What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[tima]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

Headphones this morning"

Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5
Minnesota Orchestra
Osmo Vanska conducting

Beautiful music, excellent performance and recording with good dynamic range and sense of space. It is reminding me how much I like Sibelius and how little of his work beyond the standards (Swan, Valse Triste, Violin Concerto in D, Finlandia) I have. Time to add to my Christmas list, suggestions welcome.

...

There is no single box set of the symphonies that is "the one" to have.

The middle set (1960s) of von Karajan's three different Symphony cycles is the one to have of those and includes Okko Kamu's superb 2nd Symphony. I regularly listen to these on LP. Imo, there is none better than von Karajan's 6th.


Colin Davis' original (first) cycle has been something of a standard for years. I don't think anyone can go wrong here.


Lief Segerstam's cycle on Ondine is a fine choice, though I might look to supplement his 1st and 6th.


Eugene Ormandy was an ardent Sibelian and this is a very nice choice.


Lastly, Blomstedt with the San Francisco comes well recommended.



Wrt the Tone Poems, of which you mentioned several, you will want to add Pohjola's Daughter, Tapiola, En saga, the Lemminkäinen Suite and many others. Multiple examples to choose from and frequently the symphony box sets will include several. Arkivmusic.com does a better job than Amazon with track listings. Take a look at the Colin Davis box set for an example. The is a recent box set of Tone Poems from the Lahti orchestra that is very comprehensive.

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by tima

...

There is no single box set of the symphonies that is "the one" to have.

For those who subscribe to Fanfare, there is Richard Kaplan's fascinating "Sibeliusaurus" comprehensive review of the recordings of the symphonies published in Fanfare 30:3.

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by tima

... There is no single box set of the symphonies that is "the one" to have. The middle set (1960s) of von Karajan's three different Symphony cycles is the one to have of those and includes Okko Kamu's superb 2nd Symphony. I regularly listen to these on LP. Imo, there is none better than von Karajan's 6th. Colin Davis' original (first) cycle has been something of a standard for years. I don't think anyone can go wrong here. Lief Segerstam's cycle on Ondine is a fine choice, though I might look to supplement his 1st and 6th. Eugene Ormandy was an ardent Sibelian and this is a very nice choice. Lastly, Blomstedt with the San Francisco comes well recommended. Wrt the Tone Poems, of which you mentioned several, you will want to add Pohjola's Daughter, Tapiola, En saga, the Lemminkäinen Suite and many others. Multiple examples to choose from and frequently the symphony box sets will include several. Arkivmusic.com does a better job than Amazon with track listings. Take a look at the Colin Davis box set for an example. The is a recent box set of Tone Poems from the Lahti orchestra that is very comprehensive.

Wow, thanks for the great info - this will be a great help in guiding my growth as a "Sibelian". Thanks Kal also for the reference.

[bart]

Tim, Kal, thank you gentlemen!
It is nice to have some real connoisseurs who share their knowledge with us lesser mortals!

[cma29]

Good evening, friends. I just heard...

Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C minor 'Resurrection'
Latonia Moore (soprano), Nadja Michael (mezzo-soprano)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Singverein, Gilbert Kaplan



...a new addition to my collection of Mahler's "Resurrection." This version is from the finance-guy turned conductor Gilbert Kaplan. Some say he is one of today’s most authoritative and acclaimed interpreters of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, having conducted the work at the invitation of more than 65 orchestras. With this release he reached the pinnacle by conducting the incomparable Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and having the performance recorded by Deutsche Grammophon, the most prestigious label in classical music. In this sense he's peers with von Karajan, Bernstein, Abbado, Kubelik, Bohm, etc - pretty impressive company.

I've heard a few 'Resurrections' and this version is impressive and can take its place among the best. For one thing, the DG SACD recording is really good featuring transparency and robustness for the benefit of the cello/bass heavy 1st movement. The climaxes are thrilling (Ivan Fischer still sets the standard here though) and the finale builds to rapturous end. My only quibble is that the tempos could have a been a little faster in places. Way to go, Mr. Kaplan.

[cma29]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

Listening (again) to . . . Vivaldi Bassoon Concertos

Been reviewed before - and I do like the bassoon concertos by Vivaldi (also the ones by Mozart) Two good ones follow.

To this I would also add this outstanding version:

Bassoon Concerto in B flat major, K191
Anima Eterna Brugge, Jos van Immerseel

[Toccata]

In addition to being a fine composer, Shchedrin is/was an amazing pianist. He plays the Sonata with almost frightening intensity. The Sonata was recorded in 1964, the rest of the pieces in 1983, so the sound is not wonderful for the Sonata, but it's perfectly listenable, and the others sound pretty good.

[AndyPandy]

Thanks Tim & Kal, very helpful information.

[tima]

Originally Posted by cma29

Good evening, friends. I just heard...

Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C minor 'Resurrection'
Latonia Moore (soprano), Nadja Michael (mezzo-soprano)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Singverein, Gilbert Kaplan
...
...a new addition to my collection of Mahler's "Resurrection." This version is from the a finance-guy turned conductor Gilbert Kaplan. Some say he is one of today’s most authoritative and acclaimed interpreters of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, having conducted the work at the invitation of more than 65 orchestras. With this release he reached the pinnacle by conducting the incomparable Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and having the performance recorded by Deutsche Grammophon, the most prestigious label in classical music. In this sense he's peers with von Karajan, Bernstein, Abbado, Kubelik, Bohm, etc - pretty impressive company.

I've heard a few 'Resurrections' and this version is impressive and can take its place among the best. For one thing, the DG SACD recording is really good featuring transparency and robustness for the benefit of the cello/bass heavy 1st movement. The climaxes are thrilling (Ivan Fischer still sets the standard here though) and the finale builds to rapturous end. My only quibble is that the tempos could have a been a little faster in places. Way to go, Mr. Kaplan.

I hope you don't mind an unsolicited suggestion; if you're familiar already, then maybe for others.

Collecting Resurrections is a fine thing. Here's one for your consideration that I suspect is from an earlier time - and perhaps more significant from a conductor from an earlier time than many in your collection. Otto Klemperer (like Bruno Walter) was a friend of Mahler and the composer aided him in his career. And also as with Walter, the affinities are there.

There is an interesting review here whose final sentence reads: "This is an essential recording for any collection: the greatest interpretation of Mahler's Second ever placed before the public, made under ideal studio conditions and now in the best sound possible. " I don't know if that is true with the recording from the early 60s, but you might be persuaded to find out. With soloists Hilde Rössl-Majdan and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf the artistry is undeniable. If you like this, you might enjoy exploring other Mahler symphonies he conducted.



Also available on SACD and purportedly superb, but rather pricey now as its availability period expired.

Clean copies on LP are worth snapping up. There are a few different covers. I have this one:

[cma29]

Originally Posted by tima

I hope you don't mind an unsolicited suggestion; if you're familiar already, then maybe for others.

Collecting Resurrections is a fine thing. Here's one for your consideration that I suspect is from an earlier time - and perhaps more significant from a conductor from an earlier time than many in your collection. Otto Klemperer (like Bruno Walter) was a friend of Mahler and the composer aided him in his career. And also as with Walter, the affinities are there.

There is an interesting review here whose final sentence reads: "This is an essential recording for any collection: the greatest interpretation of Mahler's Second ever placed before the public, made under ideal studio conditions and now in the best sound possible. " I don't know if that is true with the recording from the early 60s, but you might be persuaded to find out. With soloists Hilde Rössl-Majdan and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf the artistry is undeniable. If you like this, you might enjoy exploring other Mahler symphonies he conducted.



Also available on SACD and purportedly superb, but rather pricey now as its availability period expired.

Clean copies on LP are worth snapping up. There are a few different covers. I have this one:

I don't mind at all, Tim. Thanks for the recommendation.

I will check this Klemperer version out. I read somewhere that he placed the strings in an unusual arrangement in the orchestra yielding a very satisfying sound. His German Requiem is supposed to be very good as well.