What classical music are you listening to?

[Covenanter]

And this afternoon the Dvorak Violin Concerto with my favourite violinist Kyung-Wha Chung with Muti and the Phil from 1989.

Chris

 

[matt49]

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.

I think the old “too many notes” thing is only really a fair characterization of Mozart’s earlier works. One has to bear in mind that he did compose an awful lot when he was still very young (I think his earliest surviving pieces were written when he was 5) and he hadn’t found his own musical language, which is entirely understandable. Some great composers haven’t produced anything of merit by the age at which Mozart died. Janacek’s good work only began when he was 50.

Most of what Mozart wrote in his last few years is full of feeling. To #40 you can add #39 and #41, which are cut from the same cloth.

I also find loads of compelling emotion in works going back to the late-1770s, when was in his early 20s. For instance, the E-flat major Sinfonia Concertante K364 strikes me as a very moving work.

And even some of the orchestral works written before he was 20 are pretty powerful in a nervy and agitated ‘Storm and Stress’ way, e.g. Symphonies #25 and #29.

I have #29 on at the moment in the Britten/ECO (Decca) recording from 1978.

But I am passionate about the 18th century …

Matt

 

[Tear Drop]

The afore-mentioned Die Walküre recording from Pristine is helping me get through a day at work. The remastering is sublime, it almost sounds like a new recording, not a 60 year old mono. If Furtwängler had lived it could surely have been the greatest of Ring cycles.

 

[matt49]

The afore-mentioned Die Walküre recording from Pristine is helping me get through a day at work. The remastering is sublime, it almost sounds like a new recording, not a 60 year old mono. If Furtwängler had lived it could surely have been the greatest of Ring cycles.

Thanks, must check this out.

 

[Andrew17321]

My wife and I are off to Glasgow for 3 nights of live music: Royal Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Mendelssohn, Schumann, Mozart, Vaughan Williams, Beethoven, Shostakovich, and Gershwin. I need a surfeit of the real thing every so often, and a city visit does the job.

We'll also see friends for lunch, and maybe do a wee bit of shopping. But the music is the driver.

Re Mozart, his music is probably 'very busy' because he was brought up at a time when the harpsichord was to the fore, and that instrument requires a lot of notes per minute as it does not sustain the sound of its notes. Personally, I was not very keen on Mozart until I reached about 60, and he has been growing on me ever since. So don't worry, you younger folk, you may like him better in time. Oddly, my elder son would play nothing but Mozart and Scott Joplin on the piano when he was 16!

Andrew

 

[matthewpiano]

I remember complaining to many piano teacher about having to play Mozart when I was 11/12 and her telling me that one day I would grow to appreciate what he has to offer. Now he is one of my favourite composers to play. Funny how we change.

 

[Tear Drop]

My wife and I are off to Glasgow for 3 nights of live music: Royal Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Mendelssohn, Schumann, Mozart, Vaughan Williams, Beethoven, Shostakovich, and Gershwin. I need a surfeit of the real thing every so often, and a city visit does the job.

Very jealous! Great music and a great city. Which Shostakovich?

 

[Covenanter]

This morning a light diet of Rossini overtures from Marriner/ASMF, and this afternoon the classic Previn/LSO 1973 performance of Rachmaninov's Symphony 2 in its brilliant digitally remastered form.

Am floating along on a tide of romanticism.

Chris

 

[matthewpiano]

I listened to that very same recording of the Rachmaninov this afternoon Chris. :cheers:

Tonight, Pollini's recordings of Mozart Concertos 19 (F Major) and 23 (A Major) with Bohm on DG. Also Grimaud's Brahms 1.

 

[MrReaper182]

I am listening Classic FM time to relax boxset. I'm on CD 1 track 5 which is called Concerto for flute & harp in C major, 2nd movement by Mozart. It is very beautiful. You died much to young Mozart.

 

[Covenanter]

I listened to that very same recording of the Rachmaninov this afternoon Chris. :cheers:

Tonight, Pollini's recordings of Mozart Concertos 19 (F Major) and 23 (A Major) with Bohm on DG. Also Grimaud's Brahms 1.

I've never really warmed to Pollini in Mozart although I love him in Chopin. The Perahia cycle is my favourite.

This afternoon I listened to the Naxos Faure Requiem. I love this version of the original score much more than the orchestrated later versions.

Chris

 

[Tear Drop]

This afternoon I listened to the Naxos Faure Requiem. I love this version of the original score much more than the orchestrated later versions.

+1

 

[Andrew17321]

My wife and I are off to Glasgow for 3 nights of live music: Royal Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Mendelssohn, Schumann, Mozart, Vaughan Williams, Beethoven, Shostakovich, and Gershwin. I need a surfeit of the real thing every so often, and a city visit does the job.

Very jealous! Great music and a great city. Which Shostakovich?

Jazz Suite #2 (bright and chearful) and 10th Symphony (somber, depressing and exhausting to listen to), both very well played.

Andrew

 

[Covenanter]

My wife and I are off to Glasgow for 3 nights of live music: Royal Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Mendelssohn, Schumann, Mozart, Vaughan Williams, Beethoven, Shostakovich, and Gershwin. I need a surfeit of the real thing every so often, and a city visit does the job.

Very jealous! Great music and a great city. Which Shostakovich?

Jazz Suite #2 (bright and chearful) and 10th Symphony (somber, depressing and exhausting to listen to), both very well played.

Andrew

The 10th is rather dour and not something to brighten up a gloomy day!

Chris

 

[Covenanter]

This morning Argerich in the Chopin PC1 with Dutoit and the Montreal SO. This afternoon maybe PC2.

Chris

 

[Tear Drop]

Obrecht - Missa Maria zart performed by Peter Philips & The Tallis Scholars

 

[MrReaper182]

I am listening to Brandenburg concerto nunber 2, 1st movement by Bach from the Classic FM hall of fame 4 CD boxset. The baroque style is probably my favourite of the classical styles (but I do like all classical styles). It was a shame that Bach was not widely respected as a great in his own life time and that his music was seen as out dated, damn those stuck up aristocrats of the 18th century. Next up is piano piece Liebestraum number 3 by Listzt.

 

[matthewpiano]

This afternoon:

 

[Covenanter]

Today the Tallis Scholars "Flemish Masters" on Gimell. Simply beautiful singing of wonderful music recorded in an authentic church acoustic. If you are in any way stressed, put this on, close your eyes and you will quickly relax.

Chris

 

[matt49]

Obrecht - Missa Maria zart performed by Peter Philips & The Tallis Scholars

This is splendid -- and new to me. Thanks for the tip.

In for a penny ...

Missa sub tuum praesidium / Wickham; Clerks' Group

Missa Caput etc / Summerly; Oxford Camerata

 

[Tear Drop]

Matt, if you are enjoying the Wickham/Clerks' Group Obrecht then I can recommend this, it is a very fine disc indeed:

 

[matt49]

Cheers, I'm looking forward to exploring this stuff. I've only really had a superficial acquaintance with English and Italian Renaissance music. The Low Countries have passed me by until now.

Matt

 

[Webern]

This morning, Mozart's symphony in C major K200 in the AAM/Hogwood recording, still sounding fresh after many years. It's from the box set of the complete symphonies, which is rarely far away from my CD player. I love to dip into this set and marvel at the inventiveness and sheer beauty of this master's music. Heard on period instruments, you really get the transparency that is missing on some "full fat" recordings.

 

[Andrew17321]

I now much prefer smaller orchestras, even for pieces like Beethoven symphonies and piano concertos. I find I can hear harmonies and threads in the music that I had not previously appreciated, probably because they were drowned out when played by larger orchestras.

Last year I was at a Baroque concert in the cathedral in Dublin, which was played with period instruments. The sounds in pieces that I was familiar with had a new clarity – it all seemed so natural.

Andrew

 

[Webern]

Having grown up hearing Beethoven played on modern instruments in traditional "big band" performances, I found the recordings by Roger Norrington a revelation. It's definitely about clarity, transparency, but there are also those metronome markings... Now, I'm just as happy to hear the Pastoral on modern or period instruments, Rattle or Gardiner, but it's interesting to see how modern instrument performances have changed in recent years as a result of the "authentic movement".