What are you listening two?

[Seán]

Fergus' mention of Josef Suk brought to mind this lovely box set and, in particular, the wonderful Asrael Symphony. Josef Suk wrote Asrael in 1905 when he was mourning the death of his future father-in-law Antonín Dvořák and his would be bride Dvořák daughter, Otylie.


Josef Suk
Asrael Symphony in C minor
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Václav Neumann conducting.
The gorgeous sound of the CPO make this a real treat, highly recommended.

[Seán]

Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 1
Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich
Yefim Bronfman - piano
David Zinman conducting.

Bronfman's playing is exquisite, this is a gorgeous performance of Beethoven's Concerto.

[fergus]

Hi Fergus,
Listened to this a few times now and a strong recommendation.

I came across it in a recent Gramophone pick and the history is very interesting.

Here's a paste from the review at allmusic
"The audience of Renaissance enthusiasts at which this release is aimed may well be able to get an idea of its contents from the packaging, but others may be less sure of what they're getting into. Here's a brief rundown: the album includes the contents of a single choirbook from the British Library, presented by one Petrus Alamire to Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon around 1516. All of the 34 pieces are sacred motets. Alamire, whose adopted name was a sequence of note names within the medieval hexachord system, was indeed a diplomat and a spy, as well as a music scribe and a singer and composer of some talent. The choirbook did not, however, contain any kind of coded message. It was simply a collection of choice pieces Alamire had gathered in his travels, something like "things you might not have heard or been aware of." Finally, the choir performing here is also named Capella Alamire. Some of the pieces are a cappella, and some are done with the loud or outdoor Renaissance forces, here represented by the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble. So, The Spy's Choirbook is not necessarily a candidate for basic Renaissance collections, but all the music is smoothly performed, and along the way are some nice finds that have never been heard on recordings anywhere else. The trio of La Rue motets on the first part of the program are prime examples of that composer's Josquin-like balance, and the second part contains an intriguing sequence of four settings of the same text, Dulces exuviae, by Josquin, Jean Mouton, Alexander Agricola, and an anonymous composer. The Spy's Choirbook in its own time was something of a connoisseur's selection of High Renaissance motets, and that is what it remains today."

Thank you for that Mark; an interesting read.

[fergus]

You seem to be enjoying that set Seán!

[fergus]

I finished my new Suzuki box set this evening; a set that I have enjoyed listening to....





The last CD had a really enjoyable version of BWV30 on it. I could not find a Suzuki version of it on Youtube but here is a pleasing version of the opening Chorus....

[Seán]

You seem to be enjoying that set Seán!

Indeed I am Fergus. I would like to hear Zinman and the Tonhalle in performances of Mozart's symphonies, I think their approach is ideally suited to his music.

[fergus]

I opened this set this evening and listened to CD3, the Concertos. Both works were very strong performances with top class playing from both soloists coupled with very symphatetic accompaniment.

[Seán]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 29 & 33
English Baroque Soloists
John Eliot Gardiner conducting.

These are delightful performances.

[Seán]

John Field
Piano Concerto No. 1
Northern Sinfonia
Benjamin Frith - Piano
David Haslam conducting.
I must say that I like this, I will return to it again and again.

[markof]

Just been listening to and enjoying this lovely thing.
Wonderful warm tone and fantastic playing.


Any recommendations of HIP Mozart performances which I can chase up, especially instrumental works?
I have a number of the Mozart Symphonies recorded by Hogwood & the AAM but to me they sound a bit lifeless and lacking in dynamic.

Mark.