What are you listening to?

[fergus]

this really has been a question of blowing the dust off the top, and I'm quite glad I did... it's been 2/3 years since it had a listen, and I think I'm warming to it a little more than I once did... certainly some fine soloists here...

another one that's probably gone 3 years without a spin...

It is very interesting how we hear music again after such a long time since last we listened to it. I am sure that you are definitely hearing a lot more in there than you did before Jared. That is inevetable I think....one gains a lot of experience in 3 years hopefully and can interpret and assess differently. It still does not guarantee liking a piece but a greater appreciation of it is usually the outcome one feels.

[fergus]

Two quite upbeat and very pleasant Masses from one of my composers of the moment....

[Jared]

The English Suites have some lovely music included in them; very pleasant and easy on the ear.

agreed... just the sort of thing I like to have on in the background, whilst reading Richard Dawkins' 'The God Delusion', as I was last night... lol

not everyone likes Hewitt's playing, her critics say she is precise but cold and lacking in feeling at times, but I like her in Bach a lot.

[Jared]

It is very interesting how we hear music again after such a long time since last we listened to it. I am sure that you are definitely hearing a lot more in there than you did before Jared. That is inevitable I think....one gains a lot of experience in 3 years hopefully and can interpret and assess differently. It still does not guarantee liking a piece but a greater appreciation of it is usually the outcome one feels.

yes, I agree with that sentiment... my Dvorak 'frame of reference' has grown considerably since I first heard the Stabat Mater, through his chamber works, lieder and indeed some of his minor orchestral. this has helped me appreciate his choral language a little more, although I have always loved his Requiem, oddly enough.

Borodin's a bit different... he's a composer I have always enjoyed listening to a bit of but never been wild about. when he's good (SQ No.2, Symph No.2) he's great, but much of his output wouldn't be rescued if the house was on fire and I could only make one trip into the study....

[Jared]

Two quite upbeat and very pleasant Masses from one of my composers of the moment....

have you bought a little bust of Vanhal to sit on the mantlepiece, yet?

[Jose Echenique]

....that old recording of La Serva Padrona with Renata Scotto and Sesto Bruscantini has NEVER been bettered, and probably never will. These singers were in a class of their own.

Good to know Pepe, thank you. It is a wonderful, sparkling performance!

The more we know of Pergolesi, the more we understand where La Serva stands in his output. It´s a little, entertaining intermezzo, but now that more of his large operas are available, la Serva has been left on the side. The popularity of La Serva Padrona goes all the way back to the XVIII Century, in Paris it was hugely admired and started the "Querelle des Buffons", the almost war-like fight between those who wanted to preserve the Frenchness of opera according to Lully (who ironically was Italian born), and the not few who were favoring Italian opera, Jean Jacques Rousseau included.
I was sad that La Cappella de´Turchini didn´t record it with Roberta Invernizzi, because only them could give us a worthy successor to the glorious 50 year-old Scotto recording.

[Jared]

[Jared]

[Jared]

[fergus]

The English Suites have some lovely music included in them; very pleasant and easy on the ear.

....not everyone likes Hewitt's playing, her critics say she is precise but cold and lacking in feeling at times, but I like her in Bach a lot.

I agree Jared in that, although I do not own her playing any Bach and that I prefer Bach played on harpsichord, Hewitt does have some kind of affinity with the music of Bach. I have heard recordings of her playing Bach's music and I think that she is very good with it.