Listenin' to Classical Music and Conversation

I listen and I agree 100%. Jando has a real affinity for Haydn. Plus, the performances have been captured in spectacular sound! Jando's cycle of Mozart Piano Concerti sounds incredible too. I don't think that Jeno Jando gets the credit that he deserves (perhaps because he records for a budget label).

 

"Bleeding chunks" trigger warning...
Last night I was seeking the hyper-stimulation of relentless orchestral violence. I pulled out several CDs of Shostakovich's 8th symphony, with the intention of comparing their 3rd movements (Allegro non troppo). I moved to the next CD about 2-minutes after the movement ended and transitioned into the Largo (a fascinating transition).

• Slatkin, St. Louis SO (RCA Victor, 1989) [Rec. 1988 / DDD]
• Mravinsky, Leningrad PO (Philips, 1989?) [Rec. Live 1982 / ADD]
• Previn, London SO (DG, 1994) [Rec. 1992 / DDD]

All 3 performances were enjoyable, and, though I wasn't taking notes, a few things impressed me.

• My favorite was Mravinsky's ADD live Russian recording--the instrumental solos had amazing presence, and in particular the start of the Largo filled the room overwhelmingly.
• The pounding tympani were most enjoyable on Slatkin.
• The strings were most enjoyable on Previn, although the DG recording and balance was overall the least pleasing of the three.

 

While I managed to listen through the entire Glenn Gould Original Jacket 80-CD box, my focus was always on his Bach. I don't doubt Brendel gave much stronger performance in Haydn and Schubert than Gould did ...

 

Just received my copy of this, spinning it now and I think it's excellent:


Bach: The Six Partitas. Mahan Esfahani. Hyperion

 

Right now on CD

 

Please note that the Mravinsky on Philips disc was released at the wrong pitch apparently.

It was remastered in accordance with the correct pitch and issued by Regis and Alto :

 

Now playing: Muzio Clementi - Piano Sonatas - Lamar Crowson - recorded 1968

 

Clementi was much admired by Beethoven, Chopin and the early romantics and by the music loving public of the 1st half of the 19th century but his music seems to have fallen into obscurity since then. I am glad to see more and more modern recordings of his music.

 

This also includes the Sinfonia Concertante. The playing and sound are fantastic, though there is a noticeable drop in sound quality in the Sinfonia--not quite as spacious or transparent.

 

These are beautifully flowing sonatas and should indeed be appreciated more.

 

I bought the following box a few years ago but have not yet found the right time to start listening ...

 

Great set! He wrote something like 110 piano sonatas! I thought it would take more than 18 CDs to make them all fit. There must be many short ones. I see from the disc that I am playing right now that some are indeed as short as 8 minutes.

 

On the turntable, record 6 from "The Flowering Of Renaissance Polyphony" performed by Pro Cantione Antiqua, London led by Bruno Turner on Archiv.

Lasso & Palestrina

1978

 

I also have the following CD single by a much better known fortepianist ...

 

I might want to check the Staier out. I also have this one by Jos van Immerseel on fortepiano:

 

I have noticed Immerseel has quite a few fans on this thread though I do not have any of his recordings ...

 

On the turntable, "Hilary - 6 Partitas By Anton Garcia Abril" performed by Hilary Hahn on Decca.

 

It’s not too late to correct that

 

Now playing - The Hilliard Ensemble - Songs for a Tudor King - recorded 1978

 

Now spinning Brahms Symphony #3, Bruno Walter:

 

I have quite a few CD's of Tudor music in addition to the following 2 twofers, which tend to be my go-to recordings for such works ...

 

Can't go wrong with The Tallis Scholars!

 

Now playing: Felix Mendelssohn - Symphony No. 3 "Scottish" - LSO, Claudio Abbado - recorded 1985

CD3 of the following set:

 

A great set if you're into Mendelssohn.

 

Now playing: Bohuslav Martinů - Field Mass; Double Concerto; Fresques de Piero della Francesca - Czech PO & Chorus, Prague Radio SO, Mackerras - recorded 1982, 1984