What are you listening two?

[mcq]

This is simply magical.  Philippe Herreweghe's recent version of Haydn's Die Jahreszeiten is just breathtaking in the sense of life-affirming wonder that it evokes.  Grace and beauty harnessed with the refined delicacy that we expect from this master conductor.  Very highly recommended.

How does it compare with the Gardiner? That´s still my favorite.

It's hard to select one version as "the best".  I love the versions by Gardiner, Harnoncourt (DHM) and Jacobs and each of these conductors bring their own interpretative touches and individual style to the piece.  Herreweghe imbues the piece with a pastoral serenity, a tranquil delicacy and a kind of hushed grandeur whereas Gardiner's version is more vibrant and earthy and visceral.  (It's always a pleasure to hear Anthony Rolfe Johnson in his recordings with Gardiner.)  Personally, I wouldn't want to be without either version.  I'm also very interested in Harnoncourt's new version on DVD as well which was recorded at the 2013 Salzburg Festival and I'm tempted by Bruno Weil on Ars Produktion.

[Jose Echenique]

Very true, I love Gardiner´s soloists, not only Rolfe-Johnson is magnificent but also Barbara Bonney and Andreas Schmidt. I have the Bruno Weil, excellent too, and so, it seems the Herreweghe will go to the Amazon basket. Thanks for the review.

[Jose Echenique]

Meanwhile Amazon has just delivered Steffani´s luxurious opera Niobe, Regina di Tebe.
Agostino Steffani worked in the late XVII Century for the Munich Court. They had a large wonderful orchestra, and Steffani takes advantage of the possibilities they offered. Niobe was premiered in 1688 and so it´s a bridge between the late operas of Cavalli and Alessandro Scarlatti.
The music is gorgeous and the performance sumptuous, with Karina Gauvin and Philippe Jaroussky in superb form. The Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra includes many luminaries like Luca Guglielmi in the harpsichord and organ. The conducting is shared between Paul O´ Dette and Stephen Stubbs, and their love for Steffani´s score is immediately evident.
ERATO offers a lovely booklet, like the ones we used to have when record companies really cared about opera.

[Seán]

Lovely and highly informative reviews Pepe please keep them coming.



Antonín Dvořák
Violin Concerto in A minor
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Maxim Vengerov - violin
Kurt Masur conducting.

Oh wow, what a wonderful piece of music this is. The writing and arrangement of the first and second movements is exquisite, the third movement is thrilling and is a pure joy from start to finish. The NYPO are superb. I am in LOVE: Maxim Vengerov's music-making is divine. This is a GREAT cd.

[fergus]

Antonín Dvořák
Violin Concerto in A minor
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Maxim Vengerov - violin
Kurt Masur conducting.

Oh wow, what a wonderful piece of music this is. The writing and arrangement of the first and second movements is exquisite, the third movement is thrilling and is a pure joy from start to finish. The NYPO are superb. I am in LOVE: Maxim Vengerov's music-making is divine. This is a GREAT cd.

I am so glad that you liked that one Seán; it was very good. And yes, it is an amazing piece of music. Is it me that has missed something but it seems to be an under-rated work judging by the exposure (or lack of) that it gets?

[Seán]

Antonín Dvořák
Violin Concerto in A minor
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Maxim Vengerov - violin
Kurt Masur conducting.

Oh wow, what a wonderful piece of music this is. The writing and arrangement of the first and second movements is exquisite, the third movement is thrilling and is a pure joy from start to finish. The NYPO are superb. I am in LOVE: Maxim Vengerov's music-making is divine. This is a GREAT cd.

I am so glad that you liked that one Seán; it was very good. And yes, it is an amazing piece of music. Is it me that has missed something but it seems to be an under-rated work judging by the exposure (or lack of) that it gets?

It's a strange one Fergus, I have only recently heard the concerto on the radio and was very taken with it. Isn't Vengerov a wonderful musiician?

[Jose Echenique]

Thank you Seán, yes the Dvorak Violin Concerto is lovely. Perhaps not quite up there with the Beethoven and Brahms concertos, but definitely one that should be played more often. In the many years I have attended concerts I can´t recall EVER having heard it live!!!!

[Seán]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 41
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Leonard Bernstein conducting.

The first movement sounds cluttered and astringent, the second is ponderous, the third is fine. It is impossible not to like the fourth, it is such an extraordinary piece of music: the quality of the composition wins through for me. This probably represents my least favourite performance in my collection.

[Seán]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 41
Orchestra Mozart
Claudio Abbado conducting.

[Seán]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 41
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Carlo Maria Giulini conducting.

The 41st does lend itself well to performances by a large symphony orchestra and this recording is proof of that. This is a delightful performance, it's hugely enjoyable.

Ah the joys of having an afternoon off work and being able to indulge myself.