Classical Corner Classical Music Corner (thread #47)

Now playing CD33 from the following set for a first listen. 27 more CD's to go. LOL ...

 

The Goldberg Variations performed on organ or violin does not do much for me ...

 

I used to put together specific combo of works on my open-reel tapes. Those were the good old days - watching the spinning reels reproducing great sounding music, which is actually still quite good by today sonic standard, i.e. audio CD ...

 

Now playing CD34 from the following set for a first listen. Cantatas Nos. 109-111 ...

 

Looks like most US members of CMC are off to BBQ. I will be joining the crowd in 2 hours even on a soggy and chilly day like this - in the 40's ...

 

Honestly, the performances were so great, I didn't notice.

 

Just found this CD in the used bins. Enjoying it now!

 

What a great violinist Grumiaux was! I am glad I have a good number of recordings on both LP and CD by him ...

 

Now playing CD8 from the following set for a first listen ...

 

Indeed.

 

Grumiaux and Szeryng are still in a class by themselves after all these years. Virtuosity has nothing to do with period instrument ...

 

I actually have more piano works recorded in mono now than at any other time during my 30+ years collecting classical music. In the early days, I used to avoid monaural recordings. I would have missed out on such outstanding pianists such as Moiseiwitsch and Schnabel, etc had I insisted on only stereo recording ...

 

Now listening to this lovely work (the concerto) on Spotify:



http://www.amazon.com/Ireland-Piano-Concerto-Legend-Rhapsody/dp/B005KNODZ0

I'm wondering if anyone has heard of this composer? I imagine if Vaughan Williams isn't that well known in the States beyond The Lark Ascending and the Tallis Fantasia and maybe one or two symphonies then John Ireland is even less so. And that's a shame - unlike so many of his minor contemporaries who tended to write in a pretty but rather faded English picture postcard style, he had a strongly individual voice that make him stand out above the crowd, slightly reminiscent of Elgar and Delius but with a distinctly personal style - predominantly late romantic but recognizably 20th century, with influences of Debussy, Ravel, the modality of English folk song and later a more modernist and dissonant harmonic pallette owing to composers like Bartok, Prokofiev and Stravinsky. This concerto, hardly ever heard even in his home country, is one of the best exemplars of this, often lyrical, poetic and introspective but also colourfully orchestrated, diverse and vital with its dance-like outer movements and is beautifully pianistic. Highly recommended - his solo piano music is well worth checking out, especially from a country that is singularly short in this repertoire; it's as important to English music as Faure's piano works are to French.

 

Now enjoying Sokolov playing the Art of the Fugue by Bach on piano.

 

You have prompted me to look for my Sokolov's box set to see if this work is included. Hopefully, I can find the set. The organization of my CD collection is still not all that optimal ...

 

Found it. It is included in the following set ...

 

I have around 6 Ireland CDs including that one. Great stuff.

 

Going to see a recital tomorrow night of Brahms. Eric Stumacher is the pianist. Not a big Brahms fan but what the heck. Anyone really dig these pieces?


Music of Johannes Brahms


Twenty-five Variations & Fugue in Bb on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24 (1861) Johannes Brahms
(1833–1897)
----------
Vier Klavierstücke, Op. 119 (1893)
1. Intermezzo in b
2. Intermezzo in e
3. Intermezzo in C
4. Rhapsody in Eb
Intermission
Drei Intermezzi, Op. 117 (1892)
1. in Eb: Andante moderato
2. in b-flat: Andante non troppo e con molto espressione
3. in c#: Andante con moto
----------
Sechs Klavierstücke, Op. 118 (1893)
1. Intermezzo in a: Allegro non assai, ma molto appassionato
2. Intermezzo in A: Andante teneramente
3. Ballade in g: Allegro energico
4. Intermezzo in f: Allegretto un poco agitato
5. Romance in F: Andante
6. Intermezzo in eb: Andante, largo e mesto
Piano by Streicher, Vienna, 1871

 

Eileen Joyce's recording of the Piano Concerto is supposed to be great!

 

Are you kidding me? Those are come of his best works.

 

I have this and am listening to it now to get a little familiar with the pieces but I must admit, it is the first time in a couple years I have listened to it.

 

Shame on you.

 

Currently enjoying this craziness :

 

Pendericki's Devils of Loudun has an reputation of being the 'unsingable opera.' I would be surprised if it has ever been produced, since its premiere and recording.

 

Absolutely, with the Op. 117 intermezzi, the Op. 118 intermezzo in A and the first two intermezzi of Op. 119 among my very favourite Brahms piano works and the most beautiful pieces he wrote in this form - quintessential late Brahms with that autumnal glow, and profoundly moving.