On the turntable: Rimsky-Korsakov / Turina / Debussy - Eduardo Mata, Dallas Symphony Orchestra – Iberia / Capriccio Espagnol, Op.34 / Orgia Telarc – DG-10055
I came across some renditions of Alkan on YouTube and had to listen to some of his enormous studies again. Nothing else like it. Alkan: 12 Études dans les tons mineurs, Op. 39 - No. 8. Concerto I Alkan: 12 Études dans les tons mineurs, Op. 39 - No. 9. Concerto II Alkan: 12 Études dans les tons mineurs, Op. 39 - No. 10. Concerto III Alkan: 12 Études dans les tons mineurs, Op. 39 - No. 11. Ouverture Alkan: 12 Études dans les tons mineurs, Op. 39 - No. 12. Le festin d'Ésope Vincent Maltempo (piano) 1989
In addition to Sanderling's Dresden Brahms cycle, I am also extremely partial to his (Berlin) Sibelius set:
Deutsche Grammophon 2530 480, issued 1974. Recorded 12/73, House of Artists, Prague. Production & recording supervision: Franz-Christian Wulff. Engineers: Hans-Peter Schweigmann & Karl-August Naegler. A co-production with Supraphon.
Philips 6500 860, issued 1975. Recorded 5/16-19/74. I like this ensemble & it's good to hear them venture into this repertoire.
Although I love Brendel's Schubert cycles, Kempff is also right up there for me. Very beautifully interpreted and played, lots of emotion and thought. Brendel can be a little too jaunty at times. Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 4 in A minor, D 537 Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 2 in C major, D 279 (fragments) Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 1 in E major, D 157 (fragments) Wilhelm Kempff (piano) 1968
Listening to CD 2 from "Bach - Brandenburg Concertos" performed by the Akademie Fur Alte Musik Berlin featuring Isabelle Faust (violin) and Antoine Tamestit (viola) on Harmonia Mundi. Nos. 4-6
One of my favourite Mahler Das Lied von der Erde is this one from Kurt Sanderling. When people are talking about Mahler conductors, Kurt Sanderling is not often mentioned but in my opinion he is a real Mahlerian. Also have his symphony 4, 9(2x) and 10. But also have this CD with Bruckner and Shostokovich which is great.
Speaking of Kurt Sanderling-for those interested in learning more about his conducting career-Music Web International has a 2 part career over-view which is comprehensive and available to access on the internet with no paywall. It is written by Dieter Barkhoff.
Spotify Premium. Kurt Atterberg: Suite Barocco, Op. 23 Suite Pastorale In Modo Antico, Op. 34 String Quartet, Op. 11* Saulesco Quartet* Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Kurt Atterberg
Easily my favourite work by Richard Strauss, and a great rendition from Karajan and the BPO. R. Strauss: An Alpine Symphony, Op. 64 Herbert von Karajan Berliner Philharmoniker 1980
CD Dmitri Kabalevsky: Cello Concerto No. 2, Op. 77 Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 49 Johannes Brahms: Cello Sonata No. 1 In E Minor, Op. 38 Cello – Steven Isserlis Piano – Dénes Várjon (tracks: 4-7), Stephen Hough (tracks: 8-10) Violin – Joshua Bell (tracks: 4-7) Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Karabits (tracks: 1-3)
Finally getting around to more of the fantastic Masur box after some diversions. Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 Sibelius: Finlandia, Op. 26 Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22 - II. The Swan of Tuonela Sibelius: Karelia Overture, Op. 10 Yehudi Menuhin (violin) [Beethoven] Thomas Zehetmair (violin) [Sibelius] Holger Landmann (english horn) [Sibelius] Kurt Masur Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
I just got an email from my friend Lani Spahr. His release of Elgar in America received a Gramophone Editor's choice award and his mastering was singled out in the review. Congrats to him!
This morning I curated a playlist of recordings featuring Franz Konwitschny as conductor to play while doing a hike. I guess he should be added to the list of interesting under the radar conductors- everything I heard was extremely enjoyable. I was listening to orchestral Wagner so far although I have added works by other composers to the list.
This inspired me to listen to the only recording of Franz Konwitschny i have in my collection. Tschaikovsky - Violin Concerto op. 35. Franz Konwitschny - conductor David Oistrach - Violin Sächsische Staatskappele Dresden Recording - Dresden, Lukaskirche, 2/1954 (MONO).
Mahler - Kindertotenlieder - 4 Rückertlieder. CD 8 from the Karl Böhm - Great Recordings box set. Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau - Bariton Karl Böhm - Conductor Berliner Philharmoniker Original cover.