What Are You Listening to Now?

[Gurn Blanston]

Joy,
Oh dear, you are just like a kid with candy, listening to the Ode to You in mid-week, seems sinful somehow! Excellent You actually heard Mozart #3 on the radio?! What a wonder! I think the earliest one I've ever heard on the radio was #9. As for Leonore, I like #1 & #2 the best, I guess. I don't like the one that it finally ended up with (Fidelio) because it doesn't seem integrated to the rest of the lot.

Amalie,
I would like to hear Lupu playing a real piano, I bet he could really get his money's worth from that ride! As for the concert, super! Sarah Chang has really grown into a hotshot fiddler, no? I had her very first album, and when you hear a 9 (?) year old ripping off Paganini's 1st VC in such style, you have to think she will be special.

For me, it is the String Quartets of Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga - Right now, #1 in d minor - Voces String Quartet. This is just outstanding music. reminiscent of Haydn in many ways even though it dates from 1820 or thereabouts. Only 20 years old when he died, one cannot help but consider the "might have been" aspects of the "Spanish Mozart".


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Regards,
Gurn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's my opinion, I may be wrong.
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[Sorrano]

This morning the finale of the Saint-Saens' Organ Symphony got me up.

Gurn, King, I've yet to get a copy of the Wilm's symphonies (whatever is available). I've heard the finale of the 7th and was very impressed.

Joy, I think whichever of the Leonora overtures I am listening to at the time is my preferred. ;-D

[spaceray]

Originally posted by Gurn Blanston:
... As for Leonore, I like #1 & #2 the best, I guess. I don't like the one that it finally ended up with (Fidelio) because it doesn't seem integrated to the rest of the lot.

Please tell me again why Beethoven had to write the overture again.Was it not well recieved at the time of it's first performance.Von Breuning writes"Nothing ,perhaps,has caused Beethoven so much vexation as this work(Fidelio),the value of which will be appreciated only in the future."
Beethoven wrote music too difficult for the woodwinds to play.
Instead of Beethoven rewriting it ,they should have hired some players who could cut the mustard.
I'm listening to Beethoven's Sonata no3 in E flat op12

[Joy]

There was a marvelous Beethoven program last night on "Performance Today". His Trio for violin, viola, and cello in C minor Opus 78/#3; Egmont OT performed by the Finnish Radio Symphony; Symphony No. 8 in F Op 93
with conductor Leonard Bernstein and the Vienna Philharmonic plus, speaking of Fidelio's OT, his Leonore's #2. Quite a program!

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'Truth and beauty joined'

[Joy]

Originally posted by spaceray:
Please tell me again why Beethoven had to write the overture again.Was it not well recieved at the time of it's first performance.

The first performance which took place Nov. 20, 21, and 22, 1805, were hardly successful. The Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung reported, with special reference to the overture "that this work hardly compares with his earlier instrumental works." Even those in Beethoven's circle agreed that Fidelio should be revised. In Dec. of 1805 the revision had begun. When this second version was presented on March 29, 1806, it "made a distinctly better impression" but was withdrawn after a quarrel with the theatre manager. Then in the spring of 1814 Beethoven began work again persuaded by Treitschke who revised the libretto which Beethoven liked. "I have read your revision of the opera with great satisfaction. It has persuaded me to rebuild the desolate ruins of an ancient fortress." This final overture was performed on May 26, 1814. Today it is used as the overture to the opera. Beethoven was never completely satisfied with the outcome of his efforts and said, The business of the opera is the most tedious in the world." He also said, "Of all my children, this one gave me the most birth pangs."

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'Truth and beauty joined'

[Amalie]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gurn Blanston:

Amalie,
I would like to hear Lupu playing a real piano, I bet he could really get his money's worth from that ride! As for the concert, super! Sarah Chang has really grown into a hotshot fiddler, no? I had her very first album, and when you hear a 9 (?) year old ripping off Paganini's 1st VC in such style, you have to think she will be special.

For me, it is the String Quartets of Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga - Right now, #1 in d minor - Voces String Quartet. This is just outstanding music. reminiscent of Haydn in many ways even though it dates from 1820 or thereabouts. Only 20 years old when he died, one cannot help but consider the "might have been" aspects of the "Spanish Mozart".


Superb listening Gurn! I shall look out for Arriaga.

I really enjoyed Brahm's violin concerto at lastnights concert, I agree what you say about Sarah Chang, she is really something to watch play.
You just can't beat a live performance, especially Beethoven symphonies!


For now a lovely evening with Bach

Pieces performed

Bach Suite no.1, in C BWV1066

Cantata no.54, Widerstehe doch der Sunde, Bwv54.

Academy of Ancient Music
Pascal Bertin/countertenor
Masaaki Suzuki/director & harpsichord.



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~ Unsterbliche Geliebte ~



[This message has been edited by Amalie (edited 10-21-2004).]

[Big D]

Have any of you heard the Goldberg Variations by Bach? That's the only thing right now that I bloody well care to listen to! (Sorry, Beethoven!)

[spaceray]

I'm listening now to Beethoven's Piano Concerto number four, Artur Schnable playing ,it's a bit scratchy ,from 1946 but thats all a part of it's charm.

I like Bach's Goldberg variations,but I'm absolutely wild about Beethoven's Violin and Piano Sonatas.

[Amalie]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by spaceray:
[B]I'm listening now to Beethoven's Piano Concerto number four, Artur Schnable playing ,it's a bit scratchy ,from 1946 but thats all a part of it's charm.

Even though digitally re-mastered,
The recording I have of Elly Ney playing on Beethoven's Graf in Beethovenhaus Bonn, has a few creaky noises hear and there, it is more pronouced when she is playing B's piano sonata 0p.111. Sounds to me like it could be the piano stool she is sitting on or the old floorboards creaking.
You are right Space, it does add to the warmth and charm of listening to the piece, almost as though you are actually there in the room - virtual reality!


Earlier this am. on Radio

Vivaldi:
from Juditha Triumphans, 'Veni, me sequere fida'
An absolutely gorgeous recording from
Madelena Kozena [mezzo soprano]
Academia Montis Regalis
Allessandro De Marchi [director]


Ignaz Moschels:
Anticipations of Scotland -
a grand fantasia for piano and orchestra. 0p75 / Howard Shelly [piano]
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.



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~ Unsterbliche Geliebte

[This message has been edited by Amalie (edited 10-22-2004).]

[Gurn Blanston]

Sorrano,
Yes, it is clearly worth the effort to acquire this disk. Wilms falls into that "in-between" period when composers were still using Classical forms to express Romantic ideas. There is a few years time difference between 6 & 7, and the latter is undoubtedly Early Romantic, but a peach, for all that.!

Spacerl,
Since Joy did such a marvelous job with your question, I will only add that B didn't NEED to redo the overture, he started out just wanting to shorten it a bit, but found that in so doing he effectively ruined the effect of pre-shadowing all of the main themes of the opera, so he abandoned that idea altogether (pity!) and just wrote a generic, short overture. So it goes. Ah, love those P & V's!

Joy,
I have thought about this, and finally decided that it is a sequential riddle that you have written for us! So when you say Op 78, you actually mean Op 9, correct? One of his least heralded early masterpieces, IMHO. AND Egmont AND Symphony #8!! You are right, great programme.

Amalie,
It should be an easy find there, it is on an European label (MDG) which one scarcely sees here, but is likely sitting on checkstands at the local grocery there Yes, that is bitterness, but not directed at you, THAT would be jealousy!
Ah, I suspect Ms. Chang would be a revelation in concert. Don't know how you consider Tchaikovsky or chamber music, but last year she released a disk or 2 string sextets, one of Tchai and one of Dvorak I believe, and I heard the Tchai (Souvenir of Florence) on radio. It was a knockout!

Big D,
Bach? Wasn't that the St Bernard in that movie? Hey, the Goldberg's are great stuff. B used them, if only as inspiration, for the Diabelli's. Which version do you have. A harpsichord one, I hope.

Spacerl (again),
How is that Schnabel aside from the sound issue? Does he really do it up right? As for old sound, being less than perfect IS part of its charm, but not a given, I have some Casals/Bach Suites which are from 1925 (the year my father was born!) and sound as though they were recorded yesterday!

Amalie,
Hey, that Moscheles sounds interesting! He was a B contemporary unless my brain has sputtered to a stop today. Have to check that out. Strange to see Mr Shelley working without the London Mozart Players, no?

For me now, it is the 17 Church Sonatas of Wolfgangrl, right now #10 in F major, K 244. Quite amazing that these have been flying beneath my radar all these years! Very interesting little pieces, perfect little sonata movements. Huh!

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Regards,
Gurn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's my opinion, I may be wrong.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Sorrano]

This morning brought Haydn's Symphony #102. Such a delight!

[JA Gardiner]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Amalie:

Earlier this am. on Radio

Vivaldi:
from Juditha Triumphans, 'Veni, me sequere fida'
An absolutely gorgeous recording from
Madelena Kozena [mezzo soprano]
Academia Montis Regalis
Allessandro De Marchi [director]

So Juditha Triumphans.. Sounds like my kind of gal! Maybe I should use this as a campaign theme (I am a local politician)

As for Pommier and the Sonatas Gurn, I hesitate to make a judgement because I don't know most of the music well enough and don't have a great basis for comparison, but listening to no's 14,21, 23 & 29 probably the best known, I'd say go for it. The sound quality is excellent, even when that Klavier is well and truly hammered! As for the performances I would say that they are very expressive, in a disciplined and classical sort of way - more Horovitz than Gould or even Ashkenazy - and though taken at quite a fast tempo (I know you like them racy ) and thus very dashing, manage to remain precise and "singing" rather than slushy or tub-thumping and to maintain depth and thoughtfulness in the more reflective passages. And yes he has a pedal and isn't afraid to use it! Nearest comparison I have is to Jeno Jando - style is quite similar, recorded sound infinitely better. Not perhaps the most soul-stirring rendition one could get I suspect, but a very good introduction for a novice like me.

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Beethoven the Man!

[This message has been edited by JA Gardiner (edited 10-22-2004).]

[Joy]

Originally posted by Gurn Blanston:


Joy,
I have thought about this, and finally decided that it is a sequential riddle that you have written for us! So when you say Op 78, you actually mean Op 9, correct? One of his least heralded early masterpieces, IMHO. AND Egmont AND Symphony #8!! You are right, great programme.

You rascal, Gurn, you caught me! I must have meant 9! Anyway, it was a beautiful piece!

Via radio at noon today they have a Mozart program where they play mainly Mozart and some of his contemporaries and this noon hour will feature Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" K 525 and also Beethoven's Rondo in G with Evgeny Kissin, piano. Later on will be Beethoven's Symphony #1!

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'Truth and beauty joined'

[Amalie]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JA Gardiner:
[B][QUOTE]Originally posted by Amalie:

Earlier this am. on Radio

Vivaldi:
from Juditha Triumphans, 'Veni, me sequere fida'
An absolutely gorgeous recording from
Madelena Kozena [mezzo soprano]
Academia Montis Regalis
Allessandro De Marchi [director]

So Juditha Triumphans.. Sounds like my kind of gal! Maybe I should use this as a campaign theme (I am a local politician)

***

Well, Juditha certainly gets my vote!


Anyone for RESPIGHI,
Hey, c'mon, I can't be the only one who likes him!
I am listening my latest CD, excellent recording of Respighi's - Poema Autunnale,, with Lydia Mordkovitch [violin]
BBC Philharmonic/Sir Edward Downes.
other pieces are the beautiful, Concerto Gregoriano and Ballata delle Gnomidi - 'The Ballad of the Gnomes:-

Dragging the raving gnome
the women go,
abandoning their flimsy dresses
to the wind.

The tiny man trails along
suspended between his two
brides for whom a single
nuptial bed awaits.

Oh gnomes, let the
race be brief, lest
he weary fall
when falls the Bear!

No torch was lit
at the perverse nuptials
but outside, hoards of gnomes
awaited, eager for the prey.

And the night
a sharp cry resounded,
so full of pain as to
rout the darkness.

Then silence, the new
dawn was breaking. The mad
wives drew their helpless
booty from the bedchamber.

And they ran with it,
followed by the malicious throng
of manlings who
thickly swarmed about,

and uttered prayers
worthy only of the anathemas to be heard
in blaspheming language
in the depths infernal.

By way of a rough path
they reached a broad hill
whose sharp ridge
overlooked a sea of blue.

In an instant, the loathsome
husband was downward
hurled, and the rite
this ended.

Now on the summit of the hill,
after their sleepless night,
the two women dance
in the morning breeze.

And, as the day advances,
the tiny people
join in the dance
of the cruel widows.

One shrieks, another mocks,
another bites or cackles,
a wild frenzy possesses them all
as in a Sabbath.

***

Yikes! I don't think these cruel witches like men very much!


Judith, an invitation to listen to BBC radio 3 this evening, performance on 3 at 19:30.
A fantastic playlist this evening with Beethoven, Ah Perfidio!, Mozart, Don Giovanni, and La Clemenza di Tito. performed by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
Hope you can all listen in!
The playlist, http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/performanceon3/pip/2c01e/

My next Beethoven concert to attend is at the Royal Festival Hall, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Kurt Masur.
Beethoven symphonies, no. 1,2 and 3. the best seats, can hardly wait for this one!

Details for anyone interested - http://www.lpo.co.uk/performances/rfh_nov24.html


For Gurn,
Ignaz Moscheles - http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/co...name=moscheles

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~ Unsterbliche Geliebte ~




[This message has been edited by Amalie (edited 10-22-2004).]

[spaceray]

Originally posted by Gurn Blanston:
Spacerl
How is that Schnabel aside from the sound issue? Does he really do it up right? As for old sound, being less than perfect IS part of its charm, but not a given, I have some Casals/Bach Suites which are from 1925 (the year my father was born!) and sound as though they were recorded yesterday!
[/B]

Gurn,
You should know better than to ask me for any sort of performance analysis ,I know nothing.
But I can tell you that the Orchestra sounds like old cartoons.
But Artur's sound is nice and crisp and he plays wonderfully.
Spacerl