What Classical Music Are You listening to Now? IV

[Jonathan]

The original version of Tchaikovsky's first Piano Concerto (with the delicate arpeggios at the start of the first movement and also numerous other changes throughout the score). The pianist is Jerome Lowenthal accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sergio Comissiona (on the Bridge label)

[cloughie]

The original version of Tchaikovsky's first Piano Concerto (with the delicate arpeggios at the start of the first movement and also numerous other changes throughout the score). The pianist is Jerome Lowenthal accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sergio Comissiona (on the Bridge label)

Was that a Presto find J? Just yesterday I was looking at the Stephen Hough Tchaikovsky concrto recordings - 3 different middle movements of the 2nd Concert - I feel shortchanged by the 7 min truncated version! For me the Sylvia Kersenbam recording will never be bettered. Thanks for your advice in the Summer - really enjoying using my Presto app and amp plug in gismo!

[Jonathan]

Hi Cloughie, I actually bought the disc from the long gone and very sadly missed MDT in Derby. I also have the Hough RPC disc, I still need to get my ears around it! I however do agree about the truncated version in the second concerto. Glad the Presto app is keeping you happy

[Petrushka]

Mahler: Symphony No 2 (Resurrection)
Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha (soprano), Dame Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano)
Hallé Choir, Hallé Youth Choir
Hallé Orchestra
Kahchun Wong

Recorded live at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, on January 16 2025

This is, without question, one of the great Mahler 2's on disc. Their Prom performance earlier this year received many plaudits, not least on this Forum. Even Hurwitz gave it a rave review though his complaint that it's recorded at a low level is nonsense. I played it a notch higher than my normal setting and it sounded very clear and transparent at just the right level. Superb recording and performance from all involved.

[cloughie]

Mahler: Symphony No 2 (Resurrection)
Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha (soprano), Dame Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano)
Hallé Choir, Hallé Youth Choir
Hallé Orchestra
Kahchun Wong

Recorded live at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, on January 16 2025

This is, without question, one of the great Mahler 2's on disc. Their Prom performance earlier this year received many plaudits, not least on this Forum. Even Hurwitz gave it a rave review though his complaint that it's recorded at a low level is nonsense. I played it a notch higher than my normal setting and it sounded very clear and transparent at just the right level. Superb recording and performance from all involved.

Must have a listen!

[smittims]

Bruckner: Symphony no.8. The Vienna Philharmonic orchestra, Wilhelm Furtwangler, October 1944 broadcast from the Musikvereinsaal.

There have been so many different reissues (on different labels) of Furtwangler's broadcasts that I'm never sure whether they are different performances. For instance, this is from the DG/Decca box; there is another from the Orfeo red box wih slightly longer timings for each movement. Sometimes he did give performances on successive days, e.g. there are two distinct Bruckner 8's from Berlin on March 14 and 15 1949 which were once confused.

Older collectors may recall the 'Unicorn' Lps of this 1944 Vienna 8th with a big Kokoshka landscape on the cover.

[oliver sudden]

Bruckner: Symphony no.8. The Vienna Philharmonic orchestra, Wilhelm Furtwangler, October 1944 broadcast from the Musikvereinsaal.

There have been so many different reissues (on different labels) of Furtwangler's broadcasts that I'm never sure whether they are different performances. For instance, this is from the DG/Decca box; there is another from the Orfeo red box wih slightly longer timings for each movement. Sometimes he did give performances on successive days, e.g. there are two distinct Bruckner 8's from Berlin on March 14 and 15 1949 which were once confused.

Older collectors may recall the 'Unicorn' Lps of this 1944 Vienna 8th with a big Kokoshka landscape on the cover.

Both are 17 October 1944, say the booklets. The DG is 2 minutes shorter overall (77' as opposed to 78'57") but the differences are in proportion to the lengths of the movements and it also seems to be a fraction higher...

[richardfinegold]

Bruckner: Symphony no.8. The Vienna Philharmonic orchestra, Wilhelm Furtwangler, October 1944 broadcast from the Musikvereinsaal.

There have been so many different reissues (on different labels) of Furtwangler's broadcasts that I'm never sure whether they are different performances.

Is there an audience, or is the one that they did from an empty hall

[smittims]

Thanks ,oliver.

There's no audible audience. The booklet says 'broadcast without audience'. After 'Total War' was pronounced in July 1944 I think public concerts were very restricted if not banned .

O another tack, I've been enjoying

Handel: Twelve Grand Concertos , opus six. The Busch Chamber players, Adolph Busch.

I think this was made in New York in 1946 and was highly regarded for many years . Even today some connoisseurs still regard it as a lodestone. Although there are many beautiful touches, I find the almost complete absence of a keyboard unsettling (occasionally one hears a sort of clanking) and some of Busch's tempi are questionable . It was I think only the second complete recording. Adolph Busch had made a famous set of the Brandenburg Concertos in the late 1930s.

[Petrushka]

Bruckner: Symphony no.8. The Vienna Philharmonic orchestra, Wilhelm Furtwangler, October 1944 broadcast from the Musikvereinsaal.

There have been so many different reissues (on different labels) of Furtwangler's broadcasts that I'm never sure whether they are different performances. For instance, this is from the DG/Decca box; there is another from the Orfeo red box wih slightly longer timings for each movement. Sometimes he did give performances on successive days, e.g. there are two distinct Bruckner 8's from Berlin on March 14 and 15 1949 which were once confused.

Older collectors may recall the 'Unicorn' Lps of this 1944 Vienna 8th with a big Kokoshka landscape on the cover.

I have those Unicorn LPs and that recording was my first exposure to Bruckner. Loved it from the start and it still gets an airing from time to time, though now in one of its CD incarnations.

[pastoralguy]

Continuing with…

Brahms. Symphony No.1

Adrian Boult conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra. 1950’s recording.

[oliver sudden]

Thanks ,oliver.

There's no audible audience. The booklet says 'broadcast without audience'. After 'Total War' was pronounced in July 1944 I think public concerts were very restricted if not banned .

O another tack, I've been enjoying

Handel: Twelve Grand Concertos , opus six. The Busch Chamber players, Adolph Busch.

I think this was made in New York in 1946 and was highly regarded for many years . Even today some connoisseurs still regard it as a lodestone. Although there are many beautiful touches, I find the almost complete absence of a keyboard unsettling (occasionally one hears a sort of clanking) and some of Busch's tempi are questionable . It was I think only the second complete recording. Adolph Busch had made a famous set of the Brandenburg Concertos in the late 1930s.

Linking up your last couple: Furtwängler meets Handel!

https://youtu.be/1xybs6tgx3c?si=Nh8tLFlukfXZgaOF

[teamsaint]

Henze, Symphony #1.
BPO.
Revised version for chamber orchestra 1963.

plenty going on !

[smittims]

I was listening to the Furtwangler Handel the other day. Next is Hermann Scherchen's 1950s Westminster set with the 'English Baroque Orchestra'. I'd love to know who they were. I guess members of the RPO.

That set of the Henze symphonies with him conducting the Berliners was my introduction to his music . I've never been a fan, but I find it interesting to hear his orchestral works occasionally. I can't get anything from his vocal works, I'm afraid.

[Stanfordian]

John Ireland & E.J. Moeran – ‘Choral Music’
Including: A Cradle Song, Sea Fever, Twilight Night, Songs of Springtime...
David Owen Norris (piano)
The Carice Singers / George Parris
Recorded 2015 St Michael and All Angels, Summertown, Oxford
Naxos, CD

Delius
Violin Concerto,
Suite for violin and orchestra,
Legende for violin and orchestra,
Ralph Holmes (violin)
RPO / Vernon Handley
Recorded 1984 Henry Wood Hall, London
Unicorn Kanchana, CD