What are you listening to now ?

[Harvey]

One of my favorite operas:

[Schenkerian]

Oh God, listen to the wrong notes as you follow the score (not good quality, sadly). Horowitz Chopin Ballade No. 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG1Olvh7vCU

[Peter]

Oh God, listen to the wrong notes as you follow the score (not good quality, sadly). Horowitz Chopin Ballade No. 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG1Olvh7vCU

Still a barnstorming performance, despite the slips! The tempi of some of those passages is incredible. I've played the G minor Ballade and it is a minefield, especially that coda.

[Schenkerian]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLb2lX-GYTI

[Peter]

A rare interview (with subtitles) with Martha Argerich.

[Enrique]

(Thanks Peter for that.) And a rare thing to listen to. Martha Argerich and Daniel Baremboin playing The Rite of Spring.

[Peter]

[QUOTE=Enrique;n116968](Thanks Peter for that.) And a rare thing to listen to. Martha Argerich and Daniel Baremboin playing The Rite of Spring.

Yes indeed quite remarkable - can you imagine being present when Debussy (sight reading!) and Stravinsky performed this in 1912?

[Peter]

Listening to Beethoven 6th Symphony and Leonore no.3 - both with Karajan and the BPO.

[Michael]

Listening to Beethoven 6th Symphony and Leonore no.3 - both with Karajan and the BPO.

If it's the 1963 recording, I think Karajan shouldn't have been let within a mile of the Pastoral. He treats it as a minor annoyance between the 5th and the 7th. He omits the repeats in the first movement and even in the scherzo, and the whole recording lacks atmosphere.
However, when it comes to Leonore No. 3 he's in top form.

[Peter]

If it's the 1963 recording, I think Karajan shouldn't have been let within a mile of the Pastoral. He treats it as a minor annoyance between the 5th and the 7th. He omits the repeats in the first movement and even in the scherzo, and the whole recording lacks atmosphere.
However, when it comes to Leonore No. 3 he's in top form.

No, it's the 1984 version, part of a complete set recorded in stages around the mid 80s, not my favourite recordings of the symphonies.

[Michael]

No, it's the 1984 version, part of a complete set recorded in stages around the mid 80s, not my favourite recordings of the symphonies.

I have that set too but I can't remember if he behaved himself in the Pastoral. My all-time favourite is Karl Bohm with Bernstein (NYPO) a close second.

[Harvey]

This awesome opera:

[Quijote]

Chamber version of Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGuoxoJCdsc

[euphony131]

Interesting phrasing, and the smaller orchestra brings out textures I hadn't noticed.
I was really hesitant about getting this set. But so glad I pulled the trigger.
You don't necessarily need Beethoven to be "big band" to be exciting.
A nice alternative to traditional sets.
But, of course, I will never give up my Karajan.

I

[Peter]

Chamber version of Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGuoxoJCdsc

Appropriate in a Covid era! Is this the Del mar edit of the Sextet version popular in Beethoven's time?