What are you listening to?

[fergus]

I seam to have touched a nerve over my comments however, which I didn't mean to... the ;-) at the end of my sentence suggests that it was meant in a light-hearted way and not as a criticism. I only really have a maximum of three versions of anything (very few things actually), two of works I like and one of everything else, so I probably would never benefit from comparative listening in the same way you can.

Absolutely not in my case Jared and I did not even consider that you had meant it in that way; I know you long enough by now my friend!
I merely posted the comment on the multiple versions by way of illustrating one of the ways that I have developed of judging performances/interpretations over the years.

[Jared]

Thanks Sean/ Fergus. :-)

I have enjoyed 2 solid days of listening so far over this Bank Holiday, and will continue tomorrow morning. Quite indulgent of me, really!

Tomorrow afternoon/ evening, I am taking one of my Residents over to Worcester, where we will enjoy a performance of Rossini's 'Lady of the Lake' from the ROH on the large screen at VUE Cinema... with JD Florez and Joyce Didonato (one of my favourites!)

http://www.myvue.com/latest-movies/info ... pera-house

anyway, over the past week, I have enjoyed 2 complete runs through of the Mozart Symphonies 13-41 box set by Jeffrey Tate and the ECO on EMI which for me, has lived up to it's reputation... somehow, they are wonderful in Mozart (my Piano Concertos with Perahia, Barenboim and Curzon are all with the ECO!). For me, they have provided a sensitively played but slightly more robust set of performances to compliment the Pinnock/ English Concert set, which as we know is quite an austere HIP version. As you know, I don't like my Mozart with a large orchestra, but always felt I was in need of another set of these works.

[mcq]

Today....

A beautiful piece of music, Fergus.  I highly recommend the version on the Alpha label performed by the Diabolus in Musicus ensemble and conducted by Antoine Guerber.  On the subject of Dufay, the recordings of his astonishing motets by Giuseppe Maletto and his Cantica Symphonia ensemble (on the Glossa label) are among my most treasured CDs.

[Jared]

I also enjoy Du Fay, Paul, although I find his layered harmonic textures a little subtler than other Renaissance composers. Sadly I'm limited to just a couple of disks thus far:

[Seán]

As you know, I don't like my Mozart with a large orchestra, but always felt I was in need of another set of these works.

Hmmm, Abbado and the Berliner's might give you cause to change your mind.


Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 35 & 36
Prague Chamber Orchestra
Charles Mackerras - conducting.

Gosh, I had forgotten how much I like this set, it is wonderful music-making, full of energy and verve, great stuff.

[Seán]

Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 1 & 3
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Paavo Berglund - conducting.

[Jared]

^^ maybe, maybe not.. I had a couple of Haydn Symphs with Abbado and the Berliners and got rid of it... although a recording with his Orchestra Mozart would quite possibly be another story.

I have heard very good things about that MacKerras set Sean, and have his two late releases with the Scottish which are very good.

[Jared]

another run through of this box set, which grows on me with each listen... wonderful Czech folk harmonies seeping through these works, at every turn.

[Seán]

^^ maybe, maybe not.. I had a couple of Haydn Symphs with Abbado and the Berliners and got rid of it... although a recording with his Orchestra Mozart would quite possibly be another story.

I like the London Symphonies with larger forces but not any of his earlier works I don't think they lend themselves to a big sound at all.

I have heard very good things about that MacKerras set Sean, and have his two late releases with the Scottish which are very good.

It is well worth having.

[Jared]

when my sojourn with Dvorak and Suk's Piano Works finally draws to a close (in a week's time, maybe).... my attention will briefly turn to a few of Mozart's Serenades & Divertimenti courtesy of the Orpheus Chamber Orch set... then on to Britten and a larger dose of British music, courtesy of Rattle and others, as this is music I have neglected of late... a bit more RVW beckons, me thinks.

I also have some LvB Cello Sonatas and a Vivaldi op.8 sat on the pile too. Couple that with a few operas on the shelf, and I think that's June taken care of!

Fun, isn't it??!!