Now listening to parts of this album - not sure what to think of it yet, it's the first time I've heard this performance of the "new urtext edition":
I have the following twofer that covers Karajan's 1960's Tchaikovsky Symphonies but have all his Tchaikovsky Symphonies on both DG and EMI ...
Now playing CD1 - English Suites Nos. 1 & 4 and French Suites Nos. 1 & 2 from the following box ... Recorded in 1984 in Moscow IMHO, few pianists can surpass Tatiana Nikolayeva when it comes to JS Bach solo keyboard works.
Sviatoslav Richter plays Bach French Suite no.2 in C minor, BWV 813 (1/2) This should be nice as I have never listened to Richter Bach French Suites ...
Listening to CD 2 from "Music From The Middle Ages" performed by Studio Der Fruhen Musik directed by Thomas Binkley on Virgin Classics. Planctus: Planctus Swan 4 Planctus From Las Huelgas Ples De Tristor Fortz Chausa Es Que Tot Lo Major Dan Tristor and Cuncti Tristantur
I am up with the birds this morning. I am still on a Mravinsky kick-I am playing various selections from this box set, which was issued by Brilliant Classics several years ago. Right now I am re-listening to the Salmanov, Symphony 2- which is in pastoral style consisting of: “Song of the Forest”; Nature’s Summons”; “At Sunset”; “The Forest Sings”. This is really quite beautiful music-very evocative in an almost Delius way. I think it is much deeper in feeling than Shostakovich’s socialist realism piece, “Song of the Forests”, for example. Salmanov seemed to be considered “safe” by the artistic authorities but yet he writes some pretty daring( for the times) symphonic music even venturing into serialism. Another incongruity of those times. In literature there are glaring exceptions to the harsh censorship as well. Bulgakov got away with comments and themes that got other writers a trip to Siberia. Even Sholokov could write much about collectivism and the Red Army during the civil war that was hardly complimentary.
I think I found something good today. Still sealed. From what I could gather, this should be a later run that served as a test for Chad Kassem's Analogue Productions. Mastered by Doug Sax. Paid 3€ at the flea market.
Just listened to Symphony 4. It's beautifully played and it's very transparent, but it has the same problem smaller-sized ensembles always have with Romantic works like this one, it lacks "weight". They've recently released the first volume of their Haydn "London" Symphonies series; I've not heard that one yet, and I wonder how it sounds
Some more Mravinsky from the Brilliant box set. Perhaps interesting note: Mravinsky did no studio recordings for release after 1961-only live performances. He was at the helm of the Leningrad Philharmonic for 50 years-from Stalin to Gorbachev. He was a perfectionist by all accounts, required rigorous rehearsals to be done by the orchestra and was a disciplinarian. He initially studied conducting under Alexander Gauk and Nicholai Malko. Most casual listeners may know him from his set of Tchaikovsky symphonies recorded in stereo for DGG, which have become iconic.
Listening to CD 1 from "Musicke Of Sundrie Kindes - An Introduction to Renaissance Secular Music 1480-1620" performed by The Consort Of Musicke directed by Anthony Rooley on Decca Eloquence. Featuring: Emma Kirkby - soprano John York Skinner - countertenor Kevin Smith - countertenor Martyn Hill - tenor Paul Elliot - tenor David Thomas - bass Ars Perfecta: Pater Noster – Jacob Obrecht Ich Draghe De Mütse Clütse – Jacob Obrecht La La Hö Hö – Heinrich Isaac Mijn Morken Gaf – Jacob Obrecht Pour Ung Jamais – Pierre de la Rue Je Ne Fay – Anon., Spinacino Mille Regretz – Josquin Des Prés, Narvaez, Heckel Caeciliam Cantate – Nicolas Gombert The Fruits Of Love (The 'Frottola' And The Rebirth Of Music In An Italian Style): Tastar De Corde / Recercar – Joan Ambrosio Dalza Calata – Anon. Ave Maria – Bartolomeo Tromboncino Ostinato Vo' Seguire – Bartolomeo Tromboncino Suite Regina – Anon. Chui Dicese E Non L'amare – Anon. Pavana Venetiana – Anon. Se Mai Per Maraveglia – Anon. Suite Ferrarese – Joan Ambrosio Dalza Hor Che'l Ciel E La Terra – Bartolomeo Tromboncino Palle, Palle – Arrigo Isaac Ne Più Bella Di Queste – Arrigo Isaac Quis Dabit Pacemy – Arrigo Isaac
I saw the Bach French Suites by Richter on the Stradavarius label but are OOP and only available via streaming. While I have just shy of 150 CD's by Richter but do not believe I have his Bach French Suites and I do not like streaming.
Here’s some perfect music for the early morning. I used to find these in the $1 bins but haven’t seen any more for a long time.
Prices have gone up? I have acquired quite a number of CD's by Paul Badura-Skoda over the past few years.
Now playing: Tomaso Albinoni - 12 Concertos, Op. 10, Nos. 1-6 - Piero Toso, Giuliano Carmignola, I Solisti Veneti, Claudio Scimone - recorded 1979
Listening to CD 2 from "Tchaikovsky - Symphonic Poems / Manfred Symphony" performed by the Russian National Orchestra directed by Mikhail Pletnev on DG. Marche slave / Festival Overture on the Danish National Anthem / Fate / Hamlet / Capriccio italien
This may have been the first recordings by the I Solisti Veneti I bought in the late 80's. It was also wonderful experience to see him leading the group in a Mostly Mozart Concert I attended in NYC in the 90's and early 2000's ...
Now playing: Giuseppe Verdi - Choruses - Chicago Symphony Chorus & Orchestra, Georg Solti - released 1990
Now playing: Kalevi Aho - Double & Triple Concertos - Dimitri Mestdag, Anneleen Lenaerts, Storioni Trio, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Olari Elts - recorded 2019
Now, CD 11 of the English Concert & Trevor Pinnock box: Original back cover (not on the CD in the box):
Now playing: Antonín Dvořák - String Quartets Nos. 10 & 11 - Panocha Quartet - recorded 1995 CD 6 of this set:
