Tír Na HiFi

As a prelude to Independence Day, in my opinion the two greatest symphonies by US composers:

Ives Symphony # 4 Stokowski American Symphony Orchestra (the original forces for the premiere in 1965 even though it was written ca 1916) Sony

Roy Harris Symphony # 3 Bernstein NY Philharmonic Sony

Happy Birthday U.S.A.

I hope that you have an enjoyable day Don. My contribution to the day that is in it....

I was inspired by Don to listen to this:



Roy Harris
Symphony No. 3
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Leonard Bernstein - conducting.

I enjoyed this more than I had expected, thanks Don, I hope that you have a lovely day, enjoy the pool party and fireworks. Happy 4th July.

Thanks Sean, off to the second party... I am tired. In the Bernstein Symphony edition, look up the Randall Thompson 2nd. It is the filler for the Mahler 3rd which has the last movement on a second disc.

fergus wrote:I hope that you have an enjoyable day Don. My contribution to the day that is in it....

Fine performances, most bizarre cover art ever.....

I had a lovely music session with my brother this afternoon, he played excerpts from Carmen for me and I was very taken with this performance especially the singing of Teresa Berganza:

He also played some Puccini for me and I was hugely impressed by Montserrat Caballe with the LSO led by Mackerra in Puccini's Si Mi Chiamano Mimi from La Boheme.

Seán wrote:I had a lovely music session with my brother this afternoon, he played excerpts from Carmen for me and I was very taken with this performance especially the singing of Teresa Berganza:

Oh boy, YES, YES and YES!!!!

To celebrate Gustav Mahler's birthday I listened to this performance, it was recorded in Carnegie Hall in 1956:



Gustav Mahler
Symphony No 3
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Dimitri Mitropoulos - conducting.

I have Ciaran to thank for this recording. It is a deeply satisfying albeit astringent performance by the NYPO, it's quite Russian in fact. I do like it.