What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[Antonmb]

24/88 files

I purchased volume 1 a couple of years ago direct from Analekta, a Canadian label, and was impressed with the recording and performance. Analekta just announced that they’re shutting down their online store, so I grabbed the other 3 volumes. Each is recorded with the same ensemble but different organists. So far they all are excellent.

[Antonmb]

Another very nice recording from the box set “Dutoit Montréal”.

[bart]

Bach
Thomas Dunford
Qobuz 24/96





Transcriptions by Bach (Cello Suite No. 5) and Dunford himself (Cello Suite No. 1 & Violin Partita, the Chaconne).
Ideal music for a Sunday morning.
The lute brings me in a quiet meditative state.

[bart]

Buxtehude - Abendmusiken
Ensemble Masques, Olivier Fortin
Vox Luminis, Lionel Meunier
Qobuz 24/96




I saw Fortin on the harpsichord live last year, with Skip Sempé, and also Lionel Meunier with his ensemble. Both were fantastic concerts.
Here they join forces to create a very nice and intimate album.
Vocal and instrumental works.

[RLF]

Berlioz: Symphony Fantastic

[bart]

Mieczysław Weinberg - Piano Sonatas Op. 8, 49bis & 56
Elisabeta Blumina, piano
via Qobuz




This is the first time I hear Weinberg's piano music.
Blumina, who is a dedicated advocate of the composer, compares it to Mozart, and uses its danceable qualities in ballets.
It is more accessible than his symphonies and string quartets.

[bart]

Bach - Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 - Partita No. 2
Daniel Lozakovich, violin
Olga Watts, harpsichord
Kammerorchester des Symphonieorchesters des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Radoslaw Szulc
Qobuz 24/96




A very good recording (especially the harpsichord deserves a special mention), but an even more touching performance from this young musician.
I wasn't expecting too much but wanted to give it a chance anyway, and I was astonished.

Bach brings you closer to God, Lozakovich says, and the famous Chaconne is the greatest solo violin piece ever written.
I will not argue that, having it heard live last year in my living room, played by a great master.

[bart]

Telemann - Aller Augen warten auf dich - Cantatas
Ex tempore - Mannheimer Hofkapelle, Florian Heyerick
via Tidal




The quality of Telemann's cantatas came close to Bach's.
This album is a very nice example of that.

[bart]

Lili Boulanger - Hymne au Soleil - Choral Works
Orpheus Vokalensemble, Michael Alber
Antonii Baryshevskyi, pianoforte
via Qobuz




This year is the 100th birthday of this composer's death.
Only 24 years old she was, she had a very fragile health and was aware of the fact that she would die young.
Luckily she left us some gorgeous works.
I really enjoyed this album.

“We wish to hear more works by her.” These words were once spoken by Marc Blitzstein, the American composer and student of Nadia Boulanger, in connection with Lili Boulanger’s unfulfilled future promise. “We want to know what we are missing.” A very understandable wish; one, however, that cannot be fulfilled.

[bart]

Originally Posted by bart

Clérambault - Cantates Françaises
A Nocte Temporis, Reinoud van Mechelen
Qobuz 24/96




I enjoyed these French Cantatas very much.
Beautifully sung, played with delicacy and well recorded.
Clérambault was born 9 years before Bach.
They bear some resemblance, but are very different at the same time.
Each to be enjoyed according to your mood.

Second listen.
Excellent on all accounts: sound, instruments, voices.