What Classical Music Are You listening to Now? III

[richardfinegold]

Interesting how people react differently to recordings. I've recently listened to the recent WDR Chamber Players recording of the Brahms Sextets and this recording by the Capuçon Bros, et al is quite different. Whereas the WDR Chamber Players blend very well with each other the players on the Capuçon recording sound like a collection of soloists, although you hear more detail. The Erato recording is more "in your face" and at a higher level. For me it is a bit tiring to listen to. I'm not saying the WDR Chamber Players recording is my dream performance - but I prefer it to the all star Capuçon.

I really enjoy the ASMF recording

[richardfinegold]

I was in that situation for a few years and they would not let me change except at the end of my then-current subscription. That situation has since changed, as has my subscription, from France to the UK.

Time for me to confess-I get my Qobuz account gratis—when they were doing Beta testing here, it was very difficult to sign up, and I wound up with two separate accounts, one which I access through the Blue OS app, the other which is on my Android phone. I tried getting Qobuz to merge these into one account, several times, but they keep telling me that I don’t have any account at all, and they have never billed me in any fashion, and after several attempts I ceased arguing with them

[Bryn]

Time for me to confess-I get my Qobuz account gratis—when they were doing Beta testing here, it was very difficult to sign up, and I wound up with two separate accounts, one which I access through the Blue OS app, the other which is on my Android phone. I tried getting Qobuz to merge these into one account, several times, but they keep telling me that I don’t have any account at all, and they have never billed me in any fashion, and after several attempts I ceased arguing with them

Yes, that sounds like QOBUZ admin. of the past. I guess that when the takeover took place, a lot was left undone in the transition. Happens all too often.

[Bryn]

Mozart: K279, 280 and 281 (Arthur Schoonderwoerd, Tanget piano after Spaeth & Schmahl c. 1775)

This is the first disc of a boxed set at a bargain price from jpc. Very impressed with both the playing and the instrument. Beautifully suited to the music, to my ears.

[BBMmk2]

Poulenc: Mass in G; Sept Chansons
BBC Singers
Sofi Jeannin

[interval]

Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony
Roger Muraro (piano), Jacques Tchamkerten (ondes martenot)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Thierry Fischer

Coincidentally, I was present at this exact programme 42 years ago this very night in Manchester (BBC Northern Singers, BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra) given in the presence of Olivier Messiaen. I was very fortunate to meet him and Yvonne Loriod after the concert and I still have the programme signed by them both.

I saw Rattle and CBSO the Messiaen, with, I think, Wagner Prelude & Libestod. Very good both were too.

Escales: Orchestral French Music
Sinfonia of London

[Joseph K]

Beethoven 5 - Cleveland Orchestra/Szell

[Stanfordian]

Offenbach
'Maître Péronilla' opéra bouffe in three acts (1878)
Soloists: Véronique Gens, Antoinette Dennefeld, Chantal Santon-Jeffery, Anaïs Constans, Diana Axentii, Éric Huchet, Tassis Christoyannis, François Piolino, Patrick Kabongo, Loïc Félix, Yoann Dubruque, Matthieu Lécroart, Raphaël Brémard, Jérôme Boutillier, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Antoine Philippot
Chœur de Radio France
Orchestre national de France / Markus Poschner
Recorded Live concert performances 2019 Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris
Bru Zane ‘French Opéra series of CD-books, volume 23 - new release

[Joseph K]

Beethoven 5 - Cleveland Orchestra/Szell

No. 9 now.

[Pulcinella]

Bartok: PC3, in preparation for next week's BaL.
The 'winner' of the five versions I have (see BaL thread) was Grimaud/LSO/Boulez, with a soft spot remining for the old Geza Anda version.

[Petrushka]

Wagner: Prelude and Liebestod (Tristan und Isolde)
Jane Eaglen (soprano)

[interval]

Beethoven: Symphony No 9 ('Choral')
Yvonne Kenny (soprano), Sarah Walker (mezzo-soprano)
Patrick Power (tenor), Petteri Salomaa (bass)
Schütz Choir of London

London Classical Players
Sir Roger Norrington

[DracoM]

Wagner: Parsifal Act 3 // Kollo etc + Leipzig Orch / Kegen

[BBMmk2]

Wagner: Prelude and Liebestod (Tristan und Isolde)
Jane Eaglen (soprano)

[interval]

Beethoven: Symphony No 9 ('Choral')
Yvonne Kenny (soprano), Sarah Walker (mezzo-soprano)
Patrick Power (tenor), Petteri Salomaa (bass)
Schütz Choir of London

London Classical Players
Sir Roger Norrington

Must hear that LvB 9!

I played this yesterday afternoon

The Film Music of Miklós Rósza
The Thief of Baghdad Suite
The Jungle Book Suite
Sahara(orchestrated by Christopher Palmer)
Ben Hur Suite
BBC Phiilharmonic Orchestra
Rumon Gamba

Playing this morning.

Living Stereo 60 CD Collection Vol.2
CD 6
Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No.1 in F# minor, Op.1
Richard Strauss
Burleske for Piano & Orchestra in D minor
Byron Janis(piano)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Fritz Reiner.
Tchaikovsky
CD7
Symphony No.6 in B minor, Op.74 “Pathétique”
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Fritz Reiner.
CD 8
Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op.64
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Pierre Monteux.

[pastoralguy]

I have that 'Living Stereo' set too, bbm. It's terrific!

Today,

Schubert. Octet.

An ensemble led by Isabelle Faust on Harmonia Mundi. 2018.

Wonderful music making!

[teamsaint]

I recently picked volumes 1 and 7 of the Gielen edition for £15 the pair. cracking bargain, and giving the Janacek disc from volume 7 a spin now.

[pastoralguy]

Mr. Jascha Heifetz. 'It ain't necessarily so'.

A collection of short encore pieces that Mr. Heifetz recorded for DECCA between 1944 and 1946. He'd been touring in extremely hazardous wartime conditions before making these recordings. The playing is absolutely astonishing, even by his standards. The pianists are Milton Kaye and Emanuel Bay.

Deutsche Grammophon. 2006