What classical music are you listening to?

[matt49]

One of my very favourite pianists, Murray Perahia, playing both sets of Chopin Etudes.

I'm also a big Perahia fan. I really rate his Bach. I've just taken delivery of this, which I plan to spin over the weekend:

 

[matt49]

Also on my weekend listening list is this, which I picked up for peanuts at my local Oxfam shop today: Bach, St Matthew Passion (Richter/Mathis/Baker, Archiv)

 

[MrReaper182]

See, I don't 'get' Mozart. The man ain't got no soul

No comeback?

Depends on the work in question, and who is performing it. The Requiem is one of the most 'soulful' works in the entire repertoire. Listen to the 'Hostias'. If that doesn't stir your soul...

The later Mozart orchestral and operatic works have soul and emotion in spades. The Requiem is one, as Matthew says. Don Giovanni is great, also Symphonies 39 thro' 41. I'm a big fan of the Sinfonia Concertante, which gives a sense of what the mature Mozart could have done with the violin concerto. The recording by David and Igor Oistrakh is wonderful, and this disk, including a great recording of the clarinet concerto, is a gem:

Concerto for flute & harp in C major, 2nd Movement by Mozart is very beautiful indeed.

 

[Freddy58]

Concerto for flute & harp in C major, 2nd Movement by Mozart is very beautiful indeed.

I listened to it, but wasn't stirred by it, sorry. Although, again, not what I was expecting. I'm just listening to 'The Lark Ascending', which I find so absorbing. Is it meant to be a joyous event? I find it to be very sad sounding, depressing even, but I really like it.

 

[Freddy58]

Hiya folks

Well, I listened to 'Hostias', and you know what? It ain't half bad Not what I had expected. Maybe this Mozart fella has something eh?

Generally speaking, I'm not too keen on choral works, but 'Neptune' (Holst) is another matter, simply stunning, imo

 

[Freddy58]

Ok, I get it, you find me tiresome. I won't bother you again...

 

[MrReaper182]

I am listening to Saint-Saens The Carnival of the Animals. I'm on the the Aquarium which is my favorite of the Carnival. Why are there Pianists in the Carnival? They are not animals.

 

[matthewpiano]

Ok, I get it, you find me tiresome. I won't bother you again...

Not at all Freddy58. Quite happy to engage in conversation with you about the music. Haven't got round to checking this thread for a few days.

 

[MrReaper182]

Ok, I get it, you find me tiresome. I won't bother you again...

Don't get upset, I'll happily talk about music with you .

 

[matt49]

I've been going all Dvorak this week. Symphonies 7 and 8 are tremendous, especially 8. The Istvan Kertesz LSO set of all 9 symphonies is lovely and a spectacular bargain. Vigorous and fresh performances, with superb sound.

Czech music sometimes gets pigeonholed as "local" and "national", but it really shouldn't be.

 

[Webern]

As always, I'm listening to a lot of Schubert, particularly the wonderful F Minor Fantasie for two pianos, in the Osborne/Lewis recording (Hyperion).

Also the Takacs Quartet's recordings of the "Death and the Maiden" Quartet and the String Quintet, which I like a lot more than some of the reviewers. Both these CDs benefit from excellent recorded sound too.

And, as you would expect from my picture, the Brahms Violin concerto played by Julia Fischer on Pentatone Classics. I was privileged to hear her perform this work at the Albert Hall a few years ago.

 

[Tear Drop]

For anybody interested in some more historical recordings you should go here

The 24-bit (and 32-bit) remasterings can be almost miraculous - Klemperer's Beethoven cycle, Toscanini's Bruckner 7, Giulini's Don Giovanni and Furtwängler's studio recording of Die Walküre are particular highlights for me. Curiously there is also probably the best ever release/remastering of Kind Of Blue available.

 

[matthewpiano]

I've been listening to Scarlatti piano sonatas and the Mozart Rondo in A Minor KV511 in several different recordings as I'm currently preparing for a concert where I'll be playing Scarlatti L14 and the Rondo (amongst other things) and I always find it useful to hear various interpretations in the later stages of working.

I particularly love Brendel in the Mozart which is even more fitting as I attended a lecture he gave at the RNCM on Wednesday evening. What an inspiring man!

 

[MrReaper182]

I've been listening to Scarlatti piano sonatas and the Mozart Rondo in A Minor KV511 in several different recordings as I'm currently preparing for a concert where I'll be playing Scarlatti L14 and the Rondo (amongst other things) and I always find it useful to hear various interpretations in the later stages of working.

I particularly love Brendel in the Mozart which is even more fitting as I attended a lecture he gave at the RNCM on Wednesday evening. What an inspiring man!

I wish you all the best for your concert .

 

[MrReaper182]

I am listening to the Four seasons album I have by Vivaldi. I am on 3rd movement of summer which is a piece about a summers storm. Awesome stuff.

 

[matthewpiano]

I've been listening to Scarlatti piano sonatas and the Mozart Rondo in A Minor KV511 in several different recordings as I'm currently preparing for a concert where I'll be playing Scarlatti L14 and the Rondo (amongst other things) and I always find it useful to hear various interpretations in the later stages of working.

I particularly love Brendel in the Mozart which is even more fitting as I attended a lecture he gave at the RNCM on Wednesday evening. What an inspiring man!

I wish you all the best for your concert .

Thanks! Its for the L'Arche charity and I'm really looking forward to it. A very good cause.

 

[MrReaper182]

I am now listening to the 1812 overture by Tchaikovsky on Vinyl. Tchaikovsky was a Russian musical genius.

 

[matthewpiano]

I am now listening to the 1812 overture by Tchaikovsky on Vinyl. Tchaikovsky was a Russian musical genius.

Absolutely. I love his piano concertos and also the 6th symphony. Some of the ballet music is also gorgeous, and the Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture was one of the works that got me into orchestral music as a youngster.

 

[matthewpiano]

Brendel playing Beethoven this afternoon. It is so easy to take the popular Beethoven sonatas for granted but when you hear them played so incredibly as they are in Brendel's 90s recordings their greatness comes shining through.

 

[matthewpiano]

Wilhelm Kempff playing Brahms Klavierstucke Op.118. One of the most perfect sets of piano pieces which, in their variety, explore so many different facets of what the instrument can achieve. Kempff plays them beautifully.

 

[MrReaper182]

I am now listening to the 1812 overture by Tchaikovsky on Vinyl. Tchaikovsky was a Russian musical genius.

Absolutely. I love his piano concertos and also the 6th symphony. Some of the ballet music is also gorgeous, and the Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture was one of the works that got me into orchestral music as a youngster.

My favorite piece by Tchaikovsky is Symphony no 5 in E minor, 2nd movement. I melt like butter on hot toast when I hear that very beautiful piece.

 

[matthewpiano]

Verdi tonight - a wonderful recording of La Traviata featuring Monsterrat Caballe and the ever elegant Carlo Bergonzi.

 

[MrReaper182]

I am listening to my world of music vinyl box set. I am on vinyl number 4 (which is the misic of Germany) side 2 track 2 which is called Scherzo from a Midsummer night's dream by the great Mendelssohn. Very lovely stuff.

 

[Covenanter]

See, I don't 'get' Mozart. The man ain't got no soul

No comeback?

Depends on the work in question, and who is performing it. The Requiem is one of the most 'soulful' works in the entire repertoire. Listen to the 'Hostias'. If that doesn't stir your soul...

Thanks for the reply Matthew

The thing is, I've always found (from what I've heard) that Mozart was/is just a flood of notes. Very clever no doubt, but dispalaying no emotion. I will however try what you have suggested

I think there is an element of truth in this. I think Mozart found composing so easy that sometimes it is a little facile (and I hate that Flute and Harp concerto!). However as Matthew says the Requiem is special as are the late Piano Concertos and listen to Don Giovanni,surely one of the freatest of operas.

Chris

PS I was listening to that old warhorse the Symphony No 40 the other day and on my new kit it is actually rather exciting.

 

[Covenanter]

This morning Haydn's Creation, the John Eliot Gardiner 1996 version. Very beautiful singing and a wonderful background to my revision.

Chris