What are you listening two?

[Jose Echenique]

Dietrich Buxtehude
Membra Jesu Nostri
Yuko Anazawa
Yoshitaka Ogasawara
Midori Suzuki
Makoto Sakurada
Aki Yanagisawa
Yoshie Hida
Yoshikazu Mera
Bach Collegium Japan
Masaaki Suzuki conducting

My one and only version and very beautiful -- if a little polished -- it is too.

That's a beautiful version, Sean.  I would also recommend recordings by Konrad Junghanel and Ton Koopman as alternatve interpretations of this great masterpiece.

I have a dozen or so recordings of this contemplative cantata and not one is anything but excellent. Koopman has recorded it twice and the newest mentioned above is exquisite.
But if forced to choose one, it would be this with the Knavenchor Hannover, the children voices give it a very special, otherworldly quality.

[Jose Echenique]

Fergus must remember the magnificent music that Joseph Martin Kraus wrote for the funeral of Gustavus III of Sweden. Musica Sveciae recorded some 20 years ago the funeral symphony and the cantata with the Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble, a priceless recording. Now L´ Arte del Mondo brings the second recording on period instruments and quite frankly it´s a disappointment. First of all, it´s a live recording, that should have brought more urgency and excitement, but it didn´t work that way, it´s heavy. ponderous and Werener Ehrhardt unfortunately loses the purpose of the music. So, if you have the Musica Sveciae keep it, if you don´t, look for it.

[fergus]

Fergus must remember the magnificent music that Joseph Martin Kraus wrote for the funeral of Gustavus III of Sweden. Musica Sveciae recorded some 20 years ago the funeral symphony and the cantata with the Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble, a priceless recording. Now L´ Arte del Mondo brings the second recording on period instruments and quite frankly it´s a disappointment. First of all, it´s a live recording, that should have brought more urgency and excitement, but it didn´t work that way, it´s heavy. ponderous and Werener Ehrhardt unfortunately loses the purpose of the music. So, if you have the Musica Sveciae keep it, if you don´t, look for it.

Yes indeed I do Pepe and wonderfully moving music it is too.
That sounds disappointing Pepe; perhaps the conductor focused too much on the fact that it is funeral music and felt that the interpretation should be very solemn thus rendering it too ponderous.

[fergus]

More Chopin, this time Pollini playing Preludes....

[Seán]

More Chopin, this time Pollini playing Preludes....

Lovely, well Fergus, is Chopin easing you gently into solo piano music?

[Seán]

Ludwig van Beethoven
Trio No. 7 "Archduke"
Beaux Arts Trio

This is a gorgeous performance, recommended.

[Seán]

Ludwig van Beethoven
Trio No. 7. "Archduke"
Immerseel/Beths/Bylsma

I prefer the Beaux Arts Trio, is that heresy?

[fergus]

Lovely, well Fergus, is Chopin easing you gently into solo piano music?

All that I will say is that I continue to try!!

[fergus]

Ludwig van Beethoven
Trio No. 7. "Archduke"
Immerseel/Beths/Bylsma

I prefer the Beaux Arts Trio, is that heresy?

YES!!!

[fergus]

Finishing up with three of Haydn's String Quartets performed [live] by the Lindsays....