HutchFan

Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets / Belcea Quartet (Alpha) Disc 8: Quartets Nos. 15 & 16

Ten favorite SOLO PIANO recordings (for today, in no particular order): Ives: Piano Sonata No. 2 "Concord" / Marc-André Hamelin (New World) Chopin: Nocturnes / Ivan Moravec (Supraphon) Rachmaninov: Preludes / Vladimir Ashkenazy (Decca) Scriabin: Piano Works / Alexander Melnikov (Harmonia Mundi) Schubert: Piano Sonatas D958 & D959 / Maurizio Pollini (DG) Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 26 "Les Adieux", 27, and 29 "Hammerklavier" (Testament) Brahms: Piano Works / Peter Rösel (Edel) This is a bit of a cheat, since it's a 5-disc set. ... So if I were to pick one CD from the set, I'd likely go with Disc 3 - with the 3rd Piano Sonata, the Schumann Variations, and 4 Piano Pieces, Op. 119. Haydn: Three Piano Sonatas, etc. / Alfred Brendel (Philips) Schumann: Davidsbündlertänze, Kreisleriana / Géza Anda (DG) Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 15 "Pastoral", 29, 20, 24, and 25 / Rudolf Buchbinder (Teldec)

Music from the land of my forebears.

Disc 17: Franz Schubert - Octet in F major, D. 803 Violin – David Oistrakh and Piotr Bondarenko Viola – Mikhail Terian Cello – Sviatoslav Knushevitsky Bass – Joseph Gertovich Bassoon – Joseph Stidel Clarinet – Vladimir Sorokin Horn – Yakov Shapiro

More from this treasure trove: Disc 6 - Piano Trios No. 1, Op. 8 and No. 2, Op. 87 - with Henryk Szeryng and Pierre Fournier Some interesting background info on Szyerng and Rubinstein from wikipedia: When World War II broke out, the Premier of the Polish government in exile asked Henryk Szeryng, who was fluent in seven languages, to serve as his liaison officer and interpreter. Szeryng took these positions and discontinued his studies, although he continued to perform on the violin, giving over 300 concerts for Allied troops all over the world. When he accompanied Sikorski on a mission to Mexico in 1941 seeking a home for 4,000 Polish refugees, the positive reception moved Szeryng so deeply that he decided to become a Mexican naturalized citizen, and did so in 1946. In 1945 he accepted the request that he head the string department of National University of Mexico. In 1954, the pianist Arthur Rubinstein -- also a Jewish refugee from Poland -- gave a concert in Mexico City; Szeryng visited him backstage afterwards, and accepted Rubinstein's invitation to come to his hotel to play music. Szeryng's playing of solo violin music of J.S. Bach that night, said Rubinstein, "reduced me to tears. ...Real music lovers want emotion--great moments--which Szeryng's playing gives them." Rubinstein encouraged Szeryng to begin concertizing again, and introduced him to impresario Sol Hurok to help achieve this end. Rubinstein and Szeryng made music together regularly for the rest of their careers, and recorded much of the classic chamber music literature either as a duo or in a trio with cellist Pierre Fournier.

Oh yeah!

I'm only familiar with one of the discs in that set -- Shades -- but it is fantastic!

As I've said before, I think that's an astounding Mahler 5th. Kubelik's pacing brings the whole work into focus. IMO, Kubelik's 3rd and 5th are the two highest points in his DG cycle. He navigates those two enormous, sprawling symphonies better than anyone I've ever heard. Now playing: Arthur Rubinstein plays Brahms (RCA Red Seal/Sony) Disc 3 - Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 5; Four Ballades, Op. 10, etc.

Includes an exceptional version of Ives' Third Symphony.

Fun to hear Mel Lewis swing Woody's band.

Mozart - Lieder (Complete) / Emmy Ameling, Dalton Baldwin (Philips, 2 LPs) Ameling sings like an angel.

Hooray for Stanley Dance!

R.I.P.

Coleman Hawkins - The High & Mighty Hawk (Affinity; originally Felsted) Hawk in magisterial form.

Géza Anda's Schumann yesterday and Claudio Arrau's Schumann today: Arrau is my go-to guy for Kinderszenen and Waldszenen. On the other hand, when it comes to Carnaval, I prefer a bit more quicksilver. Listening to Arrau, I miss Rubinstein's joyous extroversion, his dancing.

What do you think, jhoots? I haven't ordered it yet. But I will soon! NP:

One of the most captivating Schumann recordings I've ever heard. Very, very special music.

NP: As Jeff Spicoli would say, "AWESOME 'bleeding chunks'!" Thanks Chuck!

Streamed this via YT on the way home from work earlier this evening ... and just getting back to it now ... Beethoven's Missa Solemnis as performed by Eugen Jochum, the RCOA, Netherlands Radio Chorus, and vocal soloists: If I had to choose ONE Beethoven conductor as a personal favorite, it would likely be Eugen Jochum. I wish this was still available on CD. I may have to seek out the vinyl. Yes! Good stuff!

It's a fantastic recital. Susan Narucki & Donald Berman are VERY convincing. I first heard Narucki on this Ives recording; it's also excellent:

More Charles Ives:

The Lydian SQ plays this music beautifully.