What are you listening to?

[Seán]

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??!!

Oh dear, I don't plan that far ahead at all. My listening tends to be on impulse, one performance leads to another with no logical rhyme or reason to it at times. That said I have been listening to Mozart, Purcell and Sibelius on a daily basis so there probably is some structure to it, perhaps!

[Jared]

I do tend to be very structured in my approach, Sean, and have been for quite some time. I found a 'system' which helped me get a lot out of my music, but probably wouldn't be right for many other people.... we're all different.

[DonKC]

Some classic Stravinsky Ballet recordings

Le Sacre du Printemps Dorati/Minneapolis Mercury 1959
Petrushka Ansermet/L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Decca 1949
Firebird Suite Ansermet/L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Decca 1950

The Dorati Le Sacre is incredibly fast, but has to be heard for the exciting, visceral performance.

[Jose Echenique]

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.

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!)

Oh you´ll certainly enjoy it Jared. La Donna del Lago based on a Schiller play was Italy´s first Romantic opera. It was written for some of the greatest singers at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples including Rossini´s future wife Isabella Colbran, and the legendary tenors Giovanni David and Andrea Nozzari.
The fabulous Joyce DiDonato will sing Elena, Colbran´s role, but pay special attention to the travesti role of Malcolm Groeme, sung by the contralto Daniela Barcellona, she has the most demanding aria in the opera, "Mura felici" and she sings it spectacularly!
With DiDonato, Florez and Barcellona it´s a guaranteed vocal treat.

[jaybee]

This is getting better and better with each listen

[fergus]

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.

I am sure that you are aware that those forces joined up with Mitsuko Uchida on Philips in the Mozart Piano Concertos. I think that you would also enjoy them Jared if you do not own them already.

[fergus]

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.

Thank you as always for the recommendations Paul.

[fergus]

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.

I agree Seán and that set would be a strong recommendation for anybody wanting a good introduction to the Mozart Symphonies.

[fergus]

Double Brahms....

[Seán]

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.

I am sure that you are aware that those forces joined up with Mitsuko Uchida on Philips in the Mozart Piano Concertos. I think that you would also enjoy them Jared if you do not own them already.

And Clara Haskil too, she was wonderful in Mozart (and everything else besides), I know, I know, I am starting to repeat myself....