What are you currently listening to (Classical)?

[Johan K]

Tonight on the Ascona Neo?:

Beethoven Piano Sonatas - Pathétique And Moonlight.

A Direct Cut Recording - Piano Played By - John Lenehan.
Produced By - Mike And Françoise Valentine.

/ Jk

 

[Johan K]

On the Ascona Neo at the moment?:

Aaron Copland - Fanfare / Third Symphony.
Eiji Oue - Conducts The Minnesota Orchestra.

It was orginally released in 2000.
This reissue however is also half-speed mastered,180g vinyl , at 33/rpm. A reference mastercut from Reference Recordings, from 2015.

Copland’s ”Fanfare For The Common Man” premiered at the first time on 12 March, 1943.

Behold !

/ Jk

 

[rando]

In the eighteenth century, the serenata, as a vocal genre, was a dramatic cantata performed – or more rarely staged – in the open air (under a clear sky, hence the term ‘serenata’) and by torchlight. Intended to celebrate festivals, anniversaries and events of a political, dynastic or private nature (weddings, births, birthdays, name days, state visits and so on), it involves a number of allegorical characters, usually drawn from classical mythology or from the world of Arcadia, and a rudimentary plot, devoid of incidents and coups de théâtre, as befitted its festive and celebratory dimension.

 

[rando]

 

[rando]

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

Currently taking a listen to Grieg: Piano Concerto & Incidental Music to "Peer Gynt" as suggested by a member of this forum. Each time it sounds as amazing as if it was the first

 

[rando]

 

[Scott Naylor]

Elite Recordings Inc. captured these endearing performances. Marc Aubort and Joanna Nickrenz are legends in classical recording for a reason, and this is just one of a great many examples why. Natural beauty revealed

 

[andolink]

the impressive partnership of Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov in two very different contexts - -

Dmitry Shostokovich: Violin Sonata in F major, Op. 134


Carl Maria von Weber: Piano Quartet in B flat, Op. 8
Isabelle Faust, violin
Alexander Melnikov, fortepiano
Boris Faust, viola
Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, cello

 

[Gregm]

 

[rando]

 

[andolink]

Works for lute by Weiss played by Konrad Junghänel



Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber: Fidicinium Sacro-Profanum (1683)
Les Plaisirs du Parnasse - David Plantier

 

[Kal Rubinson]

In gorgeous multichannel!

 

[RCanelas]

In gorgeous multichannel!

After Andolink's reference to Biber's Fidicinium I searched Tidal/Qobuz for the available versions. I came across this one from Letzbor, but seems to prefer this one by Consort.



The presentations are completely different, with the Letzbor somewhat more distant and richer than the Consort recording. In Baroque I'm always more attracted to the more spartan, leaner, smaller presentations, I see it as a more fitting setting for the liturgic nature of this music. Not that the continuo in the Consort version is anything but an all-filling, harmonically rich power trip. But even the interpretation seems less flowery, more to the point.

Really curious about Plantier's version that Andolink listed. Can you provide some pointers Ando (assuming you have access to these?)
I would also be very curious to hear the Letzbor in a multichannel setup, alas, 2 channel is the rule in this house.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

After Andolink's reference to Biber's Fidicinium I searched Tidal/Qobuz for the available versions. I came across this one from Letzbor, but seems to prefer this one by Consort.

I never look at ratings.

The presentations are completely different, with the Letzbor somewhat more distant and richer than the Consort recording. In Baroque I'm always more attracted to the more spartan, leaner, smaller presentations, I see it as a more fitting setting for the liturgic nature of this music.

I lean the other way but for the same reason.

 

[RCanelas]

Made a typo there, I wanted to say '..but I seem to prefer...'. What ratings?

It is very curious our (all of us) different approaches to baroque. I've had people almost call me names by preferring somewhat 'wet' interpretations of Pergolessi stabat mater, while at the same time people complaining that the recording I chose was so austere it was too much for them, they needed something a bit sweeter. Go figure

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Made a typo there, I wanted to say '..but I seem to prefer...'. What ratings?

Ah. Clear now.

 

[andolink]

Can you provide some pointers Ando (assuming you have access to these?)

I've had the Clemencic Consort version in my collection for over 30 years and prefer Plantier's version for its more detailed/revealing sound.

It's always tough with chamber music to achieve an ideal balance between a close, intimate sound and a sound that picks up the ambience of an appropriate venue (ie. church in this case). I think neither of these recordings is ideal with the Clemencic losing detail in favor of ambience and the Plantier being very detailed and intimate but sacrificing a realistic church ambience.

I haven't heard the Letzbor version but, based on what I've heard of his group in a number of recordings I do own, I'd be surprised if his Fidicinium recording was anything other than excellent.

 

[andolink]

Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E major
Wiener Symphoniker - Yakov Kreizberg

 

[rando]