What are you listening to?

[Seán]

From the familiar to the who???... Two symphonies by Heinrich Picot de Peccaduc, Freiherr von Herzogenberg (1843-1900) I found on Naxos Music Library.

Symphony # 1 op 50 1884 and Symphony # 2 op 70 1889

A contemporary of Brahms, but with a more Brucknerian language and sound to his works, both of these symphonies are often dramatic and colorful; the 2nd is a bit more pastoral in nature.



Frank Beermann, conducting North German Radio SO
CPO 777122-2

If you like Brahms and Schumann or Berwald then these works are worth hearing.

Brahms and Berwald? Yes I do, and Schumann too on occasion. Interesting.

[Seán]

I listened to the First Act and really enjoyed it, particularly Di Stefano's singing, what do you make of it Pepe?

After the fabulous 1953 Callas/De Sabata Tosca, this is the best there is. Leontyne Price in her absolute prime is a glorious Tosca, not only she has an ideal voice for the role (and what a VOICE!!!!), but she sings with such raw passion, that she -almost- matches Callas, and that is saying something. Giuseppe Di Stefano of course had the most beautiful tenor voice ever, and even though he was beginning to develop vocal problems that led to a too early retirement, no one EVER has sung Cavaradossi with this Italianate passion. The great Giuseppe Taddei in one of his too rare recordings is an amazing Scarpia, and Karajan was a natural in Puccini. I have a very special affection for this recording because it was the one that introduced me to opera. The very first opera LP that I bought was an aria recital with Renata Tebaldi, that recital included "Vissi d´arte". I asked my brother to lend me a recording of Tosca and he handed me the Karajan. I was bowled over when I heard Di Stefano singing "Recondita Armonia" an " E lucevan le Stelle", and of course Leontyne Price quite surpassed Tebaldi in "Vissi d´arte".

Needless to say, it would be IMPOSSIBLE to find a cast like this today.

I have listened to the First Act several times over the past few days. I have actually had this recording for a several years. I bought it on Ciaran's recommendation after he played a couple of excerpts for me and I have only now started listening to it. The performer who stands out for me and really gets to me is Di Stefano: his gorgeous tone and beautiful, passionate delivery brings tears to my eyes, particularly in his performance of Recondita armonia, here it is starting around 6:00. WONDERFUL

[DonKC]

From the familiar to the who???... Two symphonies by Heinrich Picot de Peccaduc, Freiherr von Herzogenberg (1843-1900) I found on Naxos Music Library.

Symphony # 1 op 50 1884 and Symphony # 2 op 70 1889

A contemporary of Brahms, but with a more Brucknerian language and sound to his works, both of these symphonies are often dramatic and colorful; the 2nd is a bit more pastoral in nature.



Frank Beermann, conducting North German Radio SO
CPO 777122-2

If you like Brahms and Schumann or Berwald then these works are worth hearing.

Brahms and Berwald? Yes I do, and Schumann too on occasion. Interesting.

And you know that Brahms and Schumann are not high on my list. But I do like Berwald. I really kind of liked these, the Symphony # 1 more than #2, but they probably do not measure up to the standards of the composers listed.

[Jose Echenique]

<I have listened to the First Act several times over the past few days. I have actually had this recording for a several years. I bought it on Ciaran's recommendation after he played a couple of excerpts for me and I have only now started listening to it. The performer who stands out for me and really gets to me is Di Stefano: his gorgeous tone and beautiful, passionate delivery brings tears to my eyes, particularly in his performance of Recondita armonia, here it is starting around 6:00. WONDERFUL>

Pippo was quite something, wasn´t he? (that´s how we, his adoring fans, lovingly call Di Stefano).
Besides Recondita Armonia listen carefully how he phrases this in the first act love duet: "Qual´occhio al Mondo..." Hell, the guy could melt the North Pole!!!
No wonder Jussi Björling no less, when asked who was the World´s greatest tenor said: Di Stefano could be if he set his mind to it. Di Stefano had many flaws: he was careless with his voice, he drank, he smoke, he could be cavalier with rehearsals, etc., but on a good night, he could make the most wondrous sounds this side of Heaven, and he never sang a halfhearted performance, he always gave his 110%..

[Seán]

To celebrate the GREAT man's 80th Birthday I have decided to listen to several of his recordings and to toast his health later tonight, so to get the season off to a great start:



Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 3
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Claudio Abbado - conducting

[Jose Echenique]

Bravo Claudio!!!

Here is THE most distinguished conductor of our time, the guy who was music director of La Scala, the London Symphony, the the Wiener Staatsoper, the Berlin Philharmonic and who also founded the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Mahler chamber Orchestra and the Orchestra Mozart. The first conductor ever to play Barbiere and La Cenerentola in scholarly editions, and a conductor who even in his 70´s understood that Bach, Vivaldi and Mozart couldn´t be played in instruments meant for Wagner.

A Living Legend. Happy Birthday Maestro.

[Seán]

Well said Pepe and let's not forget his great work with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra too.

To celebrate the GREAT man's 80th Birthday



Sergei Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 3
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Martha Argerich - Piano
Claudio Abbado - conducting.

Lovely. Ms Argerich was certainly easy on the eye and the ear too for that matter.

[Seán]

To celebrate the GREAT man's 80th Birthday



Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 8
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Claudio Abbado - conducting.

[Seán]

To celebrate the GREAT man's 80th Birthday



Joseph Haydn
Symphony No. 93
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Claudio Abbado - conducting.

Why of why didn't Abbado and the COE record the rest of the London Symphonies, ah well! If there is a better version of the 93rd out there I'd like to know about it.

[Seán]

To celebrate the GREAT man's 80th Birthday



Igor Stravinsky
Petrushka
Leslie Howard - Piano
London Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado - conducting.


Igor Stravinsky
Pulcinella
Ballet in one act for small orchestra with three solo voices based on music by
Pergolesi, Gallo, Chellri & Parisotti
Teresa Berganza mezzo-soprano, Ryland Davies Tenor, John Shirley-Quirk Bass
London Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado - conducting.