What are you listening to?

[fergus]

These are lovely recordings that are full of lovely textures and atmosphere.

[bombasticDarren]

Stravinsky - La sacre du printemps (Simon Rattle, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, EMI)

Did you enjoy that version Darren?

I did. I have been a fraction underwhelmed with Rattle's Stravinsky at times, but this one hit the spot tonight :-D

[bombasticDarren]

I will ask you for your comments when you have finished that cycle Darren.

I have had a break from LvB's symphonic output for the past few months. This set, so far, has the potential to be a must-have ;-)

[bombasticDarren]

This performance has all of the hallmarks of a typical Herreweghe performance; a beautifully devotional interpretation, a powerful but not overstated performance and lovely choral singing. It is a lovely performance.

That one is under careful consideration at the moment.... ;-)

As you can see I did enjoy it Darren. It is a Sussmayr version in case you were not aware of it.

I'm sure it will suit me; Herreweghe rarely does much wrong in my book :-)

[Ciaran]

After hearing a stunning performance of Prokofiev's 3rd Symphony "The Fiery Angel" at the NCH on Friday under Buribayev (poor audiences lately, this was about 1/4 full) I pulled out Rozhdestvenky. Well! That was stunning, this is... terrifying! In a good way!!

Wonderful to hear the Soviet Orchestra with its characteristic timbres, especially the brass: we hear nothing like it now!

The full programme last Friday was

• GRIEG Norwegian Dances, Op. 35 [17']
• DELIUS Concerto for Violin and Cello [20']
• PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 44 'Fiery Angel' [34']
  WILD CARD A surprise extra

Alan Smale violin
Martin Johnson cello
Alan Buribayev conductor[/b]

and the Prokofiev was great after the dreary Delius!

[Jose Echenique]

Hakon Börresen was the OTHER great early 20th Century Danish composer after Nielsen. He was more of a late Romantic than Nielsen, but none the worse for that. His music is beautifully crafted and immediately appealing. In fact if you love Sibelius and Stenhammar there´s no reason why you shouldn´t enjoy these big, nordic, luscious symphonies.
I much prefer this German recording to the Danish version in Da Capo, it´s better played and recorded.

[bombasticDarren]

Beethoven - Symphony No.2 (Riccardo Chailly, Gewandhausorchester, Decca)

[bombasticDarren]

Prokofiev - String Quartet No.1 (Pavel Haas Quartet, Supraphon)

[bombasticDarren]

Prokofiev - Symphony No.5 (Walter Weller, London Symphony Orchestra, Decca)

[fergus]

Hakon Börresen was the OTHER great early 20th Century Danish composer after Nielsen. He was more of a late Romantic than Nielsen, but none the worse for that. His music is beautifully crafted and immediately appealing. In fact if you love Sibelius and Stenhammar there´s no reason why you shouldn´t enjoy these big, nordic, luscious symphonies.
I much prefer this German recording to the Danish version in Da Capo, it´s better played and recorded.

As I love the music of Sibelius I look at that one with interest Pepe....