What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XIII)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 01 January 2017
2017 has arrived today, so time to start this thread afresh.
Last year's thread can be found here;
Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943): Emmanuelle Swiercz (piano)
Études-Tableaux op. 33
Préludes op. 3, no. 2 | op. 23, no. 5 | op. 23, no. 2
Variations on a Theme by Chopin op. 22
It is difficult for me not to be attracted to like minds and in Emmanuelle Swiercz I am immediately drawn into her connection and fascination with this music. As she states in the program notes, "The virtuosity of these pieces, the originality of their piano writing, the magic atmospheres created by their harmonic richness, the discreetly pervasive and passionate charm of Russian folklore, all of this procures a sensation of ecstasy, a pleasure which heightens the emotions."
I couldn't agree more. Beautiful playing and beautifully recorded.
Start off the morning with......
Medusa by Annie Lennox ..... provides some smooth pick me up energy to get moving in the morning.
Robert Schumann (1810-1856): Emmanuelle Swiercz (piano)
Carnaval, opus 9
Bunte Blätter (Coloured Leaves) op. 99
With Schumann, I think a key to discovery is simple clarity without overcooking the obvious details. Following this, it is remarkable how suddenly the voices start to speak out of nowhere and the imagery appears and becomes meaningful. Like with many things, when the choruses of the masses say you are crazy (because they simply do no get it) you just carry on in silent glee as you know you have discovered things they will never understand. This is how it is with Schumann. It is the secrets in the music that are not revealed to those outside of the small group of trusted confidants.
So throughout Carnaval and Bunte Blätter you have Clara, Eusebius, Florestan and all the other characters here giving signals and appearing mysterious behind their masks. Whereas in Carnaval the scenes move rather quickly since they are just casual observances with many characters flowing to and fro, Bunte Blätter is maybe a slightly more in-depth psychological tour of Schumann's psyche.
Bunte Blätter is one of my favourite sets (out of so many) and I find it hard to understand why complete recordings of it are not as abundant? Many famous players though have recorded just a portion of it like the five Albumblätter or the Novellette, for instance.
As a set though, it symbolizes the tortured soul (of the Romantic period) as well as anything he and others wrote in this period. From the innocence of the opening (Nicht schnell, mit Innigkeit) to the rapturous pain of the Präludium this set is true Schumann, to be sure.
Again, Swiercz plays with intelligence, passion and clarity and I am hooked from beginning to end. She has two more recordings (Chopin & Liszt) that I have been on the lookout now for years and am at the point where I may pay silly money just to get them. Nothing special for most but for me I find her playing and the recording quality to be of a high standard.
John Mayer - "Heavier Things" (2003)
next up.....
Feeling a little nostalgia this morning and visit with the doors is in order.
Bert Schurink posted:1st run promising...
Just tried Magnesie on Tidal. Thanks Bert, this album is now on my buying list.
John Hiatt - "Master Of Disaster" (2005)
On cassette tape
It has been a tropical day in the Netherlands. It is still very warm in the early evening. So I want to listen to something that fits with it.
Then I always think of 'Beyond the Missouri sky'.
Naim label CD.
Clive B posted:It seems someone was performing these last night. I was counting the seconds between the lightning and the thunder to determine if I needed to unplug all the sensitive electronics around the house.
This and "Moonmadness" (possibly followed by "Nude") are my favourite Camel albums probably because I got to see them on those 2 tours at the old Liverpool Stadium (Moonmadness) and the Empire Theatre.
John Mellencamp - "No Netter Than This" (2010)
A good one from Oscar Peterson from his later period.
Keith Urban - "Get Closer" (2010)
Crosby and Nash Wind on the Water
Eric Clapton 24 nights
Spending some time with Eric Clapton this afternoon . . . . . one of my favorites.