What are you listening two?

[fergus]

I was lucky enough to hear the Navarra Quartet last year and as part of their recital they performed a String Quartet by Petris Vasks. I had not previously heard of said composer but I was enchanted and had to have that music. Lo and behold I found that the Navarra Quartet themselves had a CD of 3 String Quartets by Vasks and each one was better than the other; a warm recommendation for those in search of more modern Chamber Music.

[Seán]

I am afraid that I have little time for any music other than Mozart's. And, by Jupiter, this is marvellous music making:



Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 40 & 41
English Baroque Soloists
John Eliot Gardiner

This is a splendid cd.

[fergus]

I am afraid that I have little time for any music other than Mozart's. And, by Jupiter, this is marvellous music making:



Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 40 & 41
English Baroque Soloists
John Eliot Gardiner

This is a splendid cd.

The other Mozart symphonies that he recorded in that series are also well worth a listen Seán.

[Jose Echenique]

I am afraid that I have little time for any music other than Mozart's. And, by Jupiter, this is marvellous music making:



Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 40 & 41
English Baroque Soloists
John Eliot Gardiner

This is a splendid cd.

Of course it is.

[fergus]

I am currently listening to the fourth CD of the latest Suzuki box set....





....and I am discerning a different "feel" to this music making from what I remember of the previous sets. The performances and interpretations seem somewhat "freer" and appear to have much more width, depth and sparkle to them if that makes any sense. Perhaps it is a more mature Suzuki handling the music in a different way as a result of more years of interpretation and thought.

[Seán]

I am currently listening to the fourth CD of the latest Suzuki box set....





....and I am discerning a different "feel" to this music making from what I remember of the previous sets. The performances and interpretations seem somewhat "freer" and appear to have much more width, depth and sparkle to them if that makes any sense. Perhaps it is a more mature Suzuki handling the music in a different way as a result of more years of interpretation and thought.

That sounds like a change for the better in many ways. One would expects musicians of this calibe to grow, change and 'improve' their performances of Bach's music after spending many years studying, practising and performing Bach's cantatas . I expect that you are finding these performances a more rewarding listening experience than those in the earlier recordings?

[Seán]

I thoroughly enjoyed these recordings on CD Review earlier today:

11.45am Disc of the Week

Monteverdi Madrigali Volume 2: Mantova
MONTEVERDI: Quatro Libro (1603); Quinto Libro (1605); Sesto Libro (1614)
Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew (conductor)
LES ARTS FLORISSANTS EDITIONS AF003 (CD)

[fergus]

.... I expect that you are finding these performances a more rewarding listening experience than those in the earlier recordings?

So far, yes, Seán. This may prove to be exciting if the rest of the performances are as good as those thus far.

[fergus]

I thoroughly enjoyed these recordings on CD Review earlier today:

11.45am Disc of the Week

Monteverdi Madrigali Volume 2: Mantova
MONTEVERDI: Quatro Libro (1603); Quinto Libro (1605); Sesto Libro (1614)
Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew (conductor)
LES ARTS FLORISSANTS EDITIONS AF003 (CD)

I must listen in to that one on playback Seán.
I was always fond of Monteverdi's Madrigali and good old Chalkie from CMG introduced me to an ensemble called La Venexiana some years back and I have not heard better performances of the Monteverdi Madrigali since.

[fergus]

I am currently making my way through this recent purchase....





The first two CDs comprised solo keyboard music played on either harpsichord or organ and was pleasant but somewhat nondescript. The second two CDs comprised ensemble/chamber music which is much more rewarding.