What Classical Music Are You listening to Now? IV

[Sir Velo]

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67476/7

Albeniz's greatest work, coupled with probably his most underrated masterpiece, Vega in the greatest modern recording (Larrocha is hors concours in this repertoire). If this doesn't make a convert out of Ian Thumwood nothing will!

[Stanfordian]

Ponchielli – ‘La Gioconda’
Opera in four acts
Anita Cerquetti (La Gioconda), Mario Del Monaco (Enzo), Ettore Bastianini (Barnaba), Giulietta Simionato (Laura),
Cesare Siepi (Alvise), Franca Sacchi (La Cieca), Giorgio Giorgetti (Zuàne), Athos Cesarini (Isèpo)
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino / Gianandrea Gavazzeni
Recorded 1957 Teatro Della Pergola, Florence
Decca Grand Opera series, 2 CDs

[smittims]

Koanga, often called Delius' most dramatic (i.e. most stage-worthy) opera , in a spirited performance from the 2014 Wexford Festival.

I first heard it in 1972 when I sat with a friend while he taped the Camden Festival production on Radio 3 , which formed much of the basis (the principal singers at any rate) of the EMI recording conducted by Sir Charles Groves. I haven't listened to it often , but I was pleasantly surprised by how memorable much of it is. I suppose Delius' operas are uneconomic in today's straightened climate, but they contain much splendid music. I was glad the BBC recorded The Magic Fountain, Irmelin and Margot la Rouge when there was money available for such projects.

[smittims]

Elisabeth Lutyens: Music for Orchestra IV : the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Jac van Steen. A rare exception in Radio 3's neglect of this composer.

Apropos french frank's comment about 'composeresses', according to her biographers, when interviewed once on TV , Lizzie said 'if you call me a female composer I'll call you a homosexual interviewer'.

Born 1906, she had what today we might call an 'unreconstructed ' approach to sexuality (btw. she was herself unquestionably a heter).

[Ian Thumwood]

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/d...c=D_CDA67476/7

Albeniz's greatest work, coupled with probably his most underrated masterpiece, Vega in the greatest modern recording (Larrocha is hors concours in this repertoire). If this doesn't make a convert out of Ian Thumwood nothing will!

Sir Velo

i have been playing this but found another disc by Alicia De Laroccha which really impressed. If i am honest, this music owes more to Debussy and seems more modern. Thanks for the link. This is far more interesting than Espana which dates from the point when Debussy was little known. I would not hsve guessed that they were by the same composer.

To be honest , it is piano music from late 19th century to mid 20th that appeals as i am interested in harmony.

I am really by the De LRoccha disc which also includes Grenados.

[Sir Velo]

I am really by the De LRoccha disc which also includes Grenados.

Larrocha really is the undisputed queen of Spanish late Romantic piano music, and I totally concur with your opinion. Likewise the Goyescas represent the pinnacle of Granados' achievement in keyboard writing.

[pastoralguy]

John Cage. Winter Music.

Sabine Liebner, piano. I was given an Amazon gift card and decided to indulge my fascination of Mr. Cage’s work. So incredibly unpredictable and random.

[smittims]

I've just finished listening my way through Gunther Wand's RCA set of the Bruckner Symphonies with the Cologne (now WDR) radio orchestra. He makes an interesting choice of editions. For me, that's the fascination of hearing different performances of these works. I don't even mind the Franz Schalk version of the Fifth, when it's such a fine performance as Knappertsbusch's 1957 Vienna recording. The only thing that does disappoint me is those who omit the timpani and cymbals in the second movement of the Seventh.

[richardfinegold]

I've just finished listening my way through Gunther Wand's RCA set of the Bruckner Symphonies with the Cologne (now WDR) radio orchestra. He makes an interesting choice of editions. For me, that's the fascination of hearing different performances of these works. I don't even mind the Franz Schalk version of the Fifth, when it's such a fine performance as Knappertsbusch's 1957 Vienna recording. The only thing that does disappoint me is those who omit the timpani and cymbals in the second movement of the Seventh.

That Wand cycle is my personal favorite. Tbh I don’t really get into the Editions issues except with the Fourth

[richardfinegold]

Carlos Chavez, Complete Symphonies, a 2 disc Vox set with Eduardo Mata and and LSO.
The only piece that I had heard before was the Sinfonia India.
I love this music. Do any of you Brits know if the LSO had any familiarity with the music before the recordings or were they displaying their famous sight reading abilities? I have no comparator but the results sound great to me

[Pulcinella]

Carlos Chavez, Complete Symphonies, a 2 disc Vox set with Eduardo Mata and and LSO.
The only piece that I had heard before was the Sinfonia India.
I love this music. Do any of you Brits know if the LSO had any familiarity with the music before the recordings or were they displaying their famous sight reading abilities? I have no comparator but the results sound great to me

I have that box, and agree: I also have a Bernstein NYPO Sony recording of Sinfonia India.
Others might know more, but I imagine that the LSO just 'took them in their stride'.

[pastoralguy]

I have that box, and agree: I also have a Bernstein NYPO Sony recording of The Sinfonia India.
Others might know more, but I imagine that the LSO just 'took them in their stride'.

A couple of years ago, the LSO played Janacek’s Sinfonietta during the Edinburgh Festival, conducted by Sir Simon. I asked a friend in the first fiddles if the orchestra had played it recently. ‘No’, she replied. ‘In fact, very few members of the Orchestra had played it before we saw it yesterday for the first time!’ The performance was absolutely stunning.

[jannelder]

Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances , conducted by Gardner or Pappano, both on Youtube.

[smittims]

Two rarely-heard symphonies, each just over 30 minutes .

Bernard Stevens : Symphony no.2. A bit like Tippett 1 (lots of busy counterpoint) but a strong independent work in its own right. I think his music deserves more performances. Radio 3 broadcast a few of hs works in 2016, perhaps for the centenary, but then dropped him again,as they do , to make room for weekly doses of Judith Weir et al.


Stepan Wolpe: Symphony no.1. Wolpe's music intrigues me and I always try to listen to it when it turns up. But I haveto say I find it hard going; it's anything but easy on the ear. Long relentless unvaried passages of rigorous (persumably) dodecaphonic texture. But it's forward looking too. I was reminded of Boulez (Derive 2) and Stockhausen (Gruppen) both well in the future when this was written.

There's a fascinating short film on YouTube showing his daughter Katherina Wolpe (an underrated artist in her own right, in my opinion) talking about and playing his piano sonata. She says that it's not meant to be pleasant or easy (Again I'm paraphrasing from memory) but is meant to make you think. Hmm... little chance of Wolpe being featured in today's Radio 3, I think.

[richardfinegold]

Bruckner Third Symphony, CSO/Solti.
It’s the first revision. My local library has this entire set but this is the first time I’ve seen the Third on their shelves. I think the Solti/CSO cycle doesn’t get enough appreciation and it isn’t just local boosterism. My favorite versions of 1/2 are in this cycle and the Sixth is excellent. After 1 listen to the Third I was a bit disappointed. Certainly the big moments ring out but the slow movement hung fire somewhat. I am wondering if this work was ion Solti repetoire of he learned it to complete a cycle. I will spin it a few more times before I have to return it