What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[cma29]

I don't play non-orchestral music often, but this is a good one...

Beethoven: Diabelli Variations, Op. 120
Stephen Kovacevich (piano)



Here is some background info I found:
"In 1819 the Viennese publisher Anton Diabelli asked 'the most excellent composers and virtuosi of Vienna and the Austrian Empire', to write a variation on a waltz theme he had composed. Beethoven was also asked, and although he at first refused, he did finally deliver a cycle of 33 variations as his own contribution to this strange competition. His set was published separately in 1823. The 50 variations by the other composers appeared a year later, under the collective title of 'National Society of Artists, Part 2'. "

I have not heard of any of the other variation versions, so Beethoven comes out on top as usual. Great music and well-recorded.

Gramophone Awards 2009, Editor's Choice

[AudioNut]

Listening to another of the superb Avison Ensemble SACD's from Linn directed by Pavlo Beznosuik

Vivaldi - 12 Violin Concerti - Opus 8 - Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione - Includes The four Seasons but then adds all the other 8 concerti in Op. 8.

Amazingly beautiful, extraordinary sonics.

[bart]

Bach: The Conductors' Transcriptions
BBC Symphony Orchestra, cond. by Leonard Slatkin



Well played, well recorded... but I do prefer the original versions.
Good for occasional listening.

[Toccata]

This new Biber SACD is fantastic! It consists of 12 rather brief but contrapuntally complex sonatas for string and continuo. Ars Antiqua Austria with Gunar Letzbor give very vigorous performances, and Challenge Records has some of the best sound in the business. I have only two small issues: The playing time at 46:00 is rather brief, and I can't get out of my head how much Letzbor looks like Meatloaf!

[bart]

Originally Posted by Toccata

This new Biber SACD is fantastic! It consists of 12 rather brief but contrapuntally complex sonatas for string and continuo. Ars Antiqua Austria with Gunar Letzbor give very vigorous performances, and Challenge Records has some of the best sound in the business. I have only two small issues: The playing time at 46:00 is rather brief, and I can't get out of my head how much Letzbor looks like Meatloaf!

This was already on my wish list!
I just moved it up to the top.

[Toccata]

^^It doesn't come out in the US until January 14th, so I ordered it from MDT. Since you're in Belgium, it might be available now.

[Still-One]

Suppe and Auber Overtures - Paul Paray & The Detroit Symphony Orchestra

[Jerome W]

Charles Munch and Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Ravel : Bolero; La Valse; Rapsodie Espagnole.
Debussy : Images

[Toccata]

The Mandelring concludes their traversal of Mendelssohn's String Quartets. This disc pairs late and early works. The Quartetto di Cremona joins them for the youthful Octet, and it also includes Quartet Op.44 No.3 and Four Pieces Op.81. All are superbly played and recorded. Despite playing with great intensity, they never produce ugly tones. All three volumes are excellent.

[Jerome W]

Keisuke Wakao plays Mozart, Bach....