What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[eljr]

Originally Posted by SCAudiophile

What did you think of this? In the 2nd spin it became more apparent regarding the high points,...there are also moments in the recording where it could have been better...overall though, a fine disc.

I think it excellent. I have only listened once, this morning.

[SCAudiophile]

Originally Posted by eljr

I think it excellent. I have only listened once, this morning.

Glad to hear it!

[cma29]

Arnold: English Dances Op. 27 & 33
Arnold: Four Cornish Dances, Op. 91
Arnold: Four Irish Dances Op. 126
Arnold: Four Scottish Dances, Op. 59
Arnold: From the Ballet 'Solitaire': Sarabande & Polka

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Malcolm Arnold



This is a recommendation from The Absolute Sound's Top 40 Best-Sounding Recordings. Colorful score captured by a vivid Lyrita recording. The disc is fine, but it does not strike me as a "best sounding recording" compared to some other discs I have.

[Antonmb]

Demus Plays Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Vol. 1 Nos. 1-12
Westminster Hi-Fi (1957), vinyl

This was my father’s set, the first recording of the Well-Tempered I heard, and probably the first Bach I fell in love with. It’s still among my favorite WTKs, but the sound doesn’t quite measure up to the performance.

[cma29]

Originally Posted by cma29

Here is more new music...

Mendelssohn:
Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 'Scottish'
Hebrides Overture, Op. 26
Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
Maria João Pires (piano)
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Eliot Gardiner
SACD + Blu-ray Audio



This is a dual SACD / Blu-ray release so you can compare the sound of both media on your system, plus the Blu-ray has some video on it from the actual concert that I need to check out. The recorded sound on this release is very fine, particularly compared to some of the poor-sounding Barbican recordings released by the LSO.

In terms of the performance, the LSO plays intensely on the Scottish with some fine woodwind flourishes and surprisingly transparency for a large orchestra. I like the Gardiner newcomer, but I'm keeping my Blomstedt/SFSO & my Harnoncourt/COE versions.

Playing this again. I connected my projector to better explore the Blu-ray disc.

There is a lot of material here for a very reasonable price besides the second SACD disc: hi-rez Blu-ray audio 5.0 24-bit 192kHz, hi-rez Blu-ray audio 2.0 24-bit 192kHz, HD video footage for entire concert. For the Scottish symphony, Gardiner sets up a few string players in front of the orchestra standing as soloists. Pretty cool.

[eljr]

Atrium Musicae de Madrid
Greece: Musique de la Grece Antique

Release Date 1979
Duration52:25
Genre
International
Classical
Styles
Vocal Music

[Antonmb]

Mendelssohn: The Complete Solo Piano Works, Vol. 2
Howard Shelley, piano
Hyperion (2013), 24/96 files

On to volume 2 of this excellent 4-volume set.

[aardvarkbark]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

Beethoven: The Beethoven Symphonies Live from The Edinburgh Festival
Disc 1 of 5, Symphonies 1 & 2
Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras conducting
Hyperion (2007)

Is it possible to have too many versions of Beethoven’s symphonies? I just got this set and it’s very good so far. The performance on this first disc is lively and engaging, and the sound very good. It’s a lively recording, with plenty of hall ambience, and only enough audience noise between movements to remind you it’s live and provide a sense of being there.

This has become my current second favorite complete cycle after Wand's.
Performances, recording, genuine hall acoustic = great listening pleasure.

His SACD recordings with SCO of late Mozart symphonies on Linn also highly recommended.

I'm working through the recently re-released Abbado symphonies set. Now on Bruckner 9 (VPO).

[SCAudiophile]

Esoteric remastered SACDs, Wagner: Die Walkure, Solti & Vienna Phil. and renowned lineup of soloists,...start to finish, 1 sitting.

This Ring cycle set is probably the best remastering job I have ever heard of any material, ever. You would never know this was recorded so long ago....

Goosebumps....

[eljr]

The King's Consort / Robert King
Handel: Israel in Ägypten

Release Date March 18, 2016
Duration01:21:42
Genre
Classical
Styles
Choral
Recording DateOctober 26, 2015 - October 30, 2015
Recording Location
St. Jude's CHurch, London NW11