What are you listening to?
Re: What are you listening to?
More wonderful music from Rodrigo with two more concertos from this marvellous collection....
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Re: What are you listening to?
Harpsichord Sonatas by D. Scarlatti....
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Re: What are you listening to?
Jacobs's version of Poppea would definitely be a prime recommendation if you want an alternative to Gardiner's very fine version, which only pales in comparison to Jacobs's glorious achievement. I am sure, though, that if Gardiner ever returned to Poppea in the light of the past 20 years of Monteverdi interpretation, we would hear something very special. One drawback of Gardiner's focus on Bach since 2000 has been his relative neglect of other composers in general, but primarily Monteverdi and Handel, composers that he formerly excelled in. His recordings of the former's 1610 Vespers and the latter's Solomon, Saul and Jephtha are treasures of the catalogue and I would love to hear his second thoughts on these masterpieces.fergus wrote:mcq wrote:
Last night I listened to one of my very favourite CD sets, Rene Jacobs's exceptional recording of one of Monteverdi's greatest masterpieces, the incomparable L'incoronazione di Poppea. A quite extraordinary work of art, its characters live and breathe with a striking realism that sets it far apart from its contemporaries. Here we see innocence and nobility trampled upon and unbridled ambition rewarded with the ultimate prize. Earthly pleasures are seized with relish while spiritual ideals are mocked. The nobility of Octaviaj, the naivety of Ottone and the restrained dignity of Seneca are sharply contrasted with the neurotic ambition of Poppea and the unhinged capriciousness of Nerone. To my mind, this is one of the highpoints of Jacobs' illustrious conducting career. Flawlessly sung - particularly by the Nerone of Guillemette Laurens and the Poppea of Danielle Borst, who together project the requisite sense of sensuous decadence in their performances - and dramatically gripping, this is intoxicating stuff.
That is both interesting and timely Paul as I was just about to schedule a listen to L'incoronazione di Poppea soon [Gardiner]. As I was putting it on the scheduled playlist I was also contemplating buying another version. I had been considering the Hickox version but the Jacobs seems like a very good idea.
There have also been some superb versions of Poppea on DVD from Marc Minkowski (Bel Air Classiques), Christophe Rousset (Opus Arte), Emmanuelle Haim (Decca and Virgin), and William Christie (Virgin Classics), as well as La Venexiana's excellent recording on a Glossa CD set. Buy Jacobs with confidence but do try to listen to La Venexiana.
We have been very fortunate over the last 20 years to have benchmark recordings of the key Monteverdi repertoire by Alessandrini, Jacobs and La Venexiana and it is a truly fascinating and deeply rewarding experience to listen to their respective takes on, for example, L'Orfeo or the Eighth Book of the Madrigals, over successive nights. I hope, though, that La Venexiana will shortly turn their attention to the 1610 Vespers. It is the one glaring omission in their rich catalogue of recordings. Also, Emmanuelle Haim, who has been absent from the studio as of late, really should commit her thoughts on Poppea to disc. Her two DVD recordings have been quite superb. And finally, Christina Pluhar, whose version of the 1610 Vespers, is, to my ears, the most rewarding since Paul McCreesh's undervalued 2006 version, should investigate the madrigals in depth.
Gryphon Diablo 300, dCS Rossini (with matching clock), Kharma Exquisite Mini, Ansuz C2, Finite Elemente Master Reference.
Re: What are you listening to?
Earlier, on Vinyl, Mozart's Coronation Mass and Vespre Solemnes De Confessore under Horenstein's baton....
To be is to do: Socrates
To do is to be: Sartre
Do be do be do: Sinatra
To do is to be: Sartre
Do be do be do: Sinatra
Re: What are you listening to?
mcq wrote: Jacobs's version of Poppea would definitely be a prime recommendation if you want an alternative to Gardiner's very fine version, which only pales in comparison to Jacobs's glorious achievement. I am sure, though, that if Gardiner ever returned to Poppea in the light of the past 20 years of Monteverdi interpretation, we would hear something very special. One drawback of Gardiner's focus on Bach since 2000 has been his relative neglect of other composers in general, but primarily Monteverdi and Handel, composers that he formerly excelled in. His recordings of the former's 1610 Vespers and the latter's Solomon, Saul and Jephtha are treasures of the catalogue and I would love to hear his second thoughts on these masterpieces.
There have also been some superb versions of Poppea on DVD from Marc Minkowski (Bel Air Classiques), Christophe Rousset (Opus Arte), Emmanuelle Haim (Decca and Virgin), and William Christie (Virgin Classics), as well as La Venexiana's excellent recording on a Glossa CD set. Buy Jacobs with confidence but do try to listen to La Venexiana.
We have been very fortunate over the last 20 years to have benchmark recordings of the key Monteverdi repertoire by Alessandrini, Jacobs and La Venexiana and it is a truly fascinating and deeply rewarding experience to listen to their respective takes on, for example, L'Orfeo or the Eighth Book of the Madrigals, over successive nights. I hope, though, that La Venexiana will shortly turn their attention to the 1610 Vespers. It is the one glaring omission in their rich catalogue of recordings. Also, Emmanuelle Haim, who has been absent from the studio as of late, really should commit her thoughts on Poppea to disc. Her two DVD recordings have been quite superb. And finally, Christina Pluhar, whose version of the 1610 Vespers, is, to my ears, the most rewarding since Paul McCreesh's undervalued 2006 version, should investigate the madrigals in depth.
Thank you for that Paul and your recommendation on the Jacobs will most likely be enacted.
Interesting comment on Gardiner's "neglect" of other composers....very true unforyunately, but by way of compromise waht a legacy his Bach is!
I only have one recording by Haim namely Il Combattimento and I really liked it....I have always promised myself to buy more of her work.
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Do be do be do: Sinatra
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Do be do be do: Sinatra
Re: What are you listening to?
Some bright and cheery works by Veracini....
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Do be do be do: Sinatra
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Re: What are you listening to?
To be is to do: Socrates
To do is to be: Sartre
Do be do be do: Sinatra
To do is to be: Sartre
Do be do be do: Sinatra
Re: What are you listening to?
Earlier today I've been listening to a recent purchase, Fabio Bonizzoni's beautiful version of Handel's gorgeous cantata for three voices, Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, with his La Risonanza ensemble (on Glossa). As Jose pointed out in an earlier post, Emmanuelle Haim's earlier version for Virgin Classics is more than satisfactory: it boasts three superb soloists in Sara Mingardo, Sandrine Piau and Laurent Naouri and wonderfully vibrant accompaniment from her ensemble, Le Concert d'Astree. Bonizzoni's new version is equally rewarding, sounding perhaps smoother and more refined than Haim's more impassioned reading. Laurent Naouri's singing of the giant, Polifemo, was a highlight of the earlier set, but it is to the credit of the young Argentinian bass, Lisandro Abadie, that he equals the more experienced French singer in his confident handling of the virtuosic demands of this tricky role.
And tonight I've been listening to Anne-Sophie von Otter's sublime recital disc for Naive, Sogno Barocco, in which she is accompanied by Leonardo Garcia Alarcon's ensemble, Capella Mediterranea, whose tonal colourings remind one very strongly of Christina Pluhar's L'Arpeggiata in its incorporation of earthier, more folk-inspired flavours into the mix. Like L'Arpeggiata, this group is influenced more by the plucked theorbo than by the bowed violin. Sogno Barocco is a quite superb recording that is devoted to the glories of 17th century Italian vocal music, primarily concentrating on Monteverdi but also taking in work by Cavalli, Rossi and Provenzale. It was an inspired idea to pair von Otter with Sandrine Piau on two exquisite duets from Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea. The mood throughout this recording is one of subdued reflection, private moments of the deepest melancholy that are uttered with elegance and self-restraint from this wonderful singer.
And tonight I've been listening to Anne-Sophie von Otter's sublime recital disc for Naive, Sogno Barocco, in which she is accompanied by Leonardo Garcia Alarcon's ensemble, Capella Mediterranea, whose tonal colourings remind one very strongly of Christina Pluhar's L'Arpeggiata in its incorporation of earthier, more folk-inspired flavours into the mix. Like L'Arpeggiata, this group is influenced more by the plucked theorbo than by the bowed violin. Sogno Barocco is a quite superb recording that is devoted to the glories of 17th century Italian vocal music, primarily concentrating on Monteverdi but also taking in work by Cavalli, Rossi and Provenzale. It was an inspired idea to pair von Otter with Sandrine Piau on two exquisite duets from Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea. The mood throughout this recording is one of subdued reflection, private moments of the deepest melancholy that are uttered with elegance and self-restraint from this wonderful singer.
Gryphon Diablo 300, dCS Rossini (with matching clock), Kharma Exquisite Mini, Ansuz C2, Finite Elemente Master Reference.
Re: What are you listening to?
To be is to do: Socrates
To do is to be: Sartre
Do be do be do: Sinatra
To do is to be: Sartre
Do be do be do: Sinatra
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Jose Echenique
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Re: What are you listening to?
Jon Vickers´ Peter Grimes is one of the greatest performances ever put on disc...even when Britten thought it "horrible". It is anything but, though it is easy to understand that Britten had Peter Pears´very different interpretation in his heart. I think Vickers is even better in creating the tortured child abuser, he is both chilling and magnificent. This recording with a vintage cast has stood the test of time, and how good is Sir Colin in the pit.