What Classical Music Are You Listening To?

[HutchFan]

 from --> 

Mahler: Symphony No. 3 / Kubelik, Marjorie Thomas, Bavarian RSO (DG)

[soulpope]

2 hours ago, HutchFan said:

 from --> 

Mahler: Symphony No. 3 / Kubelik, Marjorie Thomas, Bavarian RSO (DG)

Kubelik definitely was a great Mahlerian ....

[Peter Friedman]

Vieuxtemps - Violin Concertos No. 5 No.6 & No.7 - Misha Keylin violin / Slovak  Radio Symphony Orch. Or Arnhem Philharmonic 

Orch. - Naxos

[jeffcrom]

Winds of Change: American Music for Wind Ensemble (New World); Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble/John Paynter

Persichetti - Pageant
Hale Smith - Expansions
Henry Brant - Verticals Ascending
Ross Lee Finney - Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra of Wind Instruments (Fred Hemke, saxophone)
Robert Russell Bennett - Symphonic Songs for Band

 

[A Lark Ascending]

14 hours ago, HutchFan said:

 

Mahler: Symphony No. 3 / Kubelik, Marjorie Thomas, Bavarian RSO (DG)

The first Mahler record I ever bought back in the 70s (I actually wanted the second but the NAAFI shop didn't have it)...about the third or fourth classical record I ever bought (Mahler was pipped by Sibelius). I still hear Mahler through those recordings (although I believe some liberties were taken in places with tempos in order to fit movements onto one LP side - to this day when I hear the 6th on the radio the opening movement seems to plod (when in reality Kubelik was doing a Usain Bolt)). 

Not a million miles away from Mahler. The Symphonic Serenade is utterly gorgeous, Between Two Worlds very Hollywood; Theme and Variations sounds like the soundtrack to one of those anthropomorphic wildlife films that Disney used to make. 

Edited August 31, 2016 by A Lark Ascending

[soulpope]

[HutchFan]

8 hours ago, A Lark Ascending said:

The first Mahler record I ever bought back in the 70s (I actually wanted the second but the NAAFI shop didn't have it)...about the third or fourth classical record I ever bought (Mahler was pipped by Sibelius). I still hear Mahler through those recordings (although I believe some liberties were taken in places with tempos in order to fit movements onto one LP side - to this day when I hear the 6th on the radio the opening movement seems to plod (when in reality Kubelik was doing a Usain Bolt)). 

My introduction to Mahler was through Leonard Bernstein -- specifically his Mahler 9 with the Concertgebouw (DG). For many fans, this is "Lenny's Mahler" at its worst, but it made a convert of me.  

The first Mahler Third that I ever heard was Jascha Horenstein's, and I still enjoy it -- but Kubelik's recording is definitely my first choice for this symphony. Kubelik's version isn't nearly as monumental or dramatic as Horenstein's, but Kubelik makes the music flow so beautifully.

People often mention Kubelik's woodsy lyricism, but I think they sometimes overlook the sense of flow and over-arching structure that he brings to Mahler. His readings (often, to me) have a continuity, an "inner line," that other conductors lack. As a result, Kubelik's interpretations don't come off as a series of dramatic but disconnected episodes. 

I'm not a score-reader. This is just my subjective impression as a listener, FWIW.

[soulpope]

1 hour ago, HutchFan said:

My introduction to Mahler was through Leonard Bernstein -- specifically his Mahler 9 with the Concertgebouw (DG). For many fans, this is "Lenny's Mahler" at its worst, but it made a convert of me.  

The first Mahler Third that I ever heard was Jascha Horenstein's, and I still enjoy it -- but Kubelik's recording is definitely my first choice for this symphony. Kubelik's version isn't nearly as monumental or dramatic as Horenstein's, but Kubelik makes the music flow so beautifully.

People often mention Kubelik's woodsy lyricism, but I think they sometimes overlook the sense of flow and over-arching structure that he brings to Mahler. His readings (often, to me) have a continuity, an "inner line," that other conductors lack. As a result, Kubelik's interpretations don't come off as a series of dramatic but disconnected episodes. 

I'm not a score-reader. This is just my subjective impression as a listener, FWIW.

Your description of Kubelik's approach is just perfect .... btw i admire Kubelik ....

[Peter Friedman]

Bach - Concertos for 2 and 3 Pianos - Robert, Gaby & Jean Casadesus - Sony

[A Lark Ascending]

3 hours ago, HutchFan said:

My introduction to Mahler was through Leonard Bernstein -- specifically his Mahler 9 with the Concertgebouw (DG). For many fans, this is "Lenny's Mahler" at its worst, but it made a convert of me.  

Actually mine too. One Easter Sunday in 1974 (I think the dates are right) I sat and watched a performance of the 2nd on TV in the afternoon - Bernstein at Ely Cathedral. I'm not sure why - I think I had about two classical records at that time but was getting curious. I was intrigued and bored by turns - it seemed VERY long (almost as long as Tales of Topographic Oceans!!!!) but the great choral ending just grabbed me by the throat. As soon as I had some money from a holiday job in the summer I started buying Mahler records - the DG Kubeliks for no other reason than a) I was living in Germany on a military base, the local NAAFI had rubbish pop/rock records and the exchange rate was so bad that pop/rock records in the German shops were way too expensive...and I HAD to buy records; b) the NAAFI had stacks of DGs in the classical section at very modest prices. The chance events that create an obsession.  

There was a terrific series of TV programmes about Mahler by Bernstein about 30 years back. He could really talk and explain about Mahler the composer in a direct and unstuffy manner. 

No 10. Pettersson brings Nielsen to my mind initially; but bizarrely today I was thinking Bax! I'm sure that is coincidental. 

 

Edited August 31, 2016 by A Lark Ascending

[king ubu]

Hooked by this recent arrival - have played it several times in a row last night and will do so again later on.

This one just arrived today - gave it a first spin and enjoyed it a lot ... not sure I've listened to those oboe concertos paying attention before.

Something else I played often in the past days is the Chopin found on this set - that includes the Préluds, the third Ballade, the first Scherzo, three each of the Nocturnes and Études, the Polonaises Op. 26/1 and Op. 53 "Heroic", four Waltzes and 16 Mazurkas ... not exactly my favourite selection of Chopin (that would be Nocturnes, Scherzi, Ballades ... and then the Préludes, I think), but some great playing here!

[soulpope]

1 hour ago, king ubu said:

Hooked by this recent arrival - have played it several times in a row last night and will do so again later on.

Tremendous performance - and the ECM recording offers detailed insights ....

[StarThrower]

[A Lark Ascending]

No 1

Edited September 1, 2016 by A Lark Ascending

[soulpope]

Marvellous performances by "Sibelius whisperer" Leif Segerstam + DNRSO ....

[soulpope]

Just the overture - which IMO was never performed more subtle ....

[soulpope]

Perennial favourite Bruckner 7 recording by master Böhm and the viennese philharmonic forces ....

[soulpope]

[HutchFan]

Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 / Friedrich Gulda
Disc 1

[A Lark Ascending]

Opus 87, 101, 111 - acclimatisation listen. 

Never heard (or seen) this before - beautiful score in that opulent yet unstable style common to the latest of Romanticisms. Enjoyed the staging too. 

[alankin]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 
– Concerto for Piano No.24 in C minor K 491
Arthur Rubinstein (piano) – RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra – Josef Krips 
– Rondo in A minor K.511
Arthur Rubinstein (piano) (RCA Victor Red Seal Records / Living Stereo – Sony Music)

 
 

Edited September 1, 2016 by alankin

[alankin]

Frédéric Chopin 
– Piano Sonata No.2 in B-flat minor Op.35 "Funeral March"
– Piano Sonata No.3 in B-minor Op.58
Arthur Rubinstein (RCA Victor Red Seal Records – Sony Music)

 
 

[Chuck Nessa]

Some fun stuff trying to be serious, or the other way around.

 

[StarThrower]

[soulpope]

As good as Vol. 1 - sumptous music expertly performed ....

Edited September 2, 2016 by soulpope