What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[bart]

This is a suggestion of a friend:

Ondas
Martín Codax
Cantigas de Amigo
Vivabiancaluna Biffi, voice and viola d’arco
Pierre Hamon, mediaval flutes
Qobuz 24/44.1




What a joy!
Wonderful, intimate recording also.

[bart]

Robert Schumann - Liederkreis Op. 24 - Kernerlieder
Matthias Goerne, baritone
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
Qobuz 24/96




Two top stars together.
I wasn't much of a Lieder fan until a couple of years ago.
I'm an absolute convert now!

[bart]

Magdalena Kožená - Il giardino dei sospiri
Collegium 1704, Václav Luks
Qobuz 24/96




I am a big Mrs Simon Rattle fan, Kožená simply has a gripping, powerful voice.
Since we saw the ensemble Collegium 1704 live, we're also fans.

Composers like Gasparini, Sarro and Leo were unknown to me, but wrote nice compositions.
Marcello, Vinci, and Händel complete the album.

[bart]

I want to compare 2 approaches of a symphony today.
Mendelssohn's 4th.

A more 'classic' approach (The Academy), and a more 'historical' one.
Maybe a bit unfair, because Jos van Immerseel is from our neck of the woods.
To make it a bit fairer: both recordings were done in '94, if I'm not mistaken.

Stephen made me curious about the Marriner recording (high DR).
And I heard the Belgians through my Klipsch earbuds when gardening yesterday, with the first movement of this very symphony.

First to go is Sir Neville Marriner's interpretation.




This is a solid and very good sounding album.
I listened to the 3rd Symphony also.

[bart]

Second: Anima Eterna, conducted by Jos van Immerseel.
Wow, this is even better recorded, by Bert van der Wolf, now working for Challenge Records.
A bit less smooth, a bit more bite.
If you prefer 'nice, romantic', take the version of Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields.
But if you like it a bit rougher, with the horns more prominent, this is your pick.

[Toccata]

No.3. Very intense.

[Toccata]

I found this on Qobuz today. It's only in standard CD resolution, but man does it sound good! I can only imagine how the SACD sounds, but at the current $335, I'm not likely to find out. Her playing is excellent, too.

[Toccata]

[Toccata]

[Toccata]