Just a simple difference in style and musicality that I prefer lately.  There, I said it and I shall now run for cover!