What are you listening to right now? (VOL I)

Posted by: Tam on 06 June 2005

Anyway, to kick things off, I'm currently, and probably for most of the rest of this week, listening to Radio 3's Beethoven Experience. They're doing one of the piano concertos at the moment and (number 2 with Glenn Gould). Anyway, the experience thing probably needs its own thread, but, even on this cheapo radio it's proving fairly enjoyable.

So, what are you listening to right now?

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by Florestan

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by naim_nymph

~<>~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) ~<>~

(CD no.4 from 11 CD Set)
Symphonies: K.74, 110(75b), 112, 114, 124.
The English Concert @1993

(CD no.5 from 11 CD Set)
Symphonies: K.128, 129, 130, 132, 184(161a)
The English Concert @1994

Trevor Pinnock ~ Conductor

[DDD] Deutsche grammophon ARCHIV Collectors Edition.

It's amazing this composition is the fine work of a promising young teenager...
i think he'll go far! : )

nymph

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by Huwge

quote:
Originally posted by sjust:
quote:
Originally posted by Florestan:
J.S. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin

Being a big admirer of the Bach Sonatas and Partitas: How's the Grumiaux reading and performance in your books, Doug ?

(Seems you have a certain preference for German - or at least European - artists...)

best regards
Stefan

Mehnuin was my introduction, then Perlman, then Grumiaux. I think it's now up to nine and none see to disappoint and all have their merits.

Huw

Currently Edgar Meyer's version of the cello suites on bass. Lovely stuff

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by Florestan

For me, the finest and most remarkable renditions from this box set rest firmly with the Brahms and Schumann. But especially, the Brahms 2nd Piano Concerto in B flat+ with Fricsay & the Berliner Philharmoniker is one of, if not the best, recordings that I've heard of it. Schumann's Davidsbündlertänze, Kreisleriana, Fantasie, Symphonic Etudes (Stereo version) also are quite exceptional as well as Schumann's Piano Concerto in A- with Kubelik & the Berliner Philharmoniker. Although the playing/interpretation (IMO) is superb throughout, I simply cannot get on with or enjoy the handful of Mono selections here as much. It's really nice to listen to a grand pianist who exemplifies intellect with an appropriate amount of character (and no signs of pomposity). Interestingly, it was Furtwängler who dubbed Geza Anda as "the troubadour of the piano".

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by {OdS}

Emilie Simon: Végétal

Lovely

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by _charlie

Released 30 years ago and hasn't aged a day.

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by Gianluigi Mazzorana

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by {OdS}

I can't get enough of Alison and Will's magic potion these days!

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by Haim Ronen

French piano music before watching the unpleasant news of the day.

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by sjust

quote:
Very difficult to answer because their is no right or wrong answer here. The Grumiaux was the first recording that I had of the Sonatas and Partitas and in general, I like Grumiaux very much (my favorite is the Mozart Complete String Quintets and Bach Sonatas for violin and harpsichord). Alongside it now I have Henryk Szeryng, Hilary Hahn (partial), and Julia Fischer. All are excellent, equally valid, and have their merit but the nice thing is that they all approach phrasing, bowing, mood, tempo, style etc. in their own unique way. So I cannot fault any performance but I will say that the recording quality of the Grumiaux is slightly below the other three (IMO). I regularly rotate through all four of these and I like comparing the style of the older recordings to the newer ones (quite different). This year I hope to add Itzhak Perlman and Rachel Podger to the mix. If you like this music it is nice to have many versions to keep it fresh and interesting. If someone only wanted one recording I'd be hard pressed to suggest only one because they are all good for different reasons but to save my life I'd probably say Julia Fischer.

A comment I can easily agree with, Doug. I also think the Partitas ar worth while having in multiple interpretations. Very good material for an artist to formulate his/her own statement. Julia Fischer (I'm proud to have a signed copy of her CD) has this warm tone, Kremer a bit more nervous, intellectual, Holloway an intimate kind of approach, etc. Will soon try the Grumiaux, if I can.

Thanks (also for the perfect German sentence...)

Stefan

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by {OdS}

quote:
Originally posted by Haim Ronen:
French piano music before watching the unpleasant news of the day.

Why not skipping the unpleasant news and playing another pleasant piece of music?

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by Diccus62

After being inspired by ODS having a trawl thru Goldfrapps myspace and website - absolutely gorgeous stuff.

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by bishopla

We Lost the Skyline - Porcupine Tree

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by Tam

A reissue of Leon Fleisher's first studio album, a fascinating (and in the first movement somewhat impatiently youthful) account of Schubert's D960 sonata. All the more interesting as for comparison we have his recording on his 2004 album Two Hands (which marked his return to playing with both hands, after some years of illness).

regards, Tam

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by bishopla

I Robot - Alan Parsons (MFSL UHQR)

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by droodzilla

quote:
Originally posted by sjust:
quote:
Very difficult to answer because their is no right or wrong answer here. The Grumiaux was the first recording that I had of the Sonatas and Partitas and in general, I like Grumiaux very much (my favorite is the Mozart Complete String Quintets and Bach Sonatas for violin and harpsichord). Alongside it now I have Henryk Szeryng, Hilary Hahn (partial), and Julia Fischer. All are excellent, equally valid, and have their merit but the nice thing is that they all approach phrasing, bowing, mood, tempo, style etc. in their own unique way. So I cannot fault any performance but I will say that the recording quality of the Grumiaux is slightly below the other three (IMO). I regularly rotate through all four of these and I like comparing the style of the older recordings to the newer ones (quite different). This year I hope to add Itzhak Perlman and Rachel Podger to the mix. If you like this music it is nice to have many versions to keep it fresh and interesting. If someone only wanted one recording I'd be hard pressed to suggest only one because they are all good for different reasons but to save my life I'd probably say Julia Fischer.

A comment I can easily agree with, Doug. I also think the Partitas ar worth while having in multiple interpretations. Very good material for an artist to formulate his/her own statement. Julia Fischer (I'm proud to have a signed copy of her CD) has this warm tone, Kremer a bit more nervous, intellectual, Holloway an intimate kind of approach, etc. Will soon try the Grumiaux, if I can.

Thanks (also for the perfect German sentence...)

Stefan

Grumiaux's set of the Partitas and Sonatas was my first too, and holds a special place in my heart, as it's one of the recordings that opened up the world of classical music to me. I listened to at least one of the partitas/sonatas every night for several months, feeling increasingly that I would never get to the bottom of this marvellous music. RTachel Podger's recording is a very fine historically informed performance on a baroque violin, and makes a nice contrast to Grumiaux's Grumiaux's warmer tone. I intend to get Kremer's recording next, as I admire his work on other ECM discs(notably Part's "Tabula Rasa"). After that, probably Julia Fischer - I'd like to hear what all the fuss is about.

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by Haim Ronen

Droo,

I have the Kremer disc but I clearly prefer Holloway with his more direct and emotional approach.
I think that his playing is superb. Did you have a chance to hear him?

Regards,
Haim

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by Mike Smiff

ODS: I realy like Felt Mountain by Goldfrapp, I have to be in the mood these days as I overplayed it to myselfand liked it so much that I nicked the album title as my "LOCATION" as I wanted to keep some mistery, although I decided to move to Utopia for now.Mike

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by u5227470736789524

David Gilmour "On An Island"

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by u5227470736789524

Laura Veirs "Saltbreakers"

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by naim_nymph

(disc number 11 of 40 CD Set)

Quartet for flute and string trio no.1 KV 285 D major
Allegro 07:06 ~ Adagio-Rondo 07:28 ~ Andante 04:04

Quartet for flute and string trio no.2 KV 285 G major
Tempo di Menuetto 03:20

Divertimento no.15 KV 287 B major (Lodron Night Music no.2)
Divertimento 40:29

~<>~ Salzburg Soloists ~<>~

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by naim_nymph

Good Morning Munch!
Yes, what a bargain eh? : )
Hope you're enjoying them too!

Posted on: 07 March 2008 by {OdS}

Diccus, Mikeie: yes, this is some really great stuff

Every album sounds differently yet all of them are qualitatively equal to my ears.

Posted on: 07 March 2008 by u5227470736789524

Mary=Chapin Carpenter "Between Here and Gone"

Posted on: 07 March 2008 by tonym