What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[bart]

Originally Posted by bart

Bach - Vivaldi - Sonar in Ottava: Double Concertos for violin and violoncello piccolo
Accademia dell'Anunciata, Riccardo Doni
Giuliano Carmignola
Mario Brunello
Qobuz 24/96




Album of the month on our classical station Klara.
It is indeed, apart from the rather ordinary work of Gottlieb, a very successful cooperation.
Especially the Bach works well with a violoncello instead of the second violin.

Violinist Giuliano Carmignola and cellist Mario Brunello: one of the greatest interpreters of Vivaldi and Bach, whose recent recording of the Sonatas and Partitas was described by the authoritative magazine Gramophone as ‘a definite first choice among period instrument recordings of these works’; and his long-time friend Mario Brunello, acclaimed for his personal reinterpretation of that same famous collection on the violoncello piccolo (A469).
Accompanied by the Milanese ensemble Accademia dell’Annunciata, they offer a highly original, experimental programme. Inspired by the three existing double concertos for violin and cello by Vivaldi – an unusual coupling in eighteenth century concerto literature – they revisit double concertos by Vivaldi and Bach (the famous BWV 1043 for two violins and BWV 1060 for violin and oboe), transposing the second solo part an octave lower on the violoncello piccolo.
Underpinned by persuasive historical and musicological evidence, the approach first and foremost reveals their pleasure in working together on an innovative project. The outcome is a delightful opportunity to enjoy famous pieces in a totally different light. © Arcana

Playing it again.
Truly fantastic performances.
I keep on enjoying this album, even if it doesn't offer top sound (complex parts with all instruments together are a bit muddled).

[Antonmb]

Smetana: Ma Vlast (complete); Dvorak: Slavonic Rhapsody No.3 & Scherzo caprissioso
Staatskapelle Dresden, Paavo Berglund
Angel (1979), vinyl

One of the great non-Czech performance of this music. The orchestra dynamics are good, and although not the fastest pace, Berglund never lets the tempo drag. For example, his Moldau, at 12:07, is relatively brisk and not far off the pace of Kubelik and the BSO at 11:49, as opposed to Neumann/Gewandhausorchester at 12:49 or Dorati/Concertgebouw at an agonizing 13:04.

Unfortunately the vinyl is a little noisy, and it’s one of those annoying double-album productions with side 1 backed by side 4 for play on a record changer - but never mind, this one’s about the music and performance.

[AudioGremlin]

Smetana: Ma Vlast is what first got me into classical music when I was at school. The schoolmaster narrated the music - I was enthralled.

[bart]

Originally Posted by bart

Schubert - String Quartets Nos. 10 & 14 'Death and the Maiden'
Quatuor Van Kuijk
Qobuz 24/192




Wonderful interpretations.
This is a very solid ensemble!

‘When we approach a composer, we like to immerse ourselves in his or her early works, in order to understand the evolution of the person behind the score.
‘It was quite naturally that the idea emerged of coupling a youthful quartet, no.10, composed at the age of sixteen, with a masterpiece by the mature Schubert, the “Death and the Maiden” Quartet no.14. As in the case of Mozart on our first recording, we wanted to present two different atmospheres with two quartets by the same composer.
‘This journey through time sheds a new light on the later works, because the process of getting to know the young Franz Schubert naturally means deepening our knowledge of his language, but also allows us to refine our appropriation of the style, sound and articulation specific to him. ‘In Quartet no.10, we tried to achieve purity in our playing, a crystalline sound that allows the music to unfold in the most fluid and natural way, keeping in mind the intimacy of the family living room for which these pages were written.
‘In no.14, more tormented, brusquer, more intense, we attempt to pay homage to the work’s symphonic dimension, and to its most sombre, most violent asperities. ‘Two sides to one man: the bright and dark faces of Schubert.’
Quatuor Van Kuijk © Outhere Music

This was streaming into my practice (in CD-resolution).
This ensemble quickly becomes one of my favourite string quartets.

[bart]

Dowland - A Fancy
Bor Zuljan
Qobuz 24/96




Fine interpretations.

The first notes of the descending chromatic theme break the silence and it seems as if time has stopped. The listener is drawn into the world of John Dowland, the greatest lutenist of all, in a journey through multiple shades of melancholy and lucent hope. Never before had the lute sounded as expressive and colourful as in these masterful Fancies, as dynamic as in these sparkling dances: Renaissance lute music here reached its summit. Bor Zuljan explores these qualities in his debut solo recording, breathing new life into Dowland's masterpieces. © Ricercar

[bart]

From time to time I crave this on harpsichord:

Bach - Goldberg Variationen
Mahan Esfahani
Qobuz 24/48




It's a solid performance.

[ehoove]

Voice of Hope
Camille Thomas
Brussells Philharmonic
Very Very nice!
Deutsche Grammophone B085KR4CPJ
Regards,
Jim

[bart]

Spem In Alium - Vidi Aquam
Ora Singers
Qobuz 24/96




Presto Classical's 'Album of the week'.
It deserves the title, and although I own better versions of Thomas Tallis' masterpiece, the overall quality of singing is very good.

A musical banquet from the Golden Age. This programme brings together a true choral landmark from the sixteenth century, with its present-day reflection, a commission by Sir James MacMillan. These two monumental, large-scale pieces bookend a ‘tasting menu’ of Renaissance works by Byrd, Tallis and many other composers. Common to them all is a link to Nonsuch Palace, arguably the location of the first performance of Spem in alium, and the centre of a rich vein of Tudor musical patronage. © harmonia mundi

[bart]

Originally Posted by bart

Allegri - Monteverdi - Anamorfosi
Le Poème Harmonique, Vincent Dumestre




We're just back home after a most intimate concert with these forces where they brought pieces from this CD.
Amongst them the best Miserere (from Gregorio Allegri) we've ever heard.
The tears came very easily today...

Originally Posted by bart

Magnificent!

I'm longing for live concerts... the one mentioned above was the last one we attended (March 6).

In the meantime we attended a nice little 'guerrilla concert' in our town centre that was really nice, but we do miss 'our' Concertgebouw Brugge.

This album (streaming it in 24/96 at the moment) contains one of the most gripping performances of the last 12 months.
One of my favourites!

[eljr]