What are you listening to?

[fergus]

Next year it will be Niccolò Jommelli´s Tricentenary and fortunately record companies are beginning to show some interest. He was one of the most influential and popular composers between Handel and Glück, and it is hard to understand why he is virtually unknown today, since his music is superior in every sense.

I know that you are a big Jommelli fan Pepe so next year should be quite exciting for you in that regard. I look forward to seeing lots of wonderful new releases that will be very tempting to buy!

[fergus]

Strange coincidence that; I also played some lovely Vivaldi Motets earlier....

[fergus]

Finishing off with period performance Albinoni: his Trio Sonatas Op. 1....

[Jose Echenique]

Next year it will be Niccolò Jommelli´s Tricentenary and fortunately record companies are beginning to show some interest. He was one of the most influential and popular composers between Handel and Glück, and it is hard to understand why he is virtually unknown today, since his music is superior in every sense.

I know that you are a big Jommelli fan Pepe so next year should be quite exciting for you in that regard. I look forward to seeing lots of wonderful new releases that will be very tempting to buy!

We´ll see dear Fergus, Jommelli is still little known and record companies are not very adventurous these days. Still, since all Handel and Vivaldi operas are now recorded, it will be only obvious that they redirect their attention to Jommelli and Hasse. In fact SONY has just announced the release of a wonderful Hasse serenata for 2 voices. Marc´Antonio e Cleopatra for next November. Vivica Genaux is featured, so, there´s hope. But this Jommelli cd is really wonderful and warmly recommended.

[Jared]

as you can imagine, this was plucked from my vast, extensive collection of French Music...

[Jared]

[fergus]

I had meant to post this (mine is a 2 LP version) work yesterday....





Pepe had introduced me to this work about two years ago and I had heard nothing quite like it. It is straightforward as a Mass goes but the instrumental accompaniment is played with 2 pianos. My ear took a bit of time to adjust to these forces but the work is a good one to listen to and the unusual combination of full choir and soloists accompanied by two pianos is rather interesting.

[fergus]

And now, as they say, for something completely different....





This is a very interesting CD with quite a wide variety of music on it.

John Adams’ Shaker Loops is a great work that is full of tension and excitement with a lovely slow interlude.
I have always found that there is something comforting, soothing and reassuring in the music of Philip Glass. I think that his “Facades” is a beautiful and haunting work and “Company" is also very interesting if too short.
Steve Reich’s “Eight Lines” is an octet that is full of energy and fluidity. I find it to be a very inventive and appealing work with wonderful rhythms and textures.
Dave Heath’s “The Frontier” is leaner and more edgy work than the others but is still very interesting.

This is a CD that is well worth a listen and gets a spin once in a while; it contains music that is very accessible that is played on acoustic instruments which is very easy to listen to.

[Seán]

I LOVE Vänskä's Sibelius work with the Lahti.

Side issue I know but if the remaining musicians in the Minnesota Orchestra do not get their act together soon then they will loose Vänskä for good and a once great orchestra will be no more.

[Seán]

I had meant to post this (mine is a 2 LP version) work yesterday....





Pepe had introduced me to this work about two years ago and I had heard nothing quite like it. It is straightforward as a Mass goes but the instrumental accompaniment is played with 2 pianos. My ear took a bit of time to adjust to these forces but the work is a good one to listen to and the unusual combination of full choir and soloists accompanied by two pianos is rather interesting.

Hmmm, very interesting, I must say that I am very fond of Rossini's operatic works so I might like that too.