What Classical Music Are You listening to Now? IV

[Stanfordian]

‘Impressions d’enfance’ – Music by George Enescu
Enescu
Piano Quintet in D major, Op. 29
Aubade in C major, for violin, viola & cello
Sérénade lointaine, for violin, cello & piano
Hommage – Pièce sur le nom de Fauré, for piano
Impressions d’enfance, suite for violin & piano, Op. 28
Ensemble Raro
Recorded 2019 & 2021, Studio 2, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Munich
Solo Musica, CD

[smittims]

Tchaikovsky: Symphony no.5. The North German Radio Orchestra, Hans Schmitt-Isserstedt.

This may not be a well-known recording today, but I imagine many older listeners came to know the work this way as it was the third bargain Lp issued in Britain, Ace of Clubs ACL 3, at 21 shillings in 1958.

I'ev always loved the symphony itself and cannot understand why some people disparage it, such as Toscanini , who declined to conduct it, calling it 'banal' to Sir Malcolm Sargent, who did record it but made huge, and structurally-disifguring , cut in the finale. It was the first symphony I came to know well, listening to my father's HMV 78s, possibly Koussevitzky. I remember being surprised afterwards to find that the classical masters didn't also write symphonies with trans-movement 'mottto' themes!

The North German Radio Orchestra was founded by the British occupying power in Hamburg 1945-49 before the foundation of the Federal Republic . Schmitt-Isserstedt had made a reputation before the war and made some significant recordings with the Berlin Philharmonic. His son Erik Smith was a famous record producer with Decca and Philips: the celebrated Mozart series with Willi Boskovsky was his idea.

[Ian Thumwood]

‘Impressions d’enfance’ – Music by George Enescu
Enescu
Piano Quintet in D major, Op. 29
Aubade in C major, for violin, viola & cello
Sérénade lointaine, for violin, cello & piano
Hommage – Pièce sur le nom de Fauré, for piano
Impressions d’enfance, suite for violin & piano, Op. 28
Ensemble Raro
Recorded 2019 & 2021, Studio 2, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Munich
Solo Musica, CD

Stanford

In my opinion Enescu is seriously underrated but the solo piano music is fantastic. I would recommend the two volumes by Luiza Borac with the first volume being my favourite. He is often cited as being influenced by Brahms whose music I cannot abide but I feel he was totally original. There is one piece which is a depiction of church bells which is incredible. He is more well known for his orchestral work. I just feel the piano music deserves a bigger reputation. Far superior to Brahms , in my.opinion

[Ian Thumwood]

Thanks Ian. Messiaen was nothing if not eclectic and choosy regarding composers he admired. When it came to the Germanic tradition, Mozart you've mentioned, to whom of course Wagner must be added: "Tristan" was a massive influence; also bits and pieces from the Second Viennese School, especially Schoenberg's free atonal Expressionist period, and parts of Berg's "Wozzeck" were illustrated as fine examples of orchestration, I believe. And we can't overlook the fact that Schoenberg's "invention" of serialism was important, albeit in how Messiaen applied the principle differently to the Viennese - when he did, as one among a plethora of "externalities". But you're right in detecting the most direct lineage as back to Debussy's "Pélleas" especially, and to the high Romantic French organ tradition, including Tournemire and his own teacher Dupré.

The book is too stuffed with the Catholic spiritualism, which was Messaien 's principle influence, for me to recommend. He was familiar with the Debussy opera before he was a teenager.

It is interesting that you mention the influence of serialism in the 8 preludes. I cannot hear this at all bit think it is a brilliant piece of music. The fifth prelude is brilliant.

What fascinated me was how Messiaen had favourites amongst the birdsong with the blackbird being quite a frequent element. The other bird that he used alot was the Garden Warbler which is annoying as I have never seen one even though they are alleged to exist by rhe river in the village where I live. They are quite common yet unobtrusive since they have no distinguishing markings like wing bars or eyestripes. It is now top.of my list to spot having ticked off a Hoopoe and a Waxwing in the last 2 years. The song of the Garden Warbler is said to resemble a Blackcap which is the most numerous Warbler around here after the Chiffchaff.

[oliver sudden]

Tchaikovsky: Symphony no.5. The North German Radio Orchestra, Hans Schmitt-Isserstedt.

This may not be a well-known recording today, but I imagine many older listeners came to know the work this way as it was the third bargain Lp issued in Britain, Ace of Clubs ACL 3, at 21 shillings in 1958.

I'ev always loved the symphony itself and cannot understand why some people disparage it, such as Toscanini , who declined to conduct it, calling it 'banal' to Sir Malcolm Sargent, who did record it but made huge, and structurally-disifguring , cut in the finale. It was the first symphony I came to know well, listening to my father's HMV 78s, possibly Koussevitzky. I remember being surprised afterwards to find that the classical masters didn't also write symphonies with trans-movement 'mottto' themes!

I didn’t really get along with Tchaik 5 until I heard the live Celibidache recording. It’s a mesmerising thing. I think it would be entirely possible to hear the beginning of the slow movement and have no idea what it was until the horn came in. On the one hand, hats off for bringing out bits of the harmony that I would never have known were there. On the other, hats back on again for basically conducting another piece entirely. On the third hand, thanks for opening the door, now I can listen to saner versions but who knows if that would have come to pass otherwise?

[richardfinegold]

Tchaikovsky: Symphony no.5. The North German Radio Orchestra, Hans Schmitt-Isserstedt.

This may not be a well-known recording today, but I imagine many older listeners came to know the work this way as it was the third bargain Lp issued in Britain, Ace of Clubs ACL 3, at 21 shillings in 1958.

I'ev always loved the symphony itself and cannot understand why some people disparage it, such as Toscanini , who declined to conduct it, calling it 'banal' to Sir Malcolm Sargent, who did record it but made huge, and structurally-disifguring , cut in the finale. It was the first symphony I came to know well, listening to my father's HMV 78s, possibly Koussevitzky. I remember being surprised afterwards to find that the classical masters didn't also write symphonies with trans-movement 'mottto' themes!

The North German Radio Orchestra was founded by the British occupying power in Hamburg 1945-49 before the foundation of the Federal Republic . Schmitt-Isserstedt had made a reputation before the war and made some significant recordings with the Berlin Philharmonic. His son Erik Smith was a famous record producer with Decca and Philips: the celebrated Mozart series with Willi Boskovsky was his idea.

I think that you would like Monteux, either with Boston or the LSO. He makes it seem like a life or death affair.

[smittims]

Yes, indeed. I have his Boston studio recording. The LSO seems to be a Vanguard disc. Svetlanov and Mravinsky are also among my favoured versions.

[Pulcinella]

Stravinsky: Agon
Berg: Chamber concerto

London Sinfonietta
David Atherton

A 1980 Argo recording recently reissued on Decca Eloquence.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9756811--stravinsky-agon-berg-chamber-concerto

[smittims]

Good to see that Agon reissued,, as there've never been many versions. . Does this mean Eloquence are doing a David Atherton series or a London Sinfonietta series? Their own series of Schoenberg and Gerhard chamber music concerts they did about fifty years ago was a revelation for me. I shall never forget Mary Thomas in The Akond of Swat! or John Constable attacking the piano in Ode to Napoleon. Happy days, long gone.

[Pulcinella]

Good to see that Agon reissued,, as there've never been many versions. . Does this mean Eloquence are doing a David Atherton series or a London Sinfonietta series? Their own series of Schoenberg and Gerhard chamber music concerts they did about fifty years ago was a revelation for me. I shall never forget Mary Thomas in The Akond of Swat! or John Constable attacking the piano in Ode to Napoleon. Happy days, long gone.

Possibly enough now for a Summer BaL.
Volkov ruled out for me because of gaps between the movements.

[groovydavidii]

Florence Price–symphonies 1&2,-DG, Yannock Nezet-Seguin conducting Philadelphia Orchestra.

[MickyD]

The Beethoven Violin Sonatas played by Jaap Schroeder and Jos Van Immerseel, the latter using a gorgeous-sounding 1824 Graf fortepiano.

[smittims]

Roussel; Symphony no.1.
Hartmann : Symphony no.1
Honegger: Symphony no.1.

I'm catching up with some 20th-century symphonists I haven't heard for a long time. Of the three here, I liked the Honegger best, bright and breezy, a Koussevitzky commission. The Roussel is beautiful but rambling, not representative of his mature work.

Hartmann has always been a puzzle to me. I loved his early Concerto Funebre for violin and strings, a beautiful lyrical work, and was surprised to find all his other music so harsh and troubled: not an easy listen. But he's interesting because his first six symphonies were all re-workings of earlier pieces, an activity occupying him a good many years. Then his last two are all new. .

[gurnemanz]

Schumann: Violin Sonatas
Alina Ibragimova, Cedric Tiberghien

Just listened to these via Spotify new releases. A fitting complement to Schumann's letters which I'm just reading.

[frankbridge]

Takemitsu: From me flows what you call Time (UK premiere)

Nexus / BBC Symphony Orchestra / Goldilocks

BBC MM123

and I was there at the Albert Hall for the performance in 1993! Which was a bit of surprise, as I had been to an all night party before in Birmingham, and was rather the worse for wear, but I had to get to the Proms for the event. I couldn't do it now, of course, but farewell my youth and all that!

And the coupling was Walton's first Symphony with the BBC Welsh under Otaka. Trebles all round!