What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[aardvarkbark]

Originally Posted by cma29

I have this box set. Superb.

The Lewis cycle is my favorite, followed by Goode's. In retrospect, I wish I had waited for the complete box, opting instead to buy each of the four separate volumes as he released them due to the high praise they were receiving and with no assurance there would be a box. I do wish ECM would release the Schiff cycle in a single box; the discs I've borrowed from a friend are mighty fine. If I ever were to add a NAS, his cycle is high on my list of things to rip.

[aardvarkbark]

This is a Kubelik Sunday, having just received the Sony box of his recordings of Mozart's late symphonies, Schumann's 1-4 plus Manfred, and Bruckner's 3-4, representing some of the finest of each respective set IMO, all played by the BRSO with excellent sound. I wish the set included my other favorite Kubelik -- Dvorak's 8-9 with BPO, but since that was recorded by DG, I concede it's an unrealistic expectation.

[Toccata]

Originally Posted by aardvarkbark

The Lewis cycle is my favorite, followed by Goode's. In retrospect, I wish I had waited for the complete box, opting instead to buy each of the four separate volumes as he released them due to the high praise they were receiving and with no assurance there would be a box. I do wish ECM would release the Schiff cycle in a single box; the discs I've borrowed from a friend are mighty fine. If I ever were to add a NAS, his cycle is high on my list of things to rip.

Lewis' set is my overall favorite, too. It would hard to find a set that beats it in terms of power, poetry, and sound. The audio quality equals or exceeds many of my SACDs--Harmonia Mundi really got it right! I'm looking forward to hearing his new CD of Brahms' Piano Concerto No.1.

[aardvarkbark]

So, if he, like his teacher Brendel, only improves with time, imagine our collective delight when a decade from now he releases his second cycle!

Have you heard his Schubert recordings? Pianists who interpret Beethoven well seem to do so equally with Schubert. But I have yet to hear Lewis' Schubert sonatas.

[bart]

The treasures of Claude Le Jeune
Huelgas Ensemble, Paul Van Nevel



We saw this ensemble yesterday.
2 concerts.
The first one with music from Rebelo, pure polyphony.
The second with old Portuguese songs, accompanied by old instruments.
On the other side of the podium a Fado trio with António Rocha, who is called the pope of Fado.
There was a dialogue: 3 medieval/renaissance songs, then 3 Fados.
Rocha is almost 78 years old but performs still every evening. he was accompanied by 2 excellent guitarists.
An enjoyable evening!
The concert was part of an all Portuguese weekend in the Concertgebouw Brugge.

[bart]

Beethoven - Symphony No. 4 & 6
Budapest Festival Orchestra, Iván Fischer



Very fine 5.0 recording and a good performance too.
We'll be seeing Fischer and his gang within a couple of weeks.
Mozart's 'Die Zauberflöte', 'Requiem' and 'Clarinet Concerto'.

[bart]

Michelangelo Rossi - La Poesia cromatica
Huelgas Ensemble, Paul Van Nevel



Live recording, and a world premiere one at the same time.
Listening in surround, which adds to the experience.
Nice album.

[Toccata]

Originally Posted by aardvarkbark

So, if he, like his teacher Brendel, only improves with time, imagine our collective delight when a decade from now he releases his second cycle!

Have you heard his Schubert recordings? Pianists who interpret Beethoven well seem to do so equally with Schubert. But I have yet to hear Lewis' Schubert sonatas.

Yes--they are equally wonderful.

[Toccata]

For a recording made in 1959, this sounds pretty darn good. I prefer his Berlin remake, but this is certainly a fine performance.

[cma29]

^^^
I think this is the version used in the Space Odyssey movie